Gravity Painting #3, 3/24/2012

Today's Gravity Painting test was a learning success, but the piece did not come together as I would have liked.

Things learned:

• Plastic ketchup bottles that you find at burger restaurants are wonderful for this type of painting
• However, watering down your paint can cause unwanted textures and bubbles.
• Adding paint into the bottle without fully mixing it causes some nice effects
• Pre-gessoed canvas get wrinkled and has other problems when you tear it

Take a look at the detail shots.  I think they look better than the overall piece, which is shown last.
Again, click on images for larger versions.

Finally, the entire picture.  Could the two background tarps be causing the disjointed work on the canvas?  Possibly. 

Gravity Painting #2 3/18/2012

Today I made a new gravity painting.  This is gravity painting number two, on wood panel.  Physical elements that had a contributing effect this time include a bit of wind, but mostly a light misting of Pacific Northwest rain (of course, without the sunlight & gravity, these wouldn't be possible at all.  But you knew that already).  You can see it's effects in one of the details of blue paint.
Please click on the paintings for a larger view.

  

This detail shows how different types of paint have different properties. Same blue, different thickness.  The color change is from a Pacific Northwest misting.

 This detail shows the process a bit. I don't always end the strokes on the canvas.

Another detail showing different paint thicknesses. Paint is still drying, this may look quite different in a few days

Upper left detail. After making several white paint gravity strokes, I then used a dry brush to move the paint around, resulting in this higher frequency area.

Peter Bergman 1939-2012:

I think the first time I heard the Firesign Theatre was when I was visiting a friend in his co-op in college.  We were all in the kitchen, painting murals on the walls, Listening to "Don't Crush That Dwarf".  Everyone in the room responded to the question on the record with "It's going to be alright!!"  At some point I think a drop of paint got on the LP.  I had no idea what was going on, but I was immediately hooked.

Little did I know that years later, my friend in the co-op would get a chance to interview them on KBOO in Portland, OR.

That time in the kitchen set in motion a change in my life that would generate some of my fondest memories. I still will slip in a line from their album into conversation (and email threads, no less) to see if other's know about them.  It's a bit like a shared secret.

So Peter, thank you for being part of the entity known as the Firesign Theatre.  You have opened up my eyes to so many things.  Yes, you died.  But shrug it off, man.  You'll live through it.  It's going to be alright.

Did I put these photos on this Blog yet?  No?  Probably just on Facebook then.  Sheesh, I need to more here!

Washington Whiskey Watch has been created!

Hey there,
In response to the passage of I-1183, I have created a group called "Washington Whiskey Watch"

The goal is to ensure that the reasons why people voted for the bill actaully happen.  Those are:

• More Convenience (better hours and more locations)
• Lower Prices
• More Variety
• Especially that of local micro-distillers
• Finally and most importantly, don't forget that WA State had the highest no-sale-to-minors record in the union, at 94% compliance. We need to continue to meet or beat that record.

Please search Facebook for the term "Washington Whiskey Watch" and like it for the most recent updates.

The facebook address is:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-Whiskey-Watch/143353732438984

I'll also get this up on Google+ as soon as they enable the "Alcohol Related" option for page creation.

I also have a Blogger blag about this.  It's address is http://wawhiskeywatch.blogspot.com/
Right now it just directs people to the Facebook page.

Anyone know how I can update Blogger, Facebook & Google+ at the same time?