My Invention - The Miscera Palette Set-up

I have been painting for many years. As an artist that likes acrylic paint, it has been hard to find a palette that I like. I have been modifying what I use until I finally have one that I think I am going to keep.

These were my issues - keeping paint from drying out
                                    -keeping paint from molding
                                    -not too big and bulky if you are going to take is somewhere
                                    -ability to lay flat in the carrier
                                    -a mixing area that does not dry out
                                    -easy to clean

The only other concern that I have not solved with this yet (and may be with the use of a clear medium) is the color shift issue. I had read that the color shift can happen by using water with your paint instead of medium but still working on that.


What I was using up to this point was a Rubbermade cake taker as the container to hold my paint. My paint was on a clipboard where I used the disposable palette sheets. Under that clipboard I had a couple of sheets of damp paper towel to keep the disposable sheet damp. There were a few clips holding this palette sandwich together.  It would work well but not all disposable palette sheets are the same. Some were more plasticy and didn't do what I would like. I always meant to  experiment with parchment paper cut into squares. It did mostly what I wanted it to do. The Cake Taker/carrier did get bulky but I was able to put some other things in there like brushes or tools. I also had a couple of pennies in there because I read online something about how that helps.


I had also said size was an issue. I substitute teach and sometimes I  have a prep time or lunch where I could work on my art. I wanted something small that I could have a little bit of paint in. It has to fit into my tote that I put my lunch in. I also am always thinking  of plein air where maybe I would have to hike in or haul my things on my back and small is a good thing. For awhile I used a small palette with capped cups on the side. I was able to use it for taking my paint with and limit my palette (I think it had 10-12 cups with caps for paint) but the mixing area was unusuable because the acrylic paint would stick when dry and you couldn't get it off. I still like the idea of it if you want to use it as a paint taker and mix on something else like a plastic lid.

I had been looking for a different type of palette - one that I could mix on and have capped fresh paint off to the side so I am not always having to go back to the bin of paint and dig around looking around for the tubes. I envy the oil painters that they can put it on their palette, close it up and it is ready to go. I found plenty of palettes with wells on the side for the paint and an open palette, but there was nothing that I saw that had the capped containers. I even tried the acrylic palette where the dry paint is supposed to peel off but it still dried on the plastic and yes it came off, but you would have to work to get the little remainer pieces off.

This is my invention. I figure I am putting this idea out there to share to help other frustrated acrylic artists. My example is using the smaller Masterson Stay-Wet palette in the center with their disposable sheet and sponge underneath ( but  you could do something else like my previous version using a small clipboard with the layer of palette and paper towel in some sort of low, tight closing plastic container). I am using paint cups in strips that I got from Michaels that are on the side and across the top. I have velcro holding the the palette and the cups onto a painted/primed  11"x14" board (which Michaels only carried them for a short time as a wood painting surface).  I leave room for my thumbs to hold it toward the bottom. This palette I can put on a shelf and put things on top of it because it is closed up. I can use it with my plein air set-up. The paint cups and the palette are attached via velcro so you can remove them to clean or change out if you want. I did find larger cups that I put at the top for medium. If I want to take something smaller when I go to paint remotely, I can load the paint on the palette and remove it from the board and take it that way.

Cup set-up :  I have the row of cups at the top and one down the side next to the palette. I also have another shorter row of cups. The long rows are still connected via their containers but there is also a strip of velcro on the bottom. My larger medium containers and the containers on the far edge are individual cups with their own small piece of velcro on the bottom. This is so you can have a place to put specifically mixed colors for a painting. I made this with velcro on the paint pots so if you wanted to clean it you could but also if you want to switch your color palette you can. You might not always want to paint landscapes and want to paint some flowers which might have different colors. You could then just remove the one strip and replace with a new strip of a different color palette. I had primed /painted the board before adhering the velcro in the hopes for better adhesion but haven't tested the ripping the strip off yet to see if it helps. I also put a piece of velcro on the cap of my spray bottle and stuck it on the side strip of velcro so I do not lose that.

