What are you working on?

[laf.art]

Just laid the first couple of layers on this,hopefully I'll be able to sort the wheat from the chaff as I go along

 

[snoball]

I started a still life - Yep, a still life. I think I was inspired to try it after looking at Barries work with a cup and saucer...it appealed. In fact, the only reason I am telling you all this is so that I get off my chair and finish it!!! I am going there right NOW to finish that little pastel painting in the hope that I can resurrect it and will post it even if it looks awful - that is my promise to you all. LOL

We'll hold you to it Katie.

 

[Artyczar]

Looking good laf! I am loving that texture. And the palette too! ❤

 

[Artyczar]

I haven't been painting the last couple days--a bunch of personal stuff has come up (what else is new?). I hope to get to some work on Thursday afternoon or Friday. Maybe I can do some of those boat bricks later today, but I don't know if I'll be able to get into the mood.

 

[snoball]

Just laid the first couple of layers on this,hopefully I'll be able to sort the wheat from the chaff as I go along

Oh I like that Lyn! Looks like the bright colors are sort of peeking through.

 

[snoball]

I haven't been painting the last couple days--a bunch of personal stuff has come up (what else is new?). I hope to get to some work on Thursday afternoon or Friday. Maybe I can do some of those boat bricks later today, but I don't know if I'll be able to get into the mood.

You sound like you live by Murphy's Law, like I do Arty.

 

[Artyczar]

It's pretty much like that these days sno...I used to work like it was a job, like clocking in every morning and working all day until the sun went down, but I have way too many health issues now: doc appointments, mood swings, personal events that come up. I get busy with other crap. I also take a class every Wednesday which takes up a lot of time/homework. Then I have a doc appointment right after that, have to make some calls and figure out how to get my car out of the shop/possibly rearrange the garage to start keeping it in there because of rodent damage for the third time. It's costing me a lot of money to replace the wiring from the rats getting into the engine and chewing up the wrires, and blah blah blah.... see?

 

[snoball]

Lord yes! Rats and chipmunks can wreak havoc with wiring! It feels like I should be accomplishing a lot since we are in lockdown but there is always something that comes up.

 

[Katie]

Just laid the first couple of layers on this,hopefully I'll be able to sort the wheat from the chaff as I go along

Looking good!

 

[musket]

Well sure, the real thing is expensive... it's gold!

You want leaf of any kind, this is where you go.

Sepp Leaf

Most people are unaware of how many shades of gold leaf there are. Check out any of these charts. You will see variations in shade between different manufacturers. I personally prefer Dauvet, but it's thin even for gold leaf and a little harder to handle. I've also used Monarch (their chart isn't very accurate; I have the real charts with actual leaf samples), and palladium and silver leaf from Manetti.

Those who want to explore the possibilities with non-precious metal leaf should check out Nazionale.

It is not necessary to scrape away excess leaf if you coat the areas where you don't want it to stick with glair (egg white and water beaten to a froth and the liquid strained off-- glair was used as a binder in Medieval illuminated manuscripts; it pre-dates gum arabic).

Let it dry, and it will serve as a resist. Once the oil size (best is LeFranc and Bourgeois; I usually used three-hour) has tacked right, apply the leaf, let it harden up for an hour or two, and then sweep off the excess as usual. Let it sit for another hour, then gently remove the glair with warm water--don't let it dry too long or you'll never get it off!

The process of making gold leaf is truly astonishing and arcane. When I lived in a duplex in Belmont, MA, my next door neighbor was a retired gold beater for Swift. He was in his late eighties and still had forearms like Popeye.

 

[Katie]

It's pretty much like that these days sno...I used to work like it was a job, like clocking in every morning and working all day until the sun went down, but I have way too many health issues now: doc appointments, mood swings, personal events that come up. I get busy with other crap. I also take a class every Wednesday which takes up a lot of time/homework. Then I have a doc appointment right after that, have to make some calls and figure out how to get my car out of the shop/possibly rearrange the garage to start keeping it in there because of rodent damage for the third time. It's costing me a lot of money to replace the wiring from the rats getting into the engine and chewing up the wrires, and blah blah blah.... see?

 

[Katie]

Sorry I pressed the reply too soon. That sounds horrible with the rat situation.

 

[Artyczar]

Yes, the rat thing has been awful. While the car is in the shop, I'm trying to figure out a way I can fit it into my already stuffed garage. Not sure if I can make it work, but I can't think of another solution anymore. I can't afford to keep fixing it. I just repaired it. It sat in my driveway over the weekend, and the same wires were all chewed up again in just two days.

 

[P. Barrie]

I’ve heard that rodents don’t like mint. Try mint oil

 

[Desforges]

Yes, the rat thing has been awful. While the car is in the shop, I'm trying to figure out a way I can fit it into my already stuffed garage. Not sure if I can make it work, but I can't think of another solution anymore. I can't afford to keep fixing it. I just repaired it. It sat in my driveway over the weekend, and the same wires were all chewed up again in just two days.

I was thinking at prefab garages or storages, something you can assemble yourself. Maybe you could build something cheap, cheaper than what the garage will charge you in the end. That is, if you are allowed. Rats are very skillful...

 

[brianvds]

I’ve heard that rodents don’t like mint. Try mint oil

At worst, you'll have fresh-smelling rodents.

 

[Artyczar]

Yes, there is a spray called TomCat that is a mint spray to keep them away that we have been using, but you have to spray it a couple times a week and it is also an expense. When I get my car back, I'll be using it more often.

 

[snoball]

Arty, our trick is to take an old glove and fill the fingers with mothballs and tie it under the hood in a place where it won't get in the belts.

 

[Artyczar]

That's a good idea. I'm paying the mechanics to wrap the wires with steel wool as well. They said the rats rather not chew through the steel wool. It's because the rubber around the wires are made of a soy-based material and that is why they love chewing on them. Maybe that will help too.

 

[Desforges]

Every winter the squirrels would to chew a few sets of christmas lights around the building where I live. Last year I bought a large can of spray and sprayed the wires and the bushes around the building. they stayed away for the first time except for a few nicks. I think that rats and squirrels are both rodents (?).
I can't remember the name of the product but I got it from a hardware store.