“A Ghost in the Forest”

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A Ghost In The Forest, steam donkey, steam yarder, willamette steam donkey

“A Ghost in the Forest” is auction ready! Thank you to Mary for the excellent matting and framing.

Usually, I don’t donate original art. However, this cause is near and dear to my heart. So this is the original going on the block. If I did my job right, the bidders will come ready to bid!  This is one item among many being auctioned to raise money for forestry education. The auction is Friday, February 6.

This auction is a fund-raiser for the Education Fund of the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference. The money goes for forestry education for local students. It supports Education Day for hundreds of local 4th graders to tour the conference. Mary, of Sneaking Bliss, gives a presentation to them each year. This was her post from last year’s tour, Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Education Day. The money also supports the local college logging sports team, scholarships and a Spring woods tour for students, among other things.

Sierra Cascade Logging Conference, Education Day

Mary delivers her presentation to my nephew’s 4th grade class, from a couple years ago. My nephew was volunteered to help out.

I’ve include a progression of the painting in the gallery shown below. Click on the images to enlarge.

“A Ghost In The Forest”, is auction ready! Thank you to Mary for the excellent matting and framing.
The ink outline on the steam donkey was done with a Lamy All Star extra-fine point.
Steam Donkey work in progress.
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.
Steam Donkey, inking is complete.
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.
The color is going and the background is developing. I’m well into the awkward phase and the quality of the photo doesn’t show very well.
One Step Closer. The forest is coming along.
“A Ghost In The Forest, completed and framed.

These images are included in my previous posts with more information about the real steam donkey and the art process.

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/31/steam-donkey-wip-and-the-last-submission/

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/29/forestry-friday-a-trip-to-the-woods-and-more-steam-donkey-wip/

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/25/steam-donkey-wip-update/

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/23/forestry-friday-steam-donkey-wip/

43 thoughts on ““A Ghost in the Forest””

  4. This is great Tim! Thank you for taking us through the process, it was very interesting to me. I hope you get lots of bids for this wonderful cause. So many kids don’t leave the couch and video games and parents are too scared to let them out. Kids need to get outside and enjoy the forest. If they don’t, the future may look bleak for nature. 😢

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  11. 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..

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  13. Tim, wonderful piece. I am very curious about some of the steps in your process. What type of paper did you use, that you were able to soak and then stretch on stretcher bars. And why? What did that do to the inking process for you to continue with color?

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    • I use a hot press Canson 90 lb paper, because I wanted a pretty smooth surface for the pen and ink. I did soak and stretch it after I drew the pen and ink. I tested every pen I had with this same process before doing the actual art to avoid and disasters. I had no problems with the ink drawing as a result of the soaking and stretching. The paper took the watercolor normally. I usually stretch my paper for water color this way except when using 300 lb paper. It’s easier for me to do the pen and ink work on a drawing board rather than on the stretch boards. It’s just my preference. It was the first time I’ve tried it this way and it worked great.

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