All good things must come to an end

Yesterday, friend Wendy and I took down my pictures and removed them from the art gallery. Gallery’s walls looked so bare!

I sold four pictures and an unframed print at the gallery, then picked up another sale on Facebook. Friend John is buying Forsaken Ivories (shown at left) for his wife’s birthday.

I also donated one picture to a foundation that honors a friend’s daughter. It will be auctioned off to provide college scholarship funds. First scholarship will be given to a member of her class, the Class of 2017.

Our church recently completed the renovation of a downtown store into our meeting place. Budget is too tight for art, so some of my pictures will decorate the walls. I’m looking for somewhere else to show them, but haven’t found that place yet.

I asked if I could show again in 2011 and received a favorable response. Looking forward to it.

Profound relief

Yesterday afternoon, Hubby and I took all the pictures I’m showing to the gallery. I feel such relief to have them all done and gone. No more weight of responsibility.

I still have things to do, boring things like finishing pricing and developing an order form for the pictures in the electronic frames, but the main project is out of my hair.

Thank you, Lord! I can breathe a lot easier now.

Color theory

When I took this picture, I knew it was destined to be shown.

But this picture had issues, power lines and power poles. Ugly things. I had intended to eliminate most of the sky to dump the power lines. I showed it to Art Teacher Jeff. Jeff said I shouldn’t crop it so severely, that the power lines actually helped the picture. That was unusual! I did need to remove one of the power poles, though. That took some doing. Removing pole wasn’t that bad, but lining up the power lines to the remaining pole took a long time. Jeff showed me some tricks in Photoshop, otherwise, I doubt I could have accomplished it.

When we got the matboards, we chose orange for this picture’s mat. While Jeff was cutting other mats for me, I looked at the picture and frame on the mat. That orange was garish, a horrible combination. I tried yellow, but that wasn’t a good color, either. Much of the background washed out. I shuffled through my matboards, but nothing I tried seemed to work.

He looked at what I was doing. I showed him the various colors I had tried. “Try the purple. It’s yellow’s complementary color.“ I put the photo on the purple paper. Wow!

What a difference a mat makes

I should have known not to figure mat cutting dimensions when my brain was mush, but I tried anyway. I cut it just big enough to allow the picture to fall through on the sides. I must have forgotten to subtract the half inch required to keep picture inside the hole.

I had no pieces large enough to redo the mat, so I tried patching it with an under mat of the same color. That looked terrible. I could not show it in that condition.

I bit the bullet and took it to the local framing shop.

I had intended to replace the original brown mat with another one, but Teri showed me a rust-colored mat. She said she could trim brown mat and put the rust one underneath, next to the picture. I loved the idea. The rust color brought out highlights that hadn’t shown before.

She adores this picture and wants to hang it in her shop as an example of her work. We traded my picture for her framing. I’m excited to see my work hanging on someone else’s wall. She also wants me to produce a book of my work for sale in her shop.

Is that cool or what?

Details and decisions

I thought that the grind of framing would be the worst part of preparing for my show. It is, but I keep finding more nagging details to take care of.

I entered all my inputs into a spreadsheet for Hubby. He’ll be figuring the total cost of goods sold so we can price these photos at last.

I’ve written my press release and had it proofed. I plan to send it out tomorrow.

Hubby bought an electronic picture frame and I’m loading 30 more pictures onto it. Gallery manager loved the idea. This picture of Louisiana cypress trees is one of those. I’ll have to add a number to each picture and produce a pricing sheet. I’d like to see which standard photo sizes work best for each one and recommend what would look best.

Do I hand sign these photos or just add a digital copy of my signature?

Tomorrow I’m attending a free web design class. I could use the help. I have homework to do before I arrive, planning what I want to do. I’m not sure what I want, except a photo gallery and shopping cart.

I had a productive visit with framing shop owner today. She’d like to display some of my work and offer it for prints. Best way to show them off is to produce a book, which isn’t cheap. A sale would pay for it, though.

My head is spinning.

A problem to solve

At some point, the matting on this picture has shifted. When I attached it to the door, it was correctly placed. Friday night I noticed that the mat has become somewhat skewed.

I don’t know how to fix this. I’m afraid to try removing frame from door. What if I break it? I don’t have another one ready, nor do I want to cut glass again any time soon. My experiences with lacquer were not positive, so I’ve decided to glass my photos from now on.

I stood the door on its side, hoping gravity will help me. I’m not optimistic.

Does anyone have ideas how I can repair this problem?

