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Raue See, 2010, Pastell, 30×78cmEs geht doch nichts über einen Tag an der Nordsee, wenn die Wellen sich auftürmen und die Gischt über dem Strand treibt.
2010 © Astrid VolquardsenThe idea for the monotypes first came to me during an exhibition visit in Paris. Reading some information about Degas‹ work, it struck me, that some of his pastels were done over monotype. Degas applied an oily ink to a metal plate with a brush or rag and put it through a press. After that he used a mixture of pastel, gouache, and distemper to color his monotypes. I was surprised to learn that some of Degas‹ pastels were even done directly over oil paint. Unfortunately I can’t recall which those pictures are. (Imagine you’re in Paris and have caught a stomach flu!)
So I thought why not try oil paint instead of oily ink.
I just put some oilpaint (Sennelier) on an extra plate, added turpentine, and applied this with a brush an a piece of glass. Instead of a press I simply used an ink roller.
I tried various grounds for the monotype, but the Pastelmat seems to take it on best.
I varied the mixture of turpentine and oil paint and it seems best to work with pastels the more the oil paint is thinned down with turpentine.
The bottom right was done with the most amount of turpentine.I waited for about a week till I applied the pastel, but I’m not sure if there won’t be some alterations. I’ve got the feeling the one monotype with the most »pure« oil paint alters already. (I guess, every experienced oil painter could have told me that.)
A number of Degas‹ monotypes have suffered from cracking and subsequent flaking. Well, they still looked beautiful to me.
After all this fog stuff it was time for some color. The sun showed up this week and the evening sky was filled with some glorious red.
Winterfarbimpression, Pastel über Ölmonotypie, je 10×10cm,This time I experimented and tried something for me completely new. The studies were done on oilmonotypes, which were printed on Pastelmat. The drying process took about a week. At some parts the fat oils show through, but I like the look of it very much.
I’ve been given the Sunshine blog award by Jala Pfaff. I will tell you more about it in a few days. Thank you Jala!
Winterfarbimpression I, 10×10cm,
Winterfarbimpression II, 10×10cm,
Winterfarbimpression III, 10×10cm,It’s funny how things sometimes evolve. In comparison to my earlier paintings the small colorstudies are less detailed, lines have almost vanished. The values are very limited, now it’s range is much closer and with a more monochromatic color . The fog pastels have brought me back to an old field: my »night« pastels.
Skizzenbuch, Ink & Guache, Pastell, Ink & BuntstiftThe new sketches derive from a trip we did last weekend and you can see how the idea evolved from the initial sketches I did on site.
Winternachtbilder, Pastellstudie,12×12cm
2010 © Astrid Volquardsen
Winternachtbild I, Pastellstudie,12×12cm
Winternachtbild II, Pastellstudie,12×12cm
Winternachtbild III, Pastellstudie,12×12cmAfter all this snow the thaw set in and guess what: there was fog all over again. Right know I’m thinking of doing small fog studies with some light sources.
Nebelstudie, Pastell, 17×27cm
As a pastel artist who is working on a sanded surface, the health issue is constantly on my mind. The dustexposure can’t be ignored and I always used small air filters in my old studio. My studio is much bigger now, hence it was time for a new air filter.
I bought a really nice one from Artist Air, which was specially designed for pastel artists.
The easel collection unit stays on the easel tray, so a big amount of pasteldust goes right into it:
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2010 © Astrid Volquardsen
With a velcro strap the collection unit is easaly secured and holds it in place, but does not hinder you from sliding the easel tray up and down. After the first day in my studio I could tell the difference.
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2010 © Astrid Volquardsen
FotoUnfortunately the filter is sold only in North America, but I had no problems with ordering, shipping etc. Everything arrived in good order and condition.
Surprisingly the manufactorers had adjusted the filter to the German power network (230V, 50Hz).
Sorry, this entry is only available in German. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.
FotoEs ist kalt, ziemlich kalt sogar. So kalt, dass sich auf der Elbe das so genannte Pfannkucheneis gebildet hat. Mittlerweile ist die Elbe nur noch schiffbar, weil mehrere Eisbrecher Hafen und Fahrrinne freihalten.
Nach den Wochen des Nebels nutze ich das Wetter, um im Hamburger Hafen zu skizzieren. Blöd nur, das bei den Temperaturen der Inkstift einfriert. Also rauf auf die Fähre und ans andere Elbufer nach Finkenwerder übersetzen.
Neben den visuellen Eindrücken bereichern das Fahrerlebnis die Passagiere, welche unterschiedlicher manchmal nicht sein können. Im Winter dominieren ganz klar die Arbeitnehmer, welche die Fähren als ein ganz normales Verkehrsmittel zur Elbquerung nutzen.
An Deck tummeln sich bei dieser Eiseskälte nur ein paar wenige Touristen. Als besonders hart gesotten zeigen sich zwei Japanerinnen, die bei -13 Grad und kaltem Ostwind ohne Mütze an der Reling posieren. Titanic läßt grüßen.
Verschiedene Dialekte präsentieren Hamburger Halbwissen und über allem ertönt die Stimme des Kapitäns:
»Laaaandungsbrückeeeen. Alles aussteigen. Weidderfoahrt nach Finkernweeerder am Anleeeger Drei!«
Hach, Hamburg, wie sehr liebe ich deine Hafenatmosphäre!
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