Thursday, August 20, 2009

BROMMMER WORKSHOP DAY 4: GESSO ADDED TO THE MIX!





Today we collaged the paper first, let it dry, covered it with diluted gesso...let that dry...then drew our image in and added paint. The entire week, line was to be the dominant element. I used lots of printed material from magazines and books underneath the Japanese rice papers. The gesso helps to obscure the collaged materials and creates an interesting surface to draw and paint on.

In the middle of the night I had this idea to do a collage starting with black gesso and then working towards lighter values. Here is my first go at this idea. I drew the image on the dry black gessoed surface with diluted white gesso in a needle nose bottle. It would be fun to try this idea with other gesso colors. I have red and gold. It comes in many other colors,

The ideas we have been working with this week are not in any of Gerald Brommer's published books but he has a new DVD through Cheap Joe's with this workshop material on it. Naturally, I bought a copy. It turns out the Gerald has seven different workshops he presents to groups around the country and is working on another. It is inspirational to see someone that is 82 so active, energetic, creative and dedicated as he is. I want to be like him when I grow up.

7 comments:

Cynthia said...

Thanks so much for day 4....wonderful examples you displayed and I have since found all his books and am reading them like crazy...but what you have posted here with your examples seem to have given me one of the "ah-ha" moments and I cannot thank you enough,,,,thank you, thank you.

Cynthia said...

He does describe this collaging for texture and contrast on page 74 and on page 104 Chaper 9 he uses the collage with gouache technique you displayed on day 3 and on page 112 he has two wonderful examples of skies with this collaging technique....all in his book,
Emotional Content:how to create paintings that communicate. ISBN
192983425x . I loved your black gesso example too. THanks for the tip about the DVD too.......

RH Carpenter said...

Ah, ha! Great minds think alike. I, too, had that idea as a way to get my darks in there first and then take the whites and midtones from that - haven't done it but good to see how it would work :) And how you did it with thinned gesso to use as a drawing tool!

dorise said...

Searched for Gerald's book in my studio last night and found it under a pile of drawings. Woke up at four and started reading. Todays therapy will be to set up for one armed work...French man never looses his charm in your hands. Thank you for the spark of inspiration and for once again your generous sharing of experiences and your enthusiasm . Dorise

Lena said...

Wow, I had not idea that Brommer is already 82.
Thank you for all the information.
Thanks also to Cynthia for the info about the book. I'll get book and DVD.
Your painting is geourgous. I feel the background corresponds so well in its richness with the old man's face=life.

Cindi said...

wow.. i love it.. such texture and depth!!! you may be in awe of him and i am too.. but i bet hes saying wow, also!!! great great job.. thanks for sharing, myrna!!

Desiree's Designs said...

Gosh I just found these posts and I love this!! I have never taken a class from him but would love too. What fun!!!

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