I love this paper stretcher made by Red Collie. I ordered mine on eBay, and it took about three weeks to arrive. It’s easy to use and the paper stays really flat. I wish I would have bought a few more sizes as you lose about 3/4” on each side where the paper is clamped.
Sam Savitt is my favorite horse artist. Known mostly for his children’s book illustrations, I think he captured horses so beautifully, with an effortless style envied by other artists.
For over four years, I’ve admired the paintings and drawings being sold by Sam Savitt’s children. I couldn’t muster up the courage to purchase anything until this lovely pencil sketch wouldn’t leave my mind, and I decided it could be a wonderful Christmas gift this year. Luckily, my husband agreed, and all of a sudden, after four years of dreaming, I own an original Sam Savitt drawing.
I had it professionally framed, and we love it. Instead of hanging it in my office, we decided it should be hung where we can see if off and on throughout the day. Honestly? The framing cost more than the sketch, but it’s worth it. This is one of those presents that I’ll cherish.
In the end, these six ornaments turned out great–but I would not recommend using Spectrafix Natural Glass as an adhesive. As a varnish, yes, but as an adhesive, no. Most of the paper pulled away from the mat board, and I ended up using Tacky Glue instead. The star, the Cardinal, is still questionable because I never found a good way to put it on the tree, which is a gigantic Norfolk Pine we’ve had for years and years and is now 6′ tall (including the pot). I also made a Downy Woodpecker, which turned out great.
One last lesson to remember–getting these to dry flat is difficult was they stuck to the glassine paper. I had to carefully peel it off before they were totally dry, and as a result, some of these have a wavy look.
If a three-day art class exists on how to finish artwork the same way there are dozens of three-day art classes on how to create artwork, and if this class focused on pencil and water media works and taught the various ins and outs of framing, varnishing, alternative methods of varnishing, storing, and so on, I’d take it. It seems I only learn by failing, and my latest project is starting to feel like a big lesson in what not to do.
I started with a piece of watercolor paper (140 lb., Stonehenge Aqua) stretched on a watercolor stretcher board. I created a moody background in ink and proceeded to sketch six songbirds, thinking I’d create Christmas ornaments. I drew a woodpecker, too, and completed all of this drawing, which took a week of evenings, with a Cardinal for the “star.”
The drawing part I’m comfortable with, but then the questions begin. Can I use acrylic on paper and alongside ink? Should I use a fixative first? How will I “finish” these so they can be hung on a tree? After watching a very informative video about the Spectrafix products (Final Fixative and Natural Glass), I dove in. I sprayed fixative a few times before drawing in the gold ornaments and stars with an acrylic marker. I then brushed on three coats of Natural Glass over everything. After it dried, I adhered the birds to mat board and attempted to sandwich yarn in between for hangers.
Did it work? As it’s all still drying, tune in next time to find out…