Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

known technique for smudging or blurring oil paint for effects ?

0 views
Skip to first unread message

Jack

unread,
Sep 4, 2003, 4:06:40 PM9/4/03
to
Hi,

I know some folks use an airbrush but does anyone know of, or know
where to point me on the web, to information about how to blend, blur
or smudge paint most effectively ? I am trying to show the effects a
lampost has over a pond, and am wondering if there are known
techniques for blurring the lamp light or the reflection itself in the
water..

Thank you,

Jack

Flying _Naked_People

unread,
Sep 4, 2003, 5:36:28 PM9/4/03
to
Jack <jack_p...@yahoo.com> wrote in article
<209b7e58.03090...@posting.google.com>...

I use oil pastel to blur things... although I don't do much of it I guess.

Anyway, I have discovered that (1) you have to plan for blurry areas ahead of
time (like don't render these places with a lot of detail in the first place
and (2), I found that *sometimes*, pressing the oil pastel *into* the picture
has a nice effect, rather than smearing the pastel over it.

I don't know what media you're using... paint? What kinda paint? I don't
paint. Sorry.

But, fwiw, I either press, or smear with my middle finger in an "away" stroke.
Like, --away-- from --me--. I never smear in circles...

Oh, and I even layer the "smears" too if that helps. I'll smear thin coats of
"stuff" one on top of the other. It gives a cool effect because you can see
the previous "smears" under the other "smears".

Oh, and another thing... you're concerned with light? The smearing should
"gradate" into nothing towards the end of the smear...

It all comes out nicely blended and looking like airbrush. Oil pastel is the
bomb (for me).

> Thank you,
>
> Jack
>

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 4, 2003, 5:46:27 PM9/4/03
to

"Scumbling" (to scumble). It's a dry brush technique, very fun to do
once you get your sea legs with it. I've found that really trashed-out
brushes do the best, with hairs going every which way.

Erik


Ami Tour

unread,
Sep 4, 2003, 7:46:38 PM9/4/03
to
In article <3F57B2B3...@oco.net>, emat...@oco.net says...


>"Scumbling" (to scumble). It's a dry brush technique, very fun to do
>once you get your sea legs with it. I've found that really trashed-out
>brushes do the best, with hairs going every which way.
>
>Erik

Jack to Jack, I offer the following 'scumbling tool.'
An old nylon stocking - as in 'woman's apparel.'
Lightly daubed onto the previously painted layers,
after they have adequately dried, creates a wonderful
'scum' - as in 'scum'ble.

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 4, 2003, 11:43:56 PM9/4/03
to

"Jack to Jack?" Reminded me of "Dollar for Dollar, you can't beat a
Pontiac." Remember that one? But the nylon idea sounds good. Will
pantyhose work?

Erik

>
>
>

Ami Tour

unread,
Sep 5, 2003, 9:12:17 AM9/5/03
to
In article <3F58067C...@oco.net>, emat...@oco.net says...


>But the nylon idea sounds good. Will
>pantyhose work?
>
>Erik

Sure. Just be sure to take them off
before trying to scumble with them.

Once upon a married life, I saved all the
nylons that would have otherwise been
trashed. They are good for all sorts of
artistic uses - like holding damar crystals
suspended in turpentine to make varnish,
filtering paint and varnish to remove contaminants,
and anytime a lint-free cloth is needed for
some purpose - like scumbling, and for wearing
on the head when creating heavy dust - as in
sanding wood, sawing through a stucco wall (my
latest need just last week), etc.

BTW - Help me out here. Twice lately there
have been exchanges here that brought to
mind the artist who coated his models in
paint and had them roll around on canvas
and then exhibited the results. Back in the
'heady' 60s or 70s. Know who I'm trying to
remember?

And another one whose name won't come to me.
The artist I once saw a
large one-man show for who decorated long
pieces of cloth - canvas or other - and hung
the finished works vertically. Like banners.
These were 10 foot tall or taller banners.


Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 5, 2003, 11:12:34 AM9/5/03
to
Ami Tour wrote:
> In article <3F58067C...@oco.net>, emat...@oco.net says...
>
>
>
>>But the nylon idea sounds good. Will
>>pantyhose work?
>>
>>Erik
>
>
> Sure. Just be sure to take them off
> before trying to scumble with them.
>
> Once upon a married life, I saved all the
> nylons that would have otherwise been
> trashed. They are good for all sorts of
> artistic uses - like holding damar crystals
> suspended in turpentine to make varnish,
> filtering paint and varnish to remove contaminants,
> and anytime a lint-free cloth is needed for
> some purpose - like scumbling, and for wearing
> on the head when creating heavy dust - as in
> sanding wood, sawing through a stucco wall (my
> latest need just last week), etc.

