The Kitchen Sink

Alejandro Blues

Once upon a time, I read an article about Gesso.  It's a Mysterious Liquid that all artists know about.  At the time, I didn't know what it did (not so sure I do now), but thought it worth an experiment or two.

Alejandro Blues close-up detail

Grabbing a large posterboard, I slathered Gesso all over it.  Let it dry.  And was relatively unimpressed with the result.

Hmmm, wonder what would happen if....?

And thus began, Alejandro Blues.  Both these illustrations here are small sections of the 22"x28" piece.  To the right, is a close up of the turtle's right 'foot' and some heavily-loaded-with-salt seaweed.

The foundation for Alejandro is the aforementioned 1)Gesso, topped with lots of 2)white glue, 3)gouache, and 4) watercolor.

Just to see what would happen, I also smeared lavish amounts of  5)Vaseline,  6)sand, and 7) chunks of Kosher salt all over it, too.

After waiting for my 'canvas' to dry, I added the final touches in 8) oil pastels.  Does smearing stuff around with a knife count as #9?

When I moved toward The Kitchen Sink, it ran away.
Brooke

Mural Fun

Brooke's first mural was a spontaneous 'challenge'.  On a Saturday work day at church, her Pastor (seemingly on the spur of the moment) offered her an entire room (54 feet of blank wall!), and asked her to draw something as a proposal.

"Quick," he said.  "Here's a napkin.  Draw something."
She ruffled around in her purse and came up with a chisel- tipped black marker.
"Go ahead, draw something," the Pastor encouraged.

Nothing more intimidating than having to draw Something, in an instant, on a napkin, with seven people all watching.

So, the pen was faithful, and drew an angel.  And then came the cheers from the appreciative audience.

Thus began the huge, four month long Mural Project, of which these little sheep are but a small portion.

What was NEW to Brooke's drawing experience was finding out about non-toxic paints (children will lick the drawings on the walls.  Really.), how to mix extenders ('oh, please DON'T dry before I'm ready!'), and Most Important Of All (!) finding a suitable assistant.


Frankly, the mural could not have been done without Brooke's Able Assistant.  Said Able Assistant was Jenna, and 13 years old at the time, and unbelievably good at understanding Panic Speech.

"Jenna!  JENNA!!" Brooke Panic Speeched, watching a blob of paint sinking south. " I need a Yanga Yatta, NOW!" her right arm extended significantly at Jenna.  "Hurry!"
"One clean 2 inch brush, right," came the inevitable calm reply, as the 'Yanga' was firmly placed in Brooke's outstretched hand.
"Yes, YES!  Exactly!  Thank you!  Oh, you are WONDERFUL!"

Jenna was like a Head Nurse during surgery.  She watched Brooke so closely, that she knew what Brooke needed before Brooke could bungle English in her attempt to verbalize it.  Sponges, rags, tape, rulers, and even brushes dipped in the right color, would all be shoved into Brooke's hands BEFORE words were exchanged.  It was a pretty cool thing to watch, actually.

Brooke tells me that, if Jenna were at hand, she'd paint another mural in a heartbeat.

Wish I could carry more than a #12 brush,
Mildred