Anyway, I am please that this has solved a problem for me. I hope that it will be helpful to you too if you are frustrated with acrylic set-ups. I will,at  another time, show you my plein air set-up and you can see how the palette works  with situation also.

Have fun!

-Julie

Direction?

Last week we had three snowstorms go through. The last one ended Sunday. By Monday afternoon we had 47 degrees and the roads were clean -- mostly. Today when I go to work I will have to watch for the melted snow turning to ice on the road. There is supposed to be something new coming in tomorrow and Wednesday. We will see what that does. You would have thought I would have got a lot done this weekend - holed up like that, but I didn't. I did work on my art, but it is the direction that I am wondering about.

I am using Daily Paintworks as my gallery page/website and with that I can list things on auction. I can connect my items to other sites - like Ebay and Etsy. I still have to do that. It has been about a month and a half without selling anything but I have listed more expensive things. The comment is that on DPW many things are going cheap. The idea is to get you painting every day so these may be smaller, qucker paintings. I thought I would switch from my canvases to my 5"x7" art on paper that are matted. I am lowering the dpi and at this point was putting my name in blue at the top left, but I might leave that off. My pricepoint of these in the physical sales are $35 but these I am listing on auction for $25 with a buy it now for $35. It could go higher because the buy it now is removed once there is a bid.

So, I am listing my smaller works on paper. They look good and I hope that they will get snapped up.
My questions is - How many do I list?  I have about 50 between the wash drawings and the small acrylic paintings. Do I list them all? Do I split them up and list some one Ebay/ETsy or try to link what I have It sounds like the site is unlimited so technically, I could. I have been putting every one on auction. Is there a time that I do not. I know that by having something listed every day (or having a bunch with only one being fed as "new" every day, keeps me out there. I have enough to last for awhile.

What I am thinking about this 5x7" size is that it could be my bread and butter. I can take these to shows - possibly even craft shows - because they are cheaper. I really need to keep working on this size because if they take off then I would have a stash.

One of the places I had my art at this fall kept 4 of my paintings for their gallery. I was told they were interested in my smaller paintings and in my postcards (prints would be nice too). I need to get back to her and see if I can funnel some of these over there also. I know I need to keep on working on my painting and art, I just need to have places where I can sell these too. It is like a dance that keeps taking different directions.  Maybe it is not just one strategy of direction but several.

Art Things I Like

I wanted to make a post of what materials or equipment I like to use. This may be a post that gets amended depending on things that come out or my exposure to different methods or materials.

My Preferences -

Acrylic paint - I like acrylic paint because it is fast drying, has bright colors and I don't need to wait
                        for 6 months to varnish. I prefer that my colors are opaque but am experimenting with
                        glazes for different effects. I do like Utrecht but M. Graham is nice too.  I tend to not
                        make as much mess of it on myself and things like I do the oil. Not a big fan of
                        Liquitex since I have had quite a few tubes that have separated the medium from the
                        pigment but I do like their Sap Green.

Varnish - I like matte to  satin varnish and mediums

Brushes - don't have a preference brand. I tend to use more flats, angled and some small rounds

Surfaces - I like using the stiff paper - the 300lb CP.. My favorite was the Arches Art Board but that                     has been discontinued by Blick. I have tried illustration board. What I like is that it can be                   cut  size and pop in a frame or it can be matted. I also like that the paint seems to give me
                 better coverage than primed canvas. I don't need to do all the layers to thicken up the color.

                 canvas - my preference is to stretch and prime my own. There is a special feel to it that the
                 store bought doesn't give you. It feels like it is already your painting from the moment you
                 put your first brush stroke on it. It doesn't feel as slippery.
           
                boards - I have used a few boards for plein air, but I don't like the slick ones. I like a little
               "tooth" or texture on the board. It does not have to have as much  as canvas though.

