February 22, 2015

Escape to the Tropics

 

Escape to the Tropics Acrylic 11"x14"

We went back in time to find our inspiration for this week's painting. Cannon recalled our visit to the Garfield Park Conservatory last year when we wandered the path around the collection of banana trees, cocoa and rubber plants, orchids, waterfall and gold fish pool.

Our timing was perfect.  The house was full of tropical flower arrangements from dad's birthday party the day before. So we gathered them together to get a closer look at the colors, shapes and textures of the different blooms. Cannon selected the colors to use in his composition and then with his painting tools in hand he got started.  He directed the placement of colors and started working. He continued adding layers of color and using a variety of painting tools.

 


So good to reflect on the work together. 

Tuk-tuk

 February 15, 2015
Today's inspiration comes from a model of a tuk-tuk.  A tuk-tuk is a three wheeled gas engined vehicle that crowd many streets in Southeast Asian cities, a sort of open aired mini-taxi. They zip along crowded streets in and out of lanes and between lanes of traffic.
    








Cannon studied the model, its colors and patterns and the words "Road Liner" on the back. I shared with him my experiences observing the tuk-tuks in Karachi, how fast they moved and how they sounded a lot like lawn mowers.




Then he selected his colors and directed the placement of the colors on his canvas.  Then like the tuk-tuks themselves he made fast movements with the brayer horizontally across the canvas directing the placement of additional colors and moving them swiftly across. 




 

 Whoosh!

 We took some time out to allow the colors to dry and to reflect on the first stage of the painting.







More colors were added.  The details of green, yellow and orange, found in the designs streaked across the canvas.  Cannon indicated that the painting was finished and we relaxed and enjoyed it. 

Tuk -Tuk Acrylic Antique Gold Braid 11"x14"

 
Then we considered adding some embellishments similar to the fringes that often border the windshields and sides of the canopy overhead.  I had brought some unique gold braid from my mother's collection of sewing trims dating back to the 1940's and '50s.  We tried different placements and trims and then Cannon decided to trim all of the sides to frame the canvas.  A little hot glue and only one burned finger (mine) and the composition was complete.

 Beep-beep.

A Happy Marriage

December 15, 2014

Happy Marriage Acrylic 11"x14"

This week's composition was inspired by a gift mom and dad received many years ago in celebration of their marriage.  They are still trying to puzzle out the meaning of these two bears playing or fighting.  No matter the sculpture offers interesting forms and textures to challenge our artist. Cannon likes to work with blacks and browns, both can be challenging colors to keep lively.  The textures also offer a challenge.  Cannon touched the sculpture to see how the artist used 3D texture techniques to give the impression of fur. But it may have looked like fur but it definitely didn’t feel like fur.  Cannon felt the fur of a rabbit skin to get an idea of what thick, heavy, bear fur might  feel like.

When I arrived both Cannon and Avalon were eager to show me their decorated Christmas tree and other holiday decorations. This inspired us to do two paintings today.  One of the of the sculpture and one inspired by Christmas colors. We would switch back and forth between the two paintings letting each one dry between colors and techniques.

We started with the Christmas inspiration.  Cannon carefully directed me in the placement of each color and then using his favorite tool used the brayer to move the colors where he wanted them on the canvas.  The first layer was a combination of three different colors of green.  Then we set it aside to dry in front of the space heater.

Cannon then selected the colors for the bear sculpture inspiration – black, 2 browns, dark blue and a touch of red. Next Cannon experimented with a new textural method to give the impression of the fur on these black bears. The colors were placed on the canvas and the secret element was added and Cannon started painting with energy and enthusiasm. 

The secret ingredient worked well.

Back to the Christmas colors composition with a layer of two different red colors, some drying and then some more experiments with different tools for adding flecks of silver, gold and white. We tried a tooth brush, then a round brush and finally settled on the kitchen basting brush.  Then off for a final drying time.

 

We took a break and studied the Christmas painting while we enjoyed some special Italian holiday bread – panettone and a coffee for me.

 

Back to work!  Cannon added a few details to the “Bears” painting with a small brush.

All artists know it is important to know when to stop working on a painting and Cannon decided this one was done.

 

Back to the Christmas colors composition.  Cannon wanted to share this holiday composition with others so we divided it and created greeting cards each with an original Hoops canvas.  They will soon be on their way to friends and family. 

