Hand Made Lightbox

[Renee]

Thanks Marylka and Renee for explaining it so well to me, I think what confused me was the way it was standing. I do all my drawing on the paper I am going to paint on, and I do rub out a lot to get it right, have always done it that way, and have never found it affected the painting, but then I would not know would I, if it is the only way I have ever done it. The drawing of Imogen was difficult , I just measured everything a million times and rubbed out a lot. I think it could be a good idea for portraits.

Poppycat that is excellent, your granddaughter is really good. I also paint with my granddaughter, she is also artistic.
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Thats how I draw too Maylon. I rub out allot. IJust a little bit of rubbing out is Ok if you draw very very lightly. But I have a hard time making all light lines. I cannot see them well enough to see if I actually am getting any likeness of my portrait. Showing some values is just the way my brain works to signal recognition. I cannot tell if there is any true likeness  with just a line drawing. That is why I do more than just lines when I draw. I actually start putting in values right off, then I see the image looking at me and I can go from there. That puts allot of graphite on my paper so I draw it anywhere 1st before I put it on my watercolor paper. I would have way to much to rub out.
If its a simple drawing that does not have to be exact, I just draw straight on my watercolor paper. It really is more fun painting for me to not be a slave to a reference.
Never use the kneadable eraser because they contain oils that will leave residue that interferes with the pigment settleing correctly on watercolor paper.

[Renee]

Thanks for posting the artical. I saved them and will print them out. Easier for me to read that with with my eye problems. Yes, kneadbale erasers contain oils that can leave residue on the surface of the paper.

This is the article about transferring images never figured to use photo was frowned upon
Maylon rubbing out on the water color paper is abrasing to the surface kneadable erasers should be used with caution they contains oils that can effect the water colors.

Lovely work from your Grand daughter Patricia I often paint with my 2 grandsons they love to see the colors flow, what i do is write out their name with water on the brush then to look on the side where the water can be seen, then let them apply the pigment to that , they are in awe when the colors blend and merge, and the name becomes visible.They think it's magical 

I had to adjust an image they are out of order I found it a great article.
Marylka

[marylka]

For me the art journey has led me to other skills I learnt the computer I started taking my own ref pics and still life how to set these up, study color theory  valuable information it can be daunting at first about pigments that is a must color mixing.The Internet has been my classroom as I wanted yo know more and no one tutor was able to teach me everything I wanted to know in this short amount of time, there is still much to learn. One tutor said to me you learn by experience i have been doing it for 30 years I said I didn't have that time So I learnt a lot through the wonderful world of Internet. I could never imagine it being part of my daily routine
We compose may it be a set up or flowers in a garden we start creating the moment we get out the camera.

 How the image is put on paper is only a small part of the painting, a viewer won't wonder how the lines got there but see how the painting was painted how the colors blend the different hues how it leads the eye into the painting, the center of interest to name only a few.

 No matter how well drawn, the lines can be lost whilst painting it's knowing what to do next  there are always adjustments to b made whilst painting. I also add  additional lines where a color shift is to remind me. I will add as much information as i can especially in glass and crystal  For me an ref image is only a starting point as I may change some of the elements. One can always enter drawing competitions whereby the image does not get distorted by adding paint.There is no wrong way or right way whatever works . People will comment on a painting it looks better than the photo,  I say i hope so other wise I would frame the photo.This is my humble opinion
 

 Seriously a painting will always look better than the image that it was created from we put our hearts into it.  All is fair in Love and Art.

[Renee]

I know what you mean about time. I may not have 30 years to get experience painting. Not unless I'm really lucky!
The internet opened up my world too. I am a sponge and love to learn and study. I used to go the the library and take home loads of books. Now I have my library at home and know what books I want and can find allot of what I want to learn online.
The only thing I have over 30 years experience in is Alternative Healing Modalities.

[Mary]

Hi Marylka
After much frustrating shopping, trying to get the light for my box, I have finished up with one of those spiral ones. It does seem to get warm though, quite quickly, so I will have to do a bit at a time when it comes to using it.
Thanks for all your help.
Mary.

[marylka]

Hi Marylka
After much frustrating shopping, trying to get the light for my box, I have finished up with one of those spiral ones. It does seem to get warm though, quite quickly, so I will have to do a bit at a time when it comes to using it.
Thanks for all your help.
Mary.

Hi Mary it does get hot not as hot as an ordinary light globe that got extremely hot. It is better to use it at short intervals and on a surface that can take some heat. I have a piece of perspex that I will use to place the lightbox on as this can take the heat .  just as precaution I still think of my perfumed  tea candle in a candle burner causing damage on my wood surface they burn for several hours though.I may be too cautious because of that.I have disposed of all my candle burners.
marylka

[Mary]

Hi Marylka,
When my daughter made the box she put a bottom in it as well, she made it out of 5ply, Plywood so it is very sturdy, I will have to see if that gets burned when I use it, if it does I will have to do as you suggest and put in some perspex. I didn't realize that that  will take the heat, something else I have leaned today, Thanks.
Mary.

[Jade]

Hello Ladies,
I've been reading your posts with interest & feel so bad that you are having such a hard time with your light box project.

Keeping it simple might be of some help. Here is a link:

How To Construct A Homemade Lightbox
http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtMagazine/za_604.htm


When you are done with your sketching & painting - here is another link:

A Short Tutorial On How To Photograph Your Art, Painting & Sculptures
http://artlinkswap.org/photographing_art.shtml

I hope this will make life a bit easier for you, so that you have more time for your art.
Jade

[marylka]

Hello Ladies,
I've been reading your posts with interest & feel so bad that you are having such a hard time with your light box project.

Keeping it simple might be of some help. Here is a link:

How To Construct A Homemade Lightbox
http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtMagazine/za_604.htm


When you are done with your sketching & painting - here is another link:

A Short Tutorial On How To Photograph Your Art, Painting & Sculptures
http://artlinkswap.org/photographing_art.shtml

I hope this will make life a bit easier for you, so that you have more time for your art.
Jade

I feel that it is not a problem It is acquiring the products to help on the journey .There is more to art than just painting there are so many preparations Like taking ref photo of future works,setting up still life, stretching paper or  gesso,sanding boards for oils, taking  progress photo to upload the work experimenting with hues, then cleaning up, thinking of what the next  painting will be it is all part of the journey.In fact sitting down to paint is the easy part.Thank for the links
Marylka

[mlsleisel]

Try the new natural lights that save energy....not a lot of heat at all and give bright light.  I also made my own light-box (very rough, your's is much nicer!).  But, I went to wax-free graphite.  Easier for me, and NEED to do things the easy way for me because I'm a stroke survivor and even simple things are harder for me!  (By the way, I like light boxes better than the graphite, so I wish you success on your invention). (I looked at light boxes you could buy....ABSOLUTELY expensive and the light seemed to to dim for watercolor paper transfer!) Ta ta and Bye! 

[marylka]

Try the new natural lights that save energy....not a lot of heat at all and give bright light.  I also made my own light-box (very rough, your's is much nicer!).  But, I went to wax-free graphite.  Easier for me, and NEED to do things the easy way for me because I'm a stroke survivor and even simple things are harder for me!  (By the way, I like light boxes better than the graphite, so I wish you success on your invention). (I looked at light boxes you could buy....ABSOLUTELY expensive and the light seemed to to dim for watercolor paper transfer!) Ta ta and Bye! 

That is what I use also 35wtts is quite powerful.
Gald you are getting better.
marylka