Friday, August 1, 2014

Graphite Pours

Ok, I know, I know. I can't believe that it is a year since I put something up on this blog!!!!

I have been playing this week and I thought I would show you some fun stuff. I recently saw a gallery show of Seana Reilly's work with poured graphite. It was so exciting that I had to try it.

First I thought she wouldn't be using the commercial liquide graphite found in the art stores because it is too expensive since she was doing very large pieces. So I started searching on the web for a liquid graphite formula. I found one used by a painter so this is where I started.

1 part powdered graphite
1 part acrylic medium
1 part turpenoid, natural,
mix the medium and the turpenoid and then add the graphite
This formula was attributed to a painter but I haven't found much information about him yet.

 So a trip to Blick's and I had my ingredients. So roughly a week later and I have something that pours, spreads and stays put when dry. I am still experimenting with the "pour" attributes but I have replaced the acrylic medium with Golden Gac 100 which liquifies the pour ingredients nicely. Still experimenting though. I used Arches 140 cold pressed, dampened. I poured from a plastic spout bottle, and manipulated the edges with plain water and a brush.

Here are some of the results.











Most of these are 6 x 14 strips of watercolor paper. The "sprinkly" part is where the water was pooled on the paper or where I went back in with a water-loaded brush. I can't wait to add letters. Keep you  posted.