Thirty-in-Thirty: Day Five . . .

By Michaela | Published January 6, 2013

Day Five - Thirty-in-Thirty 2013 ⓒ 2013 michaela harlowWinter Pool II ⓒ 2013 Michaela Harlow - 14″ x 17″ – Pastel & Pencil on Paper

Just finished number two in a series of what I think may be five branch pieces; perhaps more.

One of my favorite things about working with dry media on paper, is the immediacy. I love that I can fix a layer with aqua net, go get a cup of tea, then come back 15 minutes later and begin working a new layer. I can’t do that with oil paint. Working on paper gives me an opportunity to play with compositions, color relationship and layers of material, without investing weeks of my time. Fixatives wet the paper to a certain extent… Allowing a bit of liquidizing of the media. But, it’s not really the same thing. There are things I can’t do with dry media, and I am getting ready to pull out the turpentine and translate some of the new pieces into oil.

Working with airborne fixatives necessitates little fresh air breaks. I love stepping outside the studio once in awhile; standing on the balcony, looking down into the garden in winter. Much as I love working the land, it’s nice to have a seasonal respite from daily maintenance.

studio balcony ⓒ 2013 michaela harlowThirty-in-Thirty Day Five ⓒ 2013 michaela harlowWinter Pool II ⓒ 2013 Michaela Harlow - 14″ x 17″ – Pastel & Pencil on Paper

The new piece, drying on my worktable.

It’s so quiet in the studio… Anyone have new music to share?

This entry was posted in Thirty-in-Thirty 2013, Work on Paper.

3 Comments

  1. Jen January 7, 2013 at 3:45 pm #

    I’m in a classical mood lately.

    Cellist Jacqueline du Pre – A Lasting Impression is a cd collection that I like. Her performance of Elgar’s Concerto in E minor is a must, must, must hear. It’s on you tube of course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=681NvqpO2eU

    Happy listening and creating!

    Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas performed by Pablo Casals with Rudolph Serkin on piano – also very good.

  2. Jen January 7, 2013 at 4:03 pm #

    One more music thing…it’s kinda “out there” though…but maybe you’ll like it. Colin Stetson’s New History of Warfare vol. 1 & 2. Here’s his website: http://colinstetson.com/about/

    ‘k, bye now!

  3. Michaela January 9, 2013 at 6:55 pm #

    Thank you for the great recommendations, Jen. I got your comment on Day Three and responded to that as well, but for some reason, neither comment is showing up for me, on that day. Quirky weirdness. I can’t figure it out!

    Meanwhile, I have been enjoying some Beethoven, thanks to your nudge. And, I still plan to further my musical education!

    xo