Alan Flattmann

#7, #8, and #9 OOA

Poopie! Accidentally deleted the post...and it was almost finished. Kick-in short-term memory...talk about Over and Over Again!

...Third set. I wanted to show this image for two reasons 1) #7 on the left is being created on a paper towel mounted in the wet gesso and 2) #8 and #9 show how I lightly sketch in my four shapes when the gesso is dry. I'm not using anything but memory to sketch them...wanting to remain loose and organic. Not really caring whether I color in the lines or not!

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I used several coats of SpectraFix on #7. Another valuable tip learned from Alan Flattmann at IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies)...buy the concentrated casein mixture (rumored to be Degas lost recipe) with PGA (pure grain alcohol, (remember Purple Passion in college?). Then, with Preval sprayer, yes, ozone friendly, you can make a fine mist that DOES NOT CHANGE COLORS. Don't spray while smoking, and you can do this indoors safely.

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I sized the paper towel to leave a border of paper where the strokes could be left to show. I used Gamsol from Gamblin to liquify in some spots. Applied a coat of clear gesso with some #FFF pumice to add some grit. Figured this would help isolate the paper towel too, for archival reasons.

Just used a paper plate left over from lunch (yeah, I eat in my studio), poured a tablespoon of gesso and shook out some pumice. No measurements! Yea! Wicki!

#8 (middle) explored a rock/stream/wall. The yellow sky is interesting. If you double click you can see some paper towel collage and gold leaf.

#9 (right) Very drippy Gamsol wash on the pastel. I love the movement it creates as the liquid finds its path. 

PS: If you are reading this through email as a newsletter, click here to read in the actual blog and see Comment area which is at the bottom of the post. Click on "Comment", then scroll down to see the box. Let me know if this doesn't work...OK?

xxoo

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Commentary on #1

#1 Over and Over Again

7.5" x 7.5" mixed media

© V.N.Ross

As I mentioned in the previous post, drumroll, please...#1 of the "Over and Over Again: Repetition with Variations" piece is shown here. 

Started with my super, duper taping trick shared with me by Alan Flattmann. Blog post...click on link. Am using 140# cold press watercolor paper for most of these.

I took a deep breath...choked down the panic...and painted normal. Well, if you consider an orange wash normal :)

An orange Holbein (similar to NuPastel in hardness) scraped over the rough surface of the paper. With an old bristle brush and Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits) I slopped some on the paper to cause runs and ripples. 

Underpainting

Finished off with various brands and softness of pastel sticks, trying to stay loose, especially in the foreground and trees. Allowed some orange to show through the sky.

Whew. #1 is complete! The journey has begun...

PS: If you are reading this through email as a newsletter, click here to read in the actual blog and see Comment area which is at the bottom of the post. Click on "Comment", then scroll down to see the box. Let me know if this doesn't work...OK?

xxoo

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Vicki's 100 Repetition with Variations #2

So...several weeks of pondering details. Now to get down to it! Oops, one more detail!

How to mount these temporarily so I could paint to the edges? Thanks, Alan Flattmann! I learned this from him in a one day workshop at IAPS in Albuquerque, NM in 2011. Pretty ingenious, if you ask me!

Also, blips will occur when you are creasing and tearing watercolor paper...they add to the organic feel of the finished piece...so don't get anal!

PS: If you are reading this through email as a newsletter, click here to read in the actual blog and see Comment area which is at the bottom of the post. Click on "Comment", then scroll down to see the box. Let me know if this doesn't work...OK?

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xxoo

 

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