a new beginning

I have been horrible about posting here, as well as on my other two art related blogs, so I'm consolidating and starting a new blog on my website, which was not possible when I started all this. For my most recent blog post go here. See you there... jm

My First Tintypes

In the midst of collaborations and stretching I've been experimenting as well! All good things to keep me sharp and growing creatively. Last semester my friend and colleague taught an alternative process photography class, which didn't fit well into my schedule, so I didn't ever attend, but I did get to see many of his students and what they were working on. One of those students came through lab one day proudly showing off something that truly captured my attention: a tintype.



Tintype photographs are literally a piece of black metal that has a photo emulsion applied to it. When exposed and processed, a pale negative (and reversed) image is produced, creating an often eerie effect. The original tintypes were a wet plate process, meaning that the plate had to be coated, exposed and developed while the emulsion was still wet. While there are modern artists who use wet plate processes, there is also a company that has developed a dry plate process for tintypes. This dry plate process allows for plates to be coated at one time, and exposed and developed at separate times, much like film.



The combination of the warm brown tones, eerie qualities and relative ease of the modern tintype instantly attracted me. It wasn't long after I saw that first student's own tintype that I ordered my own chemical kit and then, after the holidays were past, got another student to come assist me and share what she had learned working the process. (No need to repeat the mistakes of others when they can be learned from!)



So these are my first tintypes - shot last week from my front porch when it was raining, because that was the day my darkroom partner could spare the time. I was barely paying attention to what I photographed or how I would use them, as I was so focused on the process itself. The second plate was an experiment in exposure, which resulted in being underexposed and possibly then over-developed, but I find it appealing in its own way nonetheless.

I have since thought more about how I'll be using these treasures in my larger works and I'll be doing more in that direction soon...

Collaboration

Still on a brief creative side trip, this project is a collaboration with a friend, Terry Flowers. Terry has been working on altered playing cards on his own and in collaboration with many other collage artists, and suggested we do a set. He gave me these cards started with the sheet music, birds and stamps - acknowledging me and my favored imagery - and I did the rest - We'll be splitting these cards up into our personal collections, five each (he gets the extra "Wedding Card, more about that below.) It'll be hard to choose...

With this last one, Terry just asked me to do whatever altering to this "Wedding Card" - apparently he's conducting a social experiment - and I obliged.

Altogether, this was a good excercise for me; I started out fully planning on working more like I usually do, coloring and painting, but then I decided to work more in a way that I don't normally, just to stretch a little. Good for all the creative muscles.

And now for something completely different

So I've got the big commission piece basically finished, but it's sitting on an easel so I can live with a little and make sure before I varnish it. In the meantime, I've got a couple other projects to get done. Sometimes I take creative side roads to entertain myself and keep the creative muscles limber. This is a sketchbook project for Arthouse, and one of those creative side roads, but don't worry, there's a map so you won't get lost...

(you can click on an image to see them all bigger)

 

Hometown, CA

Even if I haven't been posting, I have been making progress on the big commission piece on the worktable, so here's a quick overview of progress:

(Pre-Christmas) All the pieces assembled and laid out, ready for client approval.

(Post-Christmas) Got everything stuck to the panel, including texture.

Detail shot of first layer of pencil work, beginning to add color and hand drawn parts of the piece.

My colored pencils in their case and on the piece as I work. You can see the reference piece I'm using to keep me on track with the palette for this piece.

All the colored pencil work done, it seems pretty subtle at this point but it's important for the detail work to hold up in the finished work.

First couple layers of paint on now, this is how it looks right now, ready for me to continue to add more layers of color...

Next on the Worktable

And now showing on the studio worktable is a commission piece, including a couple sketches of dogs that are near and dear to the gentleman who I am creating for.

 

 First, a flat coated retriever...

 

And then a golden retriever.

This particular commission piece is a combination of many things that make the town of San Anselmo special to one of it's residents, including several different landmark buildings that will appear to be in one street scene. This was completely the client's idea, which I loved! I'll be posting updates on that soon...

Where to see that Christmas Art...

I'm in the midst of posting the Christmas themed works that incorporate those sheep - you can go read about them in my Visions blog - Go to Bethlehem and In the City of David. The next two are coming soon...

sheep sketch

Working on some new pieces with a Christmas theme, so some sheep are in order... (you know, shepherds tending their flocks...)