Open Studio Nightmare - Literally!
 

I was at a local Community College for an Open Studio session - it was my first time there. There were about 30 people in the room and all of them seemed to know each other. They were talking and laughing together and they all had their works from previous weeks hanging on the walls and on their boards - the work was just wonderful - all of it.

I was sitting there feeling very out of place and in awe of this amazing group of people when a guy came into the room and sat down next to me. We nodded to each other and he said "Aren't you dressed a little lightly for jumping?" I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I began to ask him what he meant when an older man walked into the classroom with two people in tow.

He said "Alright everyone listen up. We're going to be making our jump today from 9,000 feet." He gestured to the two people behind him. "Tod and Leslie are our models today and they will take their poses in class from how they land in the field. Everyone be sure to check your parachutes, let's have a safe jump. I'll see you all back on the ground and we'll draw."

As people began to get up and gather their stuff, the realization of what he just said began to dawn on me. I turned to the guy next to me and asked "You folks always paradrop into Open Studio?"

"Yea, every week." he said

I held up my box and board "What do I do with this stuff?"

"You jump with it" He said "You put it into a bag that straps to your ankle."

"I've never parachuted before." I said dubiously.

As we began filing out of the room he clapped his hand on my shoulder and said "You'll do fine. The hard part is after we reach the ground."

Then I woke up.

Clearly, the current world situation, the upcoming class with Bill Whitaker, and my frustrations at drawing from life are working in my subconcious. :)

After I woke up and thought about the dream, I realized that I was more worried about the Open Studio session than jumping out of an airplane!

Hey, they let you wait until you landed to start drawing, didn't they? When they ask you to draw while free falling, let us know. :)

Cold feet?
 

Michael, if it gets too bad let me know and I'll go in your place. As long as I don't have to jump from a plane. If I had to do that, to draw or paint the world would be less one artist!

Jean

What a hoot! Thanks for sharing that one.

Probable cause
 

Maroger fumes not only cause darkening of paintings but apparently darkening of thoughts as well.

I could not disagree with you more!
 

Marvin,

Maroger has been known scientifically to restore clarity to ones thoughts. After sniffing my own Maroger medium for two days I was able to complete a 10'x10' painting of McArthurs triumphant return to the Phillipines in only 5 days.

Michael is suffering from light and oxygen deprivation from being buried underneath 5' of snow for 2 weeks.

Sincerely,

Marvin:

I challenge you to show me ONE painting done with Maroger's that has darkened or cracked. Have you or anyone here EVER actually seen a painting by Maroger or anyone using one of his mediums - or is this just more magpie repeating of "things I heard somewhere?"

Where is it actually DOCUMENTED by a credible source that using Maroger medium will cause these problems and where does it say what TYPE of Maroger medium was used that would have caused such darkening? Further, where is it documented how MUCH medium was used in the painting, how it was prepared and what environment the painting was stored in after it was painted and were any of those conditions a factor in the darkening or cracking.

Otherwise, it is best to leave my choice of medium out of it.

Michael, I have to ask - did my parachute open and was I holding Michele's hand? :?

Lighten up
 

Ouch! I guess I'll have to add Mediums to Mothers, Religion, Sexual Preferences, Investment Strategies, Political Affiliations and Patriotism when compiling my list of things to not joke about on the forum.

Since you asked, I have seen darkened paintings by John Koch, who used Maroger, but as to the specifics of who, what, where, when and how I can't ask him since he's dead.

Yea, Lighten up...
 

Marvin:

You know I use Marogers in my work. In my opinion, your comment carried an implication that my paintings would overly darken over time.

I thought it was not a very nice thing to post about another artist's works.

If that was not your intended message, then I apologize.

I research my materials extensively. I firmly believe that Maroger medium is good stuff, and that (as with any painting medium) if made properly and used judiciously, it will not adversely effect the painting over time any more than using any other medium would.

I don't know what type or formulation of Maroger John Koch may have used in his works. Certainly the paintings I have seen in person and on the web appear to be in very good condition. However, I will take your word for it and fold that information into my thinking as I move forward in my painting.