Palette - I have made my own set-up. That will be on a different post. I have an 11x14" board that I
              have paint cups and a small Masterson's palette. This uses the disposable palette.

Easle - For  now I am using a tabletop one when I am home and a black telescoping one when I am
            away. The telescoping allows me to adjust for terrain. I will also post my plein air set up. I
            think things are different than a set up for oil.

Rags - cloth rags, paper towels when out.

Pencils - I have been using a water-soluble pencil for value sketches and drawings. I have a brand
               that comes in different softness and hardnesses. I can draw/sketch with those and use a
               paintbrush dipped in water to blend and create value. I really don't have to draw much but
               rather a little more with a darker pencil to get some darkest shadows.

Prints - I love lots of art things so it has been hard to limit things. I do like linocuts and use the oil-
             based ink and linoleum. I also like silk-screen printing and do that with children when I
             teach.

Some things I want to try - There is the Chroma Atillier Interactive Paint that seems interesting. 
            I think I also want to get some clear medium so there is not that color-shift when dry and
            that seems to be put out by Windsor and Newton and Chroma. I had bought some of the
            Golden Open paint and did a quick experiment and it felt tacky but need to spend some
            time with it to see it's full potential.

If you know of anything else I might like to experiment with please let me know!

Snow Again!

As I sit here writing, the snow is coming down- AGAIN!  We have already had snow this week two times. They are forcasting a lot more.We are on the line 6-9" or 3-6". It is supposed to snow for 12 hours with the last part being a possible freezing drizzle. We didn't even get the snow off the sidewalk from the last time! We will only have to wait and see. We went to Menards this afternoon and got two new snow shovels since we were down to one that was so-so and a coal shovel which gets heavy.
At least this time it is the weekend. We are watching the Winter Olympics and the snow coming down.

There are things I could be/should be doing. Lots of projects that I don't want to work on. I am thinking of trying to juggle it all. This spring, there are two plein air events, working at the schools, possibly working at a greenhouse (again), a new baby in the family, gardening and starting up with the bees again. There is trying to get my art out there, possible shows and still trying to enjoy life. I know there will be some vacations - maybe some camping, some day trips, some time photographing and fishing... and painting.

I have started Daily Paintworks and many of the items for auction on there are smaller works and studies. I think that is a good way to start. Go back to the sketches, the color studies, the smaller paintings. I have had some on Arches Art Board that I did for the Leinenkugel event and there was interest on them at Artisan Forge, so I think maybe (hopefully) I can paint small and those might be enough to keep my art business going and for some things still do some larger. The larger paintings help me to learn to be looser, possibly faster.

So, even if I am snowed in I have plenty to do. I need to prep some more surfaces and get back to painting again. I have a plein air even in a little over a month. I am not sure at the beginning of April if it will be warm enough to use my acrylics  or if I have to dig out and practice with my oils. It could be interesting!

Intuition and Trust

So, yesterday and through today we have had a forecast of freezing rain, drizzle and snow.  They have been talking about it on the weather forecast for probably a week. Snow here is usual. It is the ice that makes you stop and think. Because of past forecasts not living up to expectations, schools are waiting to see what actually happens instead of what the weather people think may happen since the track may change. Yesterday I did work at a school even though the weather was supposed to get bad. They ended up closing early. Today it is closed. Yesterday, coming home it wasn't too bad (thankfully). I did have to go up some steep hills and didn't have a problem. I also did not slide but made it safely home. I was thinking it would be worse than it was. It depends on the road you take how much the county takes care of them and how much traffic it gets. Today  more ice is expected on top of that ice and the area I was going to be at has lots of hills so I think it maybe mostly closed because of safety.

