Palette Box is mostly done

In the evening of new year eve, I finished most of mechanical part of the palette box. It's obviously not perfect, some gaps are here and there between moving parts. But I think it would just function as I need it to do. For the rest, I would stain the surfaces and put a pair of case catches, which I ordered online last night, to securely close the lids and put a strap handle for me to be able to carry it easily.

A happy new year!

Ghostly horses are taking shape

Although I'm quite busy making the new field easel, I'm not forgetting painting. As usual, I'm making shapes of two horses with very thin layers of paint on canvas. They might give you ghostly feeling. But once I put some more paints in high-lighted areas, this painting would provide more completed feelings. That's the benefit of filling out entire canvas at early stages as Jim Lamb would tell his students. The difference would be my painting at this early stage is very thinly painted. I don't know why I do painting in this way but it's from the beginning of my career.

Folding Lids

I started working on the top lids. The photo is a half of it. They're going to be attached to the side walls of the bottom box with piano hinges.

Piano Hinge attaches Front Wall

 It's not perfect but the front bottom wall is now reasonable aligned with the piano hinge. I needed to chisel the box side to make 1/8" of indentation. Now the bottom box is done. I'll move on to the folding top lids that would swing-open to both sides.

Interesting color of the surface

While waiting for glue to dry, I realized the tripod was not fully expanded or opened for last a month or so when I worked hard to adjust the curvature of the supports. When it dried up, I went back and started curving the shape again with a file this Christmas Eve morning. Now I think it's reasonable steady again as you can see in the photo. Not much gap between the legs and the woods.
Then I suddenly realized the color of the palette surface/plywood skin is very close to my hand skin tone. I know it's just a coincident. But amazing to me.

3 sides of bottom box are in place

All side walls of the bottom box, except for the front wall, which would be unfoldable, are glued on the bottom plate (palette surface). I would nail them later to secure them.
Now I need to decide how to attach the front wall with piano hinge next.

Additional Support is done

It didn't take long for me to finish the right side of the additional layer of support, since I've learned how to make it with the left side. Now the bottom plate/palette surface is much stabler compared to the situation without the layer.
Now I need to build the box above it.

Additional Support

One side of additional layer of support is done. Then I'm gluing on to the bottom layer. I need to do exactly the same on the right side next. It's taking time but this is the most important part of this new easel. I just can't rush it. Or it would end up with big disappointment. Need to be very patient.

Carefully making curvature this time

This time for an additional layer of the supporting mechanism, I made a make-shift vice and secured the piece of wood firmly before start curving it. I'm careful not to get too greedy but gradually making the curve deeper, and often trying with the tripod before curving further. I hope it would pay off at the end.

Foreground is almost done!

Wow! This is a good example how quickly I can make progress if I'm really into it. Look at the difference from yesterday's photo! I spent only two hours today to make the difference. The ground colors need some adjustment or a little more layers. But basically it's done.

Next I need to improve the group of trees in the center.

New Hourse Painting

Also I just started a new horse piece. Size is 14"x22". The same horses at the ranch near Cle Elum. I thought I could make them standing closer than the photo I took. But when I tried it in Photoshop, it didn't look good or natural. I guess the distance between them is telling something. So the title of this would be "Side by Side".

Sky and Clouds are coming to life

Worked on sky and clouds today. The color transition of sky is about to be done. Cloud shapes and values are getting closer to the end. I might want to put some warmness and coolness to those colors. It would be experimental.
Now I need to get back to the ground.

Parklange Gallery

I recently joined a new gallery in Kirkland, WA. It's a artists-owned co-op gallery. So I can be a member for longer regardless sales I can or can't make. I'm hoping I can sell a few per year constantly.
At the gallery, I'm obligated to share shifts for gallery keeping job twice a month and 4h each. Last Sunday was my first and learned a lot for retail business, including credit card handling.

Show at Starbucks

Today I took out my pieces from Georgetown Sturbacks. I'd been showing these for last two weeks or so as a pinch hitter due to no-show of this month's artist.