YouTube
Posted on July 19, 2007
I have to say I was surprised by the amount of art related instructional videos on You Tube. Specifically pastels.
So far the best demonstrations are completed by EclecticAsylum. Here is a sample of his work.
Filed Under EclecticAsylum, painting video, pastel, portrait | 1 Comment
Under Padding
Posted on July 19, 2007
While walking through London Drugs I came across a product called Easy Liner Solid, which is a solid non-slip closed cell foam shelf liner. It is about 1/16 thick and spongy but firm.
I picked a roll up and am using it behind my paintings now. Being beneath the paper it gives a very good cushion when painting, it holds masking tape well and doesn’t seem to tear when tape is removed.
I did use contact cement to glue it down to my backing board so there is no way it will slip.
If you see it you may want to pick a roll up and try it.
Filed Under board padding, padding, pastel, solid liner, solid padding, under padding | Leave a Comment
Apples
Posted on July 14, 2007
Two sketches of apples. The first one I focused more on the apple and it shows. Although the background colour compliments the apple well, it is unfinished and lacking definition.
The second sketch I started with the background, knowing that if I didn’t I would focus on the apples too much. There is a sense of harmony between the background and the apples, however there is lack of definition in the apples.
Please post your comments if you have any.
Filed Under apple, apples, crab apple, pastel, sketch | Leave a Comment
New Additions
Posted on July 14, 2007
I have added two new items to my repertoire.
A new easel and a new set of 120 Rembrandt pastels.
The easel is a Windsor and Newton H-frame Shannon easel and I am enjoying it as it is easily adjustable and is very sturdy. What I like about the easel the most is the ratcheted vertical adjustment. Very quick and very simple to adjust.
The Rembrandt set is great. With the 120 set, 60 are full sticks and 60 are half sticks. What would have been even better would be to get a 180 piece set of all half sticks for the same price. Then I could really try out more colours without spending a lot of money. Plus it would save me the time of actually breaking all the full sticks in half for my pastel box. Yes, I am one of those that works in half sticks and have no problem breaking my pastels into as many little pieces as I need to. :)
Filed Under easel, h-frame easel, half sticks, pastel, pastels, rembrandt | Leave a Comment
Lighweight Tripod Easel - LT Easel
Posted on July 11, 2007
I have taken the time to design a Plein Air easel with the intention of having it extremely lightweight and portable.
The easel is made from aluminum, weighs 1.5 lbs (0.68kg) and is 24" long. It attaches to any standard tripod. It will accommodate surfaces from 6" up to 24” high. The advantages of attaching it to a tripod are that the entire unit is extremely lightweight, the easel can be positioned at any angle from flat to tilting forward and the height is easily adjusted via the tripod so any painter will be comfortable working on it. Add a ‘rock bag’ to the cross posts of the tripod and you have added stability on softer ground or windy days.
I have had some initial interest so I sent design drawings off to a few manufacturers and am currently waiting to here back from them regarding the cost. When I have a final price I will post it here (price will not include cost of tripod, applicable taxes or shipping). Any shipping will be from British Columbia, Canada.
If interested in purchasing one, please contact me.
