{"id":6233,"date":"2016-07-10T21:25:56","date_gmt":"2016-07-11T01:25:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/?p=6233"},"modified":"2016-07-11T11:41:01","modified_gmt":"2016-07-11T15:41:01","slug":"starting-a-painting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2016\/07\/starting-a-painting\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting a painting"},"content":{"rendered":"

After completing the cartoon for this painting, I transferred it to a canvas, as you can see in the photo.  A cartoon<\/em>, I remind you<\/a>, is a drawing used as a template for a painting.  Cartoons are made to the exact dimension of the target surface.  Typically, they are used for large paintings and murals but are often used for small paintings with a lot of details, as in this painting, and watercolors or other surfaces (such as prints) where keeping a clean surface is important.<\/p>\n

I used carbon paper to transfer the cartoon to the 30″ x 36″ canvas.  The carbon sheets are 26″ x 48″, which make transferring even large cartoons manageable.   The canvas has a smooth ground, which facilitates the process.  If the surface is too rough, details get lost.  I also prefer smooth surfaces.  The tone is a mixture of raw umber and white.  If the ground tone is too dark, the drawing is hard to see.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>Cleveland Museum of Art Opens Renovations<\/span><\/a><\/div>

\"canv2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>In the Studio Oct. 14 2012<\/span><\/a><\/div>

The last part of the preparation is fixing the drawing.  Fixing<\/em> means making the drawing permanent so it doesn’t get rubbed off as I work, and prevent the carbon from getting picked up in the paint and muddying it.  I sometimes go over the outline with India ink and then wipe off the carbon before I start painting.  But in this instance, I sprayed the surface with varnish.<\/p>\n

The process might seem labor-intensive but it works well for me.  By the end of the process, I’ve shed unnecessary details while preserving the important ones.  There are eight figures in the, as yet, untitled painting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After completing the cartoon for this painting, I transferred it to a canvas, as you can see in the photo.  A cartoon, I remind you, is a drawing used as a template for a painting.  Cartoons are made to the exact dimension of the target surface.  Typically, they are used for large paintings and murals but are often […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":6231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[191,208,6,24,113,1],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-6233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drawings","category-materials","category-paintings","category-shop_talk","category-tips_tricks","category-uncategorized","tag-painting-material"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/canv2.jpg?fit=800%2C1070&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5536,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2015\/10\/transferring-designs-to-canvas-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":6233,"position":0},"title":"Transferring designs to canvas–update","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"October 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I've written before\u00a0about the various methods used to\u00a0transfer designs to canvas or other surfaces. There are three ways to do it: projector, grid, or\u00a0cartoon. Typically, I use\u00a0grids. Grids can handle any scale and I like working out final design elements on the canvas grid before picking up the brush. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "materials"","block_context":{"text":"materials","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/materials\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/2-women-PHS.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/2-women-PHS.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/2-women-PHS.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6701,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2017\/01\/drawing-transferred-for-new-painting\/","url_meta":{"origin":6233,"position":1},"title":"Drawing transferred for new painting","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"January 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I worked on the drawing\/cartoon for Down on Prospect Avenue for a week. \u00a0In the top photo, I just finished tracing the cartoon, which you can see still stapled to the canvas. \u00a0I removed the transfer paper to examine the drawing. \u00a0If I miss\u00a0something, I can cover the canvas with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "materials"","block_context":{"text":"materials","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/materials\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6798,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2017\/02\/new-painting-underpainting\/","url_meta":{"origin":6233,"position":2},"title":"New painting, underpainting","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"February 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I finished the underpainting for the new painting Girl in the Lavender Dress. I based the design on several photos taken around Cleveland's Playhouse Square, so the painting is part of the Playhouse Square series.\u00a0 Girl in the Lavender Dress,\u00a0after my second session, is on the easel in this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cleveland"","block_context":{"text":"Cleveland","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/cleveland\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/laven.png?fit=800%2C530&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/laven.png?fit=800%2C530&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/laven.png?fit=800%2C530&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/laven.png?fit=800%2C530&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9661,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2021\/07\/new-paintings\/","url_meta":{"origin":6233,"position":3},"title":"New paintings","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"July 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The painting on the floor, Arts Guild, is my newest painting. I've worked on it steadily this week. The underpainting is done and I started the first overpainting yesterday. It's 40\" x 54.\" Arts Guild is still a baby and has a long way to go before it grows up.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "materials"","block_context":{"text":"materials","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/materials\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6599,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2016\/12\/painting-prep\/","url_meta":{"origin":6233,"position":4},"title":"Painting prep","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"December 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"It took all day to trace the cartoon onto the canvas for this painting. \u00a0The new painting, Sub Rosa, is 44\" x 60\" and has seven figures in it. After finishing the tracing, I lightly sprayed the surface with fixative. \u00a0I'll start the painting tomorrow. I worked\u00a0on the drawing for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drawings"","block_context":{"text":"Drawings","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/drawings\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/sub_rosa_drawing.jpg?fit=800%2C497&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/sub_rosa_drawing.jpg?fit=800%2C497&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/sub_rosa_drawing.jpg?fit=800%2C497&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/sub_rosa_drawing.jpg?fit=800%2C497&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13551,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2024\/05\/sinking-in-canvases\/","url_meta":{"origin":6233,"position":5},"title":"Sinking in (canvases)","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"May 16, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I always try to be as efficient as possible with my paintings. But I'm also cheap. The combination of efficiency and cheapness has frequently caused me headaches. Instead of saving time and money, I've wasted both in my often wrong-footed efforts to save money. I prefer smooth painting surfaces but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How to"","block_context":{"text":"How to","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/come-along-scaled.jpg?fit=857%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/come-along-scaled.jpg?fit=857%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/come-along-scaled.jpg?fit=857%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/come-along-scaled.jpg?fit=857%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Gw6F-1Cx","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6233\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}