Behind the Scenes (weeks 1 and 2)

Two colors placed on tiles, granite and silver. The reflectivity of the paint picks up the light warmth and changes color ever so subtly across the composition. Warm light overhead, cool light to the left.

Angled view of work in progress

Week 2 update: Second color is down, and I should be able to fill in the third color within a couple of days. I can't wait to put these into the frame/ loom to create a mobile! Next I'll work on mocking up the spacing of these tiles so that they can swing freely on the mobile. I want to be sure to cut the appropriate length of wood to build the frame. A frame too short will cause these tiles to cross as they spin, a frame too large may lose the cohesiveness between the tiles. I am debating about painting the reflected image on the back of the tiles so that the image spins and can be displayed as originally painted versus inverse or something in-between. But will probably wait to make that decision until I finish the framing and full-size mockup of the final work. If I don't like the mobile display these can easily be placed in one of the five framing systems I am using for the other grid paintings.

Week 1 update: Last weekend I returned to Home Depot, and Brian remembered me by name from January's explorations! I shared with him progress photos of what had transpired since he last advised as to tools and materials for building frames as well as brought him up to speed on the adjustable nature of my artwork. I shared my most recent ideas and sketches for the mobile frame. Enthusiastically, he toured me from brackets to braces, and helped me select the proper wood that would be sturdy enough to resist warping. Home Depot is becoming a really lovely partner in all things thinking outside the box.

Having the framing system approached solved for this, and the wood safely in my studio, I decided to mock up one column of the grid. And then mock up one row. The magnets work well and the tile can be adjusted left and right or up and down without losing the connection. Also unexpected twist- the magnets rotate freely against the fishing line, so the tiles can move independently. Spacing will be critical in this set up; I'll need space to make small adjustments to gaps between columns and the placement of the tiles themselves.

Then I headed to Easthampton to Valley Art Supply and the Guild in search for sharpies with names or at least a supply of an alternative brand that could be replaceable (psst dear sharpie, you have a great product, the art market is waiting for you, but you need to identify individual colors so an artist can replace a marker mid-project). I found some close color matches in another brand as a back up. That and my attempt to switch from tinkering to production mode hit a snag when I accidently used too much gesso before heading out to the store (new gesso versus old gesso does matter as does the amount of water in your paintbrush). So after re-gessoing one column and trying a couple combinations and not liking them, my eyes fell upon two bottles of fluid acrylic paint that I had picked up on a whim. Why not? I decided to see how it behaved on the Mylar. Wow, this medium is made for Mylar. It spreads out easily, with opacity, allowing for more smooth brush strokes and coverage than I had experienced with typical acrylic paint. Sticking with the Liquitex Basics line for now. The basics product could be a good candidate for paint-by number with people in a gallery.

All and all, after tonight's lecture, and a full day of work, I am thrilled to finally start on the final work. Here's a sneak peak of the behind the scenes making. First layer of silver fluid acrylic paint is going down.

36" x 36" mobile tiles, silver partially placed on all the tiles

Gessoed 10 mil mylar and then traced line work in pencil with decisions about what color where. Blue tape labels number each tile and help me remember where it falls within the overall composition.

Magnets in suite- They rotate freely unless there is a solid surface to lean against.