As it Grows Towards the Next Phase

This is where I began today.  

I added some highlights for a bit of contrast.

Then softened some of the crevices.
If it is set up enough we are moving on tomorrow and a lot of this will be gone.

Stay tuned.
😃

More Washes and Another Hue

This is where I began today.  Still adding darks.

After lots of thin dark washes, I added a blue hue to the sky area.

It’s growing 😃
It is directing me to a night sky.


Thank you for following along.

More Washes and an Added Hue

Many additional thin grey washes were added.  I need to go slow to dry in between layers.

Then let’s introduce another hue, some green.

Soon some obscuring will begin and texturing.

This is how I left it today.

Thank you for following along.  I am enjoying this process, hope you are!

Thin Thin Really Thin Washes as This Slowly Builds

Earlier today I added some bright washes to help define some shapes.

After lots and lots of really thin washes of gray we are beginning to see some changes beginning at the top and moving over the boulders.

This is where I have ended for today.

Thank you for following along in this abstract journey.

Laying in a few lines

I begin by just laying some paint on the canvas.  It isn’t really important the color I begin with, as most likely none of it will be here by the time I am finished.

I am inspired by the black hills of Custer Park.
So some shapes begin to appear as well as other marks.
Remember, this is an abstract, so some of what I begin might remain and some may not.

How I ended today.

Working in oils and cold wax, on canvas.
A nature inspired abstract.
We are just beginning and have a long way to go.  
Follow along and enjoy the process.
Thank you.

Beginning A Large Painting 3ft by 5ft

A few weeks ago a young couple came into the Stagecoach Gallery and were inquiring on commissioning a large painting.

Huge smiles from me, because a ‘young’ couple
Young! ... are interested in original painted work.

Do you have information for me about what you would like painted?  No.
Hmmmm
Well no is pretty broad, let’s break this down.

Our young lady has definite thoughts, a LOT different from our young fella.
Let the melding begin.

From our back and forth conversation and image referencing I concluded, a limited bold but muted, hazy palette.
Heavy on grey and white with touches of black.
For our young lady as her bold personality speaks she desires bold images, while our young man seeks calm.

Our first agreement is nature inspired.

Keeping with this bold personality feel, we consider abstract.
After image referencing, this becomes the preferred of our young man, this style brings him peace.
This style with strong boldness brings our young lady the huge personality she is seeking for her wall.

Our conclusion:  a nature inspired abstract!

We live with amazing venues of bold nature.
I love the inspiration from our states (South Dakota),  Black Hills.
Seems that so do they.

Black Hills Abstract coming to our future.

Stay tuned!

Catch You Up With the Window

Christ is dark enough and is ready for color, to cheeks and lips.

The older boy and youngest girl faces are also ready for color.

The cutting and fitting of garments have begun.

He appears dark flat on the table.  The robe is a beautiful regal blue, white gown.

Continuing with the older boy.

Thank you for following along.

Finishing QT k-9 portrait in Glass

All of this is stained, ‘painted’ in other words, with crushed and powdered glass.  Not traditional paints.  They are permanently fused into the clear glass canvas with high temperatures of the kiln.

The very center, where QT lays is one panel.  The other pieces will frame it and this project will hang in a window.

All the other pieces are cut and in place ready to foil and solder.

Ready to frame.

Completed and ready to mail!

All I need is your picture and either a box or panel can be created for your collection or for a special gift.

Contact me:  mshemeral@midstatesd.net 

Finishing the Special Couple Box

In the last post about the Special Couple box we had not added any of the blue colors .  Once the blue was added, it took about 3 firings in the kiln to get the colors deep enough to my liking.
The blues were the last colors to add.

On to building the box itself.

Originally I thought I would use clear bevels but, the very clear did not appeal to me and I changed over to this milky white.  Which has a bit of translucent qualities that will illuminate the lid nicely yet offer the contents a bit of privacy.

This box being a bit larger than most are that I work up, deserved a box on box lid.  Meaning each, lid and bottom, are boxes but fit onto each other.

At this point the lid might have a hinge added but, due to the weight of this project I tried a lift off lid.

I added posts inside to keep the lid from sliding off.

Genius right!

The post is in the corner.

