Friday, April 25, 2014

It looked okay......but.....

As I indicated in my previous post, I have turned my interest to learning Pen & Ink and Watercolour techniques.
So.....what about this title? Well, I will explain.....and show you. I wanted to try using a masking fluid to block out my main image so that I could easily create an interesting background. I had this bottle of masking fluid (Frisket)...it has been sitting on my shelf for a very long time.......it looked okay,  but evidently, it was not.

I first inked my subject, then brushed a layer of masking fluid across the areas I wanted to be left without paint.  The fluid went on nice and even.....acted exactly as I expected.


It was only after I painted the background that I discovered that I had a problem.


Instead of coming off easily, the Frisket was extremely difficult to remove, the more I tried, the "gooey-er" it became and if that wasn't bad enough, it was also lifting the ink.  ah ....but I had already spent a good deal of time on this, so, I was not giving up just yet.


I found the solution was to use my hair dryer, by warming that (now blackened) goo, I finally got it all off. 


BUT now my inked image had lost much of its ink and was being lost under the watercolour, so I went over it with fresh ink afterward. 

 You know the saying......Learn by your mistakes?  Okay, so, lesson learned, I later found out that apparently masking fluid only has a shelf life of about 1 year..... my bottle was nearly a decade old.

while I was at the art supply store (purchasing a new bottle of masking fluid), I decided to treat myself to some tubes of watercolour as well as a fresh new palette.


I placed colour in each of the wells of my new palette and then created a guide for myself. This guide will act as a quick reference for the not only the colour, but also the name and number for each....( I think I will include the brand and maybe date purchased as well)



In this detail photo, you can see that the concentrated dry paint in the wells look substantially different from the actual colour they produce.

I am currently trying to decide if I should start a new blog dedicated to my newest interest, or simply continue posting here.


18 comments:

Robbie said...

Lovely work!!! Beautiful work!!!! And your tip on creating the chart for your watercolor is perfect! Whether you keep your work on this blog or a new one, I for one will continue to follow you!!! Just be sure to let us know!!

Glenda said...

Hello again, or hello at long last. How good to see your latest work/play. Of course you can start a new blog, but you certainly don't need to. A QuiltRat can paint. A PaintRat could quilt. You are not narrowly defined by a name at all. It's just a name. We already have a well worn path to your door. We expect that around the corner, you may weave or knit or become a potter and we'll happily cheer from the side lines then too.
This latest piece of art is great. I love the size of the eye. Just perfect.

Jean S said...

I think you can do it all here. I've chosen to direct my own artistic attention to quilting (art and traditional), but the fine art and graphic designer in me wants to add more graphic images into my quilts and find ways to develop a water-color type technique on cloth. I also devote time to knitting and crocheting, making clay tiles, spinning wool and trying out any medium that looks interesting. I'm easily bored. I still come back to those things that have sustained me and find ways to include them in trying out new techniques. Why not think of this as a personal exploration blog wherever that may lead you! The plus for us is that we get to share in your journey and process and learn along with you.

Unknown said...

Jill, I am so glad to see you are enjoying your new creative path with inks, and what you learned. You are multifaceted in so many mediums. I love your bird artwork. I don't have a green thumb for gardening, or growing plants, but I like to think I garden with fabric in my quilts! Keep up your creative energy and share your lovely work with us.

Borderline Quilter said...

Hi Jill....I would love to see you post all of your artwork on this blog....life is just too busy for all of the blog hopping I used to do. Yours is one of my must see blogs I love your work so if you do move please make us aware of your new site....Fabulous drawings as always. Your drawing skills are what originally attracted me to your blog many moons ago....I know I don't visit as often as I should but promise to resolve that soon....

Finishing Lines by K.Sperino said...

This is wonderful! And I have had the masking problems also. Yes, learn and go forward ! Beautiful work as usual, stay and post here.

Karen S said...

I've been playing around a bit with watercolors. Nice to see you branching out too. I love your new palette; it's inspiring me! I have a challenge to finish this week, then maybe I can play too! Thanks for the post!

Jo Ferguson said...

The final piece is stunning. There's something in the look of the bird's eye that makes it so realistic. You really captured the essence of your subject. I would never have thought of masking fluid having only a one year shelf life. Thanks to your lesson learned...I will make sure to test some of that old stuff I have sitting around. As for the blog, I think you can see that your readers are fine with you staying with this one. I think it would be nice for new readers to see the art you've created over the years, as well as, your new work. The choice is yours, so follow your heart.

quiltedfabricart said...

I agree with the others about staying here. I think even though I don't do pen and ink, I enjoy watching you and am inspired no matter if it's something I would do or not. I do love to sketch and draw and fabric paint so it's all relative. Also I bet you will return to quilting at some point. I do so love watching your process, the good the bad and the mistakes. Thank you for sharing them so we can learn.

Amy Art Quilter & Fyber Cafe said...

You can also scan and then print your drawings onto fabric to quilt, just a suggestion. My sketches help me define my art in fabric, they are a part of who I am as an artist. I try new things all the time, that is half the fun!!!

Sherri said...

as always, I enjoy your postings...NOW I know what these tubes of paint are for...a plastic palette! duh

See? An old dog CAN learn new tricks! lol

Patsy said...

Stay here! We want to see what you're creating, whether it's fiber-related or not!

Createology said...

How very thankful you were able to salvage your precious drawing. Little birdie is beautiful! Such a good idea to reference your new paints and with the date. I will follow you and your Creative Bliss no matter how many blogs you have.

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Live, learn, shopping....Love the outcome! Such talent girlfriend.

Clare Wassermann said...

Yes I've moved too. Into painting more and more but I come back to stitch too. It's YOU we like following so stay here and show us your developments. You never know how you might combine it all in the end. X

Diane J. Evans said...

I love the way you always snatch victory from the jaws of defeat -- who would have thought of a hair dryer??!! And I agree that you can do anything you want on this blog -- what's in a name, after all? You will always be the Quilt Rat to me, but you have shown us that you're much more than just quilting -- you can do it all, girlfriend. Keep growing and sharing with us, please.

And what did you use to paint the background? It's gorgeous.

Diane

Renate said...

It seems that everyone has already said it all, and I agree with those that say "stay" or "what's in a name anyway". I enjoy every aspect of your artistic endeavours. All that is left to be said is contained in this quote "A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Bunny said...

Well I have not had a visit here for months. You never cease to totally amaze me. You are ever so talented.
Bunny

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