Graffiti Series #21

Graffiti Series #21

Yesterday was a busy day for me and I totally neglected to post on this blog.  Oops!  

I am so glad I know a few basic PhotoShop skills.  They are so helpful when it comes to resizing and changing contrasts in photos.  Remember when we used the copy machine to resize images, at least that is how I use to do it.  Well, I guess I have still been known to resize on my printer but not often.

Graffiti Series #20

Graffiti Series #20 

I am fascinated by vintage bathing attire.  When one considers what is acceptable attire for swimming now versus the modest attire of years gone by I have to smile.  I particularly like the balance in this piece.....three swimmers and three men on the porch.  Maybe at first glance you would think that is six figures, oh no, an even number.  Look closely and you see a little girl looking up at one of the men who most likely is her father.  The red stamp grounds my eye bringing it full circle.  The odd number of three images also balances the piece nicely.

Graffiti Series #19

Graffiti #19

Finding ephemera that works just right is tricky sometimes.  Laying out what I want to use and thinking about what would best go with what I start with takes a bit of time.  In this series I started with all the backgrounds and then worked on the basic three focal points of the piece.  The stamp was always last and the photo usually first or second.

It is funny how things go.  I had a sale about ten days ago and I got a lot of great feedback about the Graffiti Series.  I sold eight of them in one day.  I also got feedback that many people would like to have significant photos to their family and I got two commissions.  So that is pretty exciting for this old guy! :-)

Graffiti Series #18

Graffiti Series # 18

When I am nearing the end of completing a collage I frequently splatter some paint.  A few dark spots of paint and I call it done. There have been times when I used stenciled spots to complete the work or even Portfolio pastels through a stencil to finish the piece.  It is just a little bit here and there that seems to provide a tie it all together moment.

Graffiti Series # 17

Graffiti Series # 17

I used glazing liquid on several of the pieces in the Graffiti Series.  It not only can possibly tint depending on if you add pigment to the liquid but it also leaves a more glossy look.  Gloss or matte is definitely a personal preference. If one does not like the glossy look after using the glazing liquid, a quick light coat of matte medium will bring back the look you desire.  One reason for a tinted glaze is to unify the piece.  With that said, distress inks and matte varnish can achieve the look desired as well.

Graffiti Series # 16

Graffiti Series #16

Don't you just love the attitude and the strut of these women.  Can't you just see them on a street out of a day of shopping, gossiping,  and lunch?  Another medium I used in this series is Inktense blocks.  If you have never used Inktense blocks you might try to find an art friend who has them because they are pricey but to me well-worth it.  They are applied like a crayon or you can use them like watercolors.  If you are using them like a crayon you color and then wet a brush and go over what you colored.  The pigment is intense.

Graffiti Series # 15

Graffiti Series #15 

Another technique that I used in this series is transfer paper markings with asemic writing.  Transfer paper is kind of like carbon paper.  It comes in different colors.  I used mostly white and gray in the Graffiti series but I always wrote using asemic writing which is nonsense writing.  It always looks great and adds another layer to each work.