They are handy for bank robberies, too.

>
> BTW - Help me out here. Twice lately there
> have been exchanges here that brought to
> mind the artist who coated his models in
> paint and had them roll around on canvas
> and then exhibited the results. Back in the
> 'heady' 60s or 70s. Know who I'm trying to
> remember?

Ives Klein probably is the conceptual father of this technique, but I
think others did it also. Check this out - the IKB pigment sounds
interesting, as an aside:
http://hirshhorn.si.edu/education/modern/modern4.html

>
> And another one whose name won't come to me.
> The artist I once saw a
> large one-man show for who decorated long
> pieces of cloth - canvas or other - and hung
> the finished works vertically. Like banners.
> These were 10 foot tall or taller banners.

Got me there. But I saw a Chinese movie a few years back that took
place at a fabric dying plant (19th century?) - it was pretty awesome
visually. The bolts of cloth were longer than 10 feet though. I wish I
could remember the title - the flick is a visual extravaganza. Good
plot too.

Erik

>
>
>
>
>
>

Ami Tour

unread,
Sep 5, 2003, 6:04:33 PM9/5/03
to
In article <3F58A7E2...@oco.net>, emat...@oco.net says...


>Ives Klein probably is the conceptual father of this technique, but I
>think others did it also. Check this out - the IKB pigment sounds
>interesting, as an aside:
>http://hirshhorn.si.edu/education/modern/modern4.html

Thanks. You're batting 500. Klein is who I was
trying to recall.

Klein, now that I think of it, is the one who
also "painted" with that intense indigo blue.
I've seen his 3-D works in several locations
over the years and they are definitely attention
getters - because of the intensity of the blue.
The Menil in Houston had one or more of his
large "paintings" that had 3-Dimensional projections.

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 5, 2003, 6:14:37 PM9/5/03
to

Yeah, that's the "IKB" pigment discussed in the link I posted. Check it
out, it's really interesting.

Erik

>
>
>

Ami Tour

unread,
Sep 6, 2003, 8:43:56 AM9/6/03
to
In article <3f59...@news.zianet.com>, dob...@dontemailme.com says...

Let me rephrase the following:

>Klein, now that I think of it, is the one who
>also "painted" with that intense indigo blue.

"Klein, now that Erik reminded me of it, is the
one...etc" Apologies for the mistatement.

Also to Erik:
For some reason I saw your reply in Google
but it's not shown up here on my server yet.
I notice the same thing happening to other posts.

What I had forgotten about, as I was trying
to recall the "body paintings," was the other
aspect of Klein's claim to fame - the Intense
Kinetic Blue pigment. Thanks again for the
helping hand. Now - if I can just remember why
I was trying to remember in the first place...

An interesting aside. I heard on NPR this morning
someone commenting on why the sky is blue. The
explanation given had something to do with the
fact that blue is the 'most jumping' or vibrant
wave length (color band) in sunlight. I've always
thought of red as the 'most jumping' color. I
guess it's an artist's conundrum...


Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 6, 2003, 12:47:40 PM9/6/03
to

Oh, yea...years ago when Ernie Kovaks wrote his "Strangely Believe it"
column in MAD, he wrote: "Contrary to popular belief, Ducks cannot fly.
The are actually great jumpers."

e

>
>
>
>

Ami Tour

unread,
Sep 6, 2003, 6:44:14 PM9/6/03
to
In article <3F5A0FA...@oco.net>, emat...@oco.net says...


>Oh, yea...years ago when Ernie Kovaks wrote his "Strangely Believe it"
>column in MAD, he wrote: "Contrary to popular belief, Ducks cannot fly.
> The are actually great jumpers."

That's truly funny, but truly
funnier, from my perspective, is that
you remembered it! Ernie Kovaks yet!! WOW!!!
Whatever happened to ole Ern?

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 6, 2003, 8:28:27 PM9/6/03
to

You don't remember? He died in a crash in Beverly Hills, 1962. I saw
him driving on the Hollywood Freeway a few weeks before he died -
smoking a cigar as he drove along. What a loss. He wrote the book on
so much comedy we see today.

