Katie's Cup, an Alcohol Ink

My newest piece is also my largest alcohol ink yet,

 a 14 X 20 of Katie's Cup. 

Katie's is the coffee shop that I paint at twice a month. Turns out, that sitting at a table, painting away with my headphones on while the world goes on around me is something I really love to do. There is always someone who stops by and talks for awhile. Funny, you find out that you have much in common with the stranger sitting next to you.

My works will be hanging there for the month of April. I am hoping to get this finished and framed by Saturday so it can go over the fireplace. I'm cutting it close but there's an awful lot going on this month so I'm cutting myself some slack.

This will be the fourth in my Drive By series of Rockford, although this is the only interior I have planned.

Drive By #3; State Street Shops - The Process

It was a grey winter's day when I was driving around Rockford to take pictures for my Drive By series. As I drove down State Street and photographed the city - mostly from a parked car, I spotted these wonderful row of stores. Not being able to control myself, I actually took this photo and a few others AS I was driving... I know... I got carried away.  Totally silly, I won't do it again! I got caught up in the moment.

The stores were charming and colorful enough.

A chocolate shop, a brewery and a CD store what else could one need to cheer oneself up on a cold winter's day?

 
I've been asked to explain my  process of painting with alcohol inks so here it is.... simply put.

Alcohol inks are made of Rubbing Alcohol(use the 91% kind) and ink, 4 parts to 1, I believe. I understand that they can be made using Ritz clothing dye but I have never tried it. I like to use Yupo paper which is a tough, slippery paper. I draw out my picture using a pencil. The pencil marks never really erase well so draw light. Then I take masking fluid and outline most of the drawing and masking any areas I want to keep white.

I start by adding the first layer of paints paying attention to adding color and mixing the paints to make interesting patterns. This is the more creative part of the process. Being careful and precise is not necessary here. Things will get cleaned up later as the painting progresses.

This the point in the painting where I think; "What a fine mess this is. I won't be sharing this one on Facebook."




Then I rub off the masking fluid and the structure of the painting comes back.

More paint is added  - cleaning up spots at times. I check the darks. I don't use black but love using a deep purple. It doesn't wash out the colors like a black would.






 

The last step is to use marker and darken areas, outline others. Paint can still be added at this point. It's easy to lift paints or even marker using clear alcohol with a cloth to blot. 

When you are finished you will want to spray your painting with a fixative.

This church had me at buttress.

I've finished my second Drive By painting.


The Metro Christian Center, 607 Walnut in Rockford.

Originally the Rockford Masonic Cathedral (1869-1918) 

So now I know the top of the tower was so strange. 
There's a steeple missing!

I am in love with the buttresses. How many churches have buttresses? These are just lovely and make me want to learn more about the church.











My next Drive By is in the making. It'd some shops on State street.

One of the things I love about alcohol inks is their spontaneity. This painting has been masked and painted for the first time. I will remove the masking and see what I've got and go from there. It's always a bit of a surprise.

Update on the Drive By Series

My first "Drive By" is done!

With this series I hope to spotlight some of the beautiful buildings in Rockford that many of us drive by every day and take for granted.

 

Greenwood Chapel

Alcohol Inks

9 x 12

Holding For Shows

Greenwood Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Rockford. It began is 1844 on the land where the Tinker Cottage is now located. In 1852 the cemetery was relocated (175 bodies moved) to it's current location on the corner of North main and Auburn Streets. Veterans of every war (except the current conflicts) are interred in Greenwood, including one Revolutionary War veteran and 529 Civil War veterans.

This distinctive chapel, designed by Chicago architect Henry Lord Gay, was built in 1891.

Rockford used to be the second largest city in Illinois until about 14 years ago. From about 1850 to 1970 it was a  thriving industrial city with a lot to offer including a wonderful a college. At the turn of the century there was a lot of money around to build some beautiful mansions and gorgeous buildings, many which are still in service today - but sadly, several are just too costly to bring the buildings up to code and have fallen into disrepair. When industrial jobs went overseas a lot of the companies moved out leaving a lot of people without jobs. Today Rockford has plenty of problems with crime and gangs but it continues to be this city where one can have access to wonderful concerts by top performers like Elton John or see traveling Broadway shows along with wonderful orchestras, several gardens, an arboretum and museums.

My next piece is the Metro Christian Center. I love some of the Gothic elements including the buttresses. I'm having a hard time locating information on this building which I think now serves as a gymnasium. I'll ask around and see if I can come up with anything.Hey if we're taking beautiful old churches and converting them into something let's convert them into artists studios. What a great gallery this church would make!