Happy New Year!

From our cabin to yours!

USS Rochester

Final proof of the USS Rochester. Now if I get the OK then its time to print an edition.... :-)

Whats been going on since October?

Well its been a busy Fall and now heading into winter so its time that I update the old BLOG.

Here is what I have been working on since I have gotten back from the cottage.

Woodblocks!

Since I like to whitewater kayak at the cottage I did two Kayaking prints.

Over the Edge  19 x 11.5 inches

Cutting a Line 19 x 11.5 inches

Then of course I had to do another of my favorite Rat Rod.

38 Ford 19 x 11.5 inches

And of course I have a fund raiser for the Rochester Military Society. They want to raise money to pay for a large scale model of the USS Rochester. An armored cruiser from the Spanish American War. First named the USS New York she participated in the Battle of Manila as Admiral Sampson's flagship during the Spanish-American War. Afterwards, steamed to Yokohama and became the US Navy flagship of the Asiatic Fleet.

Later in1911 she was formally renamed USS Saratoga. During World War I she served with the Pacific Patrol Force, and in December, 1917 underwent yet another name change, becoming USS Rochester. Following service with the Atlantic Fleet and in the Caribbean, Rochester returned to Asiatic waters in June 1932 and served off the Yangtze River in China.

During WWII in 1941, as Japanese forces approached Luzon,  the USS Rochester was moved  into Subic Bay and sank to prevent her capture.

To this day the USS Rochester rests on her side with her hull buried in the sand of Subic Bay were recreation divers still visit her.

Third Proof of the USS Rochester

#USSRochester #rochestermilitarysociety 

New Traffic Controller Box Work Part 5 Done!

Well the Traffic Controller Box project is done. I've sealed it with Sherwin-Williams Pro Industrial Anti - Graffiti Coating. Stuff is VERY expensive $165 a gallon. But one coat and its like putting a giant rubber glove over the painting. Let someone try and tag the box now!

So here is the finished box.

Its going to rain today!

Well its supposed to rain today so no painting outside on the Traffic Control Box. Instead I'm in the studio working on a white water set of prints. This one needs some more work yet.

Here is the last proof. This one is done.

New Traffic Controller Box Work Part 4

Well yesterday was a little strange. It always seemed to threaten rain but it never came. So I painted till it really seemed like it was going to rain in about 30 mins and then packed up. Hard to paint with acrylic paint in the rain...

Meanwhile I get visits from strange people that assume that I'm painting outside for their entertainment. Fellow came over while I was working yesterday, he scared the crap out of me by getting right next to me while my back was turned and said loudly "I love this!" My brush almost left my hand I jumped so high.

He sat down on the grass and talked at me for over 30 mins. REALLY? He was bored and I was his new bartender, told me his entire life, wedding, divorce, kid, child support, legal issues, and other to much information stuff. Where do all these lonely people come from? (Beatles)

Others drive by and shout out comments and some beep their horns. Some just are so exited they jump out of their cars and run over to tell me how much the love the work and then run back into their cars and drive away.

Strange days....  

Well here is where we are as of yesterday.  I changed one of the Tulips to a poppy for the wife of the patron who commissioned this great work of art. 

New Traffic Controller Box Work Part 3

The next day I started to do the serious painting bit.

New Traffic Controller Box Work Part 2

The next day the primer was dry, so I sketched out my design to see how it worked. 

Here is the design that I got approved by the customer and Monroe County Traffic Dept.

Then I blocked in some colors to see if the color scheme would work.

New Traffic Controller Box Work Part 1

I have a new traffic controller box job in Penfield, NY. Its on Penfield Rd. Right across from the Hess Station in Panorama Plaza. Shots of the box before any work being done.

So I had to prep the box for primer so with a scrub brush, soap and Arm & Hammer I got to work. Well the new car has a built in AC converter. Extension cord and palm sander and BANG.... box all sanded. Put on the best primer I know of Behr Premium Plus Multi-Surface Primer and Sealer is 100% Acrylic. Nice that the Penfield Home Depot store is just around the corner. 

Now I just have to get painting.