Tag Archives: WIP

Cigar Box Pochade Hardware

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I spent some more time finishing off my pochade.
I replaced the hinges and clasp and made a brace from a couple of mending strips. I have an old camera tripod which is missing the block that is supposed to screw into the camera. So I made a mounting block out of three pieces of boxwood and glued and screwed them into the botom of the cigar box. I actually used it today for one of my Daily Paintings. I am still on the look out for some accessories. I need a suitable palette and a way of securing it in the box so that I can transport it without the paint getting all over everything. I would also like to find a good way to secure the panel while painting. Watch this space.

Pochade Clasp

Pochade Clasp
Pochade Brace

Pochade Brace
Pochade Hinges

Pochade Hinges
Pochade Mount

Pochade Mount
Mounted on a Tripod

Mounted on a Tripod

Making the pochade

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Well I made some progress today. Whether this will be worth the time I am putting into it remains to be seen. I must have spent two hours this morning seeking out the right hardware. Everything I have read insists that it is essential to replace the existing hardware with something sturdier, so I have found some small brass hinges, a new clasp and a pair of brass “mending strips” to use for a brace. I have also used some box wood from a fruit box (the sort of thing that mandarin oranges come in) to reinforce the back and front where the new hinges and clasps will be attached. The cigar box is made from very thin cedar and I want something for the screws to go into. I cut the reinforcing strips with a box cutter and am gluing them with carpenters glue. So far so good.

Cigar box hardware

Cigar Box Hardware

Cigar Boxes

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I have been thinking for some time that I wanted to replace my antique pochade with something a little less precious. The one I have belonged to my grandfather and is at least 100 years old. I have looked at the commercially available ones and they are mostly too big, too expensive or too fancy. I have read a couple of blog-posts about making them out of cigar boxes and so I want to give it a try.
One of the advantages of working in a tourist town is that although there may be a shortage of many necessities, like a pharmacy or hardware store, we do have a cigar store and my American readers might be shocked to note that it sells Cuban cigars. They sell the fancier wooden boxes for five dollars but they give away the paper-covered ones. It is the wooden one with the recessed lid that I need for my project but I couldn’t resist picking up a couple of the others as well. They are so attractive and I am sure I can use them for something.  On the bottom of the pile you can see my current box.
Cigar boxes for making a pochade
The next step is to replace the hardware with something a little more sturdy. I will try to post again as I progress.

Fruit Trees under Snow WIP Week 2

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Fruit Trees under Snow Stage 2

Well I am beginning to think that this was a mistake, that just because it worked at 7X5 doesn’t prevent it from being a monumental waste of canvas at 20X16. I guess that is pretty usual at this stage but with my smaller paintings it happens after about 10 minutes, not a week. I will let this lot dry and see what I think about it next week.

St. Paul Triptych - 2 St. Paul Triptych - 3 Golden Section Raceway St. Paul Triptych - 1

Fruit Trees Under Snow WIP 1

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So I decided to choose this one for my January Monthly painting. I have painted it twice already, last January and earlier this month, and it has been a popular subject. It is 20″ X 16″ and I hope to retain some of the spontaneity of the original while using the advantages of allowing some drying time between sections.
Today I just painted background, snow-laden sky and snowy ground. I then etched in the skeletons of the trees to establish the composition. It may be a few days before I get back to this but I will post again as I progress.

Golden Section Rapid City Cycle St. Paul Triptych - 2 Raceway Morningstar Mill

Peaches WIP

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This is the first time I have done a true WIP for an oil. It is too bad it wasn’t something more successful. OH well, here it is


I was so unhappy with this that I actually went back and revised it slightly after it was posted (something I usually make a policy of not doing).

Another WIP

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These WIPs are kinda addictive. Here is one for Thursday’s post.

For this one I did a tonal study on site as well as the photo. It was a bit awkward because I didn’t have anywhere to sit, and there was no shade.
Boats Photoboats study
I use a sharp white pencil to reserve small areas, it works quite well when I want to create light lines against a dark background. Like the railing on the dock, and the sailboats against the distant shore.

Boats WIP1boats WIP2boats

Trailer WIP

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Here is another work-in-progress. The photo was first heavily cropped. The next image is just the pencil crayons before adding any water. After adding the first wash I work into it again with more pencil. I use several different kinds but mostly Derwent brand; Inktense, Graphitint and regular coloured pencils as well as aquarelles.

Trailer photoTrailer_WIP1Trailer_WIP2Trailer