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Today's Experiment - Help please! - 1/23/2007 6:27:18 PM

GreenBiscuit

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I just booked a visit to my favorite place in the world - Jamaica! One of my closest friends in the world owns Purple Rain guest house in Little Bay, and Rob and I help him as much as possible. I decided to bring some "room name paintings" or something. (the rooms are named after flowers)

I sat down to play and experiment, and a few sketches later, I was experimenting with some oil pastels. One came out well enough that I pursued it, and decided to try and see if I could use it. However, since I had only done foreground elements (I was focusing on the specific flowers), what to do with the background? Lacking gouache ( I need to buy some) I decided to try tempera.

So I have carefully laid in a mottled brown background, that hopefully resembles dirt, around the pastel. I hope to add hints of other elements such as grass.

My question is, is this at all a valid approach? By this I mean the oil pastel and tempera mix? Oh, it is on heavy watercolor paper, btw. Has anyone tried anything like this? Do you suppose I could try to add the pastel over areas where there is tempera? Or maybe use acrylic there....sigh. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!

< Message edited by GreenBiscuit -- 1/23/2007 6:42:46 PM >

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 6:33:34 PM

bafiedel

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Hi Donna, 'Mixed Media' is what you did

! Totally valid. I haven't used oil pastels but I wonder if they would be a resist for the tempra? I'm not sure the tempra would cover them.

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 6:34:52 PM

artapaloozaintl

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It sounds like a fun place to go. Once you have it all figured out and completed would love to see the signs.-Angela

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 6:36:47 PM

GreenBiscuit

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Oh, I know Beth, I have done a few "mixed media" before. Not this particular combination, though. I am wondering too. I need to go back in and check - it should be good and dry, now. I am wondering about the resist factor too. I hope not, as it is a convenient way to crisp up a pastel edge...but I am thinking it won't work.

Jen, or any other accomplished pastel artist - how do you achive a really crisp line/edge.

I will post after I check. Cross your fingers.

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 7:49:26 PM

chinchillabutt

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreenBiscuit
Jen, or any other accomplished pastel artist - how do you achive a really crisp line/edge.

are you asking me? if you are, i have no idea about oil pastels - lol! i know nothing, i say - hehehe. can you take an xacto blade and form an edge or a point with the oil pastel?

i can't wait to see what you're working on!! it sounds soooo interesting and cool!!

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 8:42:09 PM

Harlan

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Oil pastels aren't - oil that is. They are actually WAX - do what you want! :) :) :)

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 9:02:30 PM

GreenBiscuit

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Okay, the pastels are definitely behaving like a wax resist, and the tempera is cleaning up jagged edges nicely. This may work, but much more experimentation is needed. Further, I highly doubt these will ever be portfolio worthy but perhaps good enough to take down? If there is interest, and I am not too embarassed, I will keep you all posted.

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 9:08:33 PM

Vfem

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Hmm... I'm completely unsure... but I think Harlan is right!?

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 9:10:45 PM

Vfem

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well are you going to share any pictures? I want to see how this works!?

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 9:41:33 PM

labeana

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I've always felt that tempra paint was at best a temporary paint...like for school projects..however I guess if you look at it from a pigment point of view, it's just pigment with a base that is water soluble...not unlike lots of other mediums....

if it works, go for it....

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 9:54:05 PM

GreenBiscuit

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Well, I always thought so too, Lauren, until recently. This is supposedly "artist grade" or whatever. Certainly doesn't seem exacly like the chalky kids stuff, but we shall see.

Shannon, if they are not beyond pity, I will post, promise.

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 10:14:16 PM

KariTirrell

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreenBiscuit

Jen, or any other accomplished pastel artist - how do you achive a really crisp line/edge.

I know less than Jen.

However, I have been playing a bit with oil pastel. To get a crisp line I use a small blending stump. If you need a very thin line, wipe the tip of the stump onto the pastel, then draw on the paper. You can use a razor, xacto knive, or whatever tool you can come up with (I've been using one of those little wooden cuticle thingies) to scrape it into a line or take the pastel off if you need to.

Maybe someone else has a better idea, but that's how I've been doing it.

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 10:19:11 PM

GreenBiscuit

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Thanks, Kari, that sounds like an excellent idea!

< Message edited by GreenBiscuit -- 1/23/2007 10:20:50 PM >

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/23/2007 10:33:33 PM

lisaw

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Can't contribute. . . .too busy scratching down notes. . . .

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/24/2007 9:59:32 AM

tag

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hey sounds cool, and hope you post pics so we can see more of what you are talking about. No, you can't really cover oil pastels with anything, they are waxy base, and don't ever really "dry". But they can go over top most anything. Watercolor does neat effects over them, the oil pastels act as a resist, and you can do a nice watercolor wash over the whole thing and get a background that way.

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/25/2007 2:24:16 AM

krisjean

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Post those pics Post those pics..........

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/25/2007 3:22:01 AM

88heather

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yeah.. donna.. we want pics!!!

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/25/2007 8:45:12 AM

bromley2

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I can't help any, but sure would love to see what your working on...Pics! Pics!

And congratulations on booking a trip to Jamaica!! In this snowy weather that sounds like heaven!

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/25/2007 9:44:02 AM

GreenBiscuit

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uhhhhh, I dunno, guys. I ended up more or less rushing through three of these "painting" signs. I leave a week from Saturday, and have mountains of stuff to do before hand. (I am really embarassed to write this, but my Christmas tree is still up, and Rob's boss is coming for dinner Sat nite. It has to be down and all the rest of the bins packed away.)

They suck, basically, and I am not even sure I am going to bring them. Ideally I would do three more, but I don't know if I will have time. I have to get out summer clothes for everyone, see what fits etc (especially me!), pack up, get all the supplies I bring, etc. I try to bring some necessities for my friends and there kids, as well as educational supplies for the school. Go check out www.purplerainjamaica.com if you want to see. Pictures need to be updated desperately, but you get the idea.

I will go peak at them and see if I think there is any hope....

The experiment itself though, was fun, and I would like to pursue more mixed media pieces.

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RE: Today's Experiment - 1/25/2007 9:51:36 AM

bromley2

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Wow, what a great looking place! That house and gardens look so inviting. Love all the wood.

AND, your leaving in a week! Envy, Envy, Envy!!

Carolyn

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