Ho! Ho! Ho!... Oh dear!

Happy Christmas!
Graphite sketch by Estelle Rocca-Serra

Oops… I think I might have got slightly confused with the sizing system when I ordered this outfit! Oh well.

I just wanted, on behalf of Estelle and I, to wish you a wonderful and very merry Christmas!

Love
Basil xx

Did you know?... Sepia

Angry sea bird spotting a cuttlefish
Graphite sketch by Estelle Rocca-Serra

We’re all familiar with the romantic sepia tone of old photographs, but the name actually comes from “Sepia Officinalis”, the latin name of the common cuttlefish.

Sepia is a natural dye found in the ink bags of the cuttlefish, who, when under threat, releases the dark brown ink to take cover.

To be honest if I was feeling threatened by this kind of angry looking predator, I’d release some ink too!

In the late 18th century a technique was developed where those bags were dried and the ink extracted in concentration high enough to use in paint, particularly in watercolour.

The colour is a very dark brown, almost black. Each species of cephalopod produces slightly differently coloured inks; for example the octopus produces black ink and squid ink is blue-black. Only the cuttlefish ink is used as art material.

Sepia drawings were much celebrated towards the end  the 18th century, but Sepia being a dye, not a pigment, fades over time when in contact with light, so most of those drawings are now a subtle bleached yellow-brown memory.

We now have modern pigments which are permanent and come in the same range of colour, to replace this natural ink.

Stay tuned...

Sources: The materials and Techniques of paintings, Kurt Wehlte; Wikipedia

The Geek: Sanguine

Basil's playmate
Sanguine and graphite sketch by Estelle Rocca-Serra

Now...I am not sure about the choice of the illustration here! Personally I find it totally inappropriate; I suspect that it comes in retaliation for the paw marks that were, allegedly, found on some drawings last week… tsk, tsk!

Anyway... let's talk about Sanguine.

Sanguine is a drawing medium, a coloured crayon with a sensual reddish colour, taking its name from the French word “sanguin” meaning “bloody”.

Encased in wood like a pencil, it is made of a fine clay which contains naturally occurring iron-oxide - geeky name for rust - which gives it a wide range of shades from delicately yellowish to deep red and even violet. It has a texture close to chalk, it’s very flexible and can make quite sharp lines, but also blends beautifully smooth.

The sanguine line, compared to the black charcoal, has a softer and almost sensual feel that lends itself naturally to figure drawing with a colour similar to skin tone, it also works wonderfully on coloured paper.

It is said that towards the end of the 1400’s, Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first to see the potential of these red earths for drawing and Michelangello used them for some of his studies for the Sistine Chapel in the early 1500’s.

Source: The material and techniques of painting, Kurt Wehlte.

"We're gonna need a bigger boat..."

Usual Suspects: Batida Maracuja
Oil painting by Estelle Rocca-Serra

Well, actually we're gonna need a bigger studio! Estelle is currently working on a commission, for a collector in Milan, of 6 paintings of her shoe series: 'Usual Suspects'.

There are drawings of shoes all over the studio, floor, walls, everywhere!

I've managed to keep my desk safe, for now, but I have been asked nicely, but rather firmly, to get out of the way. Something about paw marks on the drawings.

Anyway normal service will resume very soon. In the meantime, ladies, I'm available for brunch, lunch, dinner...

Stay tuned

On a personal note... Movember

Basil does a Movember
by the Photoshop fairy

It’s Movember! (all you need to know about Movember here)

It has to be said that Mother Nature hasn’t blessed us all with the same ability to grow controllable facial hair!

Since the beginning of the month I have tried to grow a moustache, but apart from a few stray whiskers it hasn’t been a remarkable success.

As embarrassing as it is, I had to resolve myself to call in the Photoshop fairy. Mind you she did a great job, don’t I look dashing?!

Stay tuned…

Gossip: The Mystery Feathers

Mystery Feathers, Clue n.1

Preparations of the Open Studio have now moved to full gear, there is so much going on, which explains my sparse posting, but I will try to keep you informed of the developments.

