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21-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Class Room View of Painting Titled:  ‘Apple’ on A3 Canvas Paper painted in oil paints.  Painting and photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016.  NB All images are protected by copyright laws

INTRODUCTION

My 8th class in ‘Produce Paintings’ and ‘Produce Drawings’ (these being subjects that are part of ‘Certificate III in Visual Arts’) was a challenge as usual, but this week during my ‘Produce Painting’ class I felt I had more personal creative success. And during the ‘Produce Drawing’ class we had the opportunity to use a new medium which was interesting and fun, and a lovely way to complete the day’s creative efforts.  Now for a two-week break!

NB:  To view my blogs about previous classes, please click on the links given here – Classes 1, Classes 2, Classes 3, Classes 4, Classes 5, Classes 6 and Classes 7 and for this week’s classes 8 for ‘Produce Paintings’ and ‘Produce Drawings’ – please scroll down to view.

9-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE  – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Oil Paint selection I chose to use for painting titled ‘Apple’.  Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016.  NB All images are protected by copyright laws

PRODUCE PAINTING CLASS

Our ‘Produce Painting’ class commenced with our teacher, VIN RYAN, checking in with each of the students individually.  Vin also talked about the process used to stretch a canvas, the use of Gesso as a universal primer on canvas and about oil paint brush types.

How to Stretch a Canvas

• Vin indicated that the purchase of stretched canvases can be an expense that art students can struggle to afford, and having the knowledge to stretch one’s own canvases can be a good way to save money.
• During the ‘stretch a canvas’ demonstration, Vin explained that we needed to ensure we allowed enough canvas to wrap around the outer edging of the wooden frame, and allow enough canvas for the underside of the wooden frame itself. Stapling should start in the middle of each arm of the wooden frame, then working outwards and towards the corners.  And at all times stretching the canvas with the tool especially designed to do this task, so that the canvas ends up taut and sounding like a drum when tapped, on completion.  The corners are folded in firmly and tightly as per the image below and as shown on the YouTube video.

10-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Vin Ryan demonstrating stretching of canvas. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

11-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Vin Ryan demonstrating stretching of canvas. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

13-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Vin Ryan demonstrating stretching of canvas. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

14-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Vin Ryan demonstrating stretching of canvas. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

• Please find below a YouTube video produced by Joh Peters.  It basically follows the same stretch canvas methods and use of tools that Vin used during his demonstration in the ‘Produce Paintings’ class.

Use of Gesso

• We also learned about priming a canvas using Gesso so that the surface of the canvas is ready for paint to adhere to it.  Vin explained that Gesso is usually white or off-white in colour and is made from paint pigment, chalk and binder although traditional oil ‘glue Gesso’ was made of animal glue binder, usually rabbit-skin glue, chalk, and white pigment – Titanium White.  Coloured Gesso can be purchased premixed black, coloured and clear, and it can also be coloured by simply mixing a little paint to tint the Gesso (Will Kemp 2015).
• We also learned that when preparing a canvas with Gesso, you need to use a wide flat brush and the bigger the canvas surface, the bigger the brush needed. Vin explained the importance of scrubbing the Gesso into the canvas surface to ensure a good coverage is achieved.  Once the canvas is completely dry, he said we could use a sheet of very fine sandpaper to gently sand over the canvas to achieve a really smooth painting surface.

Oil & Water Colour Brushes:-

• We talked about the different types of brushes available and their different painting purposes. Recommended for oil painting are those with a stiff hair as they have enough resilience to control and manipulate the colour (Winsor Newton 2016). There are a variety of brushes and each has unique properties to assist in achieving a specific creative result (Winsor Newton 2016).  NB:  I found a list of oil and watercolour brushes on Winsor & Newton’s website and have included it below:­

1. Artists Hog Brushes – “Finest quality traditional hog brush, handcrafted using Chungking bristles, flagged ends for best colour carrying capacity and available with long handles” (Winsor & Newton 2016).
2. Monarch Brushes – “Professional synthetic hair brush, mimics natural mongoose hair, designed for oil colour and for subtle blending, glazing and detail” (Winsor & Newton 2016).
3. Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour Brushes – “For use with Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour, synthetic fibres which performs like hog, maintains shape and spring when used with water, and can be cleaned with soap and water” (Winsor & Newton 2016).
4. Winton Hog Brushes – “Natural bristle brush, designed for use with Winton Oil Colour, curved bristle maintains shape, and allows control and accuracy” (Winsor & Newton 2016).
5. Azanta Black Brushes – “Value for money hog hair brush, for oil and acrylic painting, great for beginners, and good stiffness for thick colour” (Winsor & Newton 2016).
6. University Brushes – “Synthetic all-purpose brushes, stiff enough for oil and acrylic, soft enough for watercolour, and less visible brush marks” (Winsor & Newton 2016).
7. Foundation Brushes – “Natural hog bristle, available in long and short handles, and can also be used for acrylics” (Winsor & Newton 2016).

