11th Painting: glazed pottery & Color Checker

Hello all:

This is a multi-colored pottery with a nice glaze and slightly uneven opening at the top. However, I did mess up the red-band that goes around the pottery, it does not look too round, It ran away from me... and I ran out of paint and did not feel like remixing another batch. I need to pay more attention to my drawing. But all in all I am content with the handling of the wet media. The pottery is sitting on top of a glass surface hence the reflection.

Time taken: 2 hours. Size: 6"x8" painting. (It is the Journey... It is the Journey... It is the Journey... )



The Color Checker:
I own a color checker made by Mr. Carder of "The Carder Method". I have made a little improvement to the color checker. His is the original and a very good tool, but unfortunately it is shaped like a V and the angle messes up the value when checking the color, because of the light hitting the painted side of the checker at an angle. Mine is "U" shaped (more of a rectangle without the top). The plane of the surface that I check and the color checker are parallel, giving a better color comparison. I have just started using this tool and it is nifty. I can get my local colors very accurate and make color adjustments with confidence. Below are photographs of my version. Hope some of you try it, it has been very helpful to me.

The right side is for viewing through and helps in isolating the color, the left side is where the color goes.



The color checker from the artists point of view. The top part of the circle shows the models color, the bottom part, of the circle, shows the artists color that is being tested.

Do you put a dab of test paint on the bottom portion and then hold it up to the model?

Hi Judy:

Yes that is the idea. See the two pictures I am attaching.

Put a dab of paint as shown below...


match the paint...



You have to ask yourself the question, what do I need to make it match the color I am seeing and then adjust your color.

It is remarkable, when you compare what you are mixing to what is on the model. It is then that you see, Ahhh!!! I need more red, or more blue e.t.c. Comparison is what zones you in to the color. I am enjoying this technique...

Amazing. Thanks

Let me know if you need any more info... Take Care

Wow! I have been looking to get a Color Checker. I own The Carder Method of Oil Painting, but since I bought it used, I had to make my own Proportional Divider etc. I know that it's possible to make a Color Checker from poster board, but I would like to make something more permanent. From what I have researched on the web, yours seems to be the best.

Would you please share as to how you made it? What size is the hole, how tall and how far apart are the wires? What did you use for the part you dab the paint on? Is it soldered on? Also what guage wire did you use, or did you just use a coat hanger?

Thanks so much in advance,

Rocky

Hi Rocky:

I will be glad to share and post a detail on how I made it. It is pretty simple. Just give me a day or two.

Take Care

Ft

So here are a few hand sketches I made of the color checker with a few details. Hope this helps some of you.

Even though this is very easy to build, if you feel you need help with tools, please ask someone to assist and please don't hurt yourself or anybody in the process.



Refer to the figure above. I used the thickest wire I could get that could be easily bent using a needle nose pliers. I got mine from the lab at work and unfortunately it did not have the gauge of the wire on it. But make sure whatever you use it is stiff and does not bend easily. The Viewer is made by wrapping it around a pencil. I am finding this size is the best for me. But I don't see any reason why one can't have an assortment of these with different sizes. One can use different sizes from nails to thick dowels to wrap the wire around, to make the viewer. Also, instead of bending the wire to make a Viewer, one can stick a Washer to the Viewer using Epoxy, for better isolation (I don't feel it is necessary, but whatever little help we can get is good). Another enhancement one can make is by painting the rim of the viewer black, maybe a little black mixed with Epoxy, then the color will never come off.




The above figure shows the next step of bending the wire. note that when you cut the wire, you are cutting slightly below the marked line in the figure above, this way the wire won't stick out of the paint dabber (where you put the paint for test).



Refer to the figure above. The paint dabber is a "Woodruf Key". This has something to do with Keys (not too interested in Key technology... ). You can find it at your local hardware store for cents and of different sizes. (Sorry don't have the size I used, you can take your color checker with the viewer already made, to your hardware store and see what size will work). I used Epoxy to stick the wire to the Woodruf Key. This thing will stick for good and will never move. The figure shows how I

FT,

Thank you for going out of your way to post the Color Checker instructions. I have seen some very interesting and more complicated contraptions: door hinges welded to knives, etc. I will refer all that ask and that I come across to view your instructions. I've called Home Depot and they have the Woodruf keys priced anywhere from .52 cents to .80 cents.

Thanks again,

Rocky

Rocky,

I hope this works out for you. Please share with us, how your color checker ends up looking like, and if you made any improvement to it. Also, keep us posted on how your paintings turn out with the color checker.

Yes! this is rather simple to make. The two key ingredients are Epoxy and Woodruf key. Epoxy turns into a rock once it dries and it will keep your Woodruf key in place forever.

Good luck!

FT

Please Visit my blog at:

www.FaisalTariq.com

to see my painting/sketches in other medium and for other tidbits and discussions.

Thanks

FTariq

FT,

I visited your website and came across your blog on the color checker. I printed out your directions on how to make one and gave it to my husband, who is a great handy man and builder of things. I expect him to tackle it in the next few weeks or so.

By the way, your paintings are awesome. Once I get the technique down using these new water solubles, I'll start posting some of my own art.

cactikid

Cool... Glad to hear that you will be using this. I am looking forward to your postings with your artwork.

Take Care

Faisal