Mixed Media Art. Photography. Inspiration.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Plaster + Burnt Umber(brown) = Happy Goodness...And SSS.



 This week's color for The Summer Of Color challenge is brown... rich, warm, luscious brown.  But to be honest, when I first heard it was brown I thought "blah" (even though I love brown... weird).  But then I realized brown = burnt/raw umber, chocolate, latte, etc.. Ooh, now we're talkin'!  I also realized I didn't have to make the WHOLE piece brown...just the main focus.















I've been longing to work with plaster again since I did this piece for green week.  It's so much fun.  I learned so many cool techniques in the "Plaster Studio Workshop" and needed to start using and experimenting with them more.   So I decided to work with plaster again for this week's color challenge (happy for an excuse to play with the stuff really!)


This piece combines several techniques from class, mainly transferring with CitraSolv (above), and carving into the plaster.  After I did the transfer, it wasn't as sharp as I wanted it to be, so I carved in details (the white lines) over the transfer with a sharp tool.  I also carved other details like the frame, etc..., then antiqued the whole thing (except the transfer) with Burnt Umber paint.  Mmm hmmm....happy goodness.  As a bonus challenge we could incorporate a "pop of color" to our brown piece.   


 With that in mind I added some aqua blue.  I don't know if it qualifies as a "pop" (huh..Kristin..?), especially since you barely notice it in these photos (argh), but it's definitely there and I really like the effect of just the two colors. 
 I know the above photo has a bad glare...it's not really that shiny (I think the sealer was still wet), but I like how the photo shows some of the depth and texture created by the plaster.


Ok, moving on.  Sadly I've missed several Shadow Shot Sundays (SSS), so I couldn't let another week slip by. So for this week I have several photos.  The first two are of an amazing door that I saw at Arte De Mexico last year.  Beautiful, beautiful doors, sigh.  The first photo is the one I used for my CitraSolv transfer on my plaster piece. 


Aren't the details on this door amazing?!  
In these photos you notice the highlights more than the shadows, but where there is light, there is shadow, eh?























But just in case you aren't satisfied with the above shadow shots (hmphh!),  I wanted to find a shadow shot from our Kern River trip to keep with the brown theme of this post.  This was the closest I could find in the brownish tones.  Do you see how hard I was working while my husband was lugging us and our trailer up to Kern?  Yes, it's another shot taken with the Hipstamatic app.  Sorry... you'll be seeing a lot of these. ..it's way too much fun (is there such a thing?!).  To join in our shadow shot fun, go HERE.

Next week's color for the The Summer Of Color is RED in case any of you want to play with us!  It's not too late!!

23 comments:

Netty said...

Totally wonderful, I so love your piece. Am over to look from Summer of Colour and am so glad I did.

robin. said...

lovely burnt umber...and i want to be traveling where ever those shadowy feet are going.

Anonymous said...

Look at you being all clever and amazing! I love what you have done! You are amazing!

And the creepy person has been doing this for two weeks. I know who she is and she is CREEPY!

Wildflowerhouse said...

Love the plaster effect. I like how you carved in the white.

Beverley Baird said...

Love your plaster piece! Sounds li8ke it was a great course. Great shadows for SSS!
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Single Stone Studios said...

Your plaster work is SO cool! You have a way with texture!

Mandy said...

Lol...love how hard you worked...that's my kinda working...lol...your piece is beautiful....would love to see how you actually did that ornate part...its so beautiful...always an inspiration....thankyou...xxx

Ella said...

Your art is amazing,so beautiful. I loved you shared your inspiration

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

Oh, I much prefer the ornate doors to the feet! :-)

TALKING SHADOWS?

Imagine a shadow could talk
In whisper or rumble or squawk;
Just what would it say
To make you go, “Hey!
You’re just a chip off the old block!”?


© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Shadows abound here and here

Kristin said...

Yes, of course! Your pop of color is my favorite one ;) AND let me just bow down to you here - I LOVE this gorgeous play of texture (TG) and those hash marks in the top corner is genius. Bravo! And I love your foot shot - hope you had fun ;) xo

Unknown said...

Love your plaster art, I wouldn't know where to start with something like that.

Hootin Anni said...

...which reminds me, I gotta do my toenails and buff my heels! LOL

Love the plaster tiles art. How creative.


My shadow this week is of a horn cleat [what you use to tie up a boat at the dock]

LINK

Hope your weekend has treated you well.

Hey Harriet said...

Beautiful artwork and love your shadow shots! And your Hipstamicked (not really a word) feet are cool! I love the Hipstamatic app too and I'm totally addicted to it! Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)

Tatjana Parkacheva said...

Wonderful work.

Regards!

Spadoman said...

Fantastic and very creative plaster scultpture. The coloringnis divine. Seems to have an aged patina built in. Hmmm, toes not painted. That has to mean something, but i can't imagine what.
Every letter makes a sound and E makes Art.

Peace

Kathy said...

Love the texture on the plaster.. gorgeous.. like how hard you're working.. works for me too..lol not sure what Hipstamick is but will check it out.. I love that door.. fab...

JessiVille said...

Hi E, Can't remember the last time I worked that hard! Ha, just kidding. Your plaster work is phenominal! And your photo of your inspiration door - OMG. I LOVE that door too! Thanks for sharing your art!
Jessi xox

Joanna said...

STUNNING plaster artwork, really beautiful. It has a wonderful medieval feel about it. Love the texture and depth. Great choice of colour to 'pop' too.

Jo-Ann Dziubek-MacDonald said...

Oh, I absolutely LOVE this plaster piece! Gorgeous work, and I love the design... the aqua is the perfect pop it's subtle, but just right.

Diane said...

Exceptional!! I can never get enough of these pieces with this texture--I love them!!
P.S. cool door too!

Shelby and Bev said...

hello sweet friend! nice piece, esther...and i like the agua blue. very subtle, but it's there. and yes, you look like you are working hard with feet up there on the dash! lol!
xo

Kelly said...

Hi Esther. I love this piece for the color brown and I love the hint of aqua in it too - exquisite! I looks like a lot of fun to make.
I LOVE that door, I could stare at it forever! I have a favorite door in Arizona, everytime we go there we drive by 'my door'. :)
I will be taking shots like your feeties one this weekend on our camping trip!
Big hugs and many blessings

Tracy said...

I just stopped by from artsee bloggers and I have to say that I love this piece. Your use of texture in the plaster is amazing! BTW brown is a great color!