Saturday, May 31, 2008

In the works

This one is oil on masonite. Getting there.

7 comments:

MahoneyMusings said...

Beautiful. Love the colours.

What's masonite?

Paul Stilwell said...

At the art supply store they generally call it 'artboard'. It's nice to work on. Unlike canvas, it's totally smooth, and you gessoe it and sand the gessoe. Canvas on the other hand, has the virtue of giving you something to work against. It gives your work a certain temperance.

Courtesy of wikipedia:

Masonite is a type of hardboard invented by William H. Mason.[1] It is formed using the Mason method, using wooden chips and blasting them into long fibers with steam and then forming them into boards. The boards are then pressed and heated to form the finished boards. No glue or other material is added. The long fibers give Masonite a high bending strength, tensile strength, density and stability. Unlike other composite wood panels produced using formaldehyde-based resins to bind fibers, Masonite is made using natural ingredients only, which makes it an environmentally friendly "green" product.

Masonite was invented in 1924 in Laurel, Mississippi.[2] Manufacturing started in 1929. In the 1930s and 1940s Masonite was used for many applications such as doors, roofing, walls, desktops, electric guitars, canoes, etc. Its popularity later faded, but it is still used, most notably by hobbyists.[citation needed] Artists have often used it as a support for painting, and in artistic media such as linocut printing.[citation needed] Masonite's smooth surface makes it a suitable material for table tennis tables and skateboard ramps. Masonite is also popular among theater companies as an inexpensive way to construct walls on-stage.[citation needed]

Moving companies are large users of Masonite.[citation needed] Among other things, they use it to protect the walls of buildings they are working in, and lay it on floors to enable smooth rolling of dollies loaded with goods.[citation needed] A large move can require 30+ sheets of 1219.2mm x 2438.4mm sheets.[citation needed]

Masonite is widely used in construction, particularly in high-end renovations where floors are finished prior to other work and require protection. Sheets of ⅛" or ¼" masonite are typically laid over rosin paper on finished floors to protect them. The masonite sheets are taped together with duct tape to prevent shifting and to keep substances from leaking through.

It is also considered one of the best materials in the making of a Wobble board.

It is also called Marsonite.[citation needed] In Europe, this product is also known as Isorel.[citation needed]

MahoneyMusings said...

Interesting...so, what's gessoe?

Paul Stilwell said...

Gessoe is the ground, or base paint.

Heather Stilwell said...

I'm love my children's art work as a matter of course - but this one nearly stopped my heart

~pen~ said...

i love this and i just spent a few minutes (stolen, at work) to read your blog and can say, i love your blog, as well.

i am now subscribed through bloglines and wanted to let you know, you are appreciated.

penni (aka m2)

Paul Stilwell said...

Dear Penni,

Thank you so very much for your words of encouragement, towards the painting and the blog. The timing of your words are actually perhaps providential, as I was considering this week whether I should continue with the blog. So thanks for being a blessing! Love your own blog too by the way.

P.S. Never heard of bloglines before...I'm still kinda new to all this...so I checked it out. Okay, now I can be kept up to date on your blog, if you don't mind, and the others...long list.

Christ's blessings to you and your family,

Paul.