The Haints

Yesterday we purchased treats to give to neighborhood kids on Friday. We usually have fifty to ninety costumed visitors. Few are frightening although I’m sure this year we will have to suffer quite a few of the walking dead. I get joy from handing out the goodies and seeing the kids—and their parents—all dressed in celebration of this pageant that has become as popular with adults as with kids. We have plenty of candy to keep ‘em happy.

I’m reminded of my years in Missouri where among Ozarkians ghosts are sometimes called haints, an archaic spelling and pronunciation of the old word haunts. I like using that word and found it an apt title for some paintings I made of a petroglyph of Osage origin from Mid-Missouri. The figure appears in William Clark’s journal from the Lewis and Clark expedition, an entry made in June of 1804. At one stop they made Clark drew figures from the cliff, large figures he described in spooky terms. 

Acrylic washes on paper by Phillip Hoyle

My “Haint” is a tribute to the Ozarks. The tree-covered hills and valleys did seem a fitting habitat for haints. I wonder if any will ring the doorbell on Friday. Happy Halloween

Denver, 2014

Save That!

In a week-long painting workshop I attended years ago, in which I learned a particular approach to using acrylic washes on paper, my teacher had us lay out all our first designs and went around to talk with each of us. He saw one of mine and pointing at it, said, "Save that and hang it in your studio." I was somewhat amazed for it seemed like just a few paint strokes and lots of dribbles in basic colors. He went on, "You will rarely get that free again." AND he was right. So I framed the thing and hung it up where I'd see it every day. 

An assortment of Ute designs

Last week I finally got around to beginning a painting project of smaller pieces, petroglyph designs I could sell at a low price at the co-op gallery up in the mountains. I chose to use all Ute designs from the tribes that roamed what we call the Central Rockies and the Colorado Plateau these days. It's a project still in process, but here's what has happened. I selected sizes and designs. I drew the designs on the designated areas of large pieces of Arches 140# watercolor paper. Then I washed the background with two coats of similar color, the second one slightly darker than the former. and upon washing the second one sprayed a mist of rubbing alcohol on it. The droplets push back the paint leaving a stippling effect similar to the way I see the sandstone rocks where these designs were made. 

The masking medium is shiny and resists the washes leaving
the undercoat untouched.

When they were dry I tore the papers into the marked sizes and painted the designs with masking medium--actually a product used with watercolor washes but that I discovered also works with acrylic washes. It's a resist medium made of latex and ammonia that when the paint dries can be removed with an eraser. It will be left on the paintings through several more washes.

My current "Save It" guide
acrylic washes on paper by Phillip Hoyle

I'm not referring to that first "Save It" piece, but this time using a painting of a petroglyph I made several years ago, one that attracted the interest of collectors and artists. I will this week paint the other layers of washes and next week let you see what happened. 

Art is always a process, and for me it is a process that may go on for weeks. Whatever work you do, get to your studio and get it underway!

Denver, 2014

Spider Mania

Spider ATC by Phillip Hoyle

Perhaps I am just trying to emulate the enthusiasm of some of the artists I hang around with, but I found myself making more preparations for Halloween Artist Trading Card swaps. In addition to the spiders I made last week, I have made even more. These critters are on orange grounds made from photographs of shadows of fall plants as they appeared one night on the sidewalks in my neighborhood. The street lamps cast an orange glow. I added spiders! Don't get scared or have spider dreams.

Spider ATC by Phillip Hoyle

I drew spiders and then added a clear coat to their bodies to give them depth and a creepier look. I think it added just what I wanted. At Saturday's ATC swap several people thought the spiders were stickers I had put on the cards. I explained that they were drawings with a spot of shiny! I traded all 18 of the spiders on orange! I was pleased; also I am enjoying the many cards I brought home from the trade.

Spider ATC by Phillip Hoyle

Spider ATC by Phillip Hoyle

Spider ATC by Phillip Hoyle

I also traded all but two of my black and white spiders. (See some of them in last week's post.)

Halloween is coming; get your costume ready. I, too, will be busy because I am proposing more sheets of spiders, these as Sci-Fi characters.

Denver, 2014

The Holiday Approaches

Halloween spider ATC by Phillip Hoyle

A few posts ago I warned that Christmas is coming. I made the public announcement in order to motivate myself. Thankfully I got all my cards printed and am ready to rework my mailing list!


But of more imminent concern is the quick approach of Halloween, which concerns me not because of a costume. I won’t dress up this year. I don’t worry over candy; my partner takes care of that. But I do go to Artist Trading Cards swaps twice a month, and every October the theme is Halloween and Day of the Dead. The people I trade with get intensely interested in images related to human death—sometimes grossly, sometimes humorously. Usually for the October trades I have made miniature masks (2.5 x 3.5 inches) inspired by primal cultures or made up on my own. But this year I have turned, at least initially, to spiders. 

Take a look at the cards, but don’t get scared. I’ve been observing these interesting creatures as I clean the house and yard. I hope what I’ve done entertains you.



Denver, 2014