Thursday, July 23, 2015

Treasure Hunting, Black and White and Feathers

plume
encaustic and oil on birch 6x6
I've been collecting feathers.  Seems I find all kinds, shapes and sizes.  There is an eagle nest that I pass regularly and every now and again I'm lucky to find one that has fallen from there.  I have an osprey feather, crow feathers, little downy ones, stripy ones and even a little sweet gray and yellow one.  Its become my own personal treasure hunt when I'm out walking.  In the beginning I brought all the ones home that caught my eye - now I'm a bit more selective as my collection has grown.   The fine detail of all the little filaments and the lightness of their architecture is remarkable to think they are responsible for flight.

I've also been thinking in black and white.  The simplicity of removing color and creating form and detail in the space of two colors is a good lesson for me.  I'm not giving up color by any means, but I do think that removing it teaches a valuable lesson.  For those of you interested in processes - the feather is carved into the wax surface with an exacto knife creating the fine line detail.  The lines are then filled with oil paint which is then rubbed off the surface and left in the lines.  Wax is difficult to get any fine detail and this in one of the best ways to achieve that. 

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope your time in nature is also a wonderful inspirational adventure and treasure hunt that brings you much reward. 

21 comments:

  1. The feather painting is wonderful,love the stark simplicity of the B/w. Valerie

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  2. Beautiful!
    I see, we have the same passion: I collect feathers too.
    You have a wonderful blog, will follow you now.
    Happy PPF

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  3. Lovely painting. Love it.
    Happy PPF.

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  4. That sounds like a fascinating process and the results you got are stunning. Happy PPF! #11

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  5. Wonderful process and painting thanks for sharing!

    Hugs Giggles

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  6. Amazing painting and fascinating process! Thank you so much for sharing!
    hugs
    Susi

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  7. This is great with the black and white colour palette and the tiny touch of green and tan.
    It's such a beautiful composition too, and thank for telling us how you made the feather, that's very clever.

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  8. Amazing you can achieve such detail in this process. Lovely!

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  9. Wonderful effect you have created Marji, thanks for sharing your process.

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  10. I love that feathery effect. Great job with the b/w, looks awesome. Happy PPF!

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  11. very very interesting, have a happy PPF

    much love...

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  12. Gorgeous art work. Happy Friday!

    Love and hugs
    Maarit

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  13. Amazing!!!! So, so beautiful!!!!! Magic!!!!

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  14. I love that white feather, just wonderful work.

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  15. Loving this post! I also like to find bits and pieces of nature to bring indoors. Thank you so much for explaining the process. I actually thought the feather was embedded in the wax! Your carving skills are excellent!

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  16. Gosh, this is gorgeous. Thanks for the sharing the process. I'll have to give it a go in my journal.

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  17. Oh, my goodness...you are SO inspiring. So incredible. Your work fills my eyes, which is the greatest compliment I can give.

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  18. so lovely to stop by and see what you have been creating. I have enjoyed all your recent posts and what you have been making. beautiful, charming with depth are words that come to me.

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  19. I love the idea of collecting feather and how wonderful to have an eagle's nest near you! I have a few beautiful pheasant feathers but that's all. I read a really good article recently on time and shade in paintings and how it's useful to photo your work in black and white to see if you've got the tone correct. I really like this piece and think it's probably more effective in black and white than colour. Love that texture

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