The 100-Day Project, Day 27 — Quiet Day, Continuing Work on the Large "Sunstone"
Day 27 of the 100-Day project!
Another beautiful and warm spring day, so I invariably ended up spending some more time outside. Sometimes spring almost feels like a coming out of hibernation, and I can imagine what it might be like to be a bear who sleeps all winter. We're getting a load of topsoil on Tuesday and that will have to be unloaded, so I spy a potential "missed" day, then.
The finished large "Sun Stone."
I didn't really have much of a plan for today, aside from continuing to paint the large "Sunstone" I started on yesterday.
I decided to start with the social media bits today, but I have now largely missed two days completely, in that respect. I'm just not that great at "being social," I guess.
So, this is where I left off yesterday:
Today's starting point
Day 27 Stone Painting:
So, I've only ever done one other really large stone in this color set, and it actually sold quite quickly... back in maybe 2016-17.
I am now recalling that part of the reason doing these is a bit tedious is that I have to "paint double" on all the whites and yellows because the paint pigment isn't adequate to give full opaque coverage in a single pass.
I've tried just a single layer of paint, but the end result is "weak and watery" looking.
Adding more layers... this time shot during daylight.
Progress gets very slow after you get to a certain point on a larger stone. I've reached that point now, and every time I add another ring of design it now involves 96 or more brush strokes.
And then most of the colors have to be doubled on top of that to get a nice opaque look.
Slowly making my way towards the end.
I was actually a little bit surprised that I was able to finish this large stone in just two days! Most of the time, these big pieces take me at least three or four days.
The final painted stone is the top picture in this post, and now it goes off to the drying shelf where it gets to sit for a week or so until the paint has fully cured.
Day 27 Summary and Social Media Bits:
Finished a large stone: This was the largest stone I have painted since starting the challenge, and I'm actually quite please to have now painted a 3rd stone in a larger size. I'm always a little too obsessed with making lots and lots of "affordable sellers" for shows and events, even thought I don't care that much for them.
Daily Twitter/X post: Check. Cruising for new people to follow; then added a picture of the finished Sun Stone.
Daily Facebook Page post: Check. Added a photo of the finished Sun Stone
Daily Instagram post: Chekc. Sunstone here, as well... because why not?.
Other Stuff: As usual, this Hive post; spent more time outside, gardening, subsequently dealing with eBay; Daily shoutout to @gillianpearce!
Day 27 completed; another day mostly preoccupied with "other things." I will say that doing the social media work before sitting down to paint was a good idea. On the other hand, I keep growing more and more aware that this whole experiment is essentially "stealing time" from other things I need to get done. I don't have the luxury of a life where this is merely about "using spare time more wisely." There was no spare time, to begin with... so the more likely reality is simply called "sleep less, in order to get this done." It is my somewhat vain hope that by doing this I will start to move faster, and more readily can incorporate the extra activities into my schedule.
I appreciate you coming to visit and please do leave a comment if you feel so inclined!
Thank You!
If you enjoy painted rocks, do check out The Hive Rocks Project and help spread the word about Hive, while also being creative!
Because I am trying to make some semblance of income — a part time living, even — I now add this footer to all my posts, in the hope that someone, somewhere, might decide to take a further look at my work, and perhaps consider supporting independent art.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and support!
My Alchemy Stones Patreon appeal
Alchemy Stones web site and blog
Regardless, your upvotes and comments are always appreciated!
Thank you for supporting independent art!
2024.03.17 AS-TXT-220/190
Hate to say that jibe is just struggling.
Certain groups ran off the entire hive community a little.at a time and.bulkied the chain into a shadow of what it once was...
Shame.
But love to support your work. And....
By the WAY!
Saturday Market Portland DRUM CIRCLE is back! Dude! You totally gotta come and hang out. Down by Skidmore fountain.
I just heard about it tonight.
Shame the hive meetups didn't do anything in Portland. Would have been cool if it would have.