How I Stretch Canvas - Tutorial
I've gotten a number of questions asking how I build/prepare my painting surfaces, and am still so excited about the previous InstaStory tutorial I made - so I thought I might put together a little blog-compendium for the story. This will be a bit more information with links and such that couldn't be addressed in the story form. ((Though, the story has a few mess ups - follow me to see the mistakes!))
This tutorial begins with a pre-made set of stretcher bars from a previous painting, though I will cover various ways to create your own stretcher bars in a future post. For now, grabbing a set from an art store should suffice.
Step 1.) Materials:
Here I have (from left to right;) My trusty Fredrix canvas pliers, T-square, Stanley Staple gun, T50 Staples, Scissors and Canvas Roll.
List:
Step 2.) Roll Out
I'm a huge fan of "measure twice, cut once", so when I roll the canvas out I don't just eyeball the extra length. I make sure that each side will reach (with some extra room too!) past the stretcher bars.
--- > Note here, if your stretcher bars have a lip like this, that needs to be on the bottom, on what will be the surface for the painting.
Step 3.) Lay Out
Once the canvas has been measured, cut the roll to leave enough space around the stretcher bars for stapling. Some of the canvas may be warped from storage and you can absolutely iron it -- but it should pull taut during stretching regardless. Make sure that the stretcher bars are lined up with the grain/weave of the canvas.
Don't pull too hard, just finger taut is fine. Too much pulling and the canvas might pull apart or rip through the staples. Don't hulk out.
Step 4: STAPLE!
Place the first staple. I put mine in at an angle so it won't tear with the grain if it happens. Turn the canvas 180 degrees, and put in the next staple, pulling the canvas taut either with your hands, or the canvas pliers. (Pliers make the job easier on your fingers/knuckles)
Step 5.) MORE staples!
Keep turning the canvas until each side has one staple, making a cross pattern of stretched canvas in the middle. From here, add one staple to each opposite side and continue to work your way out to the corners.
Step 6.) EVEN More Stapling!
Continue stapling until you get an inch or two away from the corners. With bigger canvas you can leave closer to 2, but I usually ballpark about an inch for anything smaller than 18 x24. The canvas should be stretched taut until the corners where a bit of rippling is fine, we'll pull it when we do the corners.
Step 7.) Corners
Everyone has their own method of doing corners, I personally prefer the diagonal 'giftwrap' edge - but feel free to play with the corners and do what feels right. For my corners, I pull the loose canvas across the stretcher corner to make a point, I crease the point and pull it downwards, then fold the excess back into the pocket it makes and staple down. It sounds much more complicated than it is! There's loads of tutorials on how to make more squared off corners on youtube, if this method doesn't float your boat try one of those.
Step 8.) Bask in the Glow of a Completed Canvas
When turned over, canvas should be pulled tight, clear of any bubbles. If it still has bubbles pull out some staples and try again. Making canvases isn't easy, but once you have a few under your belt you'll get the hang of it.
I'm always so happy to share my process, anyone have something they would like to see written out step-by-step?
<3 <3
EH Sherman Art Abroad - Making Work in Ireland
We took a 'circular' path around the island, beginning in Dublin, Carlingford, Belfast, Letterkenny, Castlebar, Cork and back to Dublin. It was an incredible two weeks of sights, sounds, sketching and of course - food.
Spending multiple nights in each location, we took day trips to the surrounding areas as we went. It was a very busy trip, always on the go, but just so utterly fantastic. 99% of the places I've visited I've fallen in love with -- but Ireland just might come out on top.
Perhaps it was the small towns, connected by narrow winding roads and divided by nothing but stone walls and sheep herds that felt like a moment back in time, maybe the overflowing warmth of everyone we met, maybe the jaw-dropping vistas. Or more likely, a combination of everything above.
When I wasn't taking pictures, I was sketching and painting. Filled with a new appreciation for greens, grays, blackish blues and tiny dots of purple I worked furiously to express what I felt looking at the landscape.
Every time we rounded a bend it seemed like there was another valley, another mountain that called to be explored. Like a carrot on a stick. A big, beautiful paleo-lithic carrot.
I could have spent another 3 weeks there, easily. Or longer. But I only really had 3 weeks of clothes with me, sooo...
It was just the most fantastic time. And I truly enjoyed getting to talk with some of you on a few of the car rides via Instagram Live, being able to show my process in the car was just such a neat experience. (Follow me @ellen_the_lemon for the next Live video!)
Now that we're back and I'm settled into the organization of the work I made, I can't help but think wistfully on the slow mornings spent waking up to mountain haze, listening to the sheep and smelling the seashore. I'm grateful for all the wonderful suggestions we received on what to do, what to see and what to eat, you guys had some truly fantastic advice!
I'll be posting a major shop update in the coming days, (featuring the works made in ireland!) sign up for the newsletter to be notified the second it goes live.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend <3
Bookmaking with Blurb - Unveiling!
**Thanks to Blurb for sponsoring this post. It has been a wonderfully transformative project from start to finish**
When I began this project, my goal was to create an art piece; another avenue and medium to show my paintings, another way to look at my work, something to bring along to shows. I had no idea it would turn into such a personal and sentimental adventure.
When I returned home from our travels to Ireland and Belgium, my first thought was the book that I knew had arrived at my parent’s home while we were away. All the nights I spent planning the pages, picking the words to go with the paintings, delving into consciousness and recollection were there, just waiting to be opened.
