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Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

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Jay Allen
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:32 am

Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by Jay Allen »

Number 20 is about to be installed in Frankfort, IL

This one is another tribute to the Boy Scouts and their installation of 3,300 LH markers along the entire length of the road back in 1925 . . . as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln.

This story was about the Eagle Scouts (and their escorts) that went on a public service safety trip - and touting the LH marker project - across the country.

This one freaked me out as painting portraits is a bit advanced for me at this stage of my newfound 'talent' with pictorial painting . . . and there were 6 of them on here (and one of the guys is still alive at age 99 so I had to make his protrait solid!!).

But a portraiture lesson with Bill Hueg when he was back here in October de-mystified the process . . . he's amazing. His continued stressing of recognizing values has helped immensely - or so he said. I'm quite proud of it - but I was the others!! (Looking back, I have improved...)

As always, mural panel engineering and border work by the stellar Joe Marshall . . . my design and paint.

Step-by-step link here:

http://s442.photobucket.com/albums/qq14 ... =slideshow

Number 21 ahead . . .
vance galliher
Posts: 321
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Location: springfield, or.
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Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by vance galliher »

great shot of you with brush Jay......it is indeed amazing how "values" define our dimension..... great work !!....but I'm puzzled by the photos of the black decorative border being overpainted with the dk red.............am I missing something here ? I've enjoyed seeing you projects. tanks for taking the time.
vance
dimensional and glass art signs
http://www.vancegallihersigns.com
erik winkler
Posts: 1097
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:48 pm
Location: Amsterdam Netherlands
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Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by erik winkler »

It seems so easy when you see the photo's, but I know it is very difficult.
I am trying to paint my pictorials on canvas behind glass by hand and find it a process of patience and pain. :D
This panel looks truly amazing, as for the portraits, after reading your story, i think I saw indeed an improvement in the later portraits.
Or am I seeing ghosts?
Could you tell me in a few extra keywords what Bill Hueg taught you with this project?
20 done, number 21 ahead; how many were there in total again?

Erik
Realizing we are in the 2nd renaissance of the arts.
Learn, copy and trying to improve...
Still in the learning phase ;-)
Amsterdam Netherlands
www.ferrywinkler.nl
www.schitterend.eu
www.facebook.com/Schitterend.eu
Jay Allen
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:32 am

Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by Jay Allen »

@Vance . . . probably confusing you because the white you see is actually the protective mask of the Dibond panels. We chuck in a Sharpie on the router (unplug the motor so it doesn't spin) and draw the border work - then Joe hand cuts it. The border was uncut but drawn in the first few photos - then we peeled it and painted a rusty-red-borwn for the actual border color. The black remained covered until the time to peel . . . and there you go.

@Erik . . . There will be 36 LH murals when we're done in April of 2013 . . . We did 3 'test' murals in2006-07 - now we're adding 33 more. (Origianlly started out as 40...don't ask...:) |

What did Bill teach me? That I was posterizing more with my 9 color monochromatic palette - and not intermixing enough. That helped immensely as some values will naturally fall in between. He also demystified the portrait process by painting the same thing with me side-by-side. I watched him first for 90 minutes - then he made me do mine . . . I was faster, believe it or not - but that's only because he sat there and diddle-tweaked for my 90 minutes. His final image is softer than mine - and would be if he painted the mural - but harder edges work on these murals . . . as do softer - which I think look more like the photos. That's what Bill is so good at . . . 'no sharp edges in nature' is what I hear him say - and that's what he was taught by Mike, his mentor - and it works well for him.

To assist you in 'de-mystifying' what I mean, I bothered to take step-by-step photos of how Bill approached the face we painted (which is of Bernard Quineau the boy quoted in the text - and who is still alive at age 99) and they are found in the link below - as is my effort (which I didn't get to 'soften/blend' as the paint had gotten sticky since we weren't using any base to slow the dry times - but so was his) to which Bill said 'You nailed it' (speaking about my values) when he was standing about 50 feet away and looking back at it.

To that I say . . . "and I still look 30 years old in a darkened room . . ."

But it was Huegy that said it - and it felt really good from a good friend and an immense talent . . . and made me confident enough to try the portraits . . . I haven't painted 10 faces ever in my life - yet - so I'm purty green . . . But he was still 50 feet away . . . lol

Hope this helps: http://s442.photobucket.com/albums/qq14 ... =slideshow
erik winkler
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Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by erik winkler »

Thank you very much for your reply.
I will study the photo's and try to relive the moment and thoughts you had :-)
Do you feel the end is nearing or are you overwhelemd by the exstence of the project?

