Probably a final Inktober offering, a rather dreamy landscape based off a photo taken just down the road. There are so many layers on this it’s hard to count. It started as a white Claybord I inked to be mostly black, and then the scratching and layering of Ampersand inks began.
9″x12″, ink on Claybord
Yet another 6″x6″ drawing on Claybord of a little bird, this time a very sleepy female House Sparrow. I used ink, graphite, and scratchboard techniques.
Above are four different stages, with the final one at the top of this post. As always, part of me likes the first version of this as much as I like the final version, but I can admit I’m not crazy about anything in between. If I ever had enough nerve, I’d experiment with a more stylized version and stop with a sparse, simple final product… but I kind of doubt I’ll ever have enough will power to actually do that.
These are both 6”x6” Ampersand Claybord panels with ink for the backgrounds and a combination of graphite, ink, and scratchboard techniques for the birds and branches. I can use a spray varnish on these and simply pop them into a frame, which is a real plus when using a surface like Claybord.
I love using this type of surface compared to paper because it’s both an additive and subtractive process. I add in colors, shapes, and values, and then I can scratch and erase detail and highlights. With these two birds, I used graphite for shadows and dulling some of the bright white lines that happen with scratching.
Like many artists who use water media, I’ve developed a persistence in searching for a way to display finished works without using glass. There are some clever and complicated ways of doing this like adhering the paper on a wooden panel, then fixing it, sealing it, etc. I gave that a try a few times, but I found the process fraught with error (on my part). So many steps equals so many opportunities for mistakes.
Recently, I was thinking about how much I like working on smooth surfaces, and I recalled that Ampersand Claybord is actually made for inks. And, conveniently, I just happened to have eight 6″x6″ panels waiting for a project. So, here goes–a new series of critters and perhaps botanicals on Claybord. Once I’m done, I can use a fixative spray and perhaps a varnish and then they can be mounted in a frame without glass. Very cool. You’d think I’d remember this because I did a series of Claybord ink and colored pencil drawings and paintings a few years ago, and they’re still on my wall. But yet again, I’m reminded of how often I need to relearn the same lessons.
One truly unique thing about Claybord is you can scratch out highlights, one of the most rewarding parts of using it, and it solves one of the most frustrating problems about Claybord, which is how liquid pools and can leave hard edges. Take out the exacto blade or the fiberglass brush and viola! Problem solved.