The edges are sculpted to add visual and tactile texture.

Then it has acid washed and I color the copper in my signature blend and polish and we are done!

Brining You Up to Speed for the Large Chapel Window Unit

Let me refresh you where this project begins.

With drawing that I will use continually as references throughout the construction.

There are portrait drawings that are used for staining the faces for the final window.  As well as reference for cutting the garments that will go in place.

First the faces need to be completed before the unit can begin final stages of construction.

In the first staining the reference marks are laid on the glass.  The stain is crushed glass powder that is fired at high temperatures in a kiln that melts the crushed glass into the substrate glass leaving the design.

successive firings doing the same thing will darken the image.

The process is continued through several firings getting the face darker.

And darker.

 

 

And darker.

 

Where the piece rests at this time.  On the light box, I can judge how the sun might come through and if the shading is too light still, or right.

He will need another stain treatment and kiln firing but, I can begin to add more character to his features as, he is almost dark enough.

I am working on the other two faces and the dove getting them to the finished stage and then we begin cutting glass for the rest of the unit.

Thank you for following along.

♥

Our Special Couple

Our special couple is sister to who is giving the surprise gift treasure box.

Let me take you through their steps, as she is making them a booklet of the process.  This post is just for them.

Beginning with a reference photo, I take from this what will be the best once I have adapted to the size of the box that will be made.

Everything about the treasure box is glass and metal.  There is zero paint involved.
The paint is staining and the stain is comprised of fine ground glass mixed with minerals and ores that strike the intended color onto the substrate (clear) glass used as the "canvas".

Beginning with a reference outline, that is fired in the kiln to 1300 degrees melting the chips down into the clear glass and permanent.

I begin to slowly build up the composition

This last picture might be a tad blurry from the reflection of the lights.  See the two tones of the jacket the yellow and whites of the sweater, the build up in the hair and finally some skin.

Next additions are the lower firing minerals that will add colors.

Everything about using this method that dates back to the Egyptian era, is planning out mineral and ore strikes that color our project but fire at different kiln temperatures.  If you fire a mineral that strikes at 1000 degrees to 1300 degrees, then the color will evaporate.  The glass stays but without color.

Stay tuned we are adding blues next!!!

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www.stagecoachplatte.com

Thank you for visiting!

Moving Forward with the Other Tables Project

When you look at the pieces I am creating on glass, I am using powder glass mixed with oil that strikes the color and design once it is fired in the kiln to melt it down into the substrate glass.

This is not paint although it looks as if it might be.

It is properly referred to as, staining.

Minerals and ores mixed with powdered/crushed glass, create the color.  The color surfaces from different temperatures.
A kiln is used to reach the desired temperature.


The growth of QT is a bit more advanced than the couple, as she is mostly the white color.

The colors as I mentioned are chopped and mixed with oils.  Each artists prefers their brand of oil to use and that become determined through their own experimentation.
The style for application has a specific method, however that can also become interpreted to each artist depending on their style and taste.

I explain this because I break from the pack and have a different style than most for applying my stains to the glass.

What I will show you is again, not "painted" but applied.
Chip by chip, drip by drip.
I use different brushes to move the elixir around until I am satisfied, then the oil evaporates off and I fire the powder residue left.

The technical stuff and chemistry and schedules I will leave off the explanation but, know there is more to this process than meets the eye.

A very labor intensive process but worth the results.

In the previous post we saw QT in her first fire in the kiln.
Here she is after many hours of application but, not yet ready for the next kiln visit.

Here she is ready for the next kiln visit.

I hope you are enjoying the process.

Thank you for visiting.

If you feel inclined, please share the link.
♥

On the Other Table

In addition to working on the chapel Window Unit, I am working on 2 other special order pieces.

1.  Celebrating life.  A special gift from her sister.

The first application of glass in the first kiln visit.

Using the reference I am given, I adapt what information will fit the size of the box ordered.

The second project is QT.

A favored doggie who is going to make a very special surprise gift for his wife.
This project is going to be a panel that will hang in their window.
The part I am working on now will be the center of the panel.

Her first firing went in like this.
Using this reference.

 

 

They are ready now for another kiln visit.

 

Come on back to see their progress!

 

Thank you