Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Sticky, Delicious Golden Graphite Gray

Ah Golden's.....my love, my weakness!


Yes, I am entirely too mushy about my art supplies. But I love Golden's products. They just make the coolest things! (and I'm pretty sure I have made a significant contribution to their retirement plans....)
Okay, so you ask, "Anne, why is a tube of Gray Paint so exciting???"
(I see you nay-sayers out there...)
Well, because of the word *graphite* being included with it. This is a paint with some properties of a pencil, and the ability to transform into something spectacular. 
Hey, trust me. Don't burst my bubble...

Sticky, ooey, gooey....

First off, one thing you'll notice is the consistency of Graphite Gray. It is, well, dense and sticky. I am not sure how well it would handle in fine application, but the way I've used it (and a few other ways I plan to try) have lead to success. 
You'll need some high-tech tools for this~~
Waxed paper for your *palette* and the following:

Praise for CHEAP WINE!
Yep, that's right, a fake wine bottle cork. Or a non-cork bottle stopper. Whatever you want to call it. The material it's made of makes interesting pattern in the paint.
I put a bit of paint out on waxed paper, smeared it about a little with an old brush, then loaded the cork as you would any stamp, except I kept the paint application thicker. You want some density on there.
Then stamp randomly. (I also used Gesso to do some spots)

Just a little DOTTY.....
The very middle, dark *dot* is the paint, dried in it's natural state. You can see the fake-cork provided a nice pull-up design in the paint.
Now for the fun part.
Wait---the not-fun part first.
WAIT UNTIL THE PAINT IS TOTALLY DRY BEFORE PROCEEDING.
Go eat a Pop-Tart or solve the issue of World Peace or twiddle your thumbs, but don't mess with the paint until it is DRY. (a hairdryer is allowed--no heat guns)
Okay, back to the fun part:

What dust cloths are REALLY FOR....
When the paint is dry-dry-dry, get a soft cloth you don't mind getting dirty. I use dust cloths, as they don't seem to get much use in the house, but they sure do in the studio.
Wrap a bit of it around your fingertip and rub that paint HARD. Burnish, burnish, burnish!
What you will see is that the paint is beginning to take on the characteristics of lead pencil that has been smudged. and yes, on some papers, there will be a bit of the graphite that bleeds over, and sometimes it can actually be erased too!
The longer you work, the higher the shine:

Is it a TREE? NO! It's shiny Graphite Gray!
And the best part of the thick application with the faux wine-cork-stamp is seen above~~a very organic pattern that burnishes up brighter and no two will be alike.
Actually, you could use any solid stamp for this; square, oval, heavy lines, etc. I am assuming it could also be painted heavily around a collage section where more emphasis is desired. I mean, my little mind is spinning at the possibilities! (yeah, more than it usually spins, thank-you-very-much!)
So if you want to add one small supply to your art-arsenal, give this one a try.
I think you'll love the versatility.
I do.
You could tell? ;-)


Pax....

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had been thinking about getting this but didn't think that I would use it that much but now that I have seen you use it I just may go for it. I wonder if it stays polished once it's been rubbed?

LeeAnn at Mrs Black's said...

It does look like a little tree!

I think what makes me excited about pots or tubes of paint is knowing they are just FULL of possibilities!

Love how you used this here, thank you for sharing. x

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Palma,

It appears to stay as is. It seems like the burnishing, when taken as far as the paint has to offer, changes the surface permanently. If there was doubt, I would use it as a last treatment in a piece.
I can see in my own work, having it as a last *outline* step on some things, others to do *dirty* corners with some kick.
I've got to admit it was enough fun that even if it should not stay this way long term, I would still buy it again! (it's just fun to play with...what can I say???)

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Minerva,

I love the hidden surprises in art supplies, and I have to admit on some of them, due to cost, I like to see how other artists use them, or hear different opinions of them before buying.
This is kind of like a pencil in a tube.
I can't wait to try more with it, just to see how far it can be pushed.

XXOO~~
Anne

di from di-did-it said...

that is cool - I've done something similar, but never thought to burnish it when it's dry, which is what makes it cool. thanks for sharing!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Di,

I learned the tip of burnishing in a class, but it was used differently, and I wondered how it would work in paper collage, etc....more my realm of doing.
Love trying these little things and seeing how they work..... :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Hmmm, an art technique that requires you to drink cheap wine and not dust the house . . . . WHERE CAN I SIGN UP FOR CLASSES?

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Debra.....LOL!!!!
My thoughts exactly....hahaha! Make art and have fun. It's all I need.
And I don't feel guilty about the dust cloths now either.
As if. ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Anonymous said...

Oooh I have some of those fake corks(not that I indulge or anything LOL) I will have to try this. Golden yes, such good stuff. If you can't wax poetic about your art supplies, what can you wax about, certainly not dusting. xox

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL Corrine!!!
Like that comment on the art supplies!
I always hated the fake corks, but I saved them anyway---*just in case*!!!
For once that instinct paid off. I have saved corks for years and years, using them for all sorts of practical applications, usually which was in the fridge or a lost top to something in the pantry.
Finally they have graduated to ART!

