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Unleash Your Creative Potential: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Stunning Gessoed Masonite Panels

As an artist, the foundation of your work often begins with the panel you paint on. A well-prepared panel can make a significant difference in the quality and longevity of your artwork. In this video tutorial, I walk you through the process of creating your own art panels from scratch, offering tips and techniques to ensure your panels are sturdy, smooth, and ready for your next masterpiece. Below, you’ll find the transcript and some additional insights to help you follow along.


Transcript of the Video:


To begin making art panels, start by ripping a piece of backing board that will be used to support the edges of the panel. Using a portable table saw, split the board in half. Always prioritize safety when using power tools by following the manufacturer’s instructions, protecting your ears, and minimizing dust exposure.

Next, measure the edges of the panels. This example prepares eight panels: three larger ones and three smaller ones. Carefully measure the edges to prepare them for mitering.

A portable radial arm miter saw is then used to cut the edges cleanly. It is crucial to maintain safety as these tools can be dangerous. The miter saw allows for precise 45-degree cuts, which ensure the edges fit tightly and cleanly.

After the edges are cut, line up the pieces using a straight edge and secure them with tape before applying glue. This step keeps everything perfectly aligned, making the gluing process much easier.

Once all pieces are taped together, begin gluing the edges and corners with a standard wood glue, using an acid brush to spread it evenly. This method ensures strong and clean joints between the pieces. As the edges are brought together, make sure they are aligned properly. Excess glue should be cleaned up with a wet towel to maintain a neat surface.

To keep the corners at a perfect 90-degree angle, use a clamp. Depending on the size of the panel, clamp one corner and let it guide the rest, or clamp all four corners for larger panels.

After the frame dries, use it as a guide to measure the top MDF board. Cut the MDF board slightly larger than the frame to ensure a snug fit. A portable saw is ideal for making clean cuts needed for this step.

Double-check the size of the board and frame before gluing the supporting back down onto the panel. Wax paper can be placed under the panel during this step to prevent accidental gluing to the work surface. This precaution is useful and can save time in case of any adhesive mishaps.

Clean up the inside edges for a more professional finish and to ensure everything looks tidy. Check for any areas that might require additional glue or attention.

Once the glue is applied and cleaned, stack the panels with wax paper between them, place a larger board on top, and weigh it down with weights. This setup helps the panels dry flat and form a strong bond.

Before applying gesso, sand the MDF board lightly to remove its shiny surface. This step is important for proper gesso adhesion. Whether painting directly on the panel or mounting artwork, the surface needs to be well-prepared.

Apply the gesso with a brush, moving in various directions to create an interesting texture. This texture can either be sanded down for a smooth finish or left as is to add depth to the painting, depending on your artistic preference.

Finally, sand the edges of the panels to ensure they are smooth and ready for use. This final touch makes the panels more comfortable to handle and ready for the next creative project.


Creating your own panels can be a rewarding part of the artistic process, allowing you to have complete control over the quality and texture of your canvases. I hope this tutorial helps you in crafting your own custom panels. Happy painting!

Don’t forget to check out my other videos and subscribe to my channel for more art tips and tutorials!

To return to the Blog Home Page go to https://www.reekersart.com/blog-feed/

To view other bonsai related YouTube videos go to https://youtu.be/_FlDrnQdkkI

For post of Bonsai Related work visit my Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/ronreekers/

If you would like to support my work you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/ronreekers


Visit Reekers Art for more insights and to view my latest work!

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Crafting Striking Dead Wood On A California Juniper Bonsai – The Jinning Technique

🎥 Video Description: Join me on a captivating journey into the world of Bonsai as I unveil the artistry behind crafting a stunning dead wood feature, known as a Jin, on a California Juniper Bonsai.

🌳 In this video will show you the meticulous process of revealing the hidden structure of the bonsai by delicately removing foliage, offering a unique perspective on its form. 🌿

🔍 Key Highlights:

00:30:00 Observing the tree

01:30:00 🌲Foliage Removal: Begin to reveal the Jin structure and define it place in the Bonsai composition.

