Strike the Arabesque

The canvas is stretched, stained, and ready to go (and been sitting for a couple of months...bathroom remodel is my excuse).  The subject matter has been chosen.  I'll be working from a photograph for this particular piece.  Now I decide how I want the scene to lay out on the canvas.  In this instance, I really like the layout/composition as photographed so I will not rearrange much. 

After some basic marks of where I will locate the major focal points, I need to strike the arabesque.  The arabesque is the outline/shape of the object with proper proportions, it is typically drawn using a series of short strait lines.  Scale and proportion must be considered and used appropriately to convey a realistic appearance.  This is where all the practice of drawing from life helps to simplify the process.  You let the eye guide the hand, this is a very "right brain" experience.  

Here is an example of how the arabesque might look in relation to the object:

Sample Arabesque

Once this is sketched to the canvas I can start mixing color and painting or draw in more detail that I want to be sure not to miss while painting.  I'm usually too anxious and start painting at this point adding the details as I paint...we'll see what happens.

This is the canvas with the very basic arabesque and landmarks sketched in ( I will do some refining later):

Arabesque and basic landmarks added to canvas

Thank you for looking,
Rob

Spotlight: Steffler Design

Sorry for the lack of posts of late.  I am in the midst of a bathroom remodel.  We are revamping our 1940's era bathroom (loosing the pink tile for our two sons is a major priority right now).  So, I have not yet achieved the right balance of time to get the latest painting underway and keep after the bathroom.  Sounds like a good excuse anyway...

As I stall for time, I will present you with my lovely wife's Interior Design firm.  Ashley is awesome at what she does.  She can draw out of clients what they cannot always express to achieve a style, design, or solution to a problem.  Please check out Steffler Design's newly revamped website: www.stefflerdesign.com

I am excited that Ashley is exercising her Interior Design prowess on our home, she has worked with me to come up with an excellent design on a tight budget for our bathroom remodel.

Consider tapping in to their expertise for your next project whether it be a major renovation, add-on, or something small.  They do it all, residential and commercial.  Hiring an expert to help you in your project will save money in the long run and help you to fully achieve a design that is extraordinary.

Steffler Design's work

Thanks for looking!!
Rob

Process: Staining a Canvas

Once the canvas has been stretched, I typically stain the canvas with a medium tone.  For the past couple of years I've been using a medium brown color.  It just seems to work.  That way I'm not starting with a start white sheet in front of me.  I find it simpler to move from the medium tone to lighter and medium to dark, than to have to make even my lightest tones darker than the actual canvas.

It is basically a thinned out burnt umber and white.  I usually have enough to stain a couple of medium sized canvases, so I can do more than one at a time (and that is one less excuse for starting the next painting)

Once dry, I will get the basic forms for the painting drawn onto the canvas.

Canvas freshly stained

Staining gear...which I forgot to clean up

Look for an update soon with the basic layout sketched on the canvas.

May God bless you deeply,
Rob

Process: Stretchin' a Canvas

I've been going through subject matter to paint next.  I had narrowed down to a few photos I'd taken over the past few years to use as source material for paintings and I really got stuck on this one photo:

Source photo for painting

It is my younger son a couple years ago on the beach.  After looking at the important elements, the best proportions and composition, I realized it would be best to have a more "horizontal" composition.  This should elongate the horizon and water/shoreline that are prevalent in this photo. 

What I have arrived at is a 20" x 36" canvas.  This had canvas had to be built.  Here is the real basic process:

Tools for the job

Stretcher bars assembled and laid out on canvas roll.  Cut to wrap around the back of the bars for a "Gallery Wrap"

Canvas cut down to size

Starting in the center of each side: pull tight, staple once, move to opposite side repeat... then start adding two staples to each side.  Canvas pliers help in really gripping the canvas to pull taut.

Corners are made like "hospital corner" on a bed

Poem Panels Installed

These are complete and installed (and yes I am actually making a post)!

The client is very pleased with the final product.  I think these look stellar as well.  I ended up heavily texturing each panel they have a very painterly look and nice relief.  These were not designed or intended to be a focal point, they are to be "background music" in the family's living area, as they are a backdrop to photos of three children.

Each panel is approximately 52 x 24 inches in size.

Well, pictures speak louder than words...so, have a look!

Panels Installed

Entire unit with photos in front of poems.  We will be updating with more transparent frames.  We will probably make another panel for the left side of the unit as well.

Live, love, laugh,
Thanks for looking,

Rob

Edible Sculpture

Okay...we're talking cakes here.  Not necessarily fine art, but pretty fine tasting.