The point of this blah, blah is this - there are always people that will get you worked up over things that were not worth getting worked up over. They may, "as experts", say something is going to be terrible and it really turns out that it is not.  You need to not live in fear but learn to be careful and trust your own judgement, take advice and learn from your experience. I could have stayed home yesterday and not taken a job at all because they were saying that ice would coat everything, but I didn't and it was not too bad. Even if it were I would have just had to use my judgement, slowed down, and pay attention to what is in front of me. My inlaws are a prime example. Instead of working on building up a good relationship with me when I married into the family, they started off with a chip on their shoulder because they heard all these stories about how awful daughter-in-laws are. I really could do nothing right as much as I tried because "Mary's daughter-in-law did ... to them." and they expected me to do the same to them.

My husband wanted to be a graphic designer but his dad talked him out of it because "there is no money in Art". This is from a guy that sat once in a sale, didn't sell much and gave up on his art until he was in his 80's again. I have been creating since little and painting since High School. There is always that "That's not Art", "There is no money in art", and the judged shows and contests that you know you were not chosen because 1) they don't know you, 2) they need to put together a cohesive show, 3) and it is still subjective. 4) lacking shock value, etc.  Every person you talk to is an "Expert" and if you relied on their sometimes uninformed judgement, you wouldn't do anything.

Sometimes, in life or art, you need to develop your sieve about what comments are valid and what are not. Even if they are valid, how do they fit with what you are doing? Do you value their opinion, are you teachable but not maleable to somebody else's opinion or whim of what you should be doing? There are teachable times that it is to your own benefit to listen, pay attention and learn. There are other times when it is garbage and you need to ignore it or throw it out. This is where intuition and trust come in. Do you trust the advice? Is it valid, does it make sense? Is it that light bulb on moment? Will it work for you? Is it going the same direction you want to go or is it making you go on a track that is unintended or unwanted?

The direction you take in Art can only be taken by you. You want to be original, authentic, fearless and not just one more sheep in the flock.

The Things we Don't See

So, today, I am thinking about something I saw. I didn't know it was there and then it showed itself. It kind of creeps me out but I don't know what to do with it. Should I leave it alone or remove it. I think it applies to other things in life too where you have the same condrum. Please let me know what you think.

I have had an aquarium for several years. I have swordtails in there and there is a fat algae eater. Sometimes babies grow up too - only a few at a time and they are usually clear/white. I haven't had any of the orange babies make it. Their color probably makes them stand out too much. I have not had to buy any replacement fish for at least a year-maybe two - and the water is usually clear. We do drain water out and add fresh on occasion. In summer my husband will get plants out of the creek and put them in the tank for the fish to enjoy. So, I have not added anything new except plants for maybe a year or two.

When I turned the light on and fed my fish I noticed something different. In the back of the tank at the bottom here was a movement. At gravel level there was a tubular, sriped, worm-like thing moving back and forth a few inches. It is the size - width wise of an earthworm/night crawler but I never saw the length. It just slid back and forth for awhile with the rest of the body stayed hidden in the gravel. Then it disappeared. When my son and daughter in law came over in the evening she spotted the pattern on the thing in the gravel with only about 1/2 inchh showing. She used the net to try to get it moved to look at it but never got to see the full length or the head.  It was longer than what I had seen. I had tried to look it up but came up with something like a worm or snake fish. This is a freshwater tank. I don't know where this thing came from. Was it a little tiny thing that came with a past batch of fish and grew up in there? We didn't deliberately buy it so it was definately a surprise.

I know that the picture is not very clear since it was taken through the side of the aquarium and with the distortion of water ( and fingerprinted tank from the kids), but hopefully you can see what I am talking about.

So, this is where we are at. This thing creeps us out. It is the unknown, the snake-like look, the not chosen. When researched some sites say similar things are meat-eaters. What are they eating? baby fish, poop? How did it get to  this size. How big is it really? How big will it get to? Will it take out my big fish? The other part of this is that if we choose to remove it (and I know a science teacher that will take it), will it be damaged during the removal, do we have to handle it, will it make a mess of the whole tank and stress out the fish? We have not seen it again, but knowing that it is there makes you not want to put your hand in the tank for any reason.