The red door

I finished the red door this morning. Door had a screw loose, so I glued it back in. I just want those old, rusty screws to remain where they are. They are no longer load bearing, just decoration. I glued the bottom boards together overnight. When I clamped those boards together last night, I received a bit of a surprise. The shim under the rightmost clamp shattered. When I loosened the clamp, I found that the clamp had gone through the back board into a rotten place. I wonder how much of this door is truly sound. Apparently the part I nailed the frame onto is still OK. Frame already had two holes in it, so I used them to attach frame. Worked great. Dad had given me a Dremel tool kit for Christmas. Teresa from Maggie Grace Creates had commented on my silverware wind chimes post about using a Dremel to grind off edges. Right then I decided I wanted Dremel for Christmas. I hadn’t had a chance to use it until yesterday. As you can see, the nails I had used to reaffix portions of the door were rather too long. These were the only rusty nails I had and I wanted to stay with the rustic feel as much as possible. The last thing I wanted to do was saw them off, so I got out my Dremel and its grinding wheel. A web forum said to wear safety glasses since the wheels fragment so quickly. Whoever posted that knew what they were talking about. I used an average of two grinding wheels per nail/screw. They just disintegrated. Those little pie-shaped pieces in picture are broken wheels. Dremel was a dream, much better than hacksaw. I was frustrated when I had to buy another collet for a tool that was included in my kit. Dremel welfare. Here’s the finished project.

I love it. I think it’s unique. I found this door on the ground. Hopefully soon it will be decorating someone’s wall. I love creating something beautiful and fun from other people’s castoffs.

Coming down the home stretch

I have just a few more items to take care of before I’ll be completely finished with framing. Thank God!

I framed Hanging Lake last night. I normally loathe the mat colors I used. That green and orange remind me of my least favorite vegetables (other than cabbage). I cannot stand cooked carrots and peas. Those mats are those colors. Ugh. But I was amazed how they made the picture pop. Wow. As soon as I saw what those colors did for this picture, I ditched my original plan. Plans only last until they meet reality.

I thought I might be able to finish framing, until I placed the glass in the keyboard photo. It was too short. Drat! I had been quite concerned about how I’d frame this picture. Plan A failed and I was very dubious about Plan B. Then I remembered a window frame I’d fished out of a house last fall. I tried it and it was perfect. I’ll take that frame, mat, photo and backer board to glass company after school today. They can put it together for me. Handling that big 40X29-inch sheet of glass scares me. I’d rather let the professionals handle it. All I want to do is cover the back with paper and add the wire.

I framed the red door last night as well, then nailed it to an old barn door. The nails were too long, so I’ll have to cut them off. I got out my new Dremel tool kit, but discovered that I didn’t have the cutting accessory. I’ll have to buy that this afternoon. Thankfully, I’m subbing for the teacher who has planning period right after lunch. I had to glue a piece of that door back together overnight. Once I trim the nails and add the hanging wire to the back, that package will be finished.

I lost the vertical picture of Hanging Lake last night when the lacquer spray stained it. I wish I would have bought glass for that picture frame. I don’t like lacquer; it’s too risky. I’ve now ruined a mat and a photo with lacquer. Disgusting. I won’t bother replacing the photo. I’m sure no one will miss it. The gallery will be pretty full with my photos as it is. I am deeply grateful to Jeff, the high school art teacher, for his help matting my pictures.

Measure twice, cut once

Today I started matting. First I cut down a couple mats that fit the picture but not the frame. I wasn’t thinking on the first one and just chopped all the excess off one side. When I turned it over, I was horrified. I thought about dropping the photo from my show, but found one matboard that will work in a double frame. I was relieved. I like my turtles. We toured a Louisiana swamp on New Year’s Eve 2007 with my brother and his family. Guide pointed out turtles. I was using my film camera. I focused on the branch and shot away, not knowing what I was taking. I was quite surprised when I saw this image. I’m calling it “Happy Together” after The Turtles’ 1967 chart-topper.

The next mat-cutting went better. Somehow the original pink mat for this photo had gotten a stain on it. I cannot understand how. None of my mat stash or matboards went with the picture. When I went to thrift store for more frames to cannibalize, I found one with a large double mat, one medium blue and the other cream. It went perfectly with that picture and enabled me to use a black frame that I was recycling. After my experience with the turtles, I was much more careful to properly align the frame on the mat. Because of the mysterious stain, the picture is not dead center within the mat, but I rather like its appearance. As you can see, I drew several cut lines before I got everything centered.

When I finished framing this, I had recycled frame, glass, backer board, hanger and one mat. I went to high school this afternoon and began cutting. What a pleasure! However, “Measure twice, cut once” saved me this time, too. We kept confusing the horizontal and vertical cut dimensions. I laid the picture I was matting on the matboard before cutting and that saved me. We changed measurements on one mat several times with various colored pencils. By the time we cut it, matboard back looked like a Scottish tartan. Whatever works.

