"Sacred Tools"

($40.00.....6" x 6".....Collage on 140lb. HP.....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard)

"Tools of the trade are sacred to the artist who uses them." It is also true that the art is only as good as the artist who picks up the tools. In either case, the tools are very special.

Today I am going through the steps of creating this type of mixed media piece. I recently taught a class on design and this type of collage was the vehicle. You can see that just a simple line drawing (very little or no shading) gives a nice focal point set into the backdrop of the other elements.

So the first thing to do is to create an ink drawing with a dip pen or a fine pen (there are many different brands) with a .005 pen size. It is good to create it a bit larger and then reduce it and print it out on silk tissue paper. Spray with acrylic coating.

The next step is to paint a section of 140 lb. HP with black gesso. Dry with a hair dryer and then begin to lay down old text pages from an antique book. You notice that I left only a sliver of black where the erratic edges of the text pages could be shown off. Dry the piece thoroughly.

Overlay the text pages with plain and mono printed rice papers. You can see that the gestural marks created in the mono print serve as areas where the previous layer can show through. Shaper tools or old credit cards are good to accomplish this. I prefer to use Speedball Printing Ink, but you can also use acrylic paint for this part. If using the Printing Ink, you will need to spray the papers with Spray Acrylic Coating before adhering to the piece.

After this is dry, it is good to crop to the image size you want. You are then ready to lay in your silk tissue paper with your drawing and additional mono printed sections if needed. 

The next step is to do some deconstruction techniques to unify the different color blocks. I deconstructed with some of the text pages by gluing down...waiting a minute or two...and then lifting off. You can see those areas in the brush container, the dark area at the bottom and also on the right where the yellow block is located.

Last, I sprayed the piece (2x) with Spray Acrylic Coating and then prepared the piece to receive lettering with a mixture of (2) parts water to (1) part Gel Matte Med. Lettering was done with a pointed pen in an expressive style. And there you have it...just a few more things to think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Line and Color"

(unavailable.....6" x 6" collage created on 140 lb. HP)

"Let your eyes pass through line and color to give thanks." This quote is inspired by my obsession with transparency. It is also a metaphor for living a life of thanks and letting our eyes pass through the beauty of a thing to the Giver.

A strong graphic look is achieved here and in many of my other mixed media pieces by painting the background with black gesso first. The shapes are then determined by where the old book pages and rice paper are placed to create positive and negative shapes.

In some of my past postings, I did leave more black showing, but I think it looks more integrated and subtle to allow the slivers of black to create a strong division of space rather than a large or equal amount to the text pages. There is a larger black shape right beneath the pumpkin which I like very much and that actually helps the eye to go directly to the center of interest. 

Without deconstruction (adhering and then removing papers), this type of work becomes too static. It is a technique which truly helps with the back and forth that needs to take place between shapes or color color blocks. It marries the different areas together. It is also called breaking up surface tension.

If you want to include personal drawings as I did here, it is best to draw the image about twice as big as you actually need and then reducing it and printing the image on silk tissue paper. This gives the illusion that the drawing was actually done on the original piece. Again, this is all about a contrast of transparency and opacity to create depth. And there you have it...just a few more things to think about.

"Peace"

(unavailable)

"Peace can calm the storm of any circumstance." Peace is never achieved by wearing the peace symbol or holding up two fingers. It starts with a choice to live with a focus on the God who is Peace and let it be transferred from Him to you and to others. The spirit of peace is not belligerent or rude, but kind and generous.

This piece has a rich layer of color and texture and borders on visual overload. One of the ways to calm down all of this is to introduce imagery that has a strong grounding color (like black) with some definite form. That is why I am so keen on using line engravings printed on silk tissue paper for these kind of works.

I also chose a capital "P" that has a lot of engraved detail around it and framing out the cap beautifully. The transparency is the key here and would look like it was just "stuck on" if it had been a solid opaque image. The white lettering of the quote is an "echo" of the white peaking through the engraving at the bottom. It is also good to keep in the back of your mind that white has a very calming effect on almost any piece. Just be sure to have white somewhere in the background to echo the collage. It generally doesn't look integrated to stick white lettering on a background that has no other white in the piece.

