The inking is complete!
Steam Donkey
My progression since my last post is shown in the gallery below. I’ve included how I mount my paper for watercolor painting. Click on the images to enlarge.
The ink outline on the steam donkey was done with a Lamy All Star extra-fine point.
I did the black shading with the Yuretake No. 50 brush pen. Then started detailing with a Staedtler 0.05 pigment liner. It has a finer line than the Lamy extra-fine tip.
The donkey detail is mostly complete.
The inking is complete. Time to erase the pencil lines and mount the paper.
I soak the paper in the bath tub. The water was room temperature. Be sure to test your inks for running before you use this on an important piece.
Two minutes on the timer for soaking 90 lb paper. It came out a little too saturated. I should have used cold water. For 140 lb paper I soak for seven minutes in cool water.
You need a very clean surface, because the sheet goes ink down. On go the stretcher boards.
Staple it to the boards. Snug it as you go, but not overly tight or the paper may rip when it dries.
Use a paper towel to mop up excess water. Don’t push down or you’ll damage the paper. A feather light touch is required.
I elevate the mounted paper for good air circulation. Even drying makes for a nice tight stretch. Let it dry naturally. Using a heater or blow drier can cause ripples in your paper. It should thump like a drum when dry.
This old donkey wasn’t alone. Very nearby was a second steam donkey. It was another Willamette. These two machines worked together on the same logging site.
The second steam donkey. It’s had parts removed by collectors.
Mark, the photographer, commented on my last post:
“The historians on our Steam Donkey expedition had a schematic of this Donkey. The manufacturer (Portland Iron Works) listed the Capistan (an option used to guide the cables in and out) as weighing 2,200 lbs. This donkey and another smaller unit were used until the Depression when they were parked on the side of a hill. By the time the Depression was over, other methods to yard logs were discovered, so they sit in the same resting place today. The original steam donkey was invented by John Dolbeer in 1881 in Eureka, California.”
Look how steep the hill is. It appears, they stopped in the middle of moving this donkey. Things must have been bad for them to abandon this equipment in the woods.
Now it is time for me to start slinging a little paint. Stay tuned for the next installment.
Beautifully illustrated
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post. I appreciate seeing your process. thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
btw… what kind of pencil and eraser are you using?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use a Draftline 0.3 or a 0.5 pencil. I use both. The eraser is a Staedtler Mar Plastic. Always be sure it’s clean before erasing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any good mechanical pencil works for me, but I like a small lead. For hardness you can pick what you prefer. I’m using B.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, happy to share it.
LikeLike
Thanks for great post, as well as wonderful art, an opportunity to learn. I had never heard of steam donkeys before !
LikeLike
Thank you Gavin. I’m glad I could share something new to you.
LikeLike
Amazing Sketch works 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Tienny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tim, you are welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
I told you before… i’ll try all my life long and i’ll never be capable to do such artist work… My friend you are great…. It is a honor having you as my friend….
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are much too kind Mirna. Don’t sell yourself short. You are an artist of words. 🙂
LikeLike
he, he, he… Happy here…. Thanks my friend… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting. Learned something new.
LikeLike
Oh good! So glad you came by.
LikeLike
🙂 🙂 🙂 he, he, he….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that kind of antique…..
LikeLike
Me too. I’d love to have this in my front yard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic detail work Tim!!
LikeLike
Thank you Susan!
LikeLike
Hi! Awesome work! Could you tell more about the last six images of the process, please?
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is it you would like to know Caroline? How familiar are you familiar with stretching the watercolor paper?
LikeLike
I’m not familiar at all about that process. In my watercolor paintings I just paint on paper that’s it. Didn’t know you could strech it.
LikeLike
You know how when you are painting, the paper starts getting ripples in it? Especially when you’re doing washes. Stretching the paper allows you to paint on it with minimal buckling. The paper expands when you soak it. Then, when stapled down on the stretcher boards and allowed to dry, it shrinks. This makes the paper tight like the top of a drum. When you paint on stretched paper, it stays flat. The method I show is just one way to do it. The stretcher boards are available at most art supply stores and come in any length. You can mix and match the lengths by taking them apart, because they just slip together. Also, they are very inexpensive.
You can also soak your paper and, staple it or butcher tape it to a flat board, then allow it to dry. If you want to paint on your paper wet, you may want to use a board so that it will dry more slowly. The stretcher boards allow the paper to dry faster. I hope this was helpful for you.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for the info! Usually I don’t do washes so that’s why I didn’t know about stretching paper! Very interesting process! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very welcome Caroline. Now you have something new to try.
LikeLike
nice work you are my favorite artist
thank’s
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, thank you I am honored. Especially considering you pen and ink portrait skill. You have remarkable skills.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just an digital artist who amazed with people with their hand drawing
thank’s 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, your digital work is awesome.
LikeLike
Great post Tim – its a lovely drawing, beautiful detail, and fascinating to see your process. I look forward to the next step, even though I think it is complete in black and white! On a side note, when we are camping in remote parts of Australia we sometimes come across donkey boilers which are used to heat water for showers etc. They are made from 44 gallon drums for the fire, with water pipes passing through (not sure of the technical details!) but they could be a simpler version of yours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Anna. It was a bit hard to start applying color, but no guts no glory, as long as I don’t mess it up.
I don’t know about the little Australian boilers. The steam donkeys were basically locomotives on skids.
