The new (old) project

Tracing 2

  Hard to see that, especially with eyesight like mine.  It really looks a little better than that.  I have started the whole thing over, there was no way to fix the other one.
  I really want to paint this truck, it represents the 1938 Dodge truck that I learned to drive in.  It was a flatbed truck, larger than a pickup.  You had to double clutch to shift gears, something that, by now, I've forgotten how to do.  We had a lot of fun rolling through the field with that thing, never on the road with it though.
  Anyway, back to the project; tracing done over, the other one is in the recycle bag.  The process is the same; trace, mount on the board, and paint.  Sounds easy to me!
  I also painted some on it yesterday, today is up in the air, I have Hollie this morning, but maybe for winding down this afternoon I'll take a lick at it.  If the ball games aren't in the afternoon I should have said.

Painting has started, a long ways to go.

Day two on the project

First day

  Now you can see the part I traced and the first days work on it.  As I said this won't be a photo of a photo, I do 'em as I see 'em.
  I will also reveal that after three days work I made a terrible decision and painted a background, or underground, just like I shouldn't have.  I will now "retrace" the project and "retrace" my steps.
  The first day I played around a bit to get the right range of colors, I'm taking liberty with the word right.
  Another thing I'll note as the actual work is much harder than I thought it would be.  That is true of any project I've ever done.  There ain't no easy way!
  I'll keep plugging along, thanks for your patience.

The Project

The Original

  I am going to do, or am doing, a watercolor painting of this truck, I will show you each days work as I get it done.  It will not be a "photo of a photo", I am not a photographic painter.  I call myself a representational painter.  You will recognize that it is a truck.
  The first step is to find a subject I want to paint, save the photo and then print it on plain paper as an 8X10, sometimes in color and once in a while black and white will work.
  I put the printed picture on the back side of a piece of watercolor paper, I use 140 pound paper, to trace the parts of the picture I want to paint.  I have a "light box" to use for tracing, it's simple a metal box about a foot square and two inches thick, it has a translucent plastic top and a light bulb inside.  Place the paper with the photo attached and trace.  Light boxes or even light tables are commonly used to artists, quilters and others from tracing.
  After tracing what I want the photo is set aside for visual reference and the watercolor paper, with the tracing, is taped to my board.  I use corrugated plastic for a board, it's just like corrugated cardboard but it's plastic.  The plastic boards are hard to find here Michael's nor A C Moore don't carry it.  I used to buy it online from A B Dick but now they want me to but 10 sheets minimum, that's enough for 12 life times.  So I'll find a paper backed foam board that is very thick when I need a replacement.
  My paper for this project comes from a spiral bound "book", I just cut it out with a scissors and it's ready to go.  I also but 20X30 inch single pieces that I cut up, it's easier to use the books.  My paint is some I've had for a long time and once in a while I look for a "new" to me color, greens are especially difficult to mix or to paint with and get it to "look right".  I use quality brushes that cost anywhere from $4.00 to $20.00 each and they get replaced about every two years, the brushes are kept in a cloth with pockets and a fold over top and the whole thing is rolled up an tied.
  I took lessons from Scott Small for two years at night school in Hampden, Maine, he is an accomplished and successful artist - a real one, not like me.  I also took some classes at Hammond Street Senior Center in Bangor for a couple of years.  I also use some of the books I have at home.
  Tomorrow:  The first days work.

How small is small?

  I have a problem with news outlets, print and electronic media, who use the words "small town" when they are really speaking of larger towns or cities.
  Some examples are:
          President Obama quoted as saying about Joplin, Missouri "......a small town has overcome....." when in fact Joplin has a population of over 15,150 souls.  Joplin has indeed overcome the hardships it endured when hit by a killer tornado.
          The Portland (Maine) Press Herald carried this article:
Monday, May 7, 2012

Small-town official accused of stealing $53 million

ROCKFORD, Ill. — The former comptroller of a small northern Illinois city pleaded not guilty Monday to charges

     The story wasn't about Rockford, that's where the courthouse is, it was about Dixon, Illinois which has a population of 15,733 so it's still not a small town.  Wealthy maybe but not small.

Reporters, news writers, producers and editors need to understand what a small town is.  The two "small places" mentioned above would have made the "Top ten largest cities" in North Dakota, Wyoming and some other states. 
  Maybe those reporters et al should live for a short time in Medford, Maine or Drake, North Dakota; both towns with populations that hover around 200.  I have lived in Medford and my old friend "Wilbur" is still in Drake, we know what a small town is.
To be fair maybe 15,000 in population is small to a lot of people, but they're not really small.
  Research isn't difficult, I gathered the material presented here in about ten minutes.
  Before we know it the National Cathedral in Washington DC will be referred to as a "quaint country chapel".

May 22, 2012 8:00pm

Man With Zebra, Parrot in Front Seat Charged With DUI

This was on ABCNEWS.go.com this morning, you never know what you'll find in the gool ol' USA. 

NO the project isn't done yet, but wait please.  "Patience is a virtue", I'm going to beat somebody up if I don't get some patience!

Mosquito

de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito

A flying wonder of World War Two,
flew through the sky, made of what? who knew?
This fast bomber, night fighter thing,
was unusual when it first took wing.
1942 was a bad year for the Brits,
running out of material, no planes, call it quits,
when someone had such a great idea that was good,
create the Mosquito, you see, it's made from wood.

All true, the plane turned out to be a real help in the British effort during World War Two.  They ran out, for a while, of enough metals to build a plane, and turned to using wood.  This plane was a huge success because it was very, very fast.  Even "special warfare" raids on Germany used the Mosquito.

NOTE:  This is not the start of a new series, just todays' entry because I'm working on something else.

It's all about....

.........the words you use, or the time or place,
which word to use where will stare you in the face.
Whether it's a catfish or maybe a horned pout,
rely on where it's caught, of that there is no doubt.
Maybe you can grab a guy to make sure he's not gone,
or use can go down east and really muckle on;
it's words that we are taught from a very early age,
and of those that we remember were all the social rage;
but what about the local stuff, I worry about that,
we lose our "local words" and there is no tit for tat;
we used to call it tonic, I don't know that still exists,
now it's just called soda, what a brutal twist.
It's not how you take it home, but the container that it's in,
a bag or a poke are both the sacks twin.
So, just stop and think it over, it's a national disgrace,
to lose our local words and become the human race.

Just thinking

View from the trestle, Medford Maine

   One thing you wouldn't want to miss on a visit to Medford, Piscataquis County, Maine is a drive on the trestle.  The railroad trestle turned vehicular bridge is a wonderful place.
   Built in the early 1900's (?) by the Bangor and Aroostook Rail Road it handled the traffic on The Medford Cutoff hauling timber from the region.  It was discontinued sometime after and the tracks were removed.  The B&A gave the trestle to the Town.  Until the trestle was made into a bridge travel from one side of Medford to the other was a choice of a 20 plus/minus mile drive or a ride on the horse drawn ferry when it was in operation.  The Piscataquis River divides the Town of Medford neatly in half, so the trestle was a win win thing.

The Lagrange Rail Trail occupies the former Medford Cutoff in Medford
and Lagrange, the trail begins near the trestle.

The trestle itself.