West Coast Scratchboard Info At Flax Art

http://flaxart.com/2011/07/scratchboard-easy-to-do-art/

Very cool site of a West Coast (San Fran Bay Area) Art Supply.   I'll be teaching a Ampersand Art Scratchbord class there within the next 6-8 Months!  I love my life!  I love scratching!

Big Dog Scratchboard WIP

Started this piece yesterday...lots to do before it is done and on the wall at the Fayetteville Underground.  It's an 18"x24" Ampersand Art scratchboard.  Not sure what is going to happen with the background,  maybe some collaged vintage papers, or stencil shapes with color.  Pretty sure the dog is going to remain black and white with the only color the eyes, collar and tag.  The big ball may end up having some design on it...or at least some color.  I spent much of the morning yesterday working on trying to salvage another piece. This was totally finished.  Because of the heat here I've had to spray these with fixatif inside. Usually I take them outside during the day, so I have plenty of light to see what coverage is on the the piece while spraying. What has happened while doing it inside, is either I spray too much which gives a haze on the black or I've gotten dust from the ac vent or other crap on the wet surface.  Anyhow, I'm painting with india ink on the black trying to get it smooth with a brush. Hard to do. Ampersand sprays the black ink on.  May either have to junk the piece (which would make me cry because I love it so much) or live with it as is and tell folks that's how I meant it to be.  Will try more ink today, and then spray it tomorrow and hope for the best.  I love working with scratchboard, but let me tell you, it's not always as easy as it looks.  On to the studio.

More Monkeys In The Garden

Work in progress.  Monkeys in the garden...you know which one.  Still have a lot of work to do before hanging this in my show at the Fayetteville Underground Sept. 1.  It's big,  24"x36". You can see the outline of this piece a few posts back.  Ampersand Art scratchboard with inks and collaged paper.  I'm loving how the mountains turned out. (really? I'm loving all of it...) I may put a wash on top of these, and the foreground.  Both are vintage papers.  I've been working on this at home as my studio at the Underground is packed full.  That's a hint for all y'all to start buying some art.  If not from me, from other artists.  You think you are hurting?  Think of those of us who rely on patrons, gallery sales etc...Sales are slow as can be, the extreme heat and the freaking crazy economy is not helping either. I have no desire to be a starving artist.  No one in their right mind wants that.  So do me and all us artists out there working hard to make your lives a bit brighter, happier and amazing with fresh original art, open your hearts and wallets.  Thank you very much.  I promise your life will be much better with art in hand and on the walls.