Playtime: Vol. I

The evolution of the first layer for Playtime.  It all started with a scrap of cardboard that reminded me of a tank turret.  I'm of the age that the Atari 2600 was about as big of a deal as one American child of the early 1980s could grapple with without losing his mind entirely.  Our Atari 2600 came with the game COMBAT!.  Tanks, planes, shooting, pixels, minimal sound effects -so good.

Anyway, with the memories of COMBAT! inspiring me, I made a tank body for the turret and some simple opponents/antagonists to adhere to the canvas. 

I have the desire for the final piece to return to this kind of minimal arrangement (in keeping with the simple 8-bit nature of the Atari games?).  But to get to simple (or at least simplified) I need to make things a bit more complex first.  I gotta give before I can take away...

So here is the first layer of imagery.

Taking a quick break so things can dry.  That way I don't drag my hand through wet paint.

A few weeks later, I am ready to dive back into the piece.

I'm excited to return to this piece in a week or two and start adding colors.  As you can already tell though, the tank and its opponents nearly disappear in the tumult.

Next time we check in with Playtime, there will be color!

The Roadside Attraction Series: Part I

    Back in March, when the shutdown happened, I basically had to walk away from several bisque-fired pieces (19 pieces in fact) I had stashed in the kiln room.  With so many variables in the equation, I basically wrote them off.  I had fun making them, but there was a reasonable possibility that I wouldn't be seeing them to fruition.

    I received a phone call over the weekend that I would have very limited access to the space and just a few days to finish glazing and fire those pieces.  I cleared my schedule and dove in glazing and firing kilns.

    I will devote several future posts to showcase individual pieces.  But for now, here is a sneak peek at a few of those pieces.

Stay tuned!

Re-Engaging Once Upon A Time

I need to finish painting the first layer of Once Upon a Time (working title) so I can start to bring it closer to a resolution.  It's been hanging around for about a year now and needs to quit loitering.

One of the things I need to add are the stairs leading up to the temple structure.

The steps have been successfully added.

And now for the hazing...

Now that the haze wash has had time to dry, let's dive into the second layer of line work.

Let's add a bit more...

And just a little bit more beyond that.

With everything in place...

I will let this dry for a bit before the colors go on.  We'll see that process out next time we look at Once Upon A Time...

Re-Engaging Frontlines One Color At A Time.

Slowly chipping away at the first layer of Frontlines.

A few colors here.

A few colors there.

Mostly done with the first layer.

Now that everything is in place, it's time for a proper hazing before I begin the second (possibly final?) layer...

Like this!

After it dries, it's time to start adding the second layer of imagery.

Now that I have the two main characters in place, it is time to go back in and add some other (smaller) elements.  Gonna consult the sketchbooks and see what works with the rest of the piece.

Here are the heating instructions for a Hot Pocket.

Now here they are added to the mix...

I need to paint in a few larger areas before I add the details.  Hopefully that will bring this piece to completion.  Next time we check in with Frontlines, we'll see if these additions did the trick.