canvas, forms, and frames...oh my!

I have been busy preparing for two exhibition deadlines. One is today and I can't tell you how unnerving that is to me. I don't usually get in barely under the wire.

It involves filling out forms, making CDs, wiring canvases, and in this case making frames.

I also am working on a commission for a large, 48 x 60 to be exact, painting. I had to order stretcher bars and canvas and put together my own canvas.

Here is a little tutorial, in case you ever have the inclination to make your own.

tongue and groove stretcher bars

Some bars are tongue and groove and others are just cut at a 45 degree angle.

If they are tongue and groove, a hammer is necessary to put them together.

 

Either type needs special care to be sure that they are square when to join them.

You want to be sure the lip that is only on one side is upon all of the pieces. This lip keeps the canvas off of the wood.

I use an electric staple gun with 1/4" or 3/8" staples. On small or medium canvases I use 3 staples on each side of each joint. more on large ones.

Continue confirming that each corner is square as you go.

Next you want to cut your canvas at least 3 inches larger on each side than your frame.

I get mine from Fabric.com for $7 a yard, use a coupon code and order enough to get free shipping.

If you have ever recovered a simple seat, you will be at home with this step. You put two or three staples in the center of one side and then pull the canvas tight on the opposite side and insert two or three more staples. Next, you do the same on the other sides being sure to pull the canvas tight.

Once the centers are done I continue further down each side staying about four inches away from each corner.

The corners are a bit more tricky to explain. You need to pull the corner up tightly and pleat the fabric at an angle on either side and cut off the resulting point.

Next, fold down one of the pleats, making a right angle as shown above.

Fold the other pleat over neatly, with no over hang as that would interfere with framing later. Once this is done your canvas may seem a bit floppy. Applying gesso will will help tighten and firm up the canvas for painting.

starting to gesso a canvas

Speaking of gesso, I have to get my enormous canvas out to my very hot garage to gesso today.

Collage fun

I had fun with Pic Monkey creating this board around my newest painting, "Imperata"

"Imperata" 30 x 40 acrylic on canvas by Kerry Steele HERE

I am horrible about sourcing links. Most of the images on this board can be found on my Pinterest board "Pink"

The painting is named for this ornamental grass.

It is known by several names including Japanese blood grass but that would not have been a good title so I went with the Latin botanical name.

Have you made any fun collage boards lately?

If so, feel free to link to them in the comments section.

Happy Wednesday!

Keeping it real

This is only my kitchen in my dreams

I am about to be very stupid  brave and make it difficult for you to say something kind.

I am going to show you my kitchen and ask you for suggestions. HA!

It is like getting into a freezing cold pool, I have to ease into the ugly. 

That right there is the window above the sink. I have the fabric and lining cut in a linen toile for a valance where the silly hardware is now. Its been cut for at least six months. Tisk, tisk, I know.

I don't dare show you the faucet. Lets just say it is decidedly "low rent" looking.

Yes, folks I have black appliances. sniffle

I have dark cabinets, laminate counter tops, and no bulkhead or crown molding. Just boxes on the wall.

The oven/microwave is a mile from the cooktop and that annoys me.

At the very bottom of this photo you can see the edge of the thing I hate most... the peninsula with a bar height thingy. Yuck!

I suppose it would be easier to visualize with a floor plan.

My lazy drawing

 Between the wall oven and the end of the peninsula is a pinch point. It drives me crazy.

Behind that "bar thingy" is clutter central. I did not take a picture.

This last photo brings me to my question for you. I need ideas.

These antique, French canisters are the only thing I have on top of my cabinets. They are there simply because it was the only place to display them. I do not like ladders and I don't want to have to dust a bunch of stuff up there.

I am not redoing my kitchen anytime soon unless you buy a lot of paintings (hint) but I really want to make it look better. 

Ideas?

One thing, please do not say paint the cabinets. My husband painted the cabinets in our last house to sell it and used an entire week's vacation to do it. He will leave me for sure if I so much as mention it.

I am also not likely to put things on the counters. This is a hard working kitchen. My husband is a butcher, formerly a fishmonger. Food is important. 

But so are looks.

 I just want a little zhush.

So lay it on me. I am stumped.

When life hands you peppers...

We have eaten this many and have about 100 more ready to pick

No, you don't make pepperade! You DO have to start cooking.

Its harvest time at my house and even though I love vegetables that we have grown, I find it a bit overwhelming at times. This is our first vegetable garden at this house.

We look forward to stuffing these peppers with sweet Italian sausage and roasting them with olive oil and sliced onions every year. This garden seemingly produces watery peppers so that wasn't the killer treat we hoped. Its OK because a rough chop of peppers and onions roasted in olive oil served with a crusty baguette is easier.

On Saturday, I took out my behemoth food mill and processed tomatoes for sauce. I set aside some for my Tomato-basil granita ( think savory sorbet) and cooked the rest down to a paltry amount of sauce. I didn't know there were so many more ready to be picked so I get to do it all over again in the next day or two.

Today I made  a standard that I read about in Vogue back in the '80s. I had no way to write it down and noticed that the amounts in the recipe were 1-2-3.

This curried carrot soup was in an article about spa food. Remember when that was all the rage?

Anyway, I don't have the nutritional info but I ran the recipe through a calculator and there are less than 4 grams of fat, 55 calories per serving and a bagillion vitamins and minerals.

3 carrots peeled, rough chopped

2 ribs cellery rough chopped

1 medium onion rough chopped

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

2 Tablespoons of curry powder (less if you can't take the heat)

1 Tablespoon oil

Add the carrot, celery and onion to a saucepan with the oil and "sweat" the vegetables, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Add the curry powder  and stir over medium heat for one minute. Add the broth and simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Let cool and puree.

It is fabulous cold too.

I'll be back with design stuff once I get this mess cleaned up! *sigh*

Love note

"Love note" 32 x 36 acrylic on canvas by Kerry Steele

Busy figuring out details of a commission today but I thought I would share this new painting, "Love note". I chose the title because I often stay up into the wee hours to paint uninterrupted and my husband often rises at 3 or 4 am for work. Sometimes we leave each other little love notes on the coffee maker and I painted a tiny love note while I was working on this.

I know... we are goofy. Try not to throw up!

Got 20 minutes ?

I saw this inspiring and dead charming commencement speech by Neil Gaiman on Mimi&Meg a while back and I almost did not bother to watch it.
 I am so glad I did. It has really stuck with me and come up in conversation many times. I thought I would share it with you. If you are at all creative it will hit home.

Inspiration:photos to canvas

Luberón by Kerry Steele

This painting has been around for a month or so but I just listed it on Etsy with these inspiration photos.

Mine is an abstraction to the largest degree. I can't explain how I get from the inspiration photo to my abstract vision. I suppose I take the colors and shapes and shake gently.
Here are a few more.

These flowers are inspiration...

for this.

Arrangement in cut glass 24 x 30 acrylic on canvas by Kerry Steele

I have to say that my camera might be my undoing. I just can't seem to get clear color. Or maybe its my computer.

This photo of Senanque, in France became...

"Senanque" acrylic on canvas by Kerry Steele

 This garden's colors were the inspiration for my painting "Boxwood garden".

"Boxwood garden" acrylic on canvas by Kerry Steele

Also....sigh.. I am using this inspiration photo for a large painting but I am not liking it so far.

I am not complaining. This still never seems like work. I love to paint.

 I should share that I used to be of the thought that art, real art, should come from a deep angst or negative emotion.

I painted "there" before but have found far more success and admiration for my work in this happy place that is now.

You can check out more of my inspiration on my Pinterest board "Painting Inspiration".