As you can see, I'm finally finished with my experiment on canvas (16'' x 24'').
It hasn't been an easy ride. While family and business obligations kept interrupting my creative process, the other reason it took me so long is that I chose a very complex subject in addition to a brand new technique.
If you need to refresh your memory, you can review the first blog post here: Canvas and the Icarus Board.
As I was layering the colored pencils on the acrylic-painted canvas, I became increasingly unsatisfied. The waxy pigment wasn't adhering nor covering as well as I had hoped. After many hours of trials and errors I finally came to an acceptable solution (see red type below).
Following are steps and suggestions:
- Purchase acrylic gesso primed cotton canvas by the yard - tightly woven is best suited - do not use coarse textured canvas.
- Cut a piece of canvas about an inch wider on each side than the final size.
- Trace your drawing with colored pencils using a light box or a window.
- Extend the drawing a quarter inch all around to account for possible misalignment during mounting.
- Block-in the colors using acrylics - make sure to cover the whole canvas with paint.
- With a sponge roller apply an even layer of Art Spectrum Colourfix Clear Primer. This simple step will help colored pencil adhere well to the acrylic painted canvas.
- After the primer is completely dry (I waited 24 hours), you can begin layering your wax-based colored pencils on the Icarus Drawing Board at medium heat. High heat will help you blend large areas.
- As a last step, clean up all your whites, edges, and details on the cool zone.
Below is a picture of all the colored pencils that I used in this project:
I'm planning to spray fixative, mount the canvas on a cradled board, varnish it, and frame it. I will have more images and give you my final thoughts on a third blog post.
For more on "Canvas and the Icarus Board" please click on the following links:
Canvas and the Icarus Board
Canvas and the Icarus Board: Final Post
30 comments
Terry Rempel-Mroz
September 19, 2011
WOW! What a beautiful piece - the colours and the detail are striking. It looks so 3-dimensional - the flower just jumps right off the screen!
The technique sounds intriguing. I’m interested in hearing about how the mounting will go on the stretcher bars (if you’re going to do that. And also what kind of fixative/varnish you will use on this flexible surface?
This is so amazing :-)
Ester Roi
September 19, 2011
Thank you, Terry. I will mount it on a cradled board and will post all the details within a week.
Jill
September 19, 2011
Wow this turned out beautiful!
Ester Roi
September 19, 2011
Thank you, Jill. I’m glad to hear from you!
Kendra Ferreira
September 19, 2011
Beautiful! Love all the colors and reflections in the water. Thank you for all of your suggestions about working on canvas!
Ester Roi
September 19, 2011
The pleasure is mine, Kendra!
Rhonda Anderson
September 20, 2011
OMG - this is absolutely beautiful! You’re so generous with your ideas and process, I can’t wait to see this live!
Ester Roi
September 20, 2011
Well, thank you, Rhonda! That’s very thoughtful of you.
Linda Mahoney
September 20, 2011
Really nice! I’m saving my pennies for an Icarus board and, in the meantime, looking forward to reading about your mounting method. Thanks for sharing, Ester!
Ester Roi
September 20, 2011
You are welcome, Linda! It’s my pleasure.
Simon Sobo
September 20, 2011
Your water looks sooooooooooo wet! VERY impressive.
Juliet Aucreman
September 20, 2011
Holy Beans! What a wonder!
Ines
September 20, 2011
Wow, the flower really hops out, it looks so real and vivid.. fantastic work! Thanks so much to share your secrets with us :)
Ester Roi
September 20, 2011
Simon, Juliet, and Ines, thank you for your kind comments!
Lisa Mills
September 20, 2011
That is absolutely phenomenal! Are you planning on entering this in the CPSA Explore This! Competition? It’ll be a winner. One question: did you work from an under-water photo on this?
Teresa Mallen
September 21, 2011
What an interesting read! Your perseverance has paid off as this is yet again another stunning piece! I agree with the other commenters in all of the praise that has been voiced. And I like Juliet’s ‘Holy Beans’, will have to remember that one! :-)
Ester Roi
September 21, 2011
Thank you, Teresa. I agree with you, Juliet’s expressions are always very “colorful”.
Barbara Goodsitt
September 22, 2011
This is a stunning painting. Thanks for sharing your process too. You are very creative and adventurous. Great work!
Ester Roi
September 22, 2011
Thank you, Barbara, for your kind words and for visiting.
Aaron Zenz
September 23, 2011
Your work is gorgeous! Thank-you for sharing!
Ester Roi
September 23, 2011
The pleasure is mine, Aaron!
Theresa
September 24, 2011
Absolutely stunning Ester. The flower is so real and seems to be floating away from the surface. Thanks too for the info re painting on canvas ... fascinating reading.
Shauna Kazmierczak
September 24, 2011
Ester, this is so very beautiful! It’s relaxing and inspiring at the same time.
Thank you for sharing :)
Ester Roi
September 24, 2011
You are welcome, Theresa, and thank you for your kind comment!
Ester Roi
September 24, 2011
Hi Shauna, thank you for checking in and for your gracious words.
Lynn Rank
September 25, 2011
WOW Ester,
I mean the size alone warrants much time…taken. But then a new technique, too…..
What a piece!!!
So wondering when did you put the Art Spectrum Colorfix on? After the primer and acrylic? inbetween? when you were frustrated and looking for something to help?, hehe….
Well, for a “first” this is truly unbelievable…..
Lynn
Ester Roi
September 25, 2011
Lesson learned, Lynn: “when trying new techniques, keep the other parameters easy.”
I put the Colourfix primer right over the acrylic under-painting (the primer dries completely clear). Then I layered my colored pencils on top.
Thank you for visiting, Lynn.
Canvas and the Icarus Board: Final Post | Ester Ro
October 08, 2011
[...] Canvas and the Icarus Board Canvas and the Icarus Board: Part 2 [...]
Canvas and the Icarus Board | Ester Roi's Web
October 08, 2011
[...] Canvas and the Icarus Board: Part 2 [...]
Ester Roi
October 10, 2011
Lisa, I just found your comment in the spam filter. Sorry for the delay in answering this. First of all thank you for your kind words! I haven’t decided yet what to enter into Explore This! but I appreciate your vote of confidence. Yes, I took the pictures from under-water.