No matter the season, everyone is attracted to the cardinal!
Roslyn Levin began her workshop by demonstrating how to wet mount your own sumi-e art.
Remember to use acid free glue when mounting your art. Roslyn recommends you label the brush you use for adding the glue.
For mounting your art to a wood block frame, add the glue to the back of your art and then add the backing paper.
Then add glue to the backing paper.
Place the backing paper onto the wood block to dry
To mount your art for a traditional glass or plexiglass frame, the process is similar.
Before putting your backing paper with your art onto a board to dry, put glue around the edges which will glue the backing paper to the board. Then insert a straw and blow into it to add some air between the backing paper and the board.
While the wet mounted art was drying, Roslyn Levin turned to the cardinal.
Cardinals are often painted as a pair of male and female birds.
Roslyn Levin uses a medium size brush with a little ink on it.
Start with the distinctive crest at the top of the head.
Then add the beak.
Roslyn Levin then added the body and tail feathers of the male. Note that Roslyn paints the feathers with a dry brush. Be careful not to have too much water on the brush or you will lose the definition of the bird.
The branch is added in one brush stroke with pulsing movements.
The female follows a similar pattern to the male.
Then it was our turn with handouts from Roslyn Levin.
Help from Roslyn encouraged the artists to develop their own cardinals.
Roslyn returned to show how to finish the mounted art that had dried. For the art on a wood block, use sandpaper to remove the edges.
Roslyn Levin adds a protective coating to the surface of her art on a wood block.
Art for a glass or plexiglass frame is cut out with a sharp knife.
Colouring the cardinal completed Roslyn Levin’s workshop.
Start with the crest of the male. Use a dry brush with a little red ink.
The female is a blend of yellow and red.
The result is a pair of unforgettable cardinals.
Roslyn Levin’s book demonstrates her techniques including wet mounting.
You can learn more about Roslyn Levin in the links section.