02:45:00 🌲 Bark Removal: Explore the transformative moment as I skillfully remove the bark, exposing the raw and intricate wood beneath.

06:30:00 🛠️ Power Tools in Action: Dive into the creative process as power tools come into play, shaping the surface textures with precision and finesse.

10:30:00 🌅 Preservation Magic: Witness the preservation journey, transforming the wood into a warm, inviting hue that adds character and depth to the feature.

14:16:00 🎨 Beautiful Finish: Immerse yourself in the final reveal as the California Juniper Bonsai showcases a breathtaking dead wood feature, elevating its overall aesthetic. Whether you’re a Bonsai enthusiast or simply curious about the art of sculpting nature, this video offers an intimate look at the craftsmanship involved in creating a captivating Jin on a California Juniper Bonsai. 🌟

As we conclude this journey into the heart of Bonsai artistry, I hope the transformative process of creating a Juniper Jin has ignited your passion. Remember, each tree tells a unique story, and with the right techniques, you can craft your own enchanting ‘deadwood’ features. May this video inspire you to explore, create, and continue the joyful journey of Bonsai. Happy sculpting, fellow Bonsai enthusiasts! 🌳✨ #BonsaiInspiration #JuniperJin

To return to the Blog Home Page go to https://www.reekersart.com/blog-feed/

To view other bonsai related YouTube videos go to https://youtu.be/_FlDrnQdkkI

For post of Bonsai Related work visit my Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/ronreekers/

If you would like to support my work you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/ronreekers

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Bonsai Drawing Series – Wisteria in Pastel

This instruction video shows you how I approach bonsai drawing in pastel. I start off with a sketch on black Canson pastel paper. I like using black because it act as a line as I progress with the drawing. To do the sketch I use a red pastel pencil. The layout of the sketch is important to define how the viewer will move their eye along the artwork. This generally starts at the intersection between the trunk of the tree and the soil. I like to start with a circular motion from there and into the foliage. I find laying out the detail is also important at this stage since it will dictate the texture.

When I complete the layout, it will give me a roadmap of how to proceed with the application of the pastel. When starting with the pastel I like using the darker colors first. This creates a base in which I can start to build my colors. I will lightly blend the color into the paper. To determine the colors that I will use in the motif, I have a set of color cards and compare these cards to the base colors. This helps save time since I don’t have to search through my large array of pastels. Once I determine the colors, I can then compare the pastels to the cards. You will see how I use the side of the drawing to look at how those colors look on the black paper. I enjoy applying the pastel around the object. The negative space defines the object (positive space). I can see how well they are working together at this stage. I love the way pastel lends itself to blending. I can create a soft light and ethereal background by rubbing the color transitions.

The rest of the time is finishing the work up to your satisfaction. I like to think of this as scratching the artwork until in itches no more

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Value Structure – Separating Light from Dark

This video describes for you in detail how I structure my values within a Charcoal drawing. Value Structure in a drawing is a measurement between light values (high key) to dark values (low key). By modulating your those values one can create drama, textural effects and depth of space. The name of the drawing I’m demonstrating on is “Walk Bridge”. My charcoal drawing is for an art show at the San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. The exhibit is from November 2021 to January 2022.

These are the materials I used:

Strathmore 400 Series Smooth Surface Paper

General’s PurePowder Charcoal

Winsor Newton (vine) Willow Charcoal Sticks

Chamois

Kneaded Rubber

I like to start out with my area of focus; in this case the walkway bridge. I begin removing the charcoal with the chamois. I work in this method in this as a way to not “fuss” with detail, much like using a large brush will do. From the bridge, I begin removing charcoal to create a circular composition. This is a classical approach where you can move the eye around the subject. The chamois creates a nice soft edge. Soft edges will produce the illusion of light wrapping around objects. These edges will create transitions (passages) from background to foreground.

I hope you enjoy this video. Feel free to contact me if you have any question.