6-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

MY ‘PRODUCE PAINTING’ CLASS PROJECT

• Art Purchases:-  Before class commenced I stopped in at the Senior Art Supplies store on Degraves Street to purchase ‘Art Spectrum Brush and Hand Cleaner‘ so that I could clean my brushes and hands after using oil paints.  “It is non-toxic, non-abrasive, biodegradable and contains no harsh solvents” (The art Scene 2012) which is good as we must think about chemical use and the environment.  Vin, the art teacher, also confirmed that this product “cleans and also restores old brushes that are stiff with dried up paint” (The art Scene 2012).  He also suggested that leaving a little of the cleaner in the brushes, until ready for use, can help remove any residue from the brush as well. You just need to give the brush a good wash and wipe before using again.  I also purchased some ‘AS Odourless Solvent‘ which is a “low odour alternative to Artist Turpentine for people sensitive to turpentine” (The Art Scene 2012).  It is used for thinning paint and cleaning brushes.

1-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

2-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

• Class Set Up: –  First task on the agenda was the setting up all the painting materials.  Then by simply placing my apple on the artist box, it was ready for me to paint!

4-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

5-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

6-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

7-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

• Painting Palette: –Then I set about preparing my oil paint colour palette for use in creating the ‘apple’ painting.  Trying to mix just the right colours before commencing was an enjoyable experience and once set I was ready to start.  Below is a photo-story of my painting palette (1) colours straight from the tubes, (2) colours mixed in readiness to start painting and (3) how my painting palette looked at the completion of my painting of the apple.

8-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

16-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

16-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

• Painting Visual Diary: –Before starting the actual painting, I brushed each colour tone onto one of the pages in my painting visual diary.

17-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph taken by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

• Completed ‘Apple’ Oil Painting: – On completion of my ‘apple’ painting I was pleasantly surprised – it looked like an apple!  Even Vin, the teacher said that it looked like an apple, that it looked like he could take a bite out of it – this made me very happy.

18-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE  – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Title:  ‘Apple’ on A3 Canvas Paper in oil paint – on Easel in Art Room.  Painted and Photographed by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

22-22 Class 8 ‘Produce Paintings’ CAE  – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Title:  ‘Apple’ on A3 Canvas Paper in Oil Paints.  Painted and Photographed by Karen Robinson Sept 2016. NB All images are protected by copyright laws

‘PRODUCE DRAWING’ CLASS

Our ‘Produce Drawing’ class commenced after our lunch break.  This gave me a chance to recharge after the ‘Produce Painting’ class.  The teacher, TIM JONES, firstly checked in with each of the students individually.  Tim also talked about and demonstrated the process of using ink for drawing and showed us some of his ink drawing work as examples.

Ink:-

• Tim had a variety of ink brands to demonstrate with during this class session but his favourite to work with when drawing in ink is Schmincke.  Schmincke ink comes in 36 brilliant shades and is ideal for many mixing techniques such as brush, dip-pens and technical pens (Schmincke 2016).  It has the “highest possible light-fastness (4-5 stars) and has outstanding adhesion properties on many surfaces” (Schmincke 2016).  “Due to their finest pigmentation, they can be used pure but can also be diluted with medium or with water” and “adheres particularly well to all sorts of papers and cardboards as well as the usual, non-absorbent surfaces such as film, hard plastics and – after appropriate preliminary treatment – metal” (Schmincke 2016).  Schmincke ink colours are “easy to mask and excellent for graphic designs and special airbrush techniques” (Schmincke 2016).

16-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Tim Jones, CAE Arts Teacher demonstrating the use of ink and use of different tools to achieve different ink drawing effects.  Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

Ink Drawing Tools/Effects:-

• Tim demonstrated ink drawing techniques using a myriad of tools such as:
  • feathers where we were shown how to make one into a quill so that it would hold the ink
  • airbrush tool/diffuser to blow ink onto the surface of the paper,
  • Parker quill (can add bleach for an interesting effect)
  • brushes – soft nylon bristle brushes,
  • mapping pen with finest nib
  • Faber-Castell Ink Artist Pen
  • children’s wax crayon (can use a candle)
  • and shown how to use sawdust by scattering it onto wet ink and, once fully dry, removing it thus leaving behind another interesting effect.
• Tim explained one of his favourite ink drawing techniques being the use of different strengths of ink when creating a drawing.  First, starting off with the weakest strength, then working in with a medium strength and finishing up with full strength ink.  One of his favourite ink colours is ‘Sepia’ a reddish-brown colour, named after the rich brown pigment derived from the ink sac of the common cuttlefish Sepia and, when diluted, it is quite opaque.  Another favourite ink colour of Tim’s is Sanguine, a reddish-brown colour/the colour of blood.

