ECLIPSE AFTERGLOW STUDIOS
  • Shop
    • All
    • NEW
    • Ghost Collection
    • Paintings
    • Retired Prints
    • T-Shirts
  • Where to Buy
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Halloween Cards

FAQs: How long Did That take you to make?

8/1/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Question: How long does a piece take you to make?

Answer: The amount of time it takes to sit down and complete painting is not the same as the amount of time it takes to come up with an idea, figure out the composition and colors, and finally finish a painting. It also varies greatly depending on size, amount of colors, and amount of detail. Some paintings I finish up in a day or two. Some, take a year. Although, it’s not all time spent painting.
I use acrylic paint for my paintings which means it dries super fast. Usually I have to add something to the paint to make sure it doesn't dry up before I'm done painting. The thing that takes me a long time isn't the actual painting, it's all the decisions I have to make from what colors to use to how many characters do I want?

There is a lot of empty space, that looks like nothing is happening. 


Sitting on the couch staring at the ceiling for an hour. Lists in a notebook from five years ago. Messy sketches I can’t remember what they are supposed to be. Paintings sitting half finished on the easel for months.
Picture
But this space is the most important. 

This is why I’m usually working on a dozen projects at a time, in various stages. I’m constantly sketching, writing, doodling. In sketchbooks, on old envelopes, or on my hand. A lot of these sketches are "bad" but that's ok! Sometimes just getting my hand moving is what I need to come up with an idea. 
Some paintings have other paintings underneath them. Hidden by another version of the idea that I decided was better. Both Shadow Man and Mother Earth sat in its before state in my studio for about a year before I finally painted over it. I think the after pictures are much more me and convey what I was trying to say. 
Picture
Shadow Man Before
Picture
Shadow Man After
Picture
Mother Earth Before
Picture
Mother Earth After

Sculptures

Sculptures take at minimum two weeks to make because of the drying time. There are several steps, and some of those steps takes 24 hours or longer to dry. 

Step 1: I come up with a character concept or idea by sketching. 
Picture
Step 2: I build an armature. I use foam, foil, tapes, pieces of wood, dowels, really anything that will give me the basic shape of what I'm trying to make. I do this so I don't use tons of clay and it gives support to the piece. Nobody wants a sculpture to fall in on itself or crumble after a year or so. 
Picture
Step 3: Creative Paperclay is the first type of clay I use. Its a lightweight clay that is pretty durable. I use it to refine the basic shapes and start to give some life to the piece.
Picture
Step 4: The second type of clay I use is an epoxy clay. It comes in two parts, a hardener and resin that I have to hand mix. It dries really hard so it's great for things like eyes, ears, and hands. Or, to attach the sculpture to the base. In the image below, the darker grey color is epoxy clay. 
Picture
Step 5: Paint! I usually do a base color paint first. Let that dry for 24 hours. Then I come back to add any aging, details, glitter, etc. Finally after everything is painted I'll apply a varnish, to protect the paint. 
Picture
If you have an questions you'd like answered feel free to message me here or email me at hello@eclipseafterglow.com. 
Comments

    Never Miss a Post

    Thank you! You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.

    Never Miss a Post

    Signup for creative DIY tutorials and freebies!

    Categories

    All
    ARTWORK
    BOOKS
    CEMETERIES
    DIY
    FAQs
    FAVORITES
    FOR ARTISTS
    HALLOWEEN
    HAUNTED PLACES
    ILLUSTRATED STORY
    INSPIRATION
    NASHVILLE

Picture

MAILING ADDRESS

7012 City Center Way #212
Fairview, TN 37062
This is not a store location. For mail only.

LET'S BE FRIENDS


QUICK LINKS

Shop
​Commissions
Wholesale
Blog
About
​Portfolio

Where to Buy

EMAIL US!

hello@eclipseafterglow.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Privacy Policy​
Shipping Information
Returns & Exchanges
Payments & Ordering
​Contact Us
 Copyright © 2017-2020   Eclipse Afterglow Studios. All rights reserved.
  • Shop
    • All
    • NEW
    • Ghost Collection
    • Paintings
    • Retired Prints
    • T-Shirts
  • Where to Buy
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Halloween Cards