I think in life there are a  lot of things that we don't see and don't know that they are there.  One time when I was pulling weeds in the front garden I grabbed a hunk of grass to pull and hanging  with the grass (and in my hands) was a snake that was at least 18".  I dropped it, surprised. Now I wear gloves and know what I am grabbing. When I wore the boots with plein air painting at the river, it was more to protect against the ticks but found out there were rattlesnakes in the area so it was a good thing (even though they were not right  there but a ways over). How do we handle the unseen when we suspect there might be something there? Do we let it be until we need to deal with it? Do we overprepare or just be careful, watching? Do we not let it bother us at all?

In trying to get my art "out there", I have joined different facebook groups and one of them deals with copyright infringement and how to combat it. They have referred to designs being stolen off of the pod sites, some of the big retailers etc. They are then relisted with people claiming they are their design and making money off of your design. I know it is there. I have had paintings on Etsy at full dpi and postcards on Ebay and Etsy for awhile. I haven't looked yet for mine because I am not ready to see if it has been hacked. I have read that some can remove a watermark, signatures, and even if you disable the right-click they can still do a screen shot. I know that the possiblity is  there that people are doing this to me too, I just haven't looked yet for the monster in my art tank. I could do everything and still be plagarized. I have decided to not let that stop me from getting my art "out there". I will do the best I can - lower dpi, not be on some of the worst offender sites and eventually get brave and look and deal with it. I guess part of being empowered is knowing what is there even if I can't see it and be careful.

Postcards

In my Ebay and Etsy store (and soon to be DPW), I have some postcards for sale. As an art form, I  like postcards.They are small, people often save them vs just throwing them when they get home, and is a reminder of fun things. Many art events use postcards to contact people. I was not an active postcard person when I got started with Postcrossing. I had a few from the past tucked safely away in a box. When we were cleaning out my in-law house - a house that her folks lived built and lived in first - I found a treasure trove of 100 year old postcards. That is what started me on collecting.

So, online I found Postcrossing.com. It is computer generated and they give you a name and you mail them a postcard. When they get your postcard they log it in and then somebody gets your name. You get postcards from all over the world. You can say what things you are interested in but cannot tell them what you  want. My husband likes trains so we get a lot of railroad ones. I say Art, castles, but am open to many things. I have done it for several years. I had a break for a while and just started up again this fall. Postage adds up and while I think they start you with just sending out a few at first, I am up to where I can have 20 traveling at a time if I choose. Many swappers tend to be stamp collectors also and load your postcard up with many wonderful stamps.

With the postcrossing I have to hunt for postcards to send. People like a lot of different things. Some like the map of your area. Some like food, or sports etc. I hunt for postcards to mail out. Here postcards can be hard to find so I have made some of my own. I keep bees so I have made a few beekeeping postcards that I sell with my honey and lotion bars besides online. I did the Leinenkugel's 150th Anniversary and to the artists that were chosen they stressed that people were coming from all over the world and would want souvenirs (not so much). I made and still have a lot of postcards of Chippewa Falls. I also made postcards of my paintings. These postcards I sell when I sell my art also. I have a spindle and rack and put out my postcards so I have a cheaper item at my art booth.

What is nice about postcards in general is the size. They are small, don't take up much room. If they are 4x6" they can go in a mat and you can frame them. I can paint on them to work out an idea or get some studies done on them for future artwork. They are a handy take along size. For awhile, I was in another online group that was called Swap Bot. In that one some of the swaps featured hand made postcards. You could choose which swap you wanted to do and some of the cards are pretty creative. There are also sites online for postcard artists and sometimes postcard contests.

Anyway, whether you are collecting others, designing and printing your own, or using blank watercolor ones for studies or small paintings, postcards are something to not be overlooked. They can document history as well as show your art.