First Friday

The College of Coastal Georgia Art program is “filling in” a vacancy left by an exhibitor at the Brunswick Library this coming month. The show opening will be part of the First Friday in downtown Brunswick on Friday, March 1^st from 5:00-7:00 p.m.    Our exhibit will be a sneak peek at the student exhibit with our 3-D Design class showing toothpick bridges and tape people.  Also exhibiting work will be our own Terry Craig, Clay Custer, and Jeff LeMieux.  The theme is peripherally connected to the Big Read, and specifically Thornton Wilder’s Bridge of San Luis Rey. 

Please consider stopping by if you get the chance. The library exhibit will be up for the month of March.

www.claycuster.com

Progress

I have been slowly adding tree elements to the surface. My greatest challenge is working through the simultaneous contrast that is occurring between the red and blue hues.

www.claycuster.com

Progress of a new painting

The first several layers of red are on the surface. I have stamped impressions of Azaleas into my ground, thanks to an early Spring, creating an embossed like texture. Using a palette knife, my intentions have been to place the image of an oak tree entering from the right. I have realized since, that possibly Gauguin's, "Vision After the Sermon" may be influencing my decision. Its funny to me how residual influences will pop up in work without even realizing that it is happening. Ill think about my next move for a day, its raining anyway, and paint is drying too slow. 

Stretching Canvas

The process of building stretchers and stretching canvas is equally important to me as making the final painting. For me its all about the process of working from start to finish. I find that not only is it meditative but as the stretched canvas develops towards completion, I also develop towards a readiness to paint. There is a joy I get from building the structure that I am going to eventually make into a painting. I believe this gives me a deeper connection to the final product and as an artist, that my work and myself are intertwined. It is my hope that when paintings are viewed that there is an understanding that a lot more work goes into making a painting than just applying paint. 

Canvas day. One roll of canvas 60"x 6 yards, a gallon of gesso and a gallon of medium.

I sand all the sharp edges off the stretcher to prevent the wood from cutting into the fabric. 

After measuring and cutting the canvas for each stretcher I then lay the stretcher face down on the canvas trying to keep the threads square to the stretcher bars. I start by placing one staple in the middle of each side. Then using the canvas pliers I place a staple to the right of the center staple, go to the opposite side and do the same thing, then the next two sides. I then staple to the left, alternating back and forth working outward towards the corners. 

Once at the corners I fold the fabric in, creating a clean corner. I personally prefer the canvas tucked in rather than out. I just think it looks cleaner. Its a personal preference, some like the fold on the outside.  

The picture below is trying to show the gap created between the canvas and the edge of the stretcher bar. Thats why I ripped them on a 10 degree angle yesterday. The canvas only touches the wood on the  outer edges. 

I now have two 36"x48" canvases ready for gesso and painting. 

Building Stretchers

For any one who may be curious, I build my own stretchers, the support frame on which the canvas wraps around. I started with two 2'x4's which I cut into smaller lengths for ease of handling. In this case 54"and 42"ultimately to get four 48" pieces and four 36" pieces. 

Below they have been ripped into the eight pieces 1"1/2 x 1"1/2 with one side at a 10 degree angle. This angle is to prevent the canvas from hitting the inner edge of the stretcher later on. 

Finally all the corners have been mitered glued and nailed along with corner braces. I do need to make a correction in terms at this point. While I have referred to theses as stretchers they are in-fact strainers, meaning the miters are permanent. All that remains is a little sanding and they are ready for the canvas when FedEx delivers tomorrow. Ill try to remember to document the canvas stretching process and post that as well. When all is said and done Ill have two 36"x48" canvases. 

Final Solution.

Final layer of varnish is drying.  This is to be exhibited at the Brunswick Library through the month of March in the faculty show which will be a combination of student and faculty work intended to bring attention to the art program at CCGA. It was asked that we use a theme of "Bridges". In my own way I hope to have implied the concept, at least visually anyway, of "Bridge". The dead line is the 21st and I may try to ad a frame if I can find the time. If not I think it will be ok as is. 

When its all dry, and especially if I frame it, I will post better quality photos that really show the true depth of color. 

Front

Left side view.

Right side view.

Early Start

Up early painting this morning. I was able to get in some time before I have to turn my attention towards other things.

Today's progress

Layers alternating between Phthalocyanine Blue and Naphthol Crimson. Slowly building depth into the painted surfaces in addition to the three dimensional aspects if this piece.

www.claycuster.com

One failed painting

One failed painting

A few modifications

And now its ready for paint. Hopefully this one will be more successful. It was a little challenging to add the modifications. Ill post updates as it progresses.

A little Pthalo never hurt anyone.