10-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

11-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

12-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

14-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

15-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

13-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Tim Jones – CAE Teacher demonstrating ink drawing.  Photographed by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

Tim Jones’ Personal Ink Artwork Examples:-

• Tim kindly showed us some of his personal ink drawing artwork including beautiful Visual Journals and sheets of ink drawings, some which had been created during overseas travels to his home land, and other ink drawings of people, and places he had travelled to during his life.

17-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

18-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

20-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

19-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – CAE Teacher – Ink drawing in Tim Jones’ Visual Diary.  Photographed by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

MY ‘PRODUCE DRAWING’ CLASS PROJECT

Our drawing project for this session involved choosing an image from a stack of images provided by our teacher, then selecting ink and tools to draw with on paper.

4-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

2-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

• Tim recommended Arches Hot Press 250 grams would be best for ink drawings.  But I had brought with me from home some ‘Arches Watercolour’ Medium 300 gsm paper, so I used this for my in-class ink drawing.
• Arches states that “Arches Watercolour paper has a harmonious natural grain, the fibres are evenly distributed, making the paper more stable, with very limited deformation. It is made of long 100% cotton fibres, and can absorb a lot of water without warping or causing the colours to bleed. It is sized to the core with natural gelatin, which means it can be scratched without tearing or linting.  It also preserves the lustre and transparency of the colours whilst preventing paints penetrating into the thickness of the paper” (Aches 2016).

3-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

• I decided to use a brownish coloured ink and draw my ink drawing as per Tim’s approach to his ink drawings, starting with the weakest ink, an outline drawn in first, then followed by the medium strength ink next and lastly the full strength ink.

4-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

5-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

6-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

7-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE Class – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB images protected by copyright laws

• Step 1,2,3 shown in the images above and below.

• Below is my finished ink drawing!

9-20 Class 8 ‘Produce Drawings’ CAE  – Certificate 111 in Visual Arts – Title:  ‘Man in Ink’ on A3 Arches Watercolour Paper.  Drawing and photograph by Karen Robinson Sept 2016.  NB images protected by copyright laws

‘PRODUCE DRAWINGS’ VISUAL DIARY

In between classes I only got to do a single drawing in my visual diary.  The Wisteria vine growing in our back garden is flowering and one of its flowers was my source of drawing inspiration.

1-2 Visual Diary Drawings at home studio – Drawings & Photographed by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

2-2 Visual Diary Drawings at home studio – Title: ‘Wisteria’ on paper with pencil.  Drawings & Photographed by Karen Robinson Sept 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

CONCLUSION

Am always feeling very fortunate in being able to participate in these painting and drawing classes.  My early morning train journey into the heart of the city of Melbourne via Flinders Street Station; being able to soak up the ambiance of Degraves Street itself during my class break; and the walk today to Federation Square – very much adds to the overall pleasure of the day’s creative outcomes.  Art for therapy at its best for sure….

8-8 Degraves Street, Melbourne, Australia. Rainy day on Degraves Street, Melbourne, Australia.  Photograph taken by Karen Robinson September 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

CAE is located in one of Melbourne’s iconic cafe/outdoor dining locations – DEGRAVES STREET as photographed above.   Degraves Street’s bluestone-cobbled lane way, its postcard Parisian atmosphere of outdoor dining under umbrellas, and its quaint retail shops, certainly makes attending CAE’s art course each week just that much more of an enjoyable experience!

4-8 ‘Doughnut Time’ Shop on Degraves Street, Melbourne, Australia. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson September 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

3-8 ‘Doughnut Time’ Shop on Degraves Street, Melbourne, Australia. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson September 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

2-8 ‘Doughnut Time’ Shop on Degraves Street, Melbourne, Australia. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson September 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

1-8 ‘Doughnut Time’ Shop on Degraves Street, Melbourne, Australia. Photograph taken by Karen Robinson September 2016 NB All images are protected by copyright laws

It’s always a good time – Doughnut Time at 5 Degraves Street, Melbourne, Australia  “specialise in hand-dipped doughnuts created in small batches for a big following.  The doughnuts are crafted across multiple locations (Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and with vans constantly doing the rounds) and are carefully designed to make you fall in love, with flavours spanning from the conventional (original glazed, salted caramel, jam and cream) right through to the unique (maple bacon, hibiscus and nerds)” (Doughnut Time 2016).

© Karen Robinson – September 2016

While you are here – please check out my home page!

POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH:  Using Art & Creative Writing as Therapy – My Journey by Karen Robinson.