Journal

I fixed the signature and scanned (photographed) the painting. I decided my signature will simply be "AB." and on the back of the painting I write my name in full. The photographing of the painting was an interesting process – we ended up taking 12 photos which then were imported into Photoshop using the File>Automate>Photomerge function. I think next time we can take less photos because I decided I won't be making large prints.

Once the painting photos were stitched together, I had to make a white balance adjustment as well as fixing some specular highlight/glare on some parts of the image. Next time I may try getting my painting actually scanned at a place in Abbotsford. It is sort of expensive, but may be worth it as it may make it so that I can skip having to stitch photos together or make colour correction adjustments.

Now that is all done, I can finally varnish. I am planning on putting on two coats of varnish one in each direction. I've been putting off this step for more than a month because part of me is worried that the varnish will somehow ruin the painting lol. I think I just need to go for it, eh?

I am finally (almost) finished. It's been nearly two years since I started this Hermes painting. I don't think I am a perfectionist since I actually like a slightly rough style, but maybe I am in the sense that I had a vision in my head at the beginning and looking at where it's at now doesn't match that initial vision. That sort of frustrates me a little, but I am trying to stay open to the process and to happy accidents that push the piece forward even if it's in a slightly different direction.

I'd like to be painting on a more regular basis and to achieve that I am going to have to push through the fear of making "mistakes." That includes not worrying so much about the accuracy of the colours I mix, getting over the fact that I will sometimes waste paint and being okay with the painting not completely matching my sketches and mock ups.

So, all that is left now is signing* the painting, getting it scanned and varnishing it. I've already purchased my next canvas and have started thinking about what I'd like to paint. I am debating whether to try something completely different, or attempt to continue the imagery and colour palette of the Hermes painting so as to create a series.

*I actually already signed it, but didn't like how it looked, so I painted over it and have been practicing my signature on paper before I try again. When I am ready, I am going to use a black Posca PC-5M acrylic pen for the signature.