"It's appropriate that television is considered a medium, since it's
rare if it's ever well done." - Ernie Kovacs.

e

>
>
>

Ami Tour

unread,
Sep 7, 2003, 10:06:10 AM9/7/03
to
In article <3F5A0FA...@oco.net>, emat...@oco.net says...

>You don't remember? He died in a crash in Beverly Hills, 1962.

I know someone else my age who has an
amazing memory for such trivia. If there
are still "trivial pursuit" game shows on
TV, you two could partner up to win. I have
a hard time remembering who bought the
farm just yesterday, much less that long
ago. OTOH, I rarely forget a face...'uh,
what was that first name again?'


Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 7, 2003, 3:52:35 PM9/7/03
to

Uh...Arnold Kojak, I think it was...

e

>
>

Peter H.M. Brooks

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 2:02:21 AM9/9/03
to

"Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
news:3F5A0FA...@oco.net...

> Ami Tour wrote:
> > In article <3f59...@news.zianet.com>, dob...@dontemailme.com says...
>
> Oh, yea...years ago when Ernie Kovaks wrote his "Strangely Believe it"
> column in MAD, he wrote: "Contrary to popular belief, Ducks cannot fly.
> The are actually great jumpers."
>
He was nearly correct. Some ducks, bombay duck, crispy duck, peking duck and
decoy ducks can't fly - they also can't jump.


--
'It's a trifle if twenty millions or so die.' - Lenin on the 1921 Soviet
famine, reported in is Obituary in The Times

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 11:17:12 AM9/9/03
to

Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
> "Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
> news:3F5A0FA...@oco.net...
>
>>Ami Tour wrote:
>>
>>>In article <3f59...@news.zianet.com>, dob...@dontemailme.com says...
>>
>>Oh, yea...years ago when Ernie Kovaks wrote his "Strangely Believe it"
>>column in MAD, he wrote: "Contrary to popular belief, Ducks cannot fly.
>> The are actually great jumpers."
>>
>
> He was nearly correct. Some ducks, bombay duck, crispy duck, peking duck and
> decoy ducks can't fly - they also can't jump.

So too roasted duck under glass, but not for the want of trying.

Erik

Peter H.M. Brooks

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 11:23:26 AM9/9/03
to

"Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
news:3F5DEEF8...@oco.net...

>
>
> Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
> > "Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
> > news:3F5A0FA...@oco.net...
> >
> >>Ami Tour wrote:
> >>
> >>>In article <3f59...@news.zianet.com>, dob...@dontemailme.com says...
> >>
> >>Oh, yea...years ago when Ernie Kovaks wrote his "Strangely Believe it"
> >>column in MAD, he wrote: "Contrary to popular belief, Ducks cannot fly.
> >> The are actually great jumpers."
> >>
> >
> > He was nearly correct. Some ducks, bombay duck, crispy duck, peking duck
and
> > decoy ducks can't fly - they also can't jump.
>
> So too roasted duck under glass, but not for the want of trying.
>
You're right! The more you think about it the more ducks there are that
don't fly - the ones in cricket don't either, even the Royal Ducks.

The only ducks that make great jumpers that I know of are the Eider Ducks -
and they are more quilts than jumpers anyway.


--
Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the
telephone rings and you hope that it isn't for you - 'It takes all sorts'
Milton Shulman

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 11:56:58 AM9/9/03
to
Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
> "Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
> news:3F5DEEF8...@oco.net...
>
>>
>>Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
>>
>>>"Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
>>>news:3F5A0FA...@oco.net...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Ami Tour wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>In article <3f59...@news.zianet.com>, dob...@dontemailme.com says...
>>>>
>>>>Oh, yea...years ago when Ernie Kovaks wrote his "Strangely Believe it"
>>>>column in MAD, he wrote: "Contrary to popular belief, Ducks cannot fly.
>>>> The are actually great jumpers."
>>>>
>>>
>>>He was nearly correct. Some ducks, bombay duck, crispy duck, peking duck
>>
> and
>
>>>decoy ducks can't fly - they also can't jump.
>>
>>So too roasted duck under glass, but not for the want of trying.
>>
>
> You're right! The more you think about it the more ducks there are that
> don't fly - the ones in cricket don't either, even the Royal Ducks.
>
> The only ducks that make great jumpers that I know of are the Eider Ducks -
> and they are more quilts than jumpers anyway.

