in the studio

POSTED ON Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - 11:23

June is shaping up to be the last of the spring cleaning for a bit. Many series of drawings have been stored in boxes and the last of the boxes are being glued to store pairs of drawings that have been mounted on boards. I've been able to clear my flat files for more drawings. I'm hoping I'll be able to extend this system to make more drawings easily available for when I have studio visits.

Building boxes on my worktable.
POSTED ON Friday, May 18, 2018 - 15:49

Ready to continue All Sorts drawings. Started prepping new panels last week.

This series really helps me learn new things about my process. It's great to have the energy to prep the panels and organize myself to expand the series.

I have six small panels to start.

Prepping new boards in the studio
POSTED ON Saturday, October 21, 2017 - 13:16

A new drawing using a deep forest green. So many folks have remarked on the scale of this drawing. I’ve embraced a new series of drawings that are vertical, this one.

New drawing by Stella Untalan on panel
POSTED ON Thursday, October 12, 2017 - 11:37

It has been a year of saturated color. 

I have been making commissions and sketches to lead me to those final pieces. Here my studio wall holds many of the pieces I have made this year. All of the work is from this year, including the small drawings on paper. There are additional works on another wall.

I’m about to make a couple large drawings on panels and get back to some works on paper.

Stella Untalan Post 2017 studio view
POSTED ON Sunday, September 24, 2017 - 15:00

This past week many of my drawings were photographed. The documentation process is a very exacting one. My drawings have very subtle changes that are difficult to capture without the help of a professional.

I called on Elena Bouvier, friend, artist, professional photographer to capture the true feeling of my drawings. 

I’m looking through the images now to add them to my website.

So exciting to have them to share.

Elena Bouvier shooting Stella Untalan’s drawings.
POSTED ON Saturday, August 26, 2017 - 19:58

I love pulling out the wood glue and clamps.

Here I am creating two cleats for hanging a large two panel piece to a wall. It's basically a small shelf which will hold the work level.

Two pins will look the artwork to the cleats. The glue is setting and I will return to add some wood screws.

Clamping a handmade wooden cleat
POSTED ON Friday, June 30, 2017 - 12:30

A continuing adventure of studies for my large commission. This new 12 x 12 square is a test in color density. I needed a large area to get a good sample of the pattern result. 

Proximity and relativity of color have a specific role in this new work. The scale of the piece makes such a huge difference in the drawing and perception of the pattern. 

Each time I increase the size of the field I make so many new discoveries.

I've begun laying the ground color for the two large panels. They need another coat and I'll be ready to draw with my Montana Markers.

Sun and the sea drawing commission by Stella Untalan
POSTED ON Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 22:19

For the last few months I have been experimenting with Montana markers and Flashe vinyl paint.

The markers allow me a different kind of control in making marks over large areas. I can allow for variants in opacity using the pump feature in the markers. I'm also able to draw with paper attached to the wall. I love being able to use a varient of tools I am very familiar with to make this new work. 

These three small panels are in progress. I've had to put them aside while I work on studies for a large commission.

First marks new drawings, new series
POSTED ON Sunday, June 11, 2017 - 19:04

The other part of art making is displaying and installing the work. One can leave this to a framing expert but sometimes it's not a frame that the work needs.

I'm doing some design and construction for a wooden cleat to install a larger work. I also need that hardware to enable a tight fit of two panels at the seam.

This method takes some careful finishing.

I just realized that my C clamps don't fit so I'm off to purchase a couple wood clamps for gluing and a steady hand to drill small pin holes. Then I will be on my way to do the install.

My work table looks like this
POSTED ON Saturday, June 10, 2017 - 11:15

Over the past month I have been working on drawings made with markers. I'm happy have to found paint markers that I enjoy using for drawing. This past week I began experimenting with some lines and marks that I had found to be successful while making a series of studies. 

The first image is little patterns on paper. The second image is of the first two small drawings. These are the first of the blues. 

Two mark and color tests for studies.

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