Thanks again, very nice of you.
Erik
Realizing we are in the 2nd renaissance of the arts.
Learn, copy and trying to improve...
Still in the learning phase ;-)
Amsterdam Netherlands
www.ferrywinkler.nl
www.schitterend.eu
www.facebook.com/Schitterend.eu
Jay Allen
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:32 am

Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by Jay Allen »

Erik . . . I'm 52 years old. What I have learned in my craft is patience - and to take things one step at a time.

One, that way I don't break or pull anything . . . ;)

Two, well, that sorta goes without saying . . . but it's what you do with any challenge . . . you forget fear and concentrate on the immediate task at hand. As seen in the step-by-step of the mural . . . do the background. Do the car. Do the body. Do the face. Do the installation.

Now forget it and start the next job. To think about doing 33 murals all at once is a trap . . . and time/experience allows me to spot 'traps' now.

Fear is the negative, restrictive energy for any artist (or human being, for that matter) to conquer. It just takes a while to learn how - and to establish good solid coping mechanisms to fool yourself into thinking you're just fine . . . (but you always are) heehee.

Glad to help - it's what letterheads have always done . . . share.

Oh, and total paint time - plus brush cleanup - 76 hours for the pictorial work only . . .
erik winkler
Posts: 1097
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:48 pm
Location: Amsterdam Netherlands
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Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by erik winkler »

Jay,

It is good to read that you also have your moments conquering your fears.
I have that a lot and it is a handicap I deal with since my early days (39 years).
But as a tall guy who can not sneak away without being noticed I had to commit myself to deal with it.
Sometimes overdoing it...
It is the same when starting on a project with new techniques, there are a lot of negatives going on, but like you said I just do it.
Well I guess most of the time it is this exact struggle which makes the work good.

Thanks again for your frank insights.
Good luck on your next panel!

Erik
Realizing we are in the 2nd renaissance of the arts.
Learn, copy and trying to improve...
Still in the learning phase ;-)
Amsterdam Netherlands
www.ferrywinkler.nl
www.schitterend.eu
www.facebook.com/Schitterend.eu
Jay Allen
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:32 am

Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by Jay Allen »

Erik . . .

Want to know something absolutely true??

Bill Hueg still suffers from the paralyzation of fear each and every paint he undertakes.

When I heard that I knew I would be OK.

Keep high standards. Challenge yourself at everything - daily - to stay in 'practice'. Live to satisfy yourself FIRST artistically. Learn to say 'thank you'.

Merry Christmas everybody!!
Tony Segale
Posts: 702
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2004 10:20 am

Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by Tony Segale »

so, I'm trying to figure out who that is with the blue gloves and the extension cord in his ear,
nicely propped in front of the art store brush rack?

looks like Mr. Hueg could teach you a few more things....


It is good to see you stepping away from all that vinyl slapping and findin the rewards only a real brush swinger can enjoy,
nice job, pinkie
and he took that golden hair and made a sweater for baby bear.
http://www.tonysegale.com
http://www.tonysegale.wordpress.com
Jay Allen
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 9:32 am

Re: Lincoln Highway mural number 20 - Frankfort, IL

Post by Jay Allen »

Seagull, it's me in that photo - believe it or not. No pink clothing to be found you notice . . . and earphones should not be confused for an extension cord . . . they don't have to plug me in. I go like that anyway . . .

And my 'art store' brush rack is actually a piece of HDU drilled to hold my 'lesser' brushes when they're idle. I suspect you'll tell me that I need to store my brushes flat and oiled and you'd be absolutely 100% right . . .

But they aren't often in that cradle when I'm a-paintin' . . . at least over the couple weeks it takes me to slowly paint these. Otherwise they are stored flat and oiled . . . and if a few weeks go between paints, some of them do end up in there . . . for convenience.

Don't confuse me fer' a vynul slapper just because of my 'experiment' in Lodi, Seagull . . . That was frutitful in what it taught me I could - and should not - do when I have other cut/roll projects. I know who my true friends were when they came to help . . . (even though y'all were giggling about it behind my back - lol. In hindsight, certainly justified. Good intentions... execution too complicated)

But I'd never do that again . . . no. Merry Christmas, Tony . . . if you see the good _ Shock - or his wife - please tell them we think of them often . . . They were a great host family to be with. I made a sign for their lake cottage they let us use . . . La Bonne Vie . . .
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