4/19/12

Chapter 22

Back to where we left off...It is now March, the month of doing an annual painting to donate to local PBS fund-raising auction. Also the month of attending to matters neglected during Grove Park Show Mania.

One such matter is the discovery, just during height of pre-show angst, that attic has come down with a sudden case of mold. Evidently roof has finally expired. Get estimates, hire roofing contractor, schedule job for mid-April.

Because of this, Bob & I decide March is also the month to finally remove vile aluminum siding.

Still, should be able to squeeze in some tweaking on Autumn Hills.

I delve into Autumn Hills Enhancement Project; Restoration Contractor Bob embarks on Horrible House Rehab Project.

Crappy gutter be gone

Here’s the triptych. What enhancements, exactly, did I see in that Sunday morning vision?

Darker center tree foliage; darker middle field; a greater sense of distance in hills. The amber glow toned down, more localized. Like two or three Van Erp lamps, perhaps, rather than six.

Step One: darken that center tree foliage (again).

New layer of darkish leaves must be designed to blend well with existing ones. Cutting random leaf shapes will not do. Try something new: grab a clear acetate sleeve normally used for covering matted prints, tape to print; paint reddish-brown leaves on it. Scrape away mistakes with Exacto knife. Paint, scrape, back up and squint; paint, scrape, back up and squint…

This works brilliantly. Resolve to use acetate instead of tracing paper from now on. Now flip acetate over backwards and tape to fresh linoleum block, slide transfer paper under it, trace leaves onto block.

As I carve away negative space, Bob gleefully rips aluminum off house. He discovers the merest remains of scrollwork on fascia board ends, mostly hacked off by siding contractors of bygone era. Also reveals clear evidence of decorative eave brackets, and cedar shakes on front dormer, contrasting charmingly with clapboards elsewhere. Such whimsical architectural embellishments were no doubt an embarrassment to the modern, mid-century homeowner.

I get to play archeologist and re-create pattern for new fascia boards, which Bob will make.

Leaf carving finished. Off to printing studio.

Print about to be transformed…

…from that, to this. Foreground tree no longer competes with middle ground tree, and greater distance seems to have resulted as well. Yay.

Meanwhile, Bob researches history of house. Built in 1926; permit issued five years later to expand living room into space occupied by front porch. Front porch?? This explains why house looks a lot like a bungalow without the porch. This also explains generous proportions of living room, as well as impressive sag of front roof edge (see pic above), from early removal of porch supports.

Bob creates new support structure.

Sag be gone

We are excited by news of bungalow design and original porch, but not enough to consider re-creating it. Porch-sitters of 1926 would have enjoyed view of sedate lane and occasional passers-by; we would be treated to stimulating sights, sounds and scents of urban traffic.

Plus we need our very large living room for ping pong.

Query: Is it a bungalow if decorative details aren’t Arts & Crafts (scrolly fascia boards & eve brackets, Colonial Revival style fireplace surround & picture mouldings)?

Decide that PBS donation painting will be Roycroft Campus in moonlight. Must temporarily shelve Autumn Hills. Videographer and interviewer appear at studio for Roycroft Campus “painting-in-progress” promo. Get through interview; try not to sound like moron. Thank Kevin in advance for professional editing.

April 1: Back to Autumn Hills, Step Two. Mission: subdue orange of middle field. Also must create more distance in hills beyond. Suddenly wonder if one stone might kill two birds. Mix up periwinkle watercolor; paint on a trial proof, over hills and orange field. Hey. Looks good.

Don’t trust it could really be this easy. Take trial print and small blank block to studio for trial run. Mix opaque white, blue, and transparent white with a touch of red, to get periwinkle blue haze. Print it.

Hey. Still looks good! Do more tracing on acetate; get three new blocks; transfer tracings to blocks; carve them to cover layers of hills, parts of yellow Elm tree, and parts of orange field with blue haze.

Pause for Easter celebration: fill and hide baskets for seven offspring and three S.O.s; create and hide ten clues for outdoor treasure hunt. It’s a lovely spring day marred by only one brief shower, which coincides perfectly with treasure hunt. A lovely dinner (thanks, Mom) follows for thirteen, at ping pong table.

Bob has only one week to replace all fascia boards before roofers arrive. But first he cannot resist trying out infrared paint stripper on 3-day rental. Annoyed by inefficiency of needing to hold stripper gizmo against clapboards, he fabricates apparatus of metal pipe to do it while he scrapes. Strips the entire back dormer in this way.

Old paint be gone

Then returns to fascia board project, after pausing to paint daughter’s bedroom in 3 colors, including several built-in units.

Roycroft campus painting finished and framed, just in time to do awkward “no do-overs” taping of PBS auction for TV. When it airs, husband gently asks didn’t you say the same exact thing last year?

Carving finished. Print center panel first. Periwinkle layer becomes haze in far distance, and shadows on tree and field in middle distance. Wow. Cannot believe how atmospheric and 3-D it looks. Transparent ink rules, as daughter might say.

Now print right side panel. Immediately see that carving was too hasty: an entire section mistakenly omitted. Must do over.

Print other side panel. Immediately see that carving is upside down and backwards. Workshop students would love this. Must do over. Also make appointment to be tested for early onset dementia.

Spend next day preparing birthday cake, card and bowling party for 15-year old. Much fun had by all. After 3 games and breathtaking personal improvement, I bowl a 57, finally bringing girl’s team to victory over boys.

Re-carve both side blocks, and print.

Six Van Erp lamps reduced to three; distant hills recede dreamily in lavender haze, and, as bonus, elm tree is now shadowed and dimensional (hard to see in this pic). Enhancement project definitely worthwhile.

Autumn Hills is made to provide a window of warmth, glowing color and serenity amid its surroundings. Which should be fairly spacious, as it is 29.5” x 41,” framed. (Sized for my own mantelpiece, to preside grandly over ping pong tournaments.)

Lay prints all over bedroom to dry. Next day, gingerly put one set into mat; put before Roycroft jury for review (for continuation of Master Artisan status), along with “wet print” sign and 3 other block prints. Exit room, fingers crossed. Wait for letter next week.

Horrible House Rehab Project ongoing. Roof replacement underway but full of surprises due to rot and horrors from decades past; entire chunks of roof must be rebuilt. Estimate rising rapidly.

Rotted gable piece be gone 

Keep smiling; ply roof artisans with hot coffee, pastries, subs, pizza & wings.

And, as with all worthwhile creative endeavors, do not be in a hurry.

PS Roycroft Campus painting and posters are now up for bid on the local PBS site. Bidding ends 4/28! Click here to go to the WXXI Auction site