Making progress

Dad was here Sunday-Thursday to help me. We cut all kinds of old glass from frames I am either recycling or obtained at thrift shop. Old glass is notoriously hard to cut. Dad said he had never done such a nerve-wracking job. I had intended to take some pictures of him working on the glass, but didn’t do it. I was too wrapped up in what we were doing to remember to take pictures. This whole process has been nerve-wracking. I had thought the cedar picture would be a fairly simple process. It fit so well in the old pie safe door that is it’s frame that I had no need to mat it. Just cut the glass, cut the backer board, put spacers on glass to keep separate it from picture, place picture between them and clamp them to back of frame. I should have known better. I was using glass from a frame I had bought at a garage sale sometime ago. I have never had such difficulty cleaning glass in my life. I estimate I spent two hours cleaning it. By the time I put the “picture sandwich” onto the frame, I had had enough. I went upstairs and figured we would be able to quickly finish framing it in the morning. I should have known better. When I awakened the next morning, I realized I had forgotten to sign the photo. Sigh. I undid the sandwich, signed it and put it back together. Dad and I clamped it down. When I turned it over, he said, “The glass has cracked.” I shrieked. We searched for the source that caused the crack and found that the door was warped. We didn't know what to do. Door matched the picture so perfectly. No other alternative was acceptable. After some discussion, Dad said, “Do you have any silicone caulk?“ No. But that gave me an idea. I got my glue gun and filled the spaces with hot silicone glue. Problem solved. We put the sandwich back together. Whew. I should have known better. Dad said, “The picture has a fold in it.” I wanted to cry. After all that trouble, the picture dares to have a crinkle? I Googled the problem, but got no definitive answer. In a similar situation to mine, the person was jokingly advised to iron the photo. What have I got to lose? With my heart in my throat, I turned the iron to the lowest setting, covered the ironing board with a press cloth and the picture with another press cloth. Both these press cloths were more of a screen than a cloth. I put water on my fingertip and dabbed it onto the offending crack, then gently, ever so gently, pressed it. When I turned it over with shaking hands, I found the fold much diminished, but the screen had left a slight imprint. I tried to remove it with the same process, less the bottom press cloth, and got some of it to smooth out. But not all. Dad said, “Let’s just put this back together and hope no one notices the slight imperfection!“ So we did. I put it in bags to protect it and put it on the table with the rest of the finished pictures.

I wondered why God had sent me through this awful process. Then I realized what a valuable experience it had been. I had learned how to correct warping and folded pictures. But I’d rather not go through such an ordeal again.

Signing day

Framing pictures requires many steps, most of which I’ve done over and over. But one is very new to me and I find it hard to remember. Previously, I framed my pictures for display in our house or for gifts to friends and family. I don’t generally sign these; I just note on the back that I had taken it and the occasion for the gift.

Since this batch of pictures is for show and sell, I’m signing them. I feel rather strange each time I put pen to picture, but that action also makes this whole idea of being an artist a bit more real to me.

I’m still pinching myself, though. Sometimes dreams really do come true.

Getting supplies

Patty shows Steve the pictures I will be showing.

Hubby and I went to the Front Range Monday and Tuesday to buy framing supplies for my show. Matboard and foam core and frames! Oh my! I felt rather overwhelmed. We spread out our stuff all over the store’s counter, pretty much taking it over. People walked around the counter looking at the pictures. They paid me numerous compliments. How I wish I would have brought business cards, but I had never thought of that. I was blown away. Stores were having sales on many of the items we needed and we found coupons for others. I had asked for God’s provision and He is granting it.

I check a frame Patty gave me for stray glazier’s points.

I had hoped to avoid cutting mats. I have never cut mats before, but I know it’s not a job to undertake lightly. I hope to cut mine in the high school’s art room. They have a professional-grade cutter. Matting with an Xacto knife does not bring good results. Feb. 27, my deadline for getting these to the art gallery, doesn’t seem far enough away for all the work I have to do. Dad will be here Sunday to help me for a few days. Without my team, I’d be sunk. But, by God’s grace, we’ll get ’er done!

A rare sight

Usually, my workbench is covered with projects in various stages of completion. But since my show outweighs all other projects, I completely cleaned off my workbench last night. I threw out some projects that I realize I’ll never do and put more things in designated places. Since I am interested in a wide variety of projects, keeping track of all those various pieces is difficult. I may never see this workbench this clean again.

This chest of drawers I saved from destruction years ago looks more like usual, a project in progress sitting on it. This door I’m gluing came off an old pie safe. I have two of them. I intend to frame an old church in one and the steeple from that same church in the other. I can hardly wait for these pictures to show up! Once they do, workbench and chest will return to their usual cluttered state. And I will be in Heaven. Or as close to Heaven as I can get on earth.

I've been framed

Frames, frames everywhere

Frames are stacking up in my basement. I’ve placed my biggest order of pictures ever. Since I have to do this show on the most minimal budget, I’m recycling frames of pictures we no longer use and have purchased quite a few at the thrift store for rock-bottom prices. I will throw away the picture and reuse the frame and whatever glass, mat and backer board come with it.

I have also collected old barn boards and hope to frame photos with them — if they don’t split and splinter. For one picture, a picnic bench, I intend to chop up a broken “early dorm room” couch that’s been clogging up our storage area for years.

I could not do this without help. Donna, Kathy, Marilyn and Martha helped me choose the final pictures and gave me ideas for matching frames with picture and mat. Patty will help me choose the mats once all the prints have arrived. To cut frames, Kathy has loaned me her miter saw and Dad will bring his router. I’ve never touched a router and don’t want to practice on this project. I don’t have time — or the boards — for that.

You’ll be hearing a lot about my progress in the next few weeks. My nose will be firmly to the grindstone. I hope I still have a nose left when I reach Feb. 27, my deadline to take pictures to the gallery.