Thought I’d drop a few lines while I’m waiting for a delivery. While the Christmas rush for picture framing was slow getting started, I’m in the peak of the crunch as I write this. Why do I have time to write my blog if I’m in a crunch? Well….I’m glad you asked. I was supposed to get a delivery yesterday …
Burnished
I’m still working on the three frames I showed you in the last post. After the gold is “set up” or “cured” on the frames, it is time to begin the burnishing. In this photo, just about where the glare spot is, you can see on the narrow left surface where the sheen of the burnish, on the lower half, meets the …
Laying a Little Gold
Here are some frames that I’m in the middle of gilding for a client. The two with gold on them have just been gilded and are in their raw state. The other one is ready to gild. It has a red bole with a dark chocolate panel and highlights on the raised portions of the profile. “Bole” is a clay …
Busy in the Studio
Well, it a long ways from Winslow Arizona. It’s been awhile too. While my typical framing business has been suprisingly slow these days I’ve been busy laying some gold for samples of different techniques in gilding and lettering styles. I’ve really been enjoying this time to get caught up on a number of things. Here is an example of my latest… …
Standing on a Corner
Yup. So there I was, last Saturday, standing on that famous corner in Winslow, AZ. You know the one. Come on. Think. “Well, I’m a standing on a corner, in Winslow, Arizona, and such a fine sight to see. It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me”. It’s from the song …
Progress on the Bronc Fighter
I got some good progress done on the painting today. Most of the color is blocked in. I really like the character that is coming out in the cowboy’s face. You should take a look. The video isn’t very long. The color on the horse is a little dark but I can lighten it up as needed. This will be …
The Bronc Fighter
Here are a couple of clips of video that I took relating to the development stages of a new painting I’m working on. As a result of yesterday’s “thinking time” while I was waiting for the glue to dry, I came up with an idea for a new painting. See…it wasn’t wasted time at all. I know that it appeared …
Waiting for the Glue to Dry
This morning I was putting a frame together for one of you good folks. This particular style of frame required that I glue and nail the corners together as opposed to using the underpinner which is quicker. In either case, I use glue, which actually provides a more secure bond than just nailing or using the underpinner without glue, but …
Catch of the Day
Here’s proof that my fishing trips do yield material to paint. This is a watercolor I just finished. These two native Colorado Cut Throat trout were caught on the Big Cimarron River in the Cimarron Mountains in Colorado. They are easily identified by the bright redish orange slash near their gills. They made for a wonderful meal by the open camp fire. My wife …
Pocket Watch Framing
What a great idea! A customer brought in a pocket watch that has been in the family since 1854. Below the watch is an engraving that lists 5 of the owners and dates, all members of the family that the watch has been passed down to. I mounted the watch on a piece of grey linen mat board and lined …