One Step Closer. The forest is coming along.
This is the painting I donated two years ago.
The Misery Whip.
This was posted at:
Prints available at Fine Art America
Steam Donkey WIP and The Last Submission
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Category Archives: Watercolors
Forestry Friday … A Trip To The Woods and More Steam Donkey WIP
The color is going on and the background is developing. Time to grow a forest. I’m well into the awkward phase and the quality of the photo isn’t very good.
It was a perfect day in the woods. I was visiting a more modern logging crew.
Loading the truck and filling out the load receipt.
What do you think the steam donkey crew would have said about this equipment.
A dozer skidding in a log turn.
I get to go to places like this when I’m at work.
Looking north toward Lassen Park.
Nothing like a little inspiration on the way home to prepare for painting.
Sunset over the Sacramento River.
Steam Donkey WIP …Update
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.
Grandkids – Family Portrait
Our grandkids are awesome little artists. Yes, I’m biased.
I love doing art projects with our grandchildren. I especially enjoy adorning mugs with their masterpieces for our morning coffee enjoyment.
This year, they each drew a full body self-portrait along with the rest of their household. This little beauty became a wrap around mug with each of our little ones contributing their part.
Tim and I enjoy our morning coffee time…and having their art as a part of our morning ritual is bliss indeed.
Family Portrait by our grandkids.
Forestry Friday … Steam Donkey WIP
This huge steam engine has waited silently for years. Seasons passed, leaves turned, and its only visitors were the wild creatures paying it no attention.
The Willamette Steam Donkey. Photo courtesy of Mark Lathrop.
Steam donkeys were the cutting edge technology for powering logging operations a hundred years ago. Serving as yarders, they brought logs to the landing. They were the loaders, too. These huge machines provided any heavy lifting that needed to be done. Steam donkeys replaced horses and oxen for moving logs.
Steam Donkey work in progress.
I’m doing a mixed media watercolor painting of this steam donkey for a forestry education fund-raising auction. The auction will be held at the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference coming up in February. You can follow the progress on this piece in my future blog posts. I’m using a Canson Bright White 90 lb hot press cotton paper. I sketched out my pencil guide and am inking. I’m inking with a brand new Lamy All-Star extra fine point pen.
Mark at the historic site.
The pictures were taken by my friend, Mark, who has graciously given me permission to use them for this project. He had the awesome duty of leading a team of historians to the donkeys to record the site. Keep following for more on the story behind this steam donkey.
Ducks Ahoy
A new painting from Mary. This is our Sailor!
Saturday Night RedTail Ducks Ahoy – Sailor So Which Will It Bee?
Here’s one I pulled from the archives of forgotten favorites.
I finally pulled the trigger. I’ve been thinking for some time about marketing prints of my art work, as many of you do. I checked out what was available and checked in with some of you, special thanks to Russel Ray, an excellent photographer in San Diego. After examining many of the sites available I went with Fine Art America. Their business model seems to be a good fit for me.
Click here to see the gallery!
I’ve been slowly posting pieces, about two a day. I can already see how difficult it is to stand out on the site, but you can’t sell it if you don’t put it out there. Clearly, promotion is the key. There is so much great art, I am curious to see how this works out. Any advice, comments or experiences are welcome.
The Golden Moment
Blitz, a contented retriever doing what she loves. In watercolor, pen and ink.
Natural Born Retriever
Blitz follows her nose to the prize.
Blitz took me pheasant hunting last week. I think she would drive herself if she had thumbs. Luckily, she needs a gunner tagging along. It’s my joy to watch this girl living her bliss. I captured this hunting moment in watercolor, and pen and ink.
Blitz with her bag.
Let’s Call It A Wrap
Illustrating Buddy wore me out, and Buddy too.
I’m done illustrating Buddy. Now we wait for the official release. I think I’m going to take a nap too.
THE FORESTER ARTIST 