Gaka's- Naked Lady WIP

[Gaka]

Hi there

This was painted over a Year ago when I was bored waiting for some artist watercolors to arrive and there is nothing worse that a bored creative perfectionist!!!! So I got this bright idea to have a bit of fun and do a painting with some "Coffee" (Yeah, yeah...I know I'm insane!)

I mixed up some instant coffee and started the painting and it was going Ok, until I started to build it up with the color washes and it became very sticky....So I got another bright idea (I get a lot of bright ideas, not a lot of good ones, but at least it keeps my Brain busy!), I hopped in my car and went to the City centre to my friends "Muffin Break" coffee shop and got him to make me some expresso coffee which I brought home and put into a saucepan and heated it to reduce the water content. I then divided it into three different color intensities as the water diminished and off I went to paint again. What will the lifespan of the painting be?, dont know and I dont realy care.....it's just a heap of fun and a challenge for me!!

The good side about this medium is that you can suck your brushes as much as you need to, You can get your caffien fix just smelling your painting and you can drink your paint when you finish....how environmentally friendly is that?. All I need to do is get some watercolor paper made from Bananas and could eat my painting as well :D

I have called this a WIP as I have posted the results so far and I will post updates in a couple of Days. My paper is on a board and it is difficult to get a good scan of the painting.

Gaka

[Rose]

You did this with COFFEE? Who but Gaka would have thought of that? You sound sooo creative that you could use even water and grass clippings to make a painting! I think your paintings are superb, and your control of all of your mediums outstanding. I can't wait to see the next one. (BTW, she doesn't look naked to me!! ... :D ) :confused:

[Denise]

wow Gaka! Great sepia tones w/ the coffee. Love the old time feel.

[glo]

First Coffee, then berry or grape juice, then grass clipping tea. I sense a series in the making. ;)

Really neat. What was your reference picture? Oh, and your amusing to read also.
Gloria

[quickcat327]

very nice antique feel to this, only drawback to viewing this is it may keep you awake at night.

[Brenda]

I LOVE this, Gaka!! I love the old, tintype feel of this and to think it's made of coffee... A series coming up perhaps? How very, very unique!

[Gaka]

Hi there

Rose.... your control of all of your mediums outstanding. I can't wait to see the next one. (BTW, she doesn't look naked to me!! ... .....I find that it is very important to control a medium, But my aim is to master a painting and when I have achieved that, then I have also mastered the Medium within that painting, but only within that painting. I feel that I have only mastered the painting and the medium within that painting only twice in more than 40 Years of painting....The "Kangaroo" is one of them.
As for the next one....Darn!!! I seem to keep on drinking my paint!!! :annoyed: Oh...the nudy bits are comming :D

Denise.....I agree with you, It does have that old period look about it.

Glo....Thanks a lot.....all I need is more ideas :D The subject is Annette Kellerman, an Aussie who pushed the limits of nudity and one piece bathing suits in the early 1907. There is a link to some info about her. http://www.sydneyhistory.com.au/kellerman.html

Brenda....I suppose there is scope for a series of different subjects with this medium, But I find it hard enough to get motivated and time to paint as it is :mad:

Thank you all for stopping by and your generuos comments....Gaka

[Arlene]

ok i'll get my jaw off the floor! LOL

[Gaka]

Hi there

Here are the next three Pic's of my Coffee Nude, I have worked the Scarf, the earings etc in these pic's and you can also see the whole area of the painting.

Gaka

[glo]

oh, now I see :nudity2: , lovely form. I've been telling everyone about your coffee story. Love it.
What made you choose Annette for this portrait? She is lovely, I guess I never thought of going back to historical photo's for subject matter. Even though I make my living from doing WC reproductions of antique lithographs for a print gallery. Go figure. Thanks for the insight!

What paper are you using? What size is this piece? I wish I could watch you work. Can't wait for more.
Gloria

[CherylsArtBox]

Wow! Lovely vintage feeling...and with coffee! I love this one and can't wait to see the finished piece. She's beautiful. Thanks for sharing! :)
Cheryl

[Meisie]

So Gaka, how does it look a year later? Did you store it 'hidden' or exposed to some light? I'm interested to know how the experiment is lasting.....keep on hoping you'll do another one...I mean...keeping us waiting a whole year...you're cruel :eek: :D


Meisie

[Gaka]

Hi there

BTW....the size of the painting is 8.5in x 11.5in or 220mm x 290mm. on arches 300gsm paper....sorry I do not know if it was hot or cold pressed paper.