Because of my time constraints, I don't always have the option of using my owning ink drawings, but that is a wonderful option in this type of work. And the beauty of pouring medium is that it adds color and movement to an ink drawing that can sometimes feel a bit stiff and contrived all by itself on a white sheet of paper. And even if you don't feel confident with your drawing, you could trace a few elements from an image and I can almost guarantee that in time you will be adding your own touches and then drawing free hand. If you are not skilled at working with a pointed pen, there are some pens (available at Jerry's) that have black ink. They are a Prismacolor brand and to achieve a really thin line, you will need to purchase the one that is (.005) in size. It's a wonderful way to learn to draw.

After completing your drawing, you can then print it on silk tissue paper and use as a collage or draw directly on top of your pouring medium. (You will need to prepare the surface for lettering first.) And there you have it...just a few more things to think about.

"Familiar and Comforting"

($40.00....6" x 6" mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"Familiar and comforting thoughts are found in those things symbolizing truth." This pen and ink drawing of a palm tree in our yard has been a symbol of truth for me. Palm trees symbolize "victory" and that is confirmed in an ordinary dictionary. I am sure that you have symbols in your environment as well. It's a good thing.

I drew this contour drawing of a palm tree in our yard while sitting on the patio having coffee. The odd shapes and angles are interesting to me and even without the shaded color giving it form, the average person can tell what it is. Contour drawing is simply drawing the outline of something with perhaps a few internal shapes. When the color and detail is stripped away, the juxtaposition of angles and shapes can provide a very interesting piece. Try looking at objects or plants in your environment and see what happens when you focus on the outline. Even if it's not totally accurate, it still has a lot of interest.

I drew it the first time with pencil and then, transferred the pencil lines to this piece in the same way you can transfer an image onto an eraser in order to hand cut a stamp. The graphite transfers quite easily on surfaces that have a bit of tack. In this case, it was pouring medium (the black, lime green, and cream color). I then inked over the pencil lines to really give the drawing some definition. It's a great thing to do or something to just think about.


Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"A Way of Seeing"

($40.00....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"Drawing is a way of seeing that transcends a brief and casual observation." Even if you do not draw, the principle of keen observation is applicable in all areas of life. Awareness must come before change occurs.

Trees, especially when the limbs are exposed, is a fascinating study of line. The diagonals created by the branches with abrupt changes in direction have been a source of inspiration for artists in every medium. By its very nature, the act of drawing or sketching causes the artist to consider every aspect of the shape and form of the object being drawn.

The lettering was written with a pointed pen and more or less drawn rather than using a press / release technique. I decided not to use any guidelines to practice squeezing and stretching the letters as I went along. The "white on white" effect always works especially if writing on a hazy translucent white. In several places I also used a stiff brush dipped in alcohol to remove some of the white gesso. It creates a bit of texture and an aged look along the edges. Just a few more things to try or think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Pine Cones"

($40.00....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"Pine cones are perfect in their spontaneous texture and form." I like to compare the form and texture of pine cones to the human personality. No two are alike, but their characteristics are perfect in texture and form.

It was fun to juxtapose the very realistic image of the pine cone next to my ink drawing. The drawing is not precise, but that is the charm of expressive drawing. It could have been drawn with other materials, but this is my interpretation with an emphasis on the triangular shapes that are repeated in the form.

If you haven't tried drawing you should start. I began this drawing with my pointed pen and Moon Palace Ink (surface prepared with diluted gel matte medium). It is a contour drawing which means I just followed the outline of the basic form of the cone. I then added crosshatching, ink splatters, and black soft pastel to give it some depth.

If you have trouble quieting yourself internally so that you have the ability to focus creatively, I can guarantee that drawing will put you on the right side of your brain immediately. I like what Nick Meglin says in his book Drawing from Within...."When you are drawing from within, your chief concerns should be what and why rather than how a drawing is done....During the initial stages of drawing your concentration should be limited to what you see and feel and the act of expressing yourself.  (Just a few more things to try or think about.)

