"Madison: People, Places, and Events"

[Jean Kelly]

Michele, that's the best compliment you could have given me!

Well the opening reception is over and the turnout was excellent. I had some great comments, my favorite was from an older woman who "liked skin"! "Jux" was hung right opposite the front door, so he was given a place of honor (highly visible). I guess that's the retina burn factor at work.

Here I am with "Jux", the painting on the upper right is by Aaron Bohrad, the "Artist in Residence" in Wisconsin for many years. Now my faceless posts are no longer ghosts. Someday I'll get an "little head" up there.

[Allan Rahbek]

Hi Jean,

Congratulations with the show.

I guess that I never realized how big "Jux " really is. Life size and right off his Harley. Even the frame is macho. Wall presence for sure.

It

[Jean Kelly]

Hi Allan, yes Jux is a big boy, in real life he stands 6 ' 5 " tall. He towers over me and his own mother. His parents came last night, and took goofy pictures of themselves mugging in front of the painting. He needed a macho frame, and that one did the job very well.

Last night, I watched a young artsy man, gesticulating wildly in front of my painting. As he was attracting the attention of many in the room, I decided to listen in. He was pointing out the texture of the background and bluejeans, and the difference in tehnique in the face and body of Jux. All very positive, then he came to my signature! I had scrawled my name with a black magic marker (the first time I've ever done this). I don't like my painted sig and was in a hurry when I had to sign it before it went out the door, so tried the marker. And he didn't like it! Then he saw me standing there and ended his lecture with praises and apologies. Did I really make a horrible mistake here? If so I will certainly never do it again . It was really very funny.

There were no prizes associated with this show, I guess the biggest prize was simply getting in as, there were close to 400 entries.

Jean

[Richard Monro]

Jean,
My only thought was that magic marker might be damaging to such a wonderful piece of art. It is indeed a retinal-burn piece of art. Congratualtions!

[Jean Kelly]

Thank you Richard! It's so kind of you to say that.

I could sand the sig off, the painting isn't varnished yet. I oiled it out for the show and can't varnish it till next summer. I guess I'll just have to practice a signature. I've already read the threads on developing your professional signature. As soon as I get ready to sign (shudder), my neck and shoulder freeze up, I stop breathing, and my hand starts to shake. Going to the dentist is easier.

Jean

[Mark Youd]

.

[Michele Rushworth]

Even block letters in paint would be better than a permanent magic marker. I recommend you sand that signature off and give it a go, with paint.

Here's what I do: Let the background layers dry. Wipe linseed on the area where the signature will go. Wipe most of the oil off. Draw a horizontal line with a ruler about an inch below where the signature will be, as a guide. Sign the painting. Mess it up, wipe off the messed-up letters and repaint them. Mess it all up again, wipe the whole signature off and sign it yet again. Finally satisfied with signature. Wipe off the horizontal guide line. Let signature dry.

You can do it!