XXOO~~
Anne

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Good Morning Anne Dahling...
I love, LOVE this share. You are so darn creative. I will be heading out to Michaels on my lunch break to purchase me a tube of Golden's graphite grey. I can't wait to wax on and wax off.

You have so made my day. I can this added to some of my ATC. Yippee. Thank you dahling for the wonderful share. So happy that blogger let you add the tutorial today. SOOOO worth the wait.

Have a glorious day. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Cool!
Glad it was something that was of use to you.
Just remember to use a thick coating. I found the thinner it is, the less it will burnish up shiny.
Or you can do half and half, part shiny, part dull. I think that shows in one of the photos.
Jumped while Blogger was playing nice...hahaha!

XXOO~~
Anne

Janet Ghio said...

Very cool--I think I have some graphite paint, but it is a golden liquid--I will have to go look at it

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hmmmmm Janet. Now I wonder if I don't have something in my fluids close to this, but I know it won't have the body....off to the wet studio to poke around... ;-D
Nothing is in *one place* here.

XXOO~~
Anne

yoborobo said...

Oh, Anne is making art! YAY! And this looks so cool. I was thinking of a skelly stamp! :) I am back to the garage today and hopefully mental health is just around the corner - lol! xoxo!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Pam, when you find that corner, where Mental Health is hiding, please call me collect and I'll join you there! LOL!!!
Yummmmmm....skelly stamp....I have a big one I carved. I might have to try that after I eat my toast.
Or I'm apt to get paint on the toast... ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Robin said...

As your *Resident Non-Artist FBBBFF*, all I can say is WOWZA! I love what you did...the patience you had to do it...the effect is incredible! You are one fabulous on-line teacher... you have the gift of explaining things VERY clearly...

(Of course, when I first saw the cap from the graphite....it reminded me of my Bobbie Brown Graphite Gel Eyeliner!!!! A-ha-ha!)

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL Robin! I think you would NOT want this for eyeliner! ;-D
I like getting feedback from non-artists as often, there is more of a broad view expressed. I think everyone commenting on what they see makes it all balance out good.
Tried to comment on your blog but couldn't get a comment box..... <:-\

XXOO~~
Anne

Deborah said...

HA! Your dust cloths don't get much use in the house! OH I just read Debra's comment!!! HAHAHahahahaha. HA! Sign me up too!!! And lastly, ANNE, PUT DOWN THE POPTART! **kisskiss** Deb

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Ah! The two Deb's think alike on the dust cloths and classes! (all is right in the world....)
Deb, our secret, I ♥LUV♥ Pop Tarts! Way too much....I'll eat your share. :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

Jo Murray said...

Thank you, thank you Anne. I can never get too many tips.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Always glad to be an enabler, Jo! :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

kj said...

well i loved this! i love pencils so this is right up my alley. my only disagreement is the quality of wine. i think an upgrade is in order. i can think of no reason to use only cheap wine. i urge you to reconsider.

there is a three dimensional tree in that circle. way cool, anne

love
lk

kj said...

hahaha, who the hell is lk?

sincerely
kj

Jan said...

Well you had told me about this stuff and now I see what you were talking about. Very cool! And I loved Deb's comment about the dust cloths and cheap wine, lol!! I think Golden ought to be giving you free products since you are such good advertisement for them. I just have one question, what are pop tarts???

snicker snicker.........

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL! Jan, there is SO much to be said for using dust cloths wisely!!! hahaha!
I'm all for Golden sponsoring me~~would you please call them?
YOU! You don't know about POP TARTS?
Let me send you a CASE..... ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey LK, or KJ, or Mystery Person!

The wine itself is good, it just is not expensive!
Those quasi corks are good for this!

XXOO~~
Anne

Laura said...

so good to see you playing and enjoying making art!!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Laura,

It feels very GOOD to be doing it, even in small quantities.
A little ART is like a LOT of sunshine on the soul!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anonymous said...

Oooohhhhh....another cool art supply on my must- have list!! Thanks for the demonstration Anne! I love pencils, I love paint...a marriage of both!

And now I have a hankerin' for a Pop Tart too...my favorite breakfast as a kid! That, and Fruit Loops :-)

iHanna said...

Anne, what a passion for a colour in a tube, and I totally understand it! It's a little crazy, but oh so wonderful to have you share it and know that there are others out there as happy about paint as me!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Girls,

It is sooooo nice to know I am not alone in my *over-excitement* for a new art supply! ;-D
But dang, they are fun to share, yes?
And Roberta, I normally have to just not buy Pop Tarts due to my ability to consume the contents of the box in one sitting....yup, loved them as a kid, still have that sweet tooth now.

XXOO~~
Anne

Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

Hey Mama you are off and running and I love it! Oh my goodness it so good to see you posting again. How awesome. I am in doing well. Just busy trying to finish up stuff so I can have sometime for myself to do what you are doing. That's really hard these days. Just super busy and busy with family as well. All is well though and I hope that you are enjoying each and every moment of doing your thing!!! I love you lady. Oh so very much. Have a good one. Best to you.
love you too.

Laura said...

Oh what fun Anne, thanks for sharing this nice little demo

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Laura,

I bet you would enjoy this, or at least messing with the possibilities.
I see it as providing some nice dark EDGES....

XXOO~~
Anne

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