". Arranged Words: sun
Showing posts with label sun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sun. Show all posts

21 Feb 2023

Cyanotypes and Ink Making

 Hi everyone,

Making Cyanotypes, or sun prints last summer was fun, and I am looking forward to the season ahead.

Eco printing on fabric sounds great too. I can only imagine what the kitchen would look like when I finished whipping up a batch, using fabric and leaves, bits of iron, string, alum, vinegar, and a cauldron for boiling up the whole lot. 

 For now, back to Cyanotypes.

Below a print of my Grandmother, Lilas. First printed as a negative and then placed on watercolour paper brushed with Cyanotype mixture. The sun does the rest of the work.



   
 Original picture. 

I decided not to "fix" the picture in Photoshop by removing all the nicks etc. I like it the way it is. 

My grandmother, Lilas, was a midwife. She also travelled with and assisted the doctor. If the doctor wasn't available, and he often was not, my grandmother went wherever she was called, day or night, alone. 

My mother told me that my grandmother was also called upon to "lay" people out.

Back then life was more uncertain and precarious, and I know it wasn't an easy life for a lot of people. 
My mother told me a few stories about my grandmother's life and work. ( I wrote them down.) 
I only remember seeing her a hand full of times. She was quiet, and warmth and serenity radiated out from her person.

 Apparently, Grandmother cried a lot, but she carried on, brought up a large family, and never turned  down anyone who needed help. Nor, as far as I know did she take any payment. All that makes her remarkable in my books. 

                                                                                * * *
Ink Making...

                                                       
                                                      Sumac gathered for ink making.

 Late last fall,  I decided to make ink.  So I gathered some Sumac,, but there were too many bugs in most of the Sumac at that time. This fall I will gather earlier.


        The ink turned out lighter than expected, so will make a few adjustments next year and                                                          see what happens. 



                                    Trying a dagger brush from Jackson's Art. 

Jason Logan from Toronto has a book out titled Make Ink that I have ordered. Click here to read an article about him and his reasons for making natural botanical ink.

A little greenery...


                                          Succulents living quite well on a cold window sill.
                                                            Dried  Fern and clover

Matcha Latte



Asparagus Fern...Love ferns.



No mention of books here for awhile, so…
 A Year Unfolding. 
 I admire Angela’s expressive, detailed style. She’s an amazing  artist.
Check out her website here


The sun shines on the wall now. Such an uplifting sight.
Spring has begun to stir.

Thank you for your comments on my last post. Fun to read the different opinions about the Snowman. 

Cultivate Your Dreams

                                   Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 
                                                Thanks to all for hosting.  


10 Nov 2020

Tall Shadows


         

 Hi there,

              The snow melted and we are back to the most lovely weather. Today, I've thrown open all the windows as high and as wide as they will go. Perhaps we may have a mild winter after all. But even if we don't, these warm days are a nice bonus.

Did you hear? Hasn't everyone you say. Well, apparently the world has changed over night.  A vaccine-- 90% effective. Now wouldn't that be wonderful! We could all get back to the business of living and breathing a little easier. Living more fully--not that I live in the fast lane, but just being able to go to shopping without worrying about it would be wonderful thing.  However, I know we have been so lucky, and I am certainly not forgetting about those we have lost. I do feel so sorry for all of those people and for their families and friends. 

After this, I reckon, everyone will have a new appreciation for what we all took for granted before. I know I will. Let's hope the vaccine comes soon. 



  The sun has other places to light up these days, although before it sets early it highlights beautifully whatever it touches.

                                                              I love these colours.


The willows are really hanging onto their leaves. 

                                                                           Memories


From the easel...


Beginning, Pastel on pastelmat paper.  




 In progress.



First time working on Pastelmat paper-- trial runs review.  I noticed a lot of painters seldom blend on this paper.  I wanted to blend the sky in the top photo, but I am fresh out pipe insulation foam to use as a blending tool, and repeated passes with the pastels didn't work on the top pic at all. Must be a bit defective, or using harder pastels first might have been the way to go and then blend the first layer.  I will experiment with the paper again soon. I love how the colours pop on this paper. The grey shows though, and that is, of course, with pastels, perfectly acceptable, and often when using underpainting enhances the painting.  But I think I might like the maroon colour paper better.
Who knew working with different pastel papers would be so much fun. ( I usually use Uart paper.) Of the papers I've tried so far, I really enjoyed Canson Mi-Teintes Touch paper and today’s choice: Pastelmat. Next up, Vic Bearcroft's Pastel Velour. Because the paper is flimsy, I will order self adhesive foam board to mount the paper on before I give it a try. And I am going to try making my own sanded paper too.


Thank you so much for reading along...

'Til next time

Cultivate Your Dreams

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Thank you, lovely ladies, for hosting!











