Last Days of January

The Last Veneer.  Jan 30

It is unlikely I will finish working with this veneer before month's end, but it's a start.  Premo Ultramarine Blue conditioned to Atlas #5, then drawn with small stylus in a Klimt-inspired way until I spotted a pangolin.  So without getting to specific, since this will, after all, be cut into much smaller pieces, I went with the sea.  Once drawn I used my finger to blot in silver, using Liquitex Heavy Body Iridescent Silver.  This metallic family is my favorite: Gold, Silver, Copper and Bronze.  

Jan 31   Acrylics finger-painted on.  Liquitex silver and gold.  Diox. Purple, Cad Red Light, plus Cobalt,  Yellow Green and Turquoise metallics.    Initially I had planned a more controlled application, but as soon as I saw pangolin and some fish, I started to go left brain and that is not what I want. 

Klimt-Inspired Veneer...a Step Along the Learning Curve ...

I think I'm nearing the end of the road on this veneer, and learned a simple technique for finishing the sides better, using a hair's breadth layer underneath, then burnishing to round the edges.  No great secret but I have rarely worked right up to the finish line without curing the clay before, and certain "refinements" are more difficult after the fact.   I didn't use the technique on the outer perimeter of the pendant because I had already veneered it, and didn't want to sacrifice it.  

COOL HINT:  I don't know why it never occurred to me before because I use them all the time for all sorts of things, but 3 hole page protectors are a fabulous place to store veneers!  I found this hint on a post from 2011 yesterday, and even then "everyone" knew about it.  

Klimt Veneer Continued ... Day 3

Still uncured, going as far as feels comfortable, and finally making notes, something I fail to do, much to my chagrin a year or five later ...Pendants and earrings here ... a trinket box is about to be cured, but not yet photographed. The heart will have a pendant/brooch finding.

Undisclipined Me

I keep meaning to be more regular in my posting, but  so many things, many totally useless, keep getting in the way. So I will start where I am, and bounce around in time as necessary until I'm back In the NOW.

I've been working on leaf and ink techniques lately, inspired by a technique described by Page McNall.  I only went about halfway with her process, but got all involved with the needle carving/drawing and then of course "painting" either with paint or alcohol ink or both. 

She's on Flickr

I've done several, but the most current, now in progress, are these, destined to be earrings, done on copper leaf.  All are still in progress, so will no doubt be tweaked before I'm done.

                                                      

Desert Cat continued

I had thought I would finish him today, but am too distracted by family genealogy exploration, Valentine card for granddaughter (mailing Priority),  beginning packing lists, and cat herding.  
So aside from a little bit of a slimming down on cat and some under painting, this is it for the day.  Tomorrow I hope to finish. 

Palette notes: Cobalt & brilliant blue; Ochre & Azo yellow orange; red oxide & Indo Orange-red; Dioxazine Purple;  Titanium white. 

Discussing the Best Place for Lunch on the Blue Ridge

Wild blackberries added (liberties taken) ... one more layer  to go (I think) plus some tweaking here and there.  This was never meant to be so "complicated" a piece but ...

Winter Birds Move to the Blue Ridge

It appears my newest (Winter Birds) have rebelled and headed for the hills -- the  Blue Ridge, to be exact.   Yesterday was sunny, this morning was cold and raining and I have no idea why other than that.  But I'm happier ...