I received an email from a reader asking me about the photo in the last post. She wondered what the heck kinda surface was I duct-taping the piece of canvas on? Was it some kind of gray scale board that I made? and if so is there a particular reason for working on a gray scale?
It took me a moment to understand what she was talking about, but I realize the source of her question. The board is not some special gray scale support thing. It's a 12 x 24 painting I did last year during Sonoma Plein Air. I just used it as a rigid surface on which to tape the scrap piece of canvas. No, it's not a painting that I'm attached to and it'll never see the light of day, but it came in handy.
Why did I use the front of the painting rather than the backside? It's because some time ago I used the back as a palette and it has dried gobs of paint on it. It ain't smooth, see.
I churn out a bunch of little paintings that's never going to be shown, (not even in my own studio) because quite frankly, they suck. I usually throw them out but if I can find good use for them...
Having a gray scale right above and/or below your painting at the easel might not be a bad idea, actually. One of my old palettes had a gray scale strip under the glass and I remember finding that very useful.
Anyway, I hope that clears up the mystery of the board. By the way, no particular reason why I use duct tape as opposed to artist's tape. It's just what I could find in my studio mess.
4 comments:
Terry
So we will get back to my idea another time. But thanks for the encouraging words about my new breakthroughs with my illustration and painting as well.
I'm enjoying your blog very much. Beautiful landscapes and interesting head studies. I found your blog through another friend's blog and it made my day!
Right on, Mike! Here's to many more breakthroughs in 2009!
Hi Ann~ and thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying my psychobabble:-) I'm going to step it up in 2009, so stay tuned!
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