Glo....I did not choose Annette Kellerman for any particular reason other than it was a beautiful pose and subject.....I must addmitt that I have a fascination with vintage nudes etc as they have this forbidden eroticism about them as well as classic look to them. I think the Women of this period were extraordinary and courageous and when I look at their photographs I wonder what they did with their lives and whether their photography ever came back to haunt them etc.....

CherylsArtBox...Finished piece is up and running.

Meisie....The painting has been in my artwork folder since I painted it over a Year ago, so I guess that you could not get a good judgement as to its fadeing etc.

I have some more news from my art agent and she wants me to start painting other subjects (Flowere and Birds...Small) for the gallery.....so another coffee work may be a loooong way off. But I would like to try Mullberry juice, because as a kid it took forever to get the stain of my fingers...not to mention my tongue!!!

Gaka

[Rose]

Exquisite, breathtakingly romantic... you've done good! I would be intererested to see what you do with the mulberry juice! I think that would be like cherry juice here... try to get that off your kid's t-shirt! Never!!!

Good luck with your future works... flowers, birds... sounds like you have a whole bunch of subjects just waiting at your feet, King Gaka! :-)

I love the painting!

[artfulscribe]

This is so gorgeous! The effect of the medium is so perfect for the subject...it just works on so many different levels! A vintage beauty, for sure.

Roxana

[Meisie]

Excellent news on the 'more work needed' Gaka! We'll happily wait for another experiment then ;)

My feet always used to be so purple from walking under the mulberry tree....and then getting it all over your clothes when climbing the tree....and all over my face eating it! Gotta love mulberries!!! :D

Good memories ;)

Meisie

[glo]

Gaka,

I truely love this piece and wish you would take it out of that folder so more could enjoy it. Although here on ST more people can see it. Thanks for posting it.
Is there a place to find such pictures, on the web or books? I love the feeling of this and would like to find a source for additional photo's. Botanicals are my favorite thing to paint so I'd love to see some you've done.
Thanks,
Gloria

[Arlene]

Just goes to show a good artist can work with any materials.

[Lahree]

WOW! This is INCREDIBLE! :eek: :clap: :clap:

[Meisie]

Just goes to show a good artist can work with any materials.

Exactly


Meisie

[Gaka]

Hi there

Sorry it has been a while in getting this reply done....Busy, busy!

Rose....Gee...Now you've got me thinking....I could do a whole bunch of paintings with different fruits/juices/colors and call the paintings "The Fruits of the Forest"

Artfulscribe....Thank you so much for your lovely comment.

Meisie....Writing about the Mullnberry juice brought back great memories for me and the Mullberry tree as well....We used to get green mullberries and squish them up in your hands to try and get rid of the colored stain. I cant remember if it worked or not but it was fun and squishy!

Glo.....I have sent you a PM regarding links to Vintage pics etc, When you say botanicals you are refering to plants, tree or flowers or all of the previous mentioned?

Lahree, Arlene, Meisie and all other responders, thank you for kind and generous comments.

Gaka

[Bebble]

WOW... I know I'm bumping an old thread but this is one that really wanted to say - WOW on :)

Guess creative minds really can come up with inspirations! ... and since hubby drinks coffee every morning and evening it should be comforting to know that I'll never run out of materials to work with... as long as I have paper :rolleyes:

Just wanted to say - very creative and although it is an odd medium - wonderfully done too!

Brandy

[Valda]

Brandy, I'm glad you did bump this one up - haven't seen it before.

Amazing work, Gaka

~

[Debbie Sue]

Way to go BRANDY! I'm so glad you brought this back into the limelight! I didn't even realize this was a thread from 2005 'til I finished reading your message.

What a marvelous work of art and Gaka, Thank You so much for sharing this wonderful journey! I'm completely and utterly amazed!

[Jayd]

This is just too cool. You basically made ink out of coffee and built it up into washes.

This may seem like a stupid question, but does it have an aroma?

[Jan]

This is unbelievable! A coffee painting? Somebody's got a creative soul for sure!

And the lady is so beautiful...reminds me of a 1920s flapper. :)

My hat is off to you.

[p.hoehsl]

Brilliant!