It really destroys the significance of my favorite poem:

"Of all the birds that fly the sky,
I'd rather be a duck.
I'd fly along the shores at night,
and watch the people swim."

E

Peter H.M. Brooks

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 2:46:27 PM9/9/03
to

"Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
news:3F5DF84A...@oco.net...

> Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
> > "Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
>> >
> > The only ducks that make great jumpers that I know of are the Eider
Ducks -
> > and they are more quilts than jumpers anyway.
>
> It really destroys the significance of my favorite poem:
>
> "Of all the birds that fly the sky,
> I'd rather be a duck.
> I'd fly along the shores at night,
> and watch the people swim."
>
Come off it! Of course it doesn't destroy it. You haven't wished to be an
Eider Duck, a Bombay Duck, a Decoy Duck or any of the other non-flying
ducks, nor does the poem require you to be.

Who is it by? What is its title?

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 3:37:01 PM9/9/03
to
Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
> "Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
> news:3F5DF84A...@oco.net...
>
>>Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
>>
>>>"Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
>>>
>>>The only ducks that make great jumpers that I know of are the Eider
>>
> Ducks -
>
>>>and they are more quilts than jumpers anyway.
>>
>>It really destroys the significance of my favorite poem:
>>
>>"Of all the birds that fly the sky,
>>I'd rather be a duck.
>>I'd fly along the shores at night,
>>and watch the people swim."
>>
>
> Come off it! Of course it doesn't destroy it. You haven't wished to be an
> Eider Duck, a Bombay Duck, a Decoy Duck or any of the other non-flying
> ducks, nor does the poem require you to be.
>
> Who is it by? What is its title?

Well, we can eliminate Ogden Nash...he would have made it rhyme. I
can't remember where I heard it...I think my sister was the source. She
read National Lampoon regularly, so that's a candidate. As far as I
know, it's a cultural production by anomynous. "Duck culture", of course.

Did you ever see the early "MAD" before the better comics code tamed it?
Pretty neat stuff. One story was a spoof on Disney, "Michael Rodent."
It featured "Darnold Duck" and every time the character was shown,
someone off-panel would yell "Hey, Darnold, duck!" Of course he
wouldn't, and a brick would hit his head (no doubt a tribute to George
Harriman.)

Erik

Peter H.M. Brooks

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 3:48:19 PM9/9/03
to

"Erik A. Mattila" <emat...@oco.net> wrote in message
news:3F5E2BDD...@oco.net...

> Peter H.M. Brooks wrote:
>
> >>>and they are more quilts than jumpers anyway.
> >>
> >>It really destroys the significance of my favorite poem:
> >>
> >>"Of all the birds that fly the sky,
> >>I'd rather be a duck.
> >>I'd fly along the shores at night,
> >>and watch the people swim."
> >>
> >
> > Come off it! Of course it doesn't destroy it. You haven't wished to be
an
> > Eider Duck, a Bombay Duck, a Decoy Duck or any of the other non-flying
> > ducks, nor does the poem require you to be.
> >
> > Who is it by? What is its title?
>
> Well, we can eliminate Ogden Nash...he would have made it rhyme. I
> can't remember where I heard it...I think my sister was the source. She
> read National Lampoon regularly, so that's a candidate. As far as I
> know, it's a cultural production by anomynous. "Duck culture", of course.
>
> Did you ever see the early "MAD" before the better comics code tamed it?
> Pretty neat stuff. One story was a spoof on Disney, "Michael Rodent."
> It featured "Darnold Duck" and every time the character was shown,
> someone off-panel would yell "Hey, Darnold, duck!" Of course he
> wouldn't, and a brick would hit his head (no doubt a tribute to George
> Harriman.)
>
I suspect that that was before my time...


--
Men don't pay you to sleep with them. They pay you to go home - Philip Roth
'The Human Stain' pg 236

Erik A. Mattila

unread,
Sep 9, 2003, 11:56:49 PM9/9/03
to

Well, I've read "The Yellow Kid" and "Little Nemo in Slumberland" and
even some of those Victorian comics that were an attempt to steer the
kids away from the corrupting influnce of those "Penny Dreadfuls." All
before my time. Hmmm, I wonder if MAD will ever make the "Harvard
Classics" of the future?

E

0 new messages