Japanese Chin Pastel Painting - Finished

There's no pictures with this blog post as my scanner still does not have any updated drivers available and now the card reader on my computer is not working!  Grrrrrr!

But, I did get the memorial painting of the Japanese Chin dog finished.  For some reason, even using my Preval sprayer still left bubbles in the finish.  A friend had asked that I go with her to Raleigh on Thursday so we stopped by Jerry's Artarama where I was able to get some Golden UVLS Archival Varnish in a spray can.  It was expensive, smells awful and probably isn't environmentally friendly at all but it worked like a dream so I'm glad I got it.

I'll deliver the painting to the customer today and plan to work on some little bunnies for my Zazzle shop next.  Hope I have either a scanner or a card reader so I can show you pictures!

More on Glassless Framing for Pastels - Japanese Chin

I've completed the little Japanese Chin dog and have been working on finishing it for glassless framing.  I used the PVA glue method for the pastel layers and that worked well, I've never had a problem using diluted PVA.
However, I have had problems with the final varnish coats this time.  I'm using Golden's UV Gloss Varnish for the final, protective coats and have gotten tiny little bubbles.  Golden says to watch for these (and also foam) when applying with a brush but it doesn't say how to get rid of them if you get them!

So, I've had to let the portrait dry completely then I've used a very fine sandpaper to sand out the bubbles then  I've used ammonia to smooth and even out any marks that were left.  I don't know if this i the correct way to handle the bubbles but it seems to have worked for me.  If anyone knows of a better way, please let me know!

BTW, if you use ammonia in any way, please open a window or make sure there is plenty of ventilation and don't expose yourself to it for more than a few seconds at a time!  Ammonia can do great damage to lungs!

I want to add that I tried brushing on the varnish this time and do not recommend doing that at all.  You get a much nicer finish if you spray on the varnish.

It's been frustrating for me but I hope my experience helps someone else in the future!

Japanese Chin Pastel Painting - Updated

I'm getting in the short rows with Livie, a pastel painting of a Japanese Chin (I think they're also called a Japanese Spaniel).  The picture was taken with my digital camera since my scanner won't work with this computer now.  Grrrrrr!  Many people prefer to photograph their art but I've always gotten better pictures from a scanner.  Perhaps it's just the way I take the photos or something - I do know that we haven't had suitable weather for photography here lately and the lack of good light may be much of the reason for the poor photos.

Whatever the reason, just look at the progress and not the quality of the photograph posted!  lol

Actually, the painting is all but done.  I have a few details to add such as some feathery strokes to the fur in places and as soon as I get approval from the commissioner, I'll start the final varnishing. 

Let me know if you see anything amiss.

New Portrait - Japanese Chin

I've started a new portrait commission of a sweet little Japanese Chin.  Unfortunately, this is a memorial portrait and I'm always so sad to get these as it means the dear pet has departed.  This little girl is being done in pastel on Ampersand PastelBord at about life size which is 8x10 inches.  I haven't prepared any of my own boards in an 8x10 size and since I had one already from Ampersand, I'm using it.  I'll also use the glassless framing process to seal it as it has to be shipped to California - all the way from one coast of the US to the other - and I don't want to chance that it will get damaged.  I'm using my usual pastels:  Richeson sticks for the layout and color blocking, Rembrandt soft pastels for most of it and pastel pencils for details.

The reference photo was from a camera phone and isn't the greatest so I'm going to just have to do the best I can with it.  I just started it this morning and am making good progress with it so I hope to finish it in the next day or so if not sooner.  It's a rainy, cold and nasty day so there's not a lot I can do except paint (or clean house) so I will work on it as much as I can.  

I'll keep you posted on the results.