' China dolls ' stage 3
If the idea of a paint binder made from milk seems odd, consider where oil mediums come from, or using tree resins as varnishes, egg tempera, or glues from fish or animal hides. Most mediums and glues are organic in nature.
When used as a paint binder it is water soluble, and can be thinned to a wash much like watercolor, or applied in a thick paint layer approaching that of oils or acrylics.
It is about the most versatile medium there is, since it can be made into a size, a primer, and even combined with oil or acrylic paints. The true value of this medium for me was finding out how easily I could use it to make my own paints for underpainting just as the old masters practiced.
' China Dolls ' stage 2
What Is Casein paint ?
Casein is a protein found in milk. The name comes from the Latin word for cheese, "caseus," sometimes called "quark." Raw milk is made of mostly water, some fat, proteins and other solids. When an acid, such as vinegar, is added to milk it will separate into solids (curds) and liquids (whey.) Two cups of milk will yield about 1/4 cup of casein. Precipitating casein is the first step in making cheese; although, what is typically used for that is an enzyme called rennet. When an alkali is then combined with the casein it creates a strong adhesive. The alkali commonly used is hydrated lime or ammonium carbonate; however, those can cause the pH level to rise too high for artwork surfaces and some pigments. Borax is weak enough to not cause problems, and still make a very good casein binder.
' China Dolls ' project stage 1
'China Dolls' stage 1
' China Dolls ' I have photographed various stages of this project and will explain the methods used to achieve the finished painting. If anyone wishes me to expand further or a question arises, feel free to comment on the blog or use the contact tab. I will get back to you. There are often quicker or easier ways to approach painting & still get fairly similar end results but I enjoy my journey, rarely need to back track or lose my way. The techniques, application of paint and the hue should be sympathetic with the subject. I plan all that out just after the sketching stage. I start with a small manageable sketch, make my corrections and then sketch to the size of the intended finished work on cheap wall lining paper. I then decide on positioning & on this occasion moved the girl closer to the right of the canvas. Moving her up further and even more to the right so that her hat touched the upper right edge and top could have broke up the background with a more contemporary approach but may have veered too far from my attempts at conveying an old masters setting. Positioning her further down would give the illusion that the viewer is taller (adult), when in reality this is my little sister and the view is from my eyes, a little boy many years ago. The sketch is then transferred to canvas with very light use of graphite pencil, I then used a thin brush and painted the pencil marks in a dull but thin mauve which eventually vanishes with subsequent paint layers. More about this mauve colour and paint medium to follow.
Mathew is a Midlands based artist and founding member of The Art Room Long Eaton Derbyshire.Take a look at this new site on the burning subject of pyrography.
Brand new and still under development its well worth bookmarking to keep up to date with this talented artist.
http://mdlcreations.weebly.com/
' Duet '
More details on my gallery page.
Based on a few minutes observation and chat with an incredibly beautiful lady called Katerina. I decided to fashion her hair to mimic the fur hats often worn by Russian and East European ladies in an attempt to convey her origins on canvas.
All comments welcome on this painting.
178 High Road, Chilwell, Nottingham
Check this out,,
If you have ever wanted a portrait of you or a loved one painted come to Mish Mash. Michael McEvoy offers his portaiture service exclusively through Mish mash.
Gary at the gallery will take your photo, your choice of pose, I do the rest, how easy is that !
Not just confined to people I welcome capturing your pets on canvas too. If you wish to discuss the idea or a question call the gallery or contact me here.
Really delighted that this piece has sold, I spend so much time dreaming up commercial paintings I think may sell and looking back I find its all my personal works that appear the most popular !
oil on canvas
14 x 18 x 1 inch
Self portrait of myself as a youngster.
From early childhood I have tended to wild birds animals of every discription. With the countryside behind me and the shore practically at my front door my ' playground ' teemed with wildlife. What I didn't find myself was brought to the house by people around the district as the word spread about my care for the creatures.
sold by mish mash gallery 178 High Road Chilwell,
Nottingham 01159431003 open tuesday - friday 9-6 and saturday 9-5 call in and be amazed.
This is the latest from my 'At Arms Length ' oil on canvas series and I shall be exhibiting this along with 'At Arms Length 01 ' and ' Felix In The Sun 'cat painting (below) in the Nottingham Society Of Artists contemporary exhibition from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th June. Following the exhibition they will then be listed in my paintings for sale page.
The exhibition theme is ' The Language Of Colour ' and I decided to go for a simple palette, a few split complimentries and a play with warm and cool colour, all good fun and a welcome diversion and good excuse to air my larger flat hog hair brushes.
Felix In The Sun, oils on canvas 24 x 20 inch
' At Arms Length 02 ' oil on canvas 14 x 18"
This should be a good event, not to be missed.
Matthew and I have been busy preparing our studio and gallery room this last few days in the middle of a heat wave, in the end we came to the conclusion we have way to much work to exhibit. Abandoning all reason or subtleties we filled every inch of wall space and stacked the surplus work like LPs at a record fair. The more the merrier and all for sale.
Matthew will concentrate on his unique pyrography but I'm hoping he will include a reasonable sample of his distinctive paintings too.
You can watch Matthew demonstrate his skills in the workshops and I shall attempt to make some progress on two oil paintings from the ' Red Ribbon ' portrait and figurative series in the gallery/studio.
Come along and see. Bargain price paintings and pyrography all the way
' At Arms Length ', oils on canvas
First of a possible series depicting people taking self portraits on their mobile phones or digital cameras. This painting is from an onlookers angle which makes it more interesting to see the sitter position herself and align the camera for the shot, rather than from a lens eye view.
I may actually recreate another painting as though painted from the camera lens or a resulting photograph.
See my paintings for sale page from further details.
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