Thursday, August 18, 2011

gouache, oil pastels, watercolors, and casein paint on plaster covered with beeswax

a few weeks ago, when i made the plaster substrate for 'her wings were invisible', (here) i made another piece to use later; it sat outside for a couple of weeks until i sawed it in half lengthwise a few days ago. i got two long, narrow pieces that i didn't crack, just glued them to some cardboard. i thought they might be the covers for a plaster book...


then i made some more pieces on paper about the thickness of poster paper, and since then i've kind of lost interest in the book idea! now i'm thinking that i'll make a stack of them and then make a box for them. but who knows!


one thing i've learned is that plaster cloth on plaster gets much harder than plaster cloth on plaster cloth. i know, it sounds confusing, but the idea is that plaster cloth stuck to itself is still very easy to carve into (and this is what i've worked on in the past), whereas plaster cloth on plaster is like concrete. it's not easy to carve into.

the reason i put the plaster cloth on there was to see if it would 'heal' the places where i cracked the piece in my impatience to get on with things. the piece was flopping around, broken, so i put a strip of plaster cloth over the cracks, and like magic it was rigid again. now i know that i can 'repair' floppy pieces...


my art table a couple of nights ago... two plaster pieces for me to gaze at while i worked in 'the merry men'. ; )

* * *

“The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: a human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. (…)

Without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, must pour creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless creating.”

~ Pearl Buck, via tumblr

XO

19 comments:

  1. interesting process and gorgeous results and yes ms hoppe...I have total confidence in you....

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  2. The look of the plaster cloth on plaster (or plaster cloth) is, from my POV looking at a photo on a computer, tablet-like. They look like tablets. Love to see them in person.

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  3. i like that stack. really like it. potential. does a book have to be bound? boxed is a book, too.

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  4. love the plaster pieces- so cool. Is it plaster of paris or are you buying the gauze-y plaster cast like rolls? I have been tempted to make a small batch of plaster of paris and brush it onto maybe watercolor paper(cause it's sturdier) and see what happens. Ooooh, and I love the idea of a collection of them in a handmade box. Seems like a perfect location for them when they are not out to inspire you! xo Sandy

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  5. Yes to plaster books in a box! Don't you just love discovering useful arty things by chance? Repairing and re-using things that might have landed in the bin.
    ..... and oh, your art table makes me very happy!

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  6. lovely little angel , nice idea , so creative !

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  7. Oh Lynne this plaster thing looks very interesting, but I must admit I do not know what it is, it looks like something used for a broken leg, love your painting on it.
    Anni

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  8. oh yeah plaster pieces in the box sounds wonderful and the quote is ... so true... sigh

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  9. The Bee Queen: completely smitten.
    And your work surface and supplies?
    Authentic and inspriational!
    xx
    julie

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  10. Thanks for all the info on plaster. Sounds like an interesting surface to draw and paint on. Way more substantial as a rough surface than some gesso on a page. I'm delighted to see your work area. Why is it that we seem to find ourselves crammed into a small area with all our stuff crowding around like children wanting attention? No matter how I try to be neat, it never lasts. Maybe our supplies link to us with unseen threads...

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  11. And your angel is just beautiful...

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  12. I love everything about this post - your angel and the bee queen, and your art table! They are so perfect, and so YOU.
    :0)
    xoxoxo

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  13. What lovely work! I love books, but a stack of plaster pages in a box sounds wonderful, or perhaps just wrapping them together with a strip of cloth... whatever happens I am sure it will be wonderful. Seeing your creating spot made me smile....thank you!

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  14. I love the line quality of this one Lynne. And what a great idea to stack them in a box.

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  15. thank you lynne and pearl for stirring my creative heart.

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  16. I've been really enjoying seeing all your little characters but I ♥♥♥♥♥love this one with the wings.
    Gxx

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  17. So interesting to see what you are doing with plaster Lynne. I love the photo of your desk. Artist's work spaces are always so inspiring. I have had a little go at painting on plaster and have a bag of the stuff waiting to be used since I bought Judy Wise's book, but at the moment it is on the back burner.
    I love the idea of all your pictures in a special box.

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  18. Your site is always so irridescent to me. I love the shimmering lines and colors that shimmer only in my mind, I suppose.

    I haven't had an MRI.

    Here's the deal: I completely understood your plaster story, even though I don't work with plaster. It's so weird how that happens.

    Love the box idea!

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  19. What a joy to return to the blogger world and see your work :) Your work on plaster looks sensational .... love it !!!

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