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A few weeks ago I painted this in front of a crowd at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. After some enthusiastic auction tactics, it was purchased by a nice couple. I signed the back of the canvas for them (see bottom photo)...being all proud of myself and my fancy signature, I absent-mindedly pressed down too hard and it left an impression on the painting...not on the art patron, though! I suggested they dampen the back and when it dries it would tighten and smooth out the embossed signature. Well...that did not work, so I asked them to send me the painting after it dried.
I got it in the mail, today. The top photo is hard to tell there is a problem. Click on it to see it bigger....But look below. Turning the painting sideways reveals a nicely scrawled bunch of words...NOT GOOD!!...
BUT! I immediately figured out what happened...THIS IS A GOOD LESSON!...I painted the poppy QUICKLY, and used a LOT of medium: Liquin. Liquin makes the paint flow smoothly and it dries shiny. But, when I signed the back of the canvas, the pressure lifted the front, making small "peaks" on the surface. Because the paint was juicy, I am guessing that the juicy paint slipped off the peaks, slowly, as it dried. The pigment stayed, but the liquin medium slid off the "peak" of the writing....SO, all I had to do was put another coat of liquin on the surface of the dry painting. THis made those dull sopts shiny like the rest. WHEW!!!! I am duly humbled! Note: a painting will generally dry with spots that are shinier or duller. Artists can varnish the painting after its WELL dry.
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3 comments:
Thank you for passing that on! I find that learning from mistakes is just as valuable as learning how to paint.
This is a nice painting and now your mistake has become part of this art piece!
all the best,
Don C.
Thanks Don! Wish I had your e-mail t reply personally :)
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