Transfer

While waiting for clients to get back to me, I decided I might as well start on cleaning up my old files filled with photos.  (say that 10 times fast!) 

Generally, I take anywhere from 3 to 12 photos of each painting I make, and then I'm supposed to cull those down to the best 1 or 2, then crop them down to 4"x6" so I can print it out easily, and also to a close approximation of the actual size of the painting, so I can create prints to sell.

In 2013 I got sidetracked I guess, because I just...stopped.  Instead of cataloguing my paintings and being a good little organizer of my digital files, I just took the photos, saved all the photos, and promptly went on to the next painting.  Whoopsies.

So here I am, on a Monday evening, while I avoid unpacking since my husband is working overtime, culling the extraneous paintings and ensuring I have good prints to print.  And then...I came across "hello Calgary".  I love this one a lot.

 

I took the photo of the skyline with my cell from a room at the Foothills Hospital where a dear friend was spending some quality time.  I came back a couple days later with my DSLR and took the shot again, and I'm so glad I did. 

After getting a commission to incorporate an image of Calgary into an abstract painting, I had been at a loss as to how to do that, until that photo!  I set to work on the 36"x48" canvas, incorporating bits of sawdust, and if it had been archival I would've included oil as well...it is Calgary after all.

Then....the transfer.  When you do a gel transfer where the toner from the photocopy is embedded in the gel, you have to copy your photo in mirror image, so when you press it into the gel, the reverse shows (which, because you already reversed it, is the proper way round).  A little confusing, but trust me, that's the way you do it.

A lot of waiting for the gel to dry, a little water, and a lot of rubbing et voila!  Another commission completed! 

And, of course, because I love procrastinating more than anything else apparently, I added a little something to the image so I can use this on a few cards on their way back to CowTown.