Glazed Doughnut

Glazed Doughnut, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches

The Makings of a Doughnut

Glazed Doughnut in Progress

It feels good to be back at the easel. Spring is a busy time around here with yardwork, woodswork and gardening. Lately, I've had some art business things to attend to also. And to top all of this off, finding just the right donut to paint has been much harder than I imagined. I'm on a quest for a glazed cruller or glazed french doughnut - the kind that looks a bit like a tractor tire with deep treads.

So far, I've tried gas-station-convenience stores and fancy grocery stores with fine bakeries. I've also tried to look up donut shops online but haven't had any luck yet finding one. So today it's a plain glazed doughnut from my local gas station. Maybe I was meant to do this one before the cruller.

Chocolate Doughnut with Sprinkles

Chocolate Doughnut with Sprinkles, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches

Teacup Take Two

3.5 x 2.5 inches, ink on paper

I did a few things differently this time. I soaked the Fabriano paper for 10 minutes before blotting it and storing it in a sealed plastic bag. Then I waited 2.5 hours before printing so the paper would really 'take' the water in. I also covered the inking tray with a damp cloth between rolling.

It's a new carving too. The edges of the lip and base aren't wavy lines this time - more hard-edged. And the cleared areas follow the cup to better create the 'ting' sound-waves so characteristic of china.

A Teacup and a Linoleum Block

Teacup, ink on paper, 3.5 x 2.5 inches

Fresh new ACEOs hanging on the line, 4.28.2008

I spent a good part of the day yesterday carving - and then printing from - a linoleum block. The teacup painting above, on the right, was my inspiration. That - and fitting into the ACEO format - were what guided me. I tried a few different papers - all ones I had on hand; watercolor, card stock, pastel and Fabriano Medioevalis. The Fabriano won out in the end. No one thing is ever perfect, but this paper came pretty close for what I'm doing here.

Printing requires a lot of trial and error and the cards above all fall towards the error end of the scale. But I feel these are getting closer to where I'd like them to be. I've ordered more linoleum and when that arrives, I'll start all over again.

A Plastic Sandwich Bag with a Fold-Over Top

A Plastic Sandwich Bag with a Fold-Over Top, oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches

detail of "A Plastic Sandwich Bag . . . "

detail of the painting in the next post

Extremely Small Comfort

Tissue, oil on canvas, 3.5 x 2.5 inches

I thought this tiny painting needed some context to show its relative size. It was hard to get the proper focus with a camera. Maybe when it's dry I'll try scanning and posting it again.

(added 8am 4.17.2008) Not realizing it when I set out to paint, the size of this piece qualifies it as an ACEO. Wikipedia has a nice introduction to ACEOs here. I chose this size for a couple of non-related reasons though. One being that I made an impulse buy at my local art supply store. 6 of these little canvases were attractively displayed near the checkout and I fell for them. The second reason is I'll be part of a miniature collaboration this fall. A group of artists have been asked to create the art for a dollhouse that will be on display at our county's history museum. I'll post more about that as the time nears.

(rephotographed and image reposted 10:30am 4.17.2008)

Gently Looped 'round his Arms

Monkey low and to the Right (top), oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches

(bottom image is an in-progress shot)

Anon left a comment a couple of posts earlier - concerned that the bunny might be suffering head pain from the clothespin. So I tried a different approach here - gently looping the string 'round this monkey's arms.

(top image was added 4.17.2008 and is the bottom image painted further)