26 Mar 2019

Here Comes the Sun

Hi there,

The sun has crossed the equator and we have theoretically marched into spring. (Being a daydreamer, I imagine the sun just might be a twinkle in God's eye.) 

Anyway...the birds love the sunlight too. They are chirping, singing, courting and spooning and planning where to build their nests. I haven't seen any robins yet but I know they are out there.

We have snow on the ground and in the forecast, yet soon the earth will clothe itself in different shades of lush greens and colourful blossoms. It's just a matter of time! The trees are springing to life too and, even with snow on the ground, their branches are full of buds.

                               
 Early March snowfall.

Remember the spring bulbs that I planted and put in a fridge for about 14-16 weeks? Well, I am delighted to report that most of the bulbs bloomed. Of course, I was especially hoping that the Snowdrops would bloom. But they were the only ones that didn't take root. However, being perennially optimistic, I haven't given up hope. On the warmer days outside they go...just in case. Who knows? They may respond to the warmer sunny days enough to root and bloom. (Fingers crossed.)            
* * *
     

Forgive the ad... 


Parrot tulips and Angelique tulips.  The Angelique tulips remind me of peonies.






Warning: Sun Catchers on duty. 💖


Parrot tulips open fast. I tied this one with thread so I could draw the closed flower.



In the fall, I brought my geranium inside. Ta Da!

 
Jesse brought me these lovely tulips. I'm pleased that the stems do not droop.
Obviously a new innovative hybrid.


Such beauty on the undersides of plants. I like to draw and photograph plants and flowers from different angles and perspectives.

Yes, even this angle. 

Below, a few sketches. Mostly, I draw on tracing paper to save steps, but now that I finally purchased a light box if I want to transfer a drawing for painting, it won't be a problem.


Moleskin cold press sketchbook.

Had an epiphany while using cold press paper. Although the paper doesn't fall under the rough category, it can expertly munch up a fine brush. The water brush below works well.

 
Stillman & Birn hot press sketchbook. Zeta series.


Trying Gouache in the Moleskin. An opaque medium much like acrylic, although it can be reactivated unless you buy it with an acrylic base. I love the bright colours. Verdict: continue experimenting. 



While waiting on the real Snowdrops that may or may not bloom, I've enjoyed painting and drawing more of these lovely flowers. Yes, I agree. I'm obsessed! I can't resist these delicate beauties.

I've listed this original watercolour painting in my shop.  Signed and available here.

                     Happy Spring! And for my friends down under Happy Fall!

'Til Next Time...

                                                      Cultivate Your Dreams.

29 Jul 2015

Flights of Fancy

 I know my paint box is way too clean. The rest of it I call organized chaos.
  The flowers in the front were painted last July. I'm working on the Lady Slippers. It's a flower that I can't seem to let go of.

New addition.  It needs to be re-potted.
Life size.



I decided that I would try and draw everyday in July. I've almost kept that commitment. A few more days and I will have nailed it. Hopefully, I can do the same for August.
I had a few comments and emails regarding my last post. I think we all agree-- sometimes tentatively-- that yes most people can draw, so please don't give up. And don't worry about mistakes because mistakes are a big part of learning anything worthwhile! And if someone should laugh so what. Well, I know it's not always comfortable to be laughed at, but the following story warms the heart and points out what's possible.


Many years ago, I met a lady who was the older mother of a friend of mine.  And wow, could she paint!  She painted landscapes, ocean scenes, flowers-- the most divine silken roses, portraits--you name it. She told me that she didn't pick up a brush until she was in her fifties.  She had a wonderful studio that faced the ocean. Sand for miles, sunlight dancing over the waves, a few twirling seabirds and the salt sea breeze that begged to be inhaled as it, with a hint of mist, swirled in through the open windows. I could have stayed there indefinitely. 

After tea, she took me up to the attic where she stored her earlier works. As I stood looking at her paintings, she smiled and said, "it's laughable, now, isn't it?" Sometimes the spotlight is not the place to be. I mumbled something and shifted uneasily. Then she ask me as she pointed to a large canvas  (her first) if I knew what it was. I studied it for awhile but I couldn't come up with an answer. "It," she said, with amusement that tickled the corners of her mouth and played up the light in her eyes, "is a lady of the evening." (Abstract would not begin to cover it.) She also said she was very proud of that particular painting.  She went on to say that one evening, at a gathering, just after she had painted it she showed it to a few of  her neighbours and everyone laughed. 
I skipped down the stairs. It was time to go.  But before I left I took one last look out of her studio window at the beach and the sea in the distance and then before I left the room I looked back at her beautiful paintings and felt certain that she clearly had the last laugh, although I'm sure she didn't want it because she was so kind.



Enjoy the weekend!