Classic Martini, ready for consumption

 Classic Martini

8 x 8 on masonite panel

acrylic

I think I deserve a martini after trying to photograph this predominantly black painting.  It really does look much better in person, despite my best efforts at adjusting in my ancient PS program. Although I did use Payne's Grey for the background, the resulting light reflected makes it look a lot bluer than it actually is.

Another piece to be the companion for this is in the works, but first I need to make a start on another commission and get that blocked in.  Its great to have things flowing, but it sure can take time to fit it all i n.

In situ

I've shuffled though some of my half finished paintings, trying to decide what I will put in the next exhibition in October and spent some time today adding colour and texture to a watercolour of the Flatrock rocks.  It may be overkill and the whole thing could be dumped.  We'll see.

Now where's that martini?

Classic Martini - Part 1

Martinis.  You either love them or hate them.  There are endless stories of who created them and endless recipes for different varieties.  This is a classic martini - gin, vermouth, ice, shaken or stirred.  The garnish can be a lemon or lime twist, olive or cherry.

I've started, trashed and restarted this martini painting.  I'm using an 8 x 8 cradled panel that is oh so smooth.  I think its the surface that was throwing me initially as it just didn't want to seem to grab the paint.  The first try last night and this morning didn't work at all so I painted over it with Payne's Gray and am now in the process of getting the textures and shapes correct so that it looks like glass and liquid in glass.

This is in acrylic and that can cause its own issues, especially on a smaller scale for me.  However, I think its starting to come together.  Another session tomorrow and it should be complete.

Sea Ghosts

As with all things done quickly, errors occur and this was no exception.  However, a crop or two sometimes saves the day.

This is a gyotaku piece of ocean perch printed with Caligo white ink on blue silk kozo paper.  I was pressing the paper to eliminate a few wrinkles and a little smudge of wax must have been left on the iron surface and transferred to the paper.   I muttered a few Anglo Saxon phrases then decided to crop the piece to eliminate the waxed area.  Either that or try to print over it with another fish.  Cropping seemed the easier solution.  I'll add a backing paper to it and keep my fingers crossed  nothing else goes wrong!

The white against the blue is  a good contrast and does give a ghostly appearance to the fish.  I added very light touches of watercolour and coloured pencil to highlight the gill plates and eyes of the fish.