Weather Problems

If anyone has recently driven past the mural and noticed white streaks on the lower right half it is because of the sealant. It was a clear coat applied in late October when the temperature was warm enough for application, but apparently the sealant didn't adhere correctly probably because it got cold soon after being applied. This doesn't mean the actual painting has been affected, just the top clear coat, and luckily it's only the bottom half as the top half was sealed in late summer before the scissor lift was returned.
Hopefully it can be fixed in the spring, and if worst comes to worst, I'll just have to repaint the lower half of the coke oven section. Though I think there is a way to remove the sealant that didn't adhere properly without any damage to the painting.

Dedicated... but not yet done.

The list of names I have so far includes:

Luce
Brown
Knox
Halvonik
Carson
Betz
Martin
Chalfant
Baker
Shaw
Galley
Holler
Hixenbaugh
Powell
Rebottini
Karolcik
Oldham
Allison
Sechrist
Bubnash
Hegyes
Masney
Johnson
Statzula

About half the names have been added so far, but I won't have time to finish adding them before I head back to Baltimore, and unless it's warm enough over Thanksgiving break, it will have to wait until spring.



The logos of the sponsor companies will be added off to the bottom right.

Pioneer Day Dedication

Touch Ups

Over Labor Day weekend I came home to work on some details like the wheel barrow before Pioneer Days. Then I'll begin to add the names of the families to the bricks.

Check out the news articles in the Trib and the Herald Standard!

Hands!

Finally got her hands down! The book still needs some work, but it's much better than before. I just have to fill in some areas where the paint is thin and fix up the coke oven worker's legs, seal it, then it's done! But not really. The names on the bricks will be added gradually, and each one can be sealed once it's complete, as will the banner on the bottom right that will display the sponsors.
Now heading back to MICA! Classes start Monday and I'm not yet completely moved in...

Total hours worked: 2 1/2
Hours worked to date: 128

Hands...

Didn't get to spend much time on the mural at all today. Worked on the hands for just an hour, got really frustrated because I could clearly see how I needed to paint Mary Fuller Frazier's hands, but every time I stepped off the ladder to take a look at it, there was something off. Either the angle of the wrist wasn't right, or the arm was too close, or the book was too tilted... I gave it a rest and figured I'd have to come back tomorrow.


Total hours worked: 1
Hours to date: 125 1/2

Bricks

Got the bricks blocked in...

Total hours worked: 5 1/2
Hours worked to date: 124 1/2

Like the Mural on Facebook!

Rain

I kept waiting for the rain to let up today so I could at least get the bricks blocked in, so around 5 I went up because the sky seemed to clear up and it was warm out... at least at home. When I got to Perry, I noticed it was a lot chilllier. And no sooner did it start to rain. It only lasted about 5 minutes and then I tried to round out the bottom because I noticed the bricks on the left were larger than the ones on the right. It's much easier to just paint in the curve as a solid color then go back and add the lines between the bricks later.


Hours worked: 1
Total hours to date: 119

Working on the Bricks

The lift was picked up this morning at 10:30. I went up at 9:30 and touched up some of the higher areas before the delivery guys showed up. I sketched in some of the bricks along the bottom since I don't need a ladder to reach them, just to get an idea of what it will look like when it's done.

But the top half is finished!
To do:
Mary Fuller Frazier needs hands
Commodore's boots
Flame needs defined
Coke oven worker legs/pants/hand
Wheel barrow
Banners
Bricks



Hours worked: 2
Total hours to date: 118

Close ups

Some pictures I took on the lift before it left.

Historic Perryopolis


Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry


Mary Fuller Frazier


Coke Oven Workers

Last day with the Lift

Or so I thought. I had called yesterday to find out when the lift would be picked up. They told me between 2 - 2:30. Around 2:40 I called and found out their delivery guy was out somewhere else and wouldn't be able to make it to Perry today, so we got an extra few hours.
We had already sealed the top half (to about Mary Fuller Frazier's face and the bottom of the coke ovens) so I didn't mess with it much, but still fixed up a few areas.



Hours worked: 5
Total hours to date: 116

Finishing up the top

Just trying to make the most of the extra day. Working on the top half that can't be reached easily with a ladder.






Hours worked: 10
Total hours to date: 111

(Some) More time!

Got a two day extension because we were having some trouble with the lift shorting out. And really could use a little extra time with the lift.



Hours worked: 8
Total hours to date: 101

Down to the wire

Technically tomorrow is supposed to be the day the lift will be picked up. I called a few days ago and asked if we could get an extension. I'm going to call tomorrow early to find out if they need it back right away or not.




Hours worked: 9
Total hours to date: 93

Details

Hours worked: 7 1/2
Total hours to date: 84

Text

Hours worked: 3
Total hours to date:76 1/2

Again cant rememb

Hours worked: 5
Total hours to date: 73 1/2

What did I work on?

Hours worked: 2
Total hours to date: 68 1/2

Hot. Again.

Worked until about 1:00 and went swimming again because of the heat. Worked on the grist mill windows. Then to the Mattress Factory to check out the Violet Imperative and Zany Umbrella Circus, as well as wrap a few things up with my internship.


Hours worked: 3
Total hours to date: 66 1/2

Hot

Called it a day around 11:30 because it was so hot and went swimming for the first time all summer.

Hours worked: 3 1/2
Total hours to date: 63 1/2

The workers still need some work

Went up at 7:30 in the morning and got a good start on the right hand side, which I've been ignoring for awhile now.
And I finally fixed the 3rd coke oven worker. Well, at least he has limbs now.



Decided to try the 2nd coke oven worker's legs the other way... don't like it.

Hours worked: 7
Total hours to date: 60

Coming along

Spent 2 hours mixing paint at home before heading up around 6. It always takes longer than I think it will and it's much messier than actually painting, but hopefully I mixed enough to last until the lift gets picked up in a little less than 2 weeks.



Hours worked: 5
Total hours to date: 53

Commodore Perry

Hours worked: 5 1/2
Total hours to date: 48

Filling in the Blanks

Hours worked: 4 1/2
Total hours to date: 42 1/2

Before Baltimore

Again, only got in a couple hours before heading off to Baltimore.

Hours worked: 2
Total hours to date: 38

Updates coming soon!! So so busy, but it's coming along hour by hour. Next week I should be able to devote a couple full days. Hope it isn't 100+ degrees and doesn't rain.

So since no one has claimed the kitten, he has been adopted by my family and named Hazard. He is amazing.

Hours worked: 1 1/2
Total hours to date: 36

Getting dark

Worked on the coke oven cart and Mary Fuller Frazier. First time working until sundown.






Hours worked: 2 1/2
Total hours to date: 34 1/2

Morning Work

Didn't have much time to work. Had to leave before noon to head to Baltimore and apartment search.

Hours worked: 2
Total hours to date: 32

Painting

I haven't worked on the mural since Friday, mostly because it's been raining when I've had free time. I mixed a bunch of colors at home on Wednesday. Since I mixed more green it seemed logical to just finish the grass, which led into Washington. I used some of the flesh color I'd mixed because the portrait tone was really pink. The Flame was pretty easy to knock out with some of the gray and white. Mary Fuller Frazier is another story. There is something seriously wrong with the proportion of her head to her body that I need to fix.

And right now she resembles Edward Scissorhands.



:P to you too George Washington

Hours worked: 3
Total hours to date: 30
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Now playing: Jackie Greene - Grindstone