Yesterday these feathers were delivered by special courier, Estelle was very excited about it but she wouldn’t tell me what they are for. She says it’s still a little secret and all will be revealed in good time. Any of you have any idea? Suggestions?

I already have a few leads that I need to pursue further… more on this when I know more…

Stay tuned…

On a personal note... Open Studio Preparation

Make mine a bag of hazelnuts!
Graphite sketch by Estelle Rocca-Serra

Sorry for not posting as much as I would like to at the moment, but Estelle and I are preparing the Open Studio Show. The show will include a tour of the Daily Mouse’s offices so I am trying to make it human friendly, not an easy task!

If you come and visit please do not bring any cheese, to be honest I prefer chocolates…

Stay tuned…

A Shueya a day keeps the doctor at bay

"Honey, you're staring"
Indian ink and watercolour by Estelle Rocca-Serra

We're almost reaching the end of the series of the Limited Edition: Shueya Secretary. Here is  “Honey, you're staring”.

This limited edition series of originals is composed of 5 Secretaries, click here to see the complet set.

They are still a few sets available, feel free to contact Estelle directly (email) for more details.

Stay tuned...

Did you know... Ivory Black?

Elephant Moon
Graphite sketch by Estelle Rocca-Serra

Traditionally Ivory Black pigment, as its name suggests, was made of raw ivory cuttings, packed tightly in irons pots, to exclude as much oxygen as possible, and placed in large kilns. The carbonisation of Ivory, in this oxygen free environment, produced the beautifully fine and slightly blue tinged pigment.

Only highly experienced, and therefore rather old, firing masters would know the perfect combination of temperature and firing time, by testing the surface of the kiln with the back of their hand. A lost art.

The genuine pigment has not been seen on the market since the 1940’s and nowadays only the name remains, even though the current pigments are made of charred bones.

Well, regarding the use of Ivory, we can completely understand the attitude of the elephant here… Moon away my friend, moon away!

Stay tuned...

Source: The material and techniques of painting, Kurt Wehlte.

In Depth: Solvent Abuse

The not so proud mother
Graphite sketch by Estelle Rocca-Serra

At the studio we have observed a rather high incidence of solvent abuse in the studio fly community, with multiple recidivists.

I’ve done some research and it seems flies are attracted to the smell of Turpentine and before they know it they’re all high! Flying erratically and more often than not ending up in emergency crash landing on the oil painting itself… such silly junkies!

The rescuing process is a very delicate and time consuming one, but I’m not quite sure of the usefulness of a rehab facility though.

Flies are not the only one conducting themselves in a disorderly fashion, just this year an owl was taken in, for been drunk, by the German police (read the article here). Alcohol abuse is frowned upon in the owl community.

Apparently substance abuse is widely spread in the animal kingdom: overripe fruits, locoweed, rock lichen, mushrooms of course! and so many more. Not that I would particularly know about substance abuse, obviously…!

Stay tuned...

Source: Australian Geographic

Exclusive: Private View Invitation

Request your invitation
Opne Studio Show Private View, 24th Nov 2011

It my great pleasure to let you know that your are invited to the Private View evening of the Winter edition of the Open Studio Show, on the 24th November.

Feel free to contact Estelle (email) to request your invitation and the information flyer. If you come to the show, pop in to see Estelle and I in studio 231West, it would be so lovely to meet you, and I can give you a tour of The Daily Mouse offices!

Did you know that to receive news about Estelle’s upcoming exhibitions, projects, as well as invitations to private views and other events, you can subscribe to the Little Extras email newsletter here.

Stay tuned…

Follow up: A Shueya in Pocklington

"Shueya and her entourage"
Estelle's paintings at The Acorn Gallery

The paintings have arrived safely at The Acorn Gallery in Pocklington (Yorkshire), as you an see they are already on the wall. Their installation "Shueya and her entourage" looks great!

It was a bit of an adventure for the Shueya… all the details are on the gallery’s blog (here and here), feel free to nose around

Stay tuned…