Saturday 25 February 2012

Embossing trials

I have been playing around with embossing techniques on aluminium drinks cans and some thin copper sheet. These are the results.

An Inca mask and name plates for my new sketch book
Aluminium drinks can 4 x 4 ins


Self Portrait 
Aluminium drinks can 4.5 x 7.5 ins

Y Ddraig Goch
(Welsh Dragon)
Copper Sheet 5.25 x 3.75 ins

The technique is really simple, just cut open a drinks can (the taller the better) using a pair of scissors. You should wear gloves at the stage as the metal can be quite sharp. I then use a paper cutter to give a nice straight square edge that wont cut you.
Find a nice design or photo and make a reverse copy (flip image horizontally if using a PC and then print) tape this to the back of the sheet and using an old ballpoint pen that doesn't work any more, simply trace the outlines on to the sheet. Where the ball point has been the metal will deform into a ridge, the harder you press the more defined the line....be careful though as you can tear through the thin metal. 
When all the outlines have been made remove the image and turn the metal over so that the front is uppermost. You will see lots of little lines sticking up from the sheet, trace round these from this side to further define the lines. 
For areas of high relief you can use a paper stump or piece of wood or even the pen top to push the metal bu rubbing on the back of the desired area, such as the legs on the Dragon.
You may need to go over some areas a few time till you get the desired effect, but take your time and keep going.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Self Portrait video part 1



This is a short video of me working on my new Self Portrait...hope you like it 


Thursday 9 February 2012

Here are just a few of my paintings:

Alfie 2008
This is a watercolour on Arches Paper 14 x 10 ins 
I did this as part of a challenge on the Watercolour Haven website. 
(sadly the site is no longer with us)




The Wild Wood 2009
This is a multimedia abstract I did a few years ago when I was learning how to work with acrylic inks it is on a 12 x 16 inch canvas board, which has a thick layer of impasto paste added to the surface, this was then worked using various tools such as a hand rake, knife and bottle top etc. The background colours where applied and left till nearly dry and then washed and scrubbed to leave a mottled finish, the foreground was then added using a combination of inks and tube acrylics.




Coxswain Dick Evans 2009
This is a monochrome watercolour (Indigo) on Arches paper 15 x 21 ins
Dick Evans was a local hero, Coxswain of the Moelfre lifeboat on Anglesey for many years and twice winner of the RNLI Gold Medal for bravery. 
This is a painting of the bronze statue by Sam Holland erected in 2006 to honor his memory. 
Sadly Dick passed away in 2001


Portrait of Steven 2009
Watercolour on Arches paper 8 x 11 ins
This was one of series of portraits I did as part of a challenge on Paintingfriends.com


R.S. Thomas 2012
Monochrome Acrylic on canvas 30 x 24 ins
This grumpy old so and so is the Welsh lay preacher and poet R.S. Thomas, he hated the English...mind you he hated the Welsh too!
The photo is not particularly good as the black background is a bit too shiny.


Disneyland California 2012
Acrylic on canvas 30 x 20 ins
When I saw the reference photo on Paintingfriends.com I just had to paint it although it is not what I would normally attempt...I am quite pleased with this one and somewhat surprised at how the neon colours stand out against the dark night sky.


Welcome to my BlogSpot, I don't know if this will work properly as I am new to this idea.