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Bonsai Drawing Series – Perspective

https://youtu.be/AwSXmQxDgNA

Perspective is the way we seeing things from our point of view.  This video discusses in detail how perspective, specifically ‘Linear Perspective’, influence our Bonsai Drawing and our Bonsai development. We begin with a fundamental understanding of one-point and two-point perspective. I show how of a horizon line and vanishing points originate from our point of view and how objects occupy our ‘Field of View’; i.e why objects look larger the closer they are to you. 

Applying perspective to our drawing gives the artist the technique for showing objects in space; I illustrate this using a Bonsai Pot.  When drawing a Bonsai Tree showing the pot accurately in space can give the drawing a sense of reality. The video also discusses in detail ‘Foreshortening’ and how that influences Bonsai Artist to develop Bonsai Trees with large bases and exaggerated taper. In addition, the concept of perspective also plays a role on how l we layout our Forest Plantings called ‘Saikei’.  The video finishes with a short demo on how I trim my forest plantings and how perspective influences my decision making.

Though perspective is conceptually “easy” to understand, practically it can be very difficult to apply.  My goal in this video is to remove some of that complication and provide a simple way of applying it to our drawing and bonsai development.

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Printing an Etching – the Intaglio Process

This video is a detail instructional video on how to print from an etched plate.  The process is called “Intaglio” which is a process where the image is produced from the etched portion of the plate by apply ink to the plate. The video itself was a live video produced with the help of my friend Richard Chau-Davis and can be seen in full at https://www.crowdcast.io/e/rreekers-1.  The video is an edited version with descriptions along to way to help the viewer understand the process better. 

We start with the paper preparation and how to tear the paper instead of cutting with scissors to create the size we need.  The paper used is Arches BFK Rive, fine grain, acid free 280g, 100% cotton page (sometimes referred to a rag paper).  After the paper is torn to size we need it is put into a vat of water for approximate 20 minutes minimum.

We move to the inking station and begin the preparation of the ink.  I start by applying Art Cream Guard from Winsor Newton to my hand and putting on Latex or Nitrile gloves.  The ink used here is Graphic Chemical and Ink co. 1lb Perfect Palette Intense Black. We first begin by warming the ink up by continually mixing it on the glass palette using a putty knife.  I demonstrate the effect of the ink by adding clear oil (Huile Claire from Charbornel) which will make the ink less viscous (more runny); this is done partially if your ink is too stiff.  In order to reduce the “oiliness” of the ink I add Magnesium Carbonate purchased from Daniel Smith, it absorbs some of the oil without compromising the ink opacity.  A tack test is done by placing the putty knife on the ink and then lifting to see the length of the ink stream.  Once the right viscosity is made (personal preference) I then add Vaseline to reduce the task (stickiness of the ink), again this is done to feel.  Finally, I add Easy Wipe from Graphic Chemical and Ink co.  This will make the removal of the ink from the plate surface easier. Note: there are inks that don’t need to be modified, but in my experience, temperature and relative humidity plays a big part in the inks characteristics, so understanding these techniques for modifying your ink is important.

Once the ink is prepared I can then ink the plate using cards (collected from the mail).  I softly run the ink in all four directions to fully cover the plate.  I clean up the edges using toilet paper and then ‘stamp’ the plate using old Yellow Paper pages to further distribute the ink evenly.  In order to remove the ink from the copper surface I use Tarlatan (can be purchased at most print supply stores) and then graduate to Yellow Page paper and finally my palm (which is why I applied Guard Cream).  The fat part of the palm lightly pats the plate surface.  When all the ink from the surface is removed to my satisfaction I can now print the plate.

I have a Charles Brand press which I have preset to the height I need as well as mark the bed for the plate and paper placement.  With clean hands (I tend to wash my hands before ever touching the paper) I remove the paper from the soaking tray and blot using clean towels.   I have a large roller and usually roll back and forth about 3 times.  The damp paper is then aligned and placed over the plate.  I covered the paper with the press blankets and roll the press bar over the plate.  The final product is the print! 

