Friday, July 04, 2008

Tiny Steps

I thought I'd practice making some letters for my signs on paper before I do it on the wood. I am not good at letters or measuring. The farm name I have done a second time,(not shown) trying to make more regularly sized letters with equal spaces between them. I will rub the back of the paper with lead and then trace the letters onto the white wooden sign. Then paint them in black. Any advice welcome either about the shapes of the letters or how to do this. I know it won't look professional, but I don't want it to look too amateurish either. I think the studio sign is more freely done with random letters and that will be OK.

Have been painting the canvas onto which I will attach the shield. The shield is just taped onto the canvas here. The canvas is green with silver water based glaze right now.


Some beeswax crayons I purchased at Kim's suggestion to use with the wax collage instead of paraffin based crayons. Aren't they cute?

I have also been glazing this kimono with Kim's recipe of gloss medium mixed with water. I've done about 4 layers. Two with copper Pearl EX dry paint pigment mixed in and two with gold. Probably you can't see any difference. The coats of glaze are making the surface smooth and I think I'll sand it to roughen it up and make it look worn.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I really like the silver glaze over the green of the canvas.

I love the textures on the kimono and shield. Reminds me of Damask fabric. Your idea of making it look worn by sanding sounds like a perfect touch.

Kathie Brown said...

Have you read "Still Life with Chickens" by Catherine Goldhammer? Or are you the author? She had a house by the sea named Dragonfly Farm. It is one of my favorite books!

sukipoet said...

Hello Alan Pardoe. I am unsure if your comment is a general sendout to many blogs. It reads that way??

Chewy, I will keep working on these two esp the canvas.

Kathie, I am not the author but I have read and enjoyed the book. I forgot that was the name of her place:) thanks

Roxanne said...

exciting to see your sign in progress :)

soulbrush said...

this is going to be spectacular. and well worth the work. exciting project too.hugsxx

Mary Richmond said...

looking good! are you going to open your studio to the public? that's awesome! way to go, girl!

Mary Richmond said...

btw--that alan pardoe comment is spam and should be reported as such....

sukipoet said...

Oh thanks Mary for keying me in. I went to the blog and it seemed a real blog so I couldnt tell.

If my studio were still out by the garage I would have an open studio however now I'm moving it into the house with the only entrance via the living room. So it would depend on whether Mom minded people tramping thru the lviing room. I'm not moving Everything in to the den area yet, as the oil painting and encaustic can still be done outside in the workshop however anything paper based I'll do inside.

honor and forever young thanks for the encouragement to continue on a project (the lettering) that makes me sorta nuts.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Oh this is fun. The sign coming together. Makes things seem friendly somehow. Naming the farm and the studio.
Liking the projects and back ground too.
I got that same spam thing worded exactly the same way that I saw it on someone elses blog. arrgh. They find their ways dont they??

marianne said...

Hi Suki,

The crayons look very nice!.
I can imagine you are not satisfied with the letters. I think if you have lines on all 4 sides, you are working all boxed in, that is not your style.You are drawing cramped then. You need space and freedom.
Maybe when you draw just on paper in a flow, a little fast. Try different styles untill you are satisfied , then you can use carbon paper to copy it to the board. Just an idea, maybe I'm wrong.
My brother has done the art academy here and he is fantastic at this. When I saw him at work, he never used lines and worked quite fast, I think the outcome is better then , more loose, more fluently...............
The shield is coming along beautiful!
hug >M<

Anonymous said...

I love signs. One way of getting it just right before you paint would be to cut out single letters, arrange them just right on the wood and then trace around them.

I'm always envious of people who are good at signs, logos and such. It makes such a difference. I especially like the business card layout of Stray Dog Arts.

Anonymous said...

The cross and the kimono are just beautiful Suki.

sukipoet said...

Oh great! Some sign lettering advice.Thanks Marianne. I never thought of that method but can give it a try before doing the final version. Of course, however I get the letters drawn on I then have to paint them with many more chances of messing up. thanks for the comments on the shield.

Cris, you too thanks for the comments on my project. The odd thing about that spam is there really is a blog that looks like a religious blog almost.

Kelly, thanks for your sign thoughts. tracing letters would work too. It's the painitng of them afterwards that is another challenge. If I had the money I'd have a pro do it but no one else here would spend money on a sign. And I don't really have it. I know it wont look really professional. I think it takes a lot of practice. I'll look at that logo you mention if i can find it.

Annie thanks. I guess it does look like a cross. Hmmm. Well, I have always loved crosses actually at least one's without bodies on them.

Umā said...

hi suki, i've made several hand-painted signs for local businesses and for my own home and garden...if you want to email me i have some helpful hints! too long and complicated i think for a comment!
m.

sukipoet said...

Oh Great. M. Heart. I will email soon. Thanks.

human being said...

the progress in all these projects is noticeable... love the background for the shield...