The wife and I really enjoy making fairly elaborate cakes for our children's birthday celebrations.  We just completed our latest creation this past weekend.  Our oldest son wanted to have a Lego Indiana Jones themed birthday.  We were up for the challenge!

We perused what had already been done by other folks, found some great ideas and proceeded with our own rendition.  We really liked the idea of a stepped pyramid design with some erosion and overgrowth. 

Once we had the vague idea, we purchased some necessary goodies: yellow butter cake mixes, buttercream frosting, chocolate frosting, licorice, chocolate rocks, and other fun confections.

The wife baked four cake mixes worth of cakes (1/2 sheet, and about 3 more 12 inch squares).  We cut, we stacked, we came up with this:

Frosting this tower was a chore, but we survived it.  I airbrushed food coloring shadows, we embellished it with vines and other tropical looking plants (licorice and green tinted frosting), hit it with some sugars, and airbrushed again.

We ended up with a crystal skull at the top as Indy's treasure...mainly because it just sort of worked out the best.  I sculpted the skull out of fondant and a blue icing gel, then hit it with the airbrush food coloring.  We stuck on some Lego pieces, candles and called it complete:

This was a fun one.  I'll have to post about some of the other cakes we have done (like the Melting Beaker Cake) in a future post.

Let them eat cake,
Rob

Greatest Name I've Ever Been Called

Well folks, I've been called many things in my life.  Some names are not worth repeating, others sounded fairly prestigious, some even demanded respect, others were meant to hurt.  By far, the greatest name I have been called, the grandest title I have had is "Daddy".

I became "Daddy" 8 years ago today when my precious son Zachary was born.  What a tremendous responsibility it is being Daddy, one that I relish and approach with a deep respect. 

Below is a portrait I did of Zach a couple of years ago.  I think it is time to do another one for this wonderful little man that I am so proud of.

" Reflective Zachary" by Robert S Dilling graphite on paper 10x12

Happy Birthday Zach!

Thanks for reading,
Rob

Poem Panels

So, I’m currently working on something a bit different…Poem Panels. 

So, what in the world are “Poem Panels”?

This is a bit of a Graphic Design project with a twist.  The client asked for three different  poems to be written out on three panels to be placed as the backdrop in a living room built-in shelf.  Each poem represents each of the family’s three children and the corresponding photo of each child will be in front of the poem.  These are fairly large about 52×24 inches each.  Okay, that may be hard to visualize…I’ll post photos when it is all said and done.  This will give you a basic idea.

Poem Panel Sample Layout

I am going at this project electronically.  I’ve used Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to lay out the Poems and get the colors right.  There is still some tweaking to be done.  I’ve also gone through hundreds of fonts to find the “right” look.  I will be printing these in Giclee quality, mounting to panels, and then applying a clear finish to protect and give a painterly look and texture.  Next, install the panels in the built-in shelf.

This is a fantastic idea that the client had, she just was unsure of how to make it happen.  I am thrilled to make her vision become a reality!

Live well,
Rob

Old Mesilla Arched Door

This is the first very small,  dare I say “tiny” painting I have attempted.  This little guy is 5×7 inches, painted in oils on linen.  I have been wanting to paint this little scene for at least a couple of years…well, here it is.

Old Mesilla Arched Door by Robert S Dilling

 I used a photo I took while visiting friends in Las Cruces, NM as source material.  Old Mesilla is a fantastic little place within Cruces with some beautiful Southwestern Architecture, great history, Native American Jewelry/art, and some really excellent New Mex cuisine.

I did come to learn that painting a high degree of detail on such a small scale was quite a challenge.  I really aimed to capture the depth and texture in the scene in order to draw the viewer in and give them a sense of calm and a bit of curiosity.  I am debating painting this again, but on a much larger scale….

This painting is for sale if you are interested.  I will also have small Giclées available in the near future.

Live Well,
Rob

All Bark No Bite

Pet portraits?  Absolutely!


I received a commission to produce a graphite portrait of a client's beloved dog Luke.  I used to wince when asked about pet portraits, but this one helped me accept that it could be quite a bit of fun and that people really do want fine art of their precious pets.


Drawing from life for an active little dog was not going to work out.  I had some formal introductions to Luke the dog, saw him in action, and ended up drawing from photographs.  The client was extremely pleased with the final drawing and I learned a great deal and overcame my fears of pet portraiture.


Live fearlessly,
Rob

"All Bark No Bite" by Robert S Dilling graphite on paper 11x14 inches