A production of prints can then be made.  I make a series of 100 prints in which all prints need to be exactly the same.  I do each session in tens and remove any anomalous prints (these are later made into monoprints).  In this way, the buyer is assured to have a print of the series without flaws. In addition, the Buyer is assured I printed all prints in the series by hand.

I hope this process is clear to the viewer.  There are different methods available, but for me, this method works the best. Please email me at reekersart@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions.

Below is a list of material used in video:

Paper – Arches BFK Rives, Fine Grain, Acid Free, 100% Cotton, 280g

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

Easy Wipe – Graphic Chemical and Ink co.

Ink – 1lb Perfect Palette Intense Black, Graphic Chemical and Ink co.

Huile Claire (Clear Oil) – Charbornel

Magnesium Carbonate – Daniel Smith

Art Guard Cream – Winsor Newton

Tarlatan

Flex Putty Knife – Huskey

Glass Scraper – Stanely

12” sq Glass Palette

Toilet Paper

Yellow Page

Cards

Latex or Nitrile Gloves

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Bonsai Drawing Series – Perception

Instructional video on understanding Perception in Bonsai Drawing

Perception is a subject studied by Philosophers and Artist throughout the ages.  Maurice Merleau-Ponty in his book ‘Phenomenology of Perception’ writes how Perception is the background of experience.  Artist looks at Perception as a relationship between what we see and a clear understanding of that experience; in our case the viewing of a Bonsai Tree.  In this video I take on that subject of Perception and how it can help you understand ‘what you see’ and translate that to a drawing descriptively and clearly.

One way of understanding “Perception” is to explore the phenomenon on how we see an object and how we interpret it in space.  As a child we draw the world flat and symbolically, whereas when we mature, and experience the world 3-dimensionally, we begin to “describe” the world more in terms of space; this is reflected in how we approach drawing.  The drawings created by the child is therefore much different that of an adult.

This video illustrates that they’re learnable tools that can help us define a descriptive space such that overlapping items, removing ambiguity, detailing and value shifting in the motif can better illustrate the tree we are drawing in a mature way. 

I sincerely hope this video clarifies your understanding of Perception in drawing and furthers your interest in our goal to help accurately draw your Bonsai tree.  Most importantly further your enjoyment of the beautiful Art of Bonsai.

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Bonsai Drawing Series – Types of Drawing

Instructional video on methods for drawing your Bonsai

In this video I discuss the 3 types of Bonsai drawings; Symbolic, Imaged and Descriptive. The video uses a Femina Juniper Bonsai as our ‘model’ and discusses the method for drawing in these 3 particular types, as well as the Pros and Cons for these methods.

In drawing a Bonsai Tree (or anything for that matter) we use all three types of drawing in one way or another. This video, and subsequent videos, will show how to recognize your approach and ultimately give you a good understand on how to do your own drawings within your own aesthetics.

My method is to tilted towards the descriptive way of drawing for getting a better understanding of “seeing” and a better method for understanding and visually experiencing your tree. The goal is to increase your appreciation for the beautiful world of Bonsai and help you develop the tool of drawing to increase your experience of Bonsai.

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Video Blog – Developing a Etching Plate

This is a video blog that goes into detail how I approach an etching for my Japanese Garden Series. The video shows how I develop the plate by first etching into it the motif, then to develop the value structure through aqua-tinting.

This is Part 2 of a 2 Part video series (see https://www.reekersart.com/video-blog-prep-work-for-an-etching/)

Thank you so much for checking this out. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and be sure to subscribe to my mailing list. If you a interested in purchasing a print please go to https://www.reekersart.com/product-category/prints/

Cheers

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Socal Papa Interview

This is an Interview by Diane Pendergast from the SocalPapa Pleinair painting group for an upcoming online show of Back Bay and OC Parks . Each year there is a pop-up show, but due to the corona virus on July 11th to 19th they will have an online show. There is talk of having actual pieces in the show but since the Muth Conservatory is where it is shown, it is high unlikely that it will be available.

The interview is about 7 minutes long and disusses my plienair painting experience, general ideas regarding painting outdoors in Southern California, and the painting that was submitted to the show.

Enjoy