Manganese Blue Hue

My favourite colour, to paint with right now, is Manganese Blue Hue.

               Mmmmmm, juicy.

I happened upon this colour in a Gamblin starter set, and I suppose it's based on some old, toxic colour that disappeared for awhile. I had the same experience with my beloved Flake White (which used to be full of lead) and now I'm starting to think I am attracted to things which could potentially kill me one day.

The reason I am posting about some colour, is that people seem to comment most on the coloration of my works. 

I've always gravitated towards certain types of work with a juicy type of luminescence. I feel that pastels have a glow. All of my under paintings are done in a pale colour, very thinly, and I like to work up into the darks. I like to do this because I'm interested in the transparency of the layers of oil paint.

Without any technical understanding of colour theory, I began by looking at my favourite colourists and wondering how they worked. One artist who inspired me deeply was Mark Ryden, who isolated himself with white during the Snow Yak Show and used only bits of very pale colour. 

       "Long Yak" Mark Ryden, 2008.

I believe this lead him into his signature tonal style, which has shone through his work since. When I first saw his work, it was still beautiful enough to capture me, and as a preteen I obsessed over a CD cover he'd designed for Jack Off Jill- but I would say the Snow Yak Show was a discipline based exercise that created some of his best work.

For that reason, I am isolating myself (as a colourist). I have been for awhile, and I think it's working. I haven't forced myself into the same paleness as Mark Ryden, but I'm sacrificing things... I only really let myself pick a few colours and white. Right now my paintings are about the red family- a consistent mix of oranges, reds, and pinks that remind me of the sugary Kool-Aid I drank as a kid. Then there's white- and when I get to really important parts, I use Manganese Blue Hue.

    Angels singing, trumpets and stuff!

It's like magic. Wherever I place it, colour comes to life. When I mix it, I notice things I didn't notice before. It's the secret ingredient in an Italian grandmother's recipe (it's more Garlic). I am madly in love with a colour, but I know it's only sheer luck. I know if I use it too much it'll become tasteless like a favourite food- eaten too often.

It will be fleeting, I know my love will disappear one day if I ever leave this family of colours... But for now, it's a fresh new romance.

If my boyfriend reads this, I still love you, but can you be my Manganese Blue Hue?

Sincerely,

C.

Inspiration

Inspiration is one of those things that I know a lot of artists struggle with. I see it especially frustrating when students are in upper level classes and suddenly face assignments without closed quarters. I know it scared me a bit as well, but I have figured out my personal formula. In that, I believe inspiration is something that never really comes and goes.

Yes, there are those days you will push out a masterpiece followed by a day of slogging through poorly drawn feet.

   "I hate when it comes to the feet."

In progress. 2014, 9' x12' pastel & pencil.

I think every moment, especially those moments where you find something your stuck on, is important to your work. The reason you can't do it is because you haven't learned it yet. To become an expert you must master all things, even feet.

For me, getting into a groove can be simple. I make a space for art. I always set things up the same way, and put on some music (usually the same kind). I burn incense. I draw or build. I look at art online. 

I think for me it's just setting aside this special corner for art in my mind, which isolates it and forces me to think. YES, it's work that I have to finish, but I want it more than anything so I'll do it.

In the scheme of things, each foot drawn is a challenge accepted. Each polished line, each piece completed is like an inch forward in the road to something I need. If you ignore these moments where inspiration is "lost", you won't see the leaps and bounds you're taking. Struggle, fight, be brave, and brace yourself. You will get through this and you will learn something from it.

Review: General's MultiPastel Pastel Pencils

REVIEW: General's MultiPastel Pastel Pencils

 I got some cash for Christmas and decided to purchase a couple art supplies. One thing I picked up was General's MultiPastel Pastel Pencils #4400-12A. I guess there are multiple sets you can buy with different colours, but this one worked for me. I really enjoyed that this product was in a pencil casing, as the chalk/charcoal/graphite I use sometimes really dries out my hands.

The colours included were Black, White, Lt. Flesh, Pink, Scarlet Red, Violet, Indigo Blue, Autumn Gold (looks orange to me...), Canary Yellow, Grass Green, Van Dyke Brown and Dk. Grey. The Dk. Grey was really nice to use as it was only a step darker than the grey paper I was using, and it worked well as an under-sketch that disappeared quite easily under the colours. It also worked nicely as a light, transparent veil of shadow.

 

 My first chalk pastel drawing - My Hand in 1 Hour, 9x12 inches. C. Fralic 2013



I noticed that the darker colours like Violet, Grass Green and Indigo Blue weren't very transparent and even when I treaded lightly they came out quite opaque. I think this is because the colours were intended for illustrations like on the cover of the package, which featured a sketchy bowl of fruit with sort of garish colouring.

I think it could be a very effective full set for colouring the way I like to if the dark Indigo Blue was replaced with a paler blue. The pencils blended quite softly so I kind of made my own colours to replace the ones I felt I needed. In the way they blend and carry such a soft edge they are really superior to pencil crayon in my opinion. I also like how they don't carry a shiny reflection as I've had issues scanning/photographing my previous pencil work.

Anyways, I really liked this product but I would say the single 12 pack I got doesn't cut it for me and my grey paper. I would love to see some really pale colours to define the skin a little more... especially a pale blue and/or purple. Even the pink was quite intense.

I would totally recommend this product to anyone looking to try chalk pastel. It's not super expensive, and it looks and is used a lot like a pencil. Chalk pastel sticks can often feel a bit clumsy and it can be difficult to find a sharp edge to get those fine details with... these come in pencil form so their precise nature is just like pencil, not to mention they come with a sharpener.

I wouldn't recommend these for gestural drawing or anything where you have to cover a lot of ground with flat colour.


Blah blah!

C.