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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Something New

Dead To The World,, oil sketch on gessoboard, 6" x 8"
Gessoboard is new to me.  My order was influenced by some of you.  After a couple of hours attempting to get this self portrait drawn in with a likeness, I have mixed feeling about the stuff:  I like the sketchiness of it and being able to erase almost too easily; the slipperiness is weird however and I wonder how secure is the paint with no tooth?  I did prime it and this is a sketch, so I'm not all that concerned.  Whether I'll buy it again is a wait and see.
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16 comments:

  1. SharonWrightArtistMay 27, 2015 at 12:57 PM

    I find that when the paint is dry it very easily chips off! But I find a similar surface is brilliant for layers of charcoal and fixative!

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    1. Linda RothMay 27, 2015 at 1:04 PM

      That's what I figured. Have you ever sanded it? Or put a thick layer of acrylic--mixed with silica sand? Of course, why use it at all?

      Delete
    2. SharonWrightArtistMay 27, 2015 at 6:07 PM

      Well, quite! There is enough choice to not use it at all.

      Delete
    3. Linda RothMay 27, 2015 at 7:10 PM

      As usual, I was curious. I only bought 6 little boards--and now there are five. 😄

      Delete
  2. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comMay 27, 2015 at 7:54 PM

    I find it helps to use a bit of medium, because like you, I was concerned about it not grabbing on to the surface. I do not like the surface myself except for charcoal, but it is great for Carol Marine. Her work is brilliant on it. Your sketch is strong - it does show the powerful gestural marks you made.

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    1. Linda RothMay 27, 2015 at 9:20 PM

      I used a pastel pencil to do the initial drawing and it worked well, but overall I'll stick with canvas board for small scale portraits in oil. I did better with sizing the composition with The Man Across The Aisle than I did with this one. But it works and has drama. i think finish varnish should secure it. On with the next.

      Delete
  3. martinealisonMay 27, 2015 at 11:20 PM

    Bonjour chère amie,

    F O R M I D A B L E !! Oui, je le trouve formidable cet auto-portrait. J'aime la plénitude qu'il laisse apparaître...

    ❁ ♡ Gros bisous ♡ ❁

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    1. Linda RothMay 28, 2015 at 3:03 PM

      Thanks Martinealison. Sketching has always been a strong point,; painting is another story. But I'll keep at it. As for gessoboarrd, it's not for me with just one coat of gesso; and I don't think I want to get hung up wit a lot of surface preparatory chores. Stretched canvas or canvas boards will have to do.

      Delete
  4. Gatepost productionsMay 28, 2015 at 9:15 AM

    I tried it once ... but I can't skate either. Not for me, but what do I know?

    Sketch looks meaningful and full of purpose; will you take it further?

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    1. Linda RothMay 28, 2015 at 3:09 PM

      Me neither. My ankles always caved in. Who knew there were such things as ankle guards? Not my mom; she was from Chicago.

      I have five more boards I'll use for sketches like this one as they come off the pile, after that no more gesso board. I don't want to have to fuss with it to get more tooth at this stage in my game.

      Delete
  5. Celeste BerginMay 31, 2015 at 2:17 AM

    I agree with you....gessoboard is an acquired taste! I prefer some tooth and texture. I like your sketch a lot...will you add color?

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    1. Linda RothMay 31, 2015 at 7:59 AM

      No. I think grisaille agrees with the title Dead To The World. Add color and she's not as dead. :-)) I think I could get accustomed to it as a drawing support for oils. I will double coat the initial wash though with a tinted gesso to see if that gives it more grab.

      Delete
  6. Rita VaselliMay 31, 2015 at 3:59 PM

    I write my comment before reading other.
    Even I can work in watercolor on cardboard treated with gesso.
    At first I was happy to be able to easily erase
      and find the white intact ... but then this has confused me.
    This was enjoyable experiment as many that I did for my curiosity, but it is not my cup of tea for my watercolor.
    Much better for me to have found a paper that more than others allow lift the color to get back the white paper.
    These choices are so tied to our own feelings and after trying, we are the only judge.

    Your portrait, full of drama, communicates to me strong emotions.

    Have a good week of painting in a season so beautiful, on Lake Michigan.

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    1. Linda RothJune 1, 2015 at 7:01 AM

      Very little painting going on here as we build up our energy levels and ready the house and garden for son and family' visit

      This sketch was what I did the hour and a half I found enough energy to paint that day. The six week cold zaps you of energy. This self portrait shows to what extent. I was dead tired when I took the reference. I may add a bit of color and clarify some values, but overall the scratchiness of the paint on this surface does support the title.

      Delete
  7. Rita VaselliJune 1, 2015 at 5:13 PM

    I would like to say just a word ... do not touch!
    I am nobody to tell you such a word.
    But if you wait a while, and then you will look at this work, as if it were painted by another ....
    then you will understand that in a miraculous way,in an extraordinary way, this really represents you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Rita VaselliJune 1, 2015 at 5:14 PM

    I would like to say just a word ... do not touch!
    I am nobody to tell you such a word.
    But if you wait a while, and then you will look at this work, as if it were painted by another ....
    then you will understand that in a miraculous way,in an extraordinary way, this really represents you.

    ReplyDelete

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