I could tell you a good story about a hot tub powered by a 55 gallon drum over an open fire out in the woods. Might have to save that for a post. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that sounds like a good story Tim – I shall look forward to it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really are an outstanding artist, I don’t really tell you that enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
Tim,
I love this look at history that most would never know and your part in it! Thanks for sharing here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words Linda.
LikeLike
Wow Tim, this is really shaping up beautifully. Love how you are managing the details and values. Can’t wait to see it painted. Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Mary!
LikeLike
A lovely piece of work, Tim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Graham.
LikeLike
Really like the details you’ve captured in your drawing. The machine is amazing and so full of character. It could easily be a character in illustrator Shaun Tan’s work. Thank you for sharing your creative process.
LikeLike
Thank you so much. I’m not familiar with Shaun Tan’s work, so I will check that out!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Sneaking Bliss and commented:
If you haven’t seen it yet, Tim has a post up on the progress of the Steam Donkey art…
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing the process and the progress!! Amazing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Susan. I’m going to try and post again tonight.
LikeLike
This is beyond impressive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww shucks …. 😏
LikeLike
That looks stunning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Mielle!
LikeLike
Very impressive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
Yes, Tim, your work ink work is impressive. How do you start the watercolor now – like is there a plan to go from lights to darks, or does it depend on other things for you?
LikeLiked by 2 people
With watercolors I usually go light to dark. Unless the background is dark, then I go from foreground to background. I guess that is still light to dark. I tend to layer my paints a lot, so light to dark is the only way to do this. If the background is light I can usually paint foreground feature directly on top of it. With a dark back ground, it has to be negative painting, so I like to have the foreground feature done first. Then it is easier to protect, while painting the background darks. I hope I made sense, not sure I did.
LikeLike
Thanks. Do you use hot press Lanaquarelle paper (or have you ever used it) – and if you’ve used hot press, do you also soak it like cold press. I usually use Arches 140# CP, but am liking some of the effects I’m getting with the above hot press. Just wondered if you have different techniques between the two?
LikeLike
I’m not familiar with Lanaquarelle. I’ve soaked hot and cold press paper including Arches 140 lb. I don’t have a preference between the two except for selecting the “tooth” or texture of the paper. With the pen and ink mixed media I like a smooth paper. That’s why I picked the 90 lb hot press Canson for this picture. I prefer the 140 lb for stretching because it’s more durable. However, I used the 90 lb because it’s so smooth. Also, I like the 100% cotton rag.
LikeLike
Thanks Tim, It’s always good to get another artists views on all these papers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, I have received some excellent advice that I’ve taken full advantage of. There are so many things to learn out there and making connection like this is very valuable.
LikeLike
Wonderful ink details. There’s nothing like ink for definition in my opinion. And you better get it right the first time. Layout is so important.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ruth. So true, and I feel good about the ink. Now I just have to get the watercolor right.
LikeLike
Tim you have found two of best kept secrets of the Stanislaus, The Steam Donkeys were abandoned by the Pickering Lumber Company the upper larger one is a 2 speed compound geared Willamette used in high lead logging operations. The smaller engine below is Willamette Humboldt Yarder. BTW excellent work if you need any addition info or photos feel free to contact me
Mike
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mike. I may take you up on that. It is good to hear from you at the Sierra Logging Museum. The museum used to carry one of our books, Forest, Trees and Wood. It’s now out of print. Is Pat still there? If so tell her hello from Tim and Mary.
LikeLike
Tim interesting process and amazing tools ‘Steam Donkey’, you are spending and going along way to do your art… I think your drawing is excellent and as always it is joy to come and visit you. Have a good weekend my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Doron. It is always good to hear from you. Have a great weekend.
LikeLike
Pingback: “A Ghost in the Forest” | THE FORESTER ARTIST
Reblogged this on Ta hendene til din kjære – se på dem og hold dem hardt Disse hendene skal du følge, leie og lede. Du skal få føle på varmen fra dem og kjenne en inderlig glede. De skal stryke deg og de skal holde rundt deg – de er ikke skapt for å såre i vrede For du skal ikke alene mer vandre. De skal klemme og kose og aldri klandre De skal skjerme deg for det du ikke selv ser. De skal elske og aldri forakte – bare hjelpe når du ber. Disse hendene skal jobbe for at dere skal få det godt De skal gi – og du skal takke for det du har fått. De skal tvinnes sammen i kjærlighet og være ømme og gode og et tegn på inderlighet Hendene du holder er sterke og unge De skal gjennom mye for din skyld når dagene er tunge De skal stryke og klemme og være gode og fromme De skal ruske i ditt hår og takke når dagen er omme Disse hendene skal følge deg gjennom livet. De skal holde fast ved deg og verne om samlivet De skal være hos deg når alle andre har gått De skal aldri slippe men holde fast og tørke tårer når du har grått. Hendene skal bære din ring med rette Den skal skinne og for alle berette Jeg elsker deg! – kan den bekjenne Det er bare en som har maken til denne En dag er hendene blitt ru og grå Hver fure og rynke forteller om livet som bak dere lå Dere kan minnes den dagen i dag – da et livslangt bånd Ble knyttet Og fra denne dag dere gikk Hånd i hånd..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😎 bare hyggelig 🌷
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Testing the Waters | THE FORESTER ARTIST