Monthly Archive: January 2008

Jan
31
2008

Mermaid

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Jan
31
2008

Cheap Dates for Cheap Skates

My buddy Adam Abrams produced this video funny segment in 1996 for Rogers Cable. a Vancouver (Canada) public access station. He has always been a theatrical guy, even writing and performing rap songs for his fellow students while we attended CCAC. Enjoy.

Jan
29
2008

Watercolor Canvas results

Watercolor Canvas test

Well, I feel very disappointed in the results of trying the Fredrix Canvas for Water Media (as mentioned in a post sunday). The product seemed to take away the features that make watercolors such a wonderful medium to me.

The Fredrix Watercolor Canvas main feature is great lifting ability. Lifting with watercolors is when you dampen your brush and use it to remove paint and lighten the art. Well the Watercolor Canvas does this well, in fact it works too well. Just trying to paint on top of previously painted and dried areas will lift the medium below it. You see, the beauty of watercolor is that its made of layers of translucent colors, one on top of another, that produce beautiful rich colors. So if the paint gets lifted easily it is taking away one of watercolor’s best qualities.

Now I kind of knew this would happen, but I really wanted it to work. For example…the video from the official page they show the painting being wiped away with a sponge (yikes).

The only things I did not try was to the painting dry longer then 15-20 minuets (some of the time with a blow drier) or to spray some sort of fixative chemical in between layers. But I feel anything more would take away from the spontaneity of the watercolor medium.

So, this is as far as I go:

Watercolor Canvas test

 

Now lets take a closer look at how the painting looks.

Watercolor Canvas test CU

 

Let’s compare the above sample to a close up section of my flying pig painting. Can you see the difference?

Flying Pig CU

 So for now I will be sticking to my regular watercolor paper, but there are some other cool techniques to try. A friend of mine has mentioned that some artist are stretching sheets of watercolor paper over wooden stretcher bars (like they do for oil/acrylic paintings). Then they spray the work with an  acrylic coat and display it without the glass or frame traditionally required for protecting watercolors.

Sounds cool, maybe that will be a project for later this year.

If any artist has used the project and would like to comment, please do .

Jan
29
2008

Sky Duke: sketchbook comic (page 8)

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Previous PageNext Page

My ongoing Web Comic that has been drawn in my Sketchbook in 11-2007.

Jan
28
2008

Flying Pig

This is a watercolor I did with a limited pallet red, blue, and brown (and a tiny bit of green). I like the color, but it is far from realistic.

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art ©2008 Brian Kolm

Jan
28
2008

the music of Tobela

My friend Alex Schumacher is part of a new band…Tobela. The music sound is folk-rock-blues-etc. There are some music demos you can here on their MySpace profile.

Sounds good guys.

Jan
27
2008

Watercolor Canvas

Watercolor Canvas front

I just discovered this Fredrix Canvas product at Dick Blick Art Supply store (formaly The Art Store) which is Canvas with “specially formulated gesso for all water based paints.” I just bought a 9″ x 12″ board and am eager to give it a try. The features they promise are paint that can be easily lifted, even washed off the canvas, more intense color, and durability.

YOU CAN SEE MY THE RESULTS TO MY TEST HERE 

You can visit the official web page where there is both a YouTube video with a very enthusisastic artist and a flash presentation. I am waiting to get excited till I give it a try this week. If it works as promised it might lead to a very cool display piece at Wondercon next month.

Stay tuned to the Log to see my first results.

Watercolor Canvas front

Jan
25
2008

Paintings

Two gouache paintings. First off…from a book on Guatemalan masks (most of them).

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And a mystic warrior.

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(click for bigger images)

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