Rhino Commission

The Maps are out

2010-07-05T09:58:00.001+02:00

Had a look at the Rhino trail map to see where my Rhino was. Fantastic - it is in the town hall. Truly relieved about it being indoors, as the day I was due to deliver the Rhino to Chester, I saw a lump on the paintwork...possibly a grain of dust or even an insect : / ....so I picked at it, consequently peeling off a huge section of paint on the ear. Hastily re painted and varnished it, and then hid. Couldn't believe what I'd done!

So... if you think the yellow ear looks a bit patchy, you know why.

2010-06-04T16:18:00.000+02:00

Although the Rhino is finished, I'm now waiting to deliver it to Chester. If all goes well, this should happen on Monday. I sent images of it off to the organisers the other day, took a deep breath and waited for the response. Last thing I wanted, was for them to turn round and say 'Well - actually, can you change that bit?'. What a nightmare! All is well though.

2010-05-26T21:15:00.000+02:00

Made the decision to 'stop' work at the weekend. I was going over and over the same areas trying to make it look neater, but it was going on forever. Got the varnish out and gave it a coat, so that painting any more wouldn't be an option.
The next morning, it had flies and other strange objects stuck to it. Will go back to it on my next day off , but for now...it's done!

2010-05-24T09:39:00.000+02:00

ARRGGHHHHH !!!!! When are people going to stop making comments about the Rhino not being finished yet?? I have a job and other exhibitions to work for . I can't work on it every day : (
For the next commission, I will take a week off and just work on it relentlessly.

2010-05-21T13:54:00.003+02:00

I have to take back everything I said about working outside. The weather has improved and to feel the sun on my back while painting is truly wonderful.

There are pros and cons to working outside... you have to work with the weather, be prepared to brush off strange insects from the painted areas and avoid being bitten yourself ( which is why I am now covered in insect repellent) It was also a little uncomfortable lying flat on my back painting the under belly. 'Uncomfortable' as in.... knowing there was something crawling up my leg but not being able to do anything about it.
The pros... paint dries quicker ( when its not raining!) , the light is better, you can step way back from it to view. You can also paint small areas, and then go off to do some of your 'normal daily chores' and then go back to it.

I admire people who can paint daily for long periods. I tried doing two full days on the Rhino, but I found that my concentration wavered and I started to make mistakes. It is difficult to paint... there's something about the surface that means that you have to paint the same area over and over again until you get a good cover. How can other artists do that daily and stay sane?

I have several projects on the go now. I delivered two of my wall hangings on Monday, ready for a recycling exhibition, and stayed around for a couple of hours to help out.

It limits my painting time, but that's the way it is.

Painted a large area this morning, so I'm having a break while it dries. Back to it then.............

2010-05-15T11:15:00.005+02:00

Heavy rain all day yesterday, and although I did manage to make a few alterations to the Rhino, the paint yet again took ages to dry in the damp air.
My brother had called round to see the progress and take some photos. Despite being a non art lover, and visiting few galleries....he instantly recognised the image on the Rhino head. I was really happy with that, as he is a good sounding board for the general public.

Spent the rest of the day indoors, working on the second of my 'Wings' for the Biennial. Got tons done.
A good day.

2010-05-12T23:03:00.001+02:00

Another week... and with having visitors at the weekend, it was difficult again to get any work done. What it has given me though, is thinking time. You don't realise how important that is, until you actually get it. Being able to just look at the design without actually working on it, helped me to think through some of the problems that had been bugging me . i.e. that doesn't work... that area would look better in a different tone....that feature would work if x was taken out.
The design is growing on me now. My initial thoughts about taking up and following through someone else's ideas, have turned into a learning process.

2010-05-08T12:49:00.000+02:00

Don't really like how it looks this morning.
I remind myself that doing a commission for someone, using their concepts, is like writing one of my lengthy reports in work.
There is a set format. Only use information given or gathered. Do not embellish it with own thoughts as it will only get cut by your line manager... and work towards the deadline.

2010-05-07T19:34:00.001+02:00

It's been a really busy week in work, and I was in no mood to paint when I got home. I had managed to give it a base coat last Monday, but nothing since then. Looked at the Rhino last night, and there was a snail on it.

Today, my day off, the sun came out. In this light, I could see the brush marks made from Monday's hasty painting session, so I had to spend a good 20 mins sanding it down, before I could make a start. As we are taught in office work...break down big tasks into small manageable chunks, to make them less daunting. I made today's task the head. Following the design, I blocked in areas of colour, cursing myself for throwing out all of the plastic tubs I'd been storing for months.
I also questioned why on earth there were so many black lines in the design. Painting lines out freehand, is a nightmare!

I spent ALL day on it... stood back, and it felt like I'd hardly achieved anything today.

2010-05-03T13:37:00.000+02:00

The notion of working at home is wonderful. The reality is totally different. It's switching on the TV while eating breakfast, and before you know it, you are halfway through Jeremy Kyle. Switch it off quick and make a mental list of what needs doing. But then.. the sun is out so you think you will do some washing and stick it on the line...and the dog needs walking... and then suddenly its past midday . Will just have a cup of tea, and then will definitely start on the Rhino....
Actually... just check emails first....

2010-05-01T21:54:00.001+02:00

The massive Gazebo, complete with 3 sides, went up today. As if testing the weatherproofing of the said temporary studio, the heavens opened. Really heavy rain... but no leaks. Could have done with having 4 sides really, but it did its job. Drew out half the design . It isn't as easy as it looks - recreating a 2D design on a 3D object. Sometimes the sides don't 'fit' so you have to constantly redesign the image until it runs smoothly from one side to the other and from back to front. Mapped out a few areas in undercoat to make it easier to track, but the damp air prolonged the drying process of the paint. Two hours later it was still tacky in places, so I had to call it a day.

2010-04-27T21:23:00.000+02:00

Getting a Rhino into a van isn't as easy as it looks. Getting two Rhinos was really complicated. I'd had a call earlier in the day from another artist who had been commissioned to paint one, and she needed hers bringing back too. Both are now in my garden, waiting for my next day off work so that I can at least draw out the design.

2010-04-25T10:32:00.004+02:00

Organised a van.... and ordered a Gazebo, so that I can work on Rhino in the garden . Rang up the storage unit in Chester to check opening times...but was told that the lift was out of order, so we couldn't collect the Rhino. Rhinos apparently, are kept on the upper floors : ( Asked if we could carry the Rhino down the stairs, but that it seems was a H & S issue. That and the stairs being too narrow. Not a good start to the project. Try again Monday.....?
At least I could spend some time on my carrier bag artwork for the Biennial .

2010-04-25T10:30:00.002+02:00

Got a call that my design needed 'tweaking' further. They listed their suggestions for it, and I spent another couple of hours on it before emailing it off..........
Another call... Yes, that's as they wanted it.

Though... did have to make a quick call to Tate Liverpool's press office, to check that I can actually have Picasso's 'Peace Dove' on the side. They'd already been in negotiations with the Picasso estate about what can actually be used in the marketing for the exhibition, so thought it best to check this one.
It was a definite no no to do a copy, so I'll have to sort of shorten and fatten it, so it is a Dove - just not Picasso's one. Hope everyone understands that : /

2010-04-25T10:20:00.002+02:00

Day off from work, so therefore an 'Art' day. Spent a couple of hours changing my original design to the one NWDA requested... scanned and emailed it off. Didn't have to make any changes to my design for 'Go Penguins' last year, so this is all new to me.

2010-04-25T10:15:00.001+02:00

Sometime in the evening.... got a phonecall to say that NWDA liked my Rhino design. They just wanted to 'tweak' it a bit....