When you know you’ve wandered too far…
The Chicken Saga pt. 10
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Chicken Saga pt. 8
On your mark, get set…..!
An Experiment in Engraving
And now for something completely different.
I’ve recently been intrigued by dry point etching. Specifically, a linocut/etching mashup technique I recently stumbled upon while researching all things printmaking. I’m so intrigued, in fact, that I am going to give it a whirl. Here goes, folks.
Now: a word about this process. Up until now I have posted one completed drawing on the blog every other day or so, and it’s been very good for my artistic practice, to be sure. However, a technique like this will require more time, and more episodic postings because etching and linocut are both tedious and I only work for a few hours or less in the evening.
Honestly, embarking on something like this will also be good for me artistically, as it will get me used to breaking up my art-making process into bite-sized manageable chunks I can look forward to each night. This way, I can feel more confident about taking on bigger and bigger projects. EVERYONE WINS.
Ok, enough of that. Let’s talk process.
So, the first thing to do for an etching is to make a drawing of what the etching will look like. Then, when you are satisfied with your sketch, you place a piece of plexiglass, mylar, or other clear plastic that can be easily scratched into, on top of your drawing and begin the crosshatch your darks. (More on that later.)
So: here is the finished sketch I made of a little still-life I set up on my drafting table. If any of my former students are reading this blog, which I highly doubt they are, they would immediately recognize this skull and maybe even shudder a little at the memory of having to draw it a bazillion times.
But you know, this llama skull is cool. I bought it because it’s fun to draw, and I know I could draw it a bazillion times and probably not get too sick of it. Probably.
Drawing this skull last evening also told me that I definitely need to acquire more animal skulls. (I mean, can you have too many?? The answer is no.) One of my former professors had a cat skull and a horse skull, both of which I often looked upon with envy.
What kind of skull do YOU think should I get next?
Neon Hazy Days
I don’t think there are enough colors in the world to properly portray how oppressively hot it was today. Even an ocean of neon pigment would not be able to illustrate the fuggy, muggy, unseasonably sweltering haze that seems to have taken up a semi-permanent residence in our neighborhood. Not even a whiff of a breeze was in sight this morning as my son and I took our daily stroll around the block—the hills seemed that much hillier, and the shadeless patches that much more relentlessly fiery.
Unfortunately I believe the heat wave that is currently crossing the US is still marching steadily and very very slowly onward with not an immediate end in sight, at least according to my weather app (which doesn’t seem to be able to make up its mind about the weather anyways, so go figure).
For now, it looks like I will remain hunkered down in the glorious breeze of the AC until further notice.
Hot Hockney and the Degas Blues
Today was hot. Like, high-noon in August at a New Orleans Jambalaya fest hot. So, rather than traipse outside with a paintbox, a sweat towel, and a gallon of iced tea, I stayed in and went with the sketch default: self portraiture! as my late friend and mentor once said, ”If it’s good enough for David Hockney, its good enough for me.”
Speaking of late and great, you know who we don’t talk about enough? Edgar Degas. Yes, his pastel paintings are all over mugs, cards and other kitschy paraphernalia, and I think—very unfortunately—his work has generally become, for most people, a tired old LP on repeat because of its ubiquitousness. But oh my goodness, HIS DRAWINGS. I mean, this guy is a master. He knows line, he knows shape, he knows shadow. He knows what to show and what to hide. And most important, he knows the value in simplicity.
So here you have it. One simple selfie in charcoal, with hopefully, more to come.
Long Days Drawn Out 