Tuesday 30 August 2011

The Geek: Egg Tempera

Disapproving chicken
graphite sketch by Estelle Rocca-Serra
Here is a little low-down on the very unique technique of Egg Tempera.

Egg tempera, is not a deep fried Japanese speciality, but a very ancient, although still in use today, and permanent fast-drying painting medium that uses egg to bind coloured pigments.

For this form of painting most often only the content of the egg yolk is used. The white of the egg and the membrane of the yolk are discarded. The membrane of the yolk is dangled over a receptacle and punctured to drain off the liquid inside. The artist then produces the paint by mixing finely ground pigments and egg yolk diluted with water.

Each stroke is laid down quickly and precisely and should dry to the touch in four or five seconds. Tempera paint dries rapidly and produces a smooth matte finish. The process is slow though because many successive layers are applied, which give the final painting its characteristic clarity and luminosity. The colours of an unvarnished tempera painting resemble a pastel.

Tempera paintings are very long lasting, and examples from the 1st centuries AD still exist. Egg tempera was a primary method of painting until after 1500 when it was superseded by the invention of oil painting, every surviving panel painting by Michelangelo is egg tempera.

Well, I reckon Mr Grumpy Chicken up there should be rather proud!

Stay tuned…

Sources: Wikipedia; Daniel Smith; The Society of Tempera Painters.

Monday 29 August 2011

A Shueya a day keeps the doctor at bay

“How can I help you Honey?”
Shueya Limited: The Secretary by Estelle Rocca-Serra
Going through the series of the Limited Edition: Shueya Secretary. Here is the next one “How can I help you Honey?”.

They are still some available to buy online here, commission free for a few more days, alternatively feel free to contact Estelle directly (email) for more details.

Stay tuned...

Friday 26 August 2011

Sketch of the Day

Basil and the British Summer Time




I am not sure I am fully grasping the paradoxal concept of British Summer…

Monday 22 August 2011

The Geek: Inks

One of Basil's dream date, black Indian Ink.
Apart from the splashing we saw earlier on this week (Friday’s Sketch of the Day) there are many more things to do with Inks.

I've done my research and here’s a slightly geeky low-down on this fast, bright and fun medium:

Black Indian ink is a permanent colour, it’s made of pigments. It’s a very rich, and deep black, but diluted it will give a multitude of shades of brilliant grey. It is the ink used by calligraphers.

Coloured inks are made with dies, not pigments, and therefore are not as permanent, the colour will fade overtime. If you have some coloured ink artworks avoid to display them in direct sunlight, you’ll keep them bright for longer.

Used with pen, brush (or splashed!) on paper or illustrative board, the smoother the surface the smoother the flow and the line. Available liquid in bottle, as pen or markers or even as solid blocks to be diluted with water.

Fast drying and transparent they have a great brilliance of colour, perfect for illustrations and bright drawings.

I must ask Estelle to draw me in Ink too so I can ask this ravishing lady out!

Stay tuned…

Friday 19 August 2011

Sketch of the Day

Shoes, Indian ink and coloured ink © Estelle Rocca-Serra
Looks like someone had a bit of fun here… Mess it up woman! Mess it up!

Stay tuned…

Thursday 18 August 2011

Before and After with Kevin Herlihy

Usually when we see an artwork, whether it’s a sculpture, a painting, a ceramic, etc. we don’t really think of what it is actually made of, we just take it, finished, as a whole. In this Before/After series we’ll show you what you can’t see, you might be surprised!

Before: Kevin's treasure chest
Kevin Herlihy’s work is the first (very brave of him!) in our series of Before/After.

Kevin, what is this?

It’s a treasure chest, from a shipwreck on the river Thames.

What on earth is all this stuff?

Here we’ve got remains of bicycles, remains of someone’s lunch (can you spot the can of pilchards?) and drinks too, window double glazing… mostly aluminium, copper and brass.

Where did you find all this?

On the beaches of the river Thames, at low tide.

Really? and what do you do with all these things?

This robin.
After: Robin, by Kevin Herlihy
Birds are one of my favourite things to make and the robin is one of my collector's favourite bird, so I was very happy to be commissioned to make it. These birds have a lot of character.

You can see more of Kevin's amazing sculptures here.

Stay tuned...




Tuesday 16 August 2011

In Depth: High Tech Tools

High Tech Tools: Incongruous devices used by artists.
Today the Plastic Picnic Salad Spoon!

The Plastic Picnic Salad Spoon


The Plastic Picnic Salad Spoon, found in a large supermarket chain, comes with a fork which is actually more useful for the picnic than in the studio... so I was told!

Checking the colour on the right panel


A very important tool to check glazing colour - when using layers of transparent colours - light, very practical and easy to hold... again so I was told!







Stay tuned...

Monday 15 August 2011

A Shueya a day keeps the doctor at bay

Exclusive: A Shueya a Day keeps the doctor at bay… well it hasn’t been scientifically proved, yet… but this bright, fun (and affordable) series of drawings by Estelle Rocca-Serra, should lighten up the mood a bit.

“Not late Darling… fashionable!”
Shueya Limited: The Secretary by Estelle Rocca-Serra
Collectible, composed of 5 different drawings, the "Shueya Limited: The Secretary" set, is the first of the Shueya Limited series.

I asked Estelle what was the idea behind the series: “I was getting more and more requests to produce some prints of the Shueya paintings [more on the Shueya girls here], which I wasn’t keen on doing so I thought, instead of making reproductions, why not create specifically a series of Shueya originals which could have the affordability of a print. It would be more fun and interesting, and for the same budget you could get an original”.

Each drawing, edition of 30, is an original numbered and signed, hand drawn with Indian ink and watercolour, on 300gms hot pressed satin finish watercolour paper.

They are still some available to buy online here, alternatively feel free to contact Estelle directly (email) for more details.

Stay tuned...

Thursday 11 August 2011

Sketch of the Day

Basil, fashion icon!




This is not funny…!
I can’t believe Estelle drew me in this t-shirt! Get a grip woman, I’m a serious reporter!

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Winter Open Studios

Studio 231West, Open Studio Show May 2011












The Registrations are open for the next edition of the Open Studio Show at Wimbledon Art Studios. The show will run from 24th - 27th November 2011.

If you want to show your work during the exhibition, now is the time to register (more details here). This winter edition will have 50 more studios, it’s going to be BIG, so if you come and visit us, pace yourself and don’t forget your sleeping bag… you might need to sleep-over!

The Daily Mouse will have some Private View invitations for the Opening Night, buzz me to request your invitation.

Stay tuned…

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Let me introduce myself

Basil - Reporter, Editor in Chief, Photographer of the Daily Mouse















Let me introduce myself, I’m Basil - the handsome fella on the photo - Reporter, Editor in Chief, Photographer, you name it… of the Daily Mouse.

Not-quite-live-but-almost, from Studio 231West, I will bring you all the:
  • Breaking news.
  • Exclusivities (Hot from the Easel, Showtime!, Sneak Preview…).
  • In depth analysis (The Geek, High Tech Tools, Fashion…).
  • Interviews.
  • “As it happens” coverage of specific events.
  • As well as “Sketch of the Day”, “Before/After” and many many more…
Through the Daily Mouse, you will also have access to invitations to opening parties and private views!

Stay tuned…

Friday 5 August 2011

Coming very soon

Almost there...  just a few tweaks!