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Looking In or Out"

($40.00.....mounted on a 1/8" depth clayboard panel)


"There's a big difference between looking in or looking out." It's also like saying that it is warm and cozy in our comfort zone, but there's is so much more to experience by walking out of the cozy environment. This is applicable on so many levels and well worth a bit of meditation.

Ready or not, I am jumping into a much freer and more expressive use of lettering, mark making, and drawing. I can attest to the fact that this is incredibly difficult for me, but what do I have to lose? Will the lettering "police" come and take me away? The fact of the matter is that blogging every day is what will hold your feet to the fire, but it will also open you up to criticism. The more important point is whether a person has the pure motivation of wanting to write expressively, but also desiring to improve in the process. In the end, it is worth the risk.

As for me, I am adopting a rather "risky" attitude and following the advice of Davy Crockett...."You may all go to hell. I will go to Texas!" (change the words that will apply)  Of course, I say that with "tongue in cheek" and those who know me are well aware that I typically do not swear, but there does come a time when you must get some backbone and determination and let the nay sayers and discouragers take a "flying leap".

I promise in the New Year to give encouragement and absolutely no negatives to anyone who has the courage to pick up the pen, pencil, paint brush, etc. Creating art is tough and fun and altogether uncertain, but definitely worth the risk. May you have the courage to do what you must! And there you have it....a whole lot to think about for the next year!


Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Drawing" ($30.00)

(adjusted price.....$30.00)

Even if you don't consider yourself an artist, you might be surprised if you simply picked up a pencil and paper. Just look at an object and act as though you are tracing it. I've never experienced an activity that shoves me to the right side of my brain more completely. So next time you feel "blocked" creatively, just start drawing!

There are many types of drawing. Some drawings are perfectly rendered and require much time and effort. There is another type of drawing that is done quickly with gestural strokes and not lifting your pencil or charcoal from the paper. The type of drawing I prefer to do is probably more in the realm of sketching. It is extremely edited and even plays around a bit with distortion.

In this piece, my reference photo was an antique store in a small Texas town. If your eyes were closed for more than 10 seconds, you would miss seeing the town entirely! Just looking at the photo and thinking about drawing it made me tired. There was an overwhelming amount of detail. So I decided to do what Alan Cober does when he draws. (One of my favorite illustrators.) He just omits the things he doesn't want to draw. What a concept! It's called editing. We can all forget that we are the artist and we can choose what to include. The "drawing police" will not give us a citation if we fail to include every detail, for heaven's sake! And if the drawing isn't perfect...that's even better.

It becomes even more expressive if you draw on an abstract background or a few smudges on the paper. This whole expressive process becomes even more addictive when you create your drawing with a pointed pen and play with the quality of the lines. That's exactly what I did in this piece and it was completely satisfying. I even created the lettering with a very "nonchalant" attitude. Sometimes, perfect lettering has to go! You will know when you're through as soon as the drawing is convincing. (You can tell what it represents.)

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.

"Salient Periods" ($40.00)

(adjusted price......$40.00)

Salient is an unusual word that most of us don't use very often. It means prominent, conspicuous or most noticeable. There are places that mark the salient periods of my life. How about you?

Line drawings are very expressive, especially if they are not done perfectly, which is the very thing that makes children's artwork so compelling. Most of the time they are referred to as contour drawings. It is an excellent way to learn how to draw. (Include just enough details to make it convincing.)

This drawing was created using a pointed pen and raw umber gouache over a background with watercolor effects. The placement of the drawing was positioned in a way to create shapes that connect and extend from edge to edge. By using some of the background color to write lettering in opposing corners, I have created interest and variety in all four corners. Designing the corners keeps the viewer's eye within the piece.

It is not the most dynamic piece I've created but it is far superior than having a line drawing on a blank sheet of paper. You might find it very fulfilling to create drawings over less successful pieces. It might bring them to life again. Just something to think about.

Please contact me personally to inquire about this piece.