Time for the Angry Clobber Monkey. On the back of the sketch I’ll do a graphite transfer technique. Graphite can be messy and smudge everything up. I prefer to use Prismacolor pencils. On many surfaces it works as well as graphite, but it stays put.
I’ll trace over the outline using a different colored pencil. Once the transfer is laid down outline it in an acrylic color with a tiny brush, then I’ll paint over the outline with a dark base color.
This is where I don’t have as much documentation. It is difficult to document when I get into the painting. Basically with acrylic it’s dark to light colors, and and to keep punching up the contrast. Making highlights, shadows, contrast. Even with that, most of the time I’ll just keep messing with something until it looks right to me, not much step by step to report there.
I’m working with a setup so I can just let a camera roll over my shoulder. The large pieces that I’m working on will have more coverage of the finer details of painting. The piece is up on an easel so it much more convenient to shoot.
Are you a fan of Angry Clobber Monkey? He thinks your cool and wants you to be his BFF. Check out the developing ACM fan page on Facebook. There's also a growing photo album: Angry Clobb er Monkey Around The World. When he is released I want to get people to take pictures of their ACM all over the world.
As I mentioned The factory sample of my Angry Clobber Monkey vinyl came in, and it looks amazing. Exactly the way I pictured it. He comes with his little “driver mechanic” buddy. I’ve been taking some nice pics. More will coming out about the release soon.
I was working on two new pieces for the Movers and Shakers show this Sat. The larger painting that I started on a few weeks ago is still coming together, but this show was coming up fast so here we go.
Masonite is my material of choice to paint on. I like the surface, it’s cheap and easy to cut into any shape. This piece will feature the Angry Clobber Monkey.
I start every new painting with some kind of color underpainting. This is a green brown. The majority of the color will be yellows and warm reds and tans. The under-paint will give the background some texture, it won’t be painted over completely.
There is a new Flip cam in my life so I’m adding videos to the blog now. Most in fast motion because I’m easily amused, and not to be terribly boring. After a basic coat of yellow mixed with gesso it ready for a little blending.
I painted a loose brown outline of where the robot will be, then blended between a light yellow mixed with gesso, and a darker more orange yellow. There’s a little Tupperware container filled with retarding medium mixed with some water. I start blending light to dark keep the paint wet and filled with the retarding medium. Then just blend it back and forth trying not to lift undried paint.
After the yellow coat has throughly dried, I’m going to lay up some masking tape to create the orange red rays. After cutting the strips I stick them to my shirt just once to deaden the tack a little.
Now the tape is on. There is always that problem of having paint seep under the tape and ruin the sharp mask line. My good friend Anthony Ausgang taught me a great technique. Mix up a thin soup of acrylic base, and acrylic gloss coat. As you can see I always reuse my Starbucks Cups.
With a fine brush paint a thin layer of the mixture over the tape edges. Hit it with a blow dryer. This seals up the tape edges and greatly reduces bleed through.
Yay another movie! Same technique as before for blending the orange red rays. Hit this with a blow dryer too. Usually I try to remove the tape while paint is dry, but still a little fresh. Peel carefully and slowly! If there are some bleed through spots the paint is still green enough to remove with a moist brush or dab it with wet paper towel.
Two new pieces of art for the Movers & Shakers show next Sat 14th at the POVevolving Gallery. In honor of the eminent release of my Angry Clobber Monkey vinyl, I’m creating a series of narrative paintings staring the ACM. This piece is one of two, titled simply: Angry Clobber Monkey. 16” X 6” 3/4 Acrylic on Masonite. I’m putting together the step by step painting blog entries now. Usually I work on several paintings at the same time. The big one that I started the step by step is coming along, more coverage soon. Hope to see you there!
I just received the factory sample of the Angry Clobber Monkey. It looks fantastic! Great color, tight detail. I'm looking forward to the release in April.
There are new step by step posts on the way. I’m working on 3 paintings right now, and I just received the factory sample of the Angry Clobber Monkey vinyl. It looks amazing! Now I have to dive into the package design. Sometimes it’s difficult to work and document the work while I’m in the middle of it. Also more about making the latest robot!