I was immediately floored by the cover. The depth of the printing shows the true texture of the work, all the delicious nooks and crannies in the fibers of the raw canvas are nearly tactile. It accomplishes what I set out to create, an art piece in itself. Flipping through the pages brought nothing but unbridled delight. The paper is gorgeous (ProLine Pearl), the printing is flawless and brings these detail shots to life with an amazing range of tone. The pages are truthful to the original pieces - which is a major concern for me when printing images of work.
The project morphed as I worked on it, (you can read about the process here!) but the end goal; to have a functional art piece to compliment my body of work was met and then some. The book transitioned from a relatively cut and dry gallery book to a snapshot of my motivation, inspiration, memories and inner-monologue. It is something I’m immensely proud of, but also something that is a little bit scary to share with the world.
I decided to make the book available in the Blurb store for now. I may consider Amazon, Ingram or an iBook release in the future, but it’s super easy to sell your book through the Blurb store - and it is the most cost-effective way to get this out to you all for the time being. Plus I really like their marketplace, it’s been a fun community to poke around in - lots of interesting people making some very interesting books.
The creation of this book has been a wonderful process, a chance to engage on a much more personal level with my viewers and a chance to have a different type of discussion with myself about my work, presented via a totally different medium. The design, digital creation, uploading and ordering process were a breeze and I am just so thrilled with the overall experience. I’m looking forward to bringing a few copies to my next show!
(( If you can’t make it one of the shows in Michigan or Florida and want to order a copy for yourself, head over to the link and purchase from the Blurb store. Send me your order confirmation and I’ll send over a little thank you present. <3 ))
Connecting with my work through a different medium has been such a transformative experience. Removing the context of ‘a painting’ has led to some really great conversations with myself about motivations and growth. What about you? Have you showcased your work via another medium? Video, book, performance? What have you learned in the process?
From the Hotel Bar...
I love hotel bars.
It's not for the 'bar' part necessarily, (though it certainly doesn't hurt) it's for the ebb and flow of the people, the interactions and steady buzz of excitement that permeates the room.
It's a slightly different vibe than a dedicated 'bar' bar. Most of these people are on holiday, they ask the desk attendants for dinner ideas, where the nearest park is, what they should see in the city. It's a wonderful place to sit, think, write and of course, people watch.
If I'm still feeling the effects of a long flight or time change, this is where you'll find me. Too tired/discombobulated to go out and explore, I'll order a glass of wine, latte or occasional whiskey and open my notebook and just sort of freeform write. Soaking up the aura of adventure and excitement cuts right through the fog of jet lag.
I like to imagine where the other patrons might be headed to; a museum, boat tour, train to the next town. Or maybe they are just killing time with a margarita before they can check into their room and nap. Channeling that energy into ideas, some of my favorite passages were written in similar situations, just trying to stave off sleep and get a feel for the area.
Every so often someone will comment on my notebook or the tickets taped into pages. I'm a bit of an introvert, so sometimes the conversations can be a little strained - but I do generally enjoy talking to people about their vacation (and mine.)
This particular hotel bar was no different, I nursed a glass of wine for about an hour as I wrote about our time in Miami, plans for Ireland and brainstormed for a few new projects. A nice family from Morocco sat in the both next to me and asked if I knew where the train station was. Thankfully, it was about the only landmark I did actually know and we got to talking about their travels. Turns out they're headed to Miami in a few weeks for a wedding and I was able to give them some restaurant ideas.
Successfully dodging the afternoon jetlag slump, I returned to our room fresh with ideas, awash in excitement and ready for dinner.
Onto more adventure tomorrow.
<3
Making art in Copenhagen
We arrived in Copenhagen a few days ago. It's been mostly gray, rainy and relatively cold - but that hasn't stopped us from exploring the city. Our hostel has umbrellas, so that helps.
Miami --> Copenhagen
Part 1 of a series about making art abroad.
We both really like Copenhagen. It's our first time in Denmark, and I am absolutely in love with the vibe of the area; modern, minimalist design and architecture - with a dash of fishing village and viking thrown in. And everyone we seem to meet is just. so. stylish. (I would say more so than Paris even!)
After taking a day to adjust to the time change, I settled into the usual pattern I adopt while away for extended periods of time.
- Wakeup.
- Eat breakfast and check on work -- make a plan for what needs to be accomplished.
-Go out and explore. Sketch, make plans, write.
- Grab a bite of lunch and head back to the hotel/hostel/airbnb.
- Work until dinner.
- Head out to find dinner and enjoy the nightlife.
This schedule seems to suit me fairly well, though I'll usually tack on one day for pure exploration, and one day devoted to just my work. It's important for me to make sure I'm not skimping on either side.
Another necessary part of me being able to work successfully abroad, is finding an art store. I tend not to bring all my paints with me on the plane, so when we get to our first destination I'll lookup the neighborhood artstore and make a little pilgrimage out.
Eh, I might have gone a little bit overboard. But their selection of brushes was just fantastic. In addition to these new friends I also picked up a few tubes of acrylics and a small drop cloth to protect the surfaces of our accommodations.
The first few days are normally devoted to just soaking up the feelings of the city, learning the history, practicing some basic words in their language (or languages - I'm looking at you Brussels!) and scouting out places to paint. It's a nice way to acclimate to a new place and I'm really grateful our schedule allows us to be able to take it a bit slower, experience traveling without the rush.
Tomorrow we're headed to a few galleries and museums, and I am craving some pastries - so hopefully we can work in a bakery (or three) as well.
<3