It was a busy day and there was lots of clean up to do – we found paint in the strangest places.

Check out the ear!

Cannon finished our session with a “selfie”. 

Shhh!  The secret ingredient - Kitty Litter.

December 7, 2014

Remembering Sky and Water

  

 

  Remembering Sky and Water Acrylic 11"x14"

Our inspiration this week came from a photograph taken on the recent Family Fall Holiday Cruise. First Cannon looked at watercolor paintings of Sky and Water by John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer.  The he studied the photo from his cruise. 

 

 

When mom printed it out it was clear that the printer needed a new color cartridge but the misprint was also interesting so we decided to make two paintings, one of the true sky water colors and one of the distorted sky water colors.

 

 

 

 

Cannon started with the true or actual colors and picked out a range of blues and blue greens.  He guided the placement of blobs of color directly on the canvas and then used the small brayer to blend and move the colors over the canvas.

 

 



Coffee Break!

After some drying time he added more layers of color, then time out for a snack and more drying time.  We spent some time playing with the dictionary, finding some new and interesting words to ponder. The he took up the brush to add clouds and highlights bouncing off the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We followed the same process on the second painting of distorted colors created by the partially empty color printer cartridge.  This was a study in pinks.  Cannon painted the entire composition with the 2 inch brayer. Of the two it was the second, pink one, which Cannon selected as his favorite. 

 

 Which one is your favorite?

 

 

November 16, 2014

Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday Acrylic 11"x14"

Feathers and Fungus

With winter setting in outside we need to look inside for our inspirations for compositions. This week we found something a little surprising - peacock feathers and fugus.  Cannon took a close look at both of them and we all had fun trying on the mask of feathers. Cannon chose the feathers for his composition.

Mom found images of peacocks on her computer then after a close examination of the feathers in different light sources and with the magnifyer Cannon was ready to select his colors.





For this composition Cannon is painting with the 2 inch printing brayer. We continue to explore the idea of painting in layers.  For the first layer we put the paint directly on the canvas. With the "model" close by Cannon decided which colors should be placed where on the canvas and then rolled the brayer through the paint letting it mix on the canvas.  He moved the brayer in different directions and by tilting it he created the "feathery" lines in the background letting the white of the canvas show through.

The first layer is rolled on - Cannon moves the roller in different directions picking up the colors and mixing them directly on the canvas.  The edge of the brayer creates the "etched" while lines.

Time to dry the first layer.








The next layers that represent the "eyes" of the peacock feathers are applied carefully with a single roll of the brayer over the paint "blob" on the canvas.  Cannon again directs the placement of each color and the direction of each "roll": This requires careful cleaning of the brayer between each color.  Letting the colors dry between layers requires lots of patience. 

Note: after the color is placed on the canvas, Cannon grasps the roller, I lightly support his forearm with my forearm as he moves the roller forward I lift his arm up at the end of the roll to help get the feather shaped effect.

 

Checking it out.

 

Yes, we are proud as peacocks!

 

 

 

November 9, 2014
 

Africa Mud and Clay Acrylic 11"x14"

African Mud and Clay
This weeks inspriation came from West Africa - Ghana.  Cannon examined two different kinds of textiles, one trationally woven Kente cloth the other mud cloth.
Kente cloth is woven in long stips just 4 inches wide on a simple loom.  The cloth is traditionally woven by men and the cotton thread is made and dyed in bright colors by women



"Kente cloth, known as nwentoma in Akan, is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan ethnic group of South Ghana. Kente Cloth, the traditional garment worn by Akans and the Kingdom of Ashanti royalty."


Mud cloth is coarse cotton cloth that is dyed in patterns with different colors of earth/mud found in different locations in West Africa.  It gives full meaning to the term "earth tones". Cannon also looked at clay beads that are shaped and then baked in small wood fired kilns.  After taking a close look at both fabrics and the beads he chose the subjects for his painting.

Cannon takes a close look at the textiles and the beads before making his decision.  And the winner is ...Mud Cloth and Beads!

 

 

With the "model"in front of us, Cannon makes his color choices and we set up his pallet with the first layers of color.  Using the printing brayer Cannon fills the canvas with the ochre background color. 

 

 





Cannon begins to add the darker raw siena to represent the patters and markings on the cloth.

Layer after layer colors are added until the final touchs of white and dark blue are added.

 

Well done Cannon!

Something for mom's special day.