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.