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For more information on how I developed this project, please visit the following blog post: http://esterroi.com/blog/post/2014/06/cambria
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I just returned from a fabulous vacation in Montana’s Glacier National Park. I usually schedule my vacation trips around areas where I can find inspiration for my art. This trip was no exception as you can see in the pictures below.
Lake McDonald was definitely worth the 4 day round trip drive. However, the best pebbles and glacial crystal clear water I found in the river feeding the lake, the McDonald Creek.
The natural beauty of Montana really filled my soul with awe and inspiration. I’m very eager to further develop my passion for rocks and water through a new series and perhaps even a different medium as well. However, I first need to finish my current commission. Below is a progress image of the 24" x 48" canvas that I hope to complete by the end of the month.
Title: "Cambria"
Size: 6.5" x 11.5"
Medium: Caran d'Ache Luminance Colored Pencils
Tools: Tortillions, Paper Stumps, Full Blender Bright
Surface: Extra Fine Texture Canvas primed with two coats of clear Art Spectrum Colourfix Primer
Technique: Icarus Drawing Board
Above is the outline of this project. It's a combo piece of two small artworks I did in the past. After I developed the drawing in graphite, I transferred it onto the canvas using local colors.
Here I've blocked-in the main colors using a low temperature setting, just enough heat to make the layering a little faster and more even. Now I have a clear map of the basic colors.
After turning up the temperature dial to a medium setting I began burnishing. This is the process of saturating the canvas with pigment. I'm developing the values while blending colors and adding details. The only tools I use, besides the Icarus board, are tortillions, paper stumps, and a colorless blender.
More burnishing and blending in progress.
More burnishing and blending in progress
And finally the finished artwork. The title is after the location on the California Central Coast where I collected these pebbles.
The most important step in developing a small group of pebbles is to find a good composition. Nature appears very random at first glance. To discover a 'jewel' I need to practice patience and perseverance. After finding a good composition, I then begin adjusting values and colors. Rendering the drawing is really the icing on the cake.
Click here for the step-by-step of this artwork: River Pebbles, No. 12
Title: "River Dance"
Size: 12" x 24"
Medium: Prismacolor Premier, Caran d'Ache Luminance, Derwent Coloursoft, Faber-Castell Polychromos, Caran d'Ache Neocolor I and II
Tools: Tortillions, Paper Stumps, and Colour Shapers
Surface: Extra Fine Texture Canvas primed with two coats of clear Art Spectrum Colourfix Primer
Technique: Icarus Drawing Board
Presentation: Mounted on a 3/4" Ampersand Claybord, varnished and framed without glass
This riverbed is more abstract than my previous ones. I felt I was looking at a dance of shapes and colors.
Original artwork, 6" x 6", framed: 15.5" x 15.5"
Varnished, warm silver wood frame
One $400
Two $350 each
Three $300 each
Four $250 each
FREE SHIPPING in the USA!
If you're interested, please email [email protected]
Recently I sold the last available original in my rock and water series, "Crescendo". Its new home is in Washington State.
Clearly this series has a wider appeal than my flowers so I will continue with colorful riverbeds.
The first one of the two artworks I just started is a large commission, a 24" x 48" canvas.
Below you can see a faint outline. I will show only cropped progress images and allow my collector to see the finished work first.
The second artwork I recently started is a medium size canvas, 12" x 24". This riverbed is very intriguing to me; it's moodier and more abstract than my previous ones, showing plenty of water movement and unusual reflections.
Below you can see a photo of the initial outline and another one with some progress.
Both canvases are primed with Art Spectrum Pastel and Multimedia Primer (Colourfix) and I will be using a combination of Neocolors, oil pastels and colored pencils on the Icarus board.
Stay tuned for progress photos.
I'm thrilled that "River Pebbles, No. 12" sold yesterday to an amazing collector in Florida.
After spraying the canvas with Golden MSA Spray Varnish, gloss, I mounted it on a 6" x 6" x 2" Claybord using this method: http://esterroi.com/blog/post/2011/10/canvas-and-the-icarus-board-final-post
Then I painted the Claybord's sides with acrylic. It's now ready for the final varnish, Golden Polymer Varnish with UVLS, gloss. I will varnish it tomorrow because I want the acrylic to be completely dry.
This artwork is now for sale on my website: http://esterroi.com/artwork/view/rocks-water/river-pebbles-no.-12
Title: River Pebbles, No. 12
The outline was accomplished with Prismacolor Verithin on the cool zone of the Icarus board.
In this step I blocked-in the main colors on the warm zone with very low heat, just enough to soften the waxy pigments.
After setting the temperature control at medium, I began adding pigment until the canvas was completely covered. I then blended the colors with a tortillon or a paper stump.
I really enjoyed this piece. However, now that it's finished, I wish I made it larger. The swirls of colors would have looked even better on a 12" x 12". It probably would have taken me the same amount of time had I incorporated wax pastels (Neocolors).
I just mounted the canvas on a 6" x 6" x 2" Claybord. Soon I can varnish it, photograph it, and put it for sale on my website.
