#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!

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.

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!

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#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

#4, 5, and 6: OOA

OK, getting into the groove. Underpaintings, gesso, pastel grounds...take time to dry. My board will hold six at a time. 

#4 and #6 are watercolor under paintings. #5 is Art Spectrum's Colorfix Primer (Soft Umber), It has a fine grit mixed in...and is very handy for all types of media.

Still exploring the landscape genre. It's OK, tho...whatever appears is what we get.

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#4 Over and Over Again
7.5" x 7.5" Mixed Media (watercolor, pastel, Gamblin Cold Wax)
© V.N.Ross

On #4 (left) after the wc dried, I stumbled around with some pastels. Grabbed a jar of Gamblin Cold Wax Medium and with a palette knife, made some textural marks. Scraped back into some with the end of a brush for linear lines. While it was still workable and Pan Pastels, I added some color. Their sofft tools allow you to 'kiss' the surface and transfer the pastel. Perfect for the thick wax medium. Since it is still soft, I can carve the painting number and my signature in when I've said enough.

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#5 Over and Over Again
7.5" x 7.5" Pastel
© V.N.Ross

#5 is the one in the middle, over the umber pastel ground. I deliberately left some texture. This one is all pastel...and I was more interested in the colors than anything else. I really like how glazing with the side of a 1/2" stick really accents the texture in the ground.

This gives me the opportunity to throw in some shock colors. I really have no care whether they are real in nature or not. 

#6 Over and Over
7.5" x 7.5" pastel over watercolor
© V.N.Ross

Another thing I particularly like is the sky...from greenish aqua to light cobalt to lavender, and greenish yellow.

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