tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146976752260983772024-02-20T22:44:16.541-08:00Dave Geister - Painter, Illustrator, Time Traveller . . . GeekThe ramblings of a self-absorbed creator of historically themed paintings, living history enthusiast and occasional gamer.David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-9585609095115527892015-01-25T20:41:00.000-08:002015-01-26T05:22:36.422-08:00The LiberatorsPainting "The Liberators of the 9th Minnesota"<br />
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I must apologize for the long spell between posts, but my
life is like that. For days, weeks . . . months . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. I throw myself into certain endeavors with great
enthusiasm, and then lose steam for a while. After my break, I think I am back for a decent run.<br />
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Over the last year, in addition to illustrating three new
books, I also worked on a painting of an American Civil War subject I have
previously never dealt with – the liberation of slaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not my first time painting
slaves; see my earlier post on Dred and Harriet Scott by clicking <a href="http://davegeister.blogspot.com/search/label/Dred%20Scott" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">here.</span></a></div>
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The Minnesota Historical Society asked me to create an
illustration for their 5-minute film "Perils and Prison Camps: Beyond the Battlefield". Prior to their capture and deadly confinement in the Confederate prison camp near Andersonville, Georgia, several men of the 9<sup>th</sup> Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
Regiment were involved in what was known as the “Otterville Outrage”.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4dAg1d3_33ndQwD7auRc7QjT2m695gO7lgI_yi17Gu3vygRwSrMWi2tq5H4fmtcgNdjAH0TSK9G3E6JAdKAK3NcB-OtrxJRmBE00wyjYCNgrvCGpmkJRdFDOhpxwZLoJYoZyM6DKKAk/s1600/Liberators+corrected+scan+medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4dAg1d3_33ndQwD7auRc7QjT2m695gO7lgI_yi17Gu3vygRwSrMWi2tq5H4fmtcgNdjAH0TSK9G3E6JAdKAK3NcB-OtrxJRmBE00wyjYCNgrvCGpmkJRdFDOhpxwZLoJYoZyM6DKKAk/s1600/Liberators+corrected+scan+medium.jpg" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p> "The Liberators" - oil on board, 14 x 24</o:p></div>
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The story was told in impressive detail by John B. Lundstrom
in his book, “One Drop in a Sea of Blue”, published by Minnesota Historical Society
Press. <a href="http://shop.mnhs.org/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=3217" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">Click here for details.</span></a></div>
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On a November morning in 1863, while guarding a railroad
bridge near Otterville, Missouri, these Minnesota soldiers were approached by
John, a run-away slave. John pleaded with the men to stop a train and rescue
his family before they could be shipped to Kentucky and sold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation was complicated. Missouri
was a border state – loyal slave owners, in spite of the Emancipation
Proclamation, could keep their human “property”, but were not allowed to ship
slaves to another state.<br />
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When the junior officer in charge conveniently stepped away,
38 men grabbed their weapons and fell in under the command of a sergeant who
promptly marched them off to the nearby Otterville train station. The train was
stopped and the slaves were removed from a boxcar, under protest from the
conductor and a pair of Missouri militia officers – the slave’s master remained
inside the passenger car, no doubt intimidated by the Minnesotan’s leveled
rifle-muskets. The train moved on, and the slaves joined the detachment as they
started to march back to camp. Moments later, the train returned, this time
with the Minnesotan’s commanding officer on board. The slaves ran into the
woods, and the Liberators were placed under arrest.</div>
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The story has an ambiguous ending. Historians are not sure
of the fate of the liberated slaves. The Minnesotans promised to help them, but
they were jailed for some time until the political firestorm they had created
finally blew over. By then, the slaves had disappeared . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5M51yELLAcpYZlUPWEorlEXeaf-Z5xjNls0aCeZGv6YKNvd8tuuNLvRscNUjNcJtk-ajaY2D8VhNuYZiXaV9KZWwvD1u0_UMzdmmxGea0na7GkMlRVYtedbDxZxDAnaA9OPKj1qaAhY/s1600/Liberators+sketch+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5M51yELLAcpYZlUPWEorlEXeaf-Z5xjNls0aCeZGv6YKNvd8tuuNLvRscNUjNcJtk-ajaY2D8VhNuYZiXaV9KZWwvD1u0_UMzdmmxGea0na7GkMlRVYtedbDxZxDAnaA9OPKj1qaAhY/s1600/Liberators+sketch+3.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9FAoqF5ItFw0ZMYyLYkcaQp-ftLdValLY7T7-NyFLoRuYoYGJQhp6kiS74i16GR7z9el-RLAAf_4fH9YgngxPWSkEsfKSyAOjEBrpOQaJqRk96xYi7UkuNAkR1Fw40GhaAea-49ZUQY/s1600/Liberators+sketch+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9FAoqF5ItFw0ZMYyLYkcaQp-ftLdValLY7T7-NyFLoRuYoYGJQhp6kiS74i16GR7z9el-RLAAf_4fH9YgngxPWSkEsfKSyAOjEBrpOQaJqRk96xYi7UkuNAkR1Fw40GhaAea-49ZUQY/s1600/Liberators+sketch+4.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
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Preliminary compositional sketches</div>
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I decided to paint a scene that would work in wide-screen
format for the documentary and have several vignettes that could be focused on
if the director and editor wished to do so.</div>
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To create this painting, I used a variety of approaches to
visualize the characters as well as the train.</div>
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Most figures were based on photos of my wife and myself posing
in the studio. However, in a few instances, I actually used DAZStudio software
to test out some poses and replace the occasional face. The fact that it allows
me to introduce facial and body-type variations, as well as control the
lighting, has made my life much easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I this case, my schedule required that I move quickly forward and arranging suitable African-American models was not a realistic option. </span>At the end of the day, I will use whatever means are at my disposal to
visualize the scene, knowing full well that the process of painting it will –
and should – change the picture in ways I cannot always foresee.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iAIKPW3yZL9TjIKo59n9szQsXPdyXvoZWHy0R7AdC9CwkNzGEOwZLKy87FQH8N_C6tSmmAsr6jA2afgYSqCCj949qHhENcxQIai9NrOOkw34WbnY59cM-NwZpW4FnyduFGflKcBDvAA/s1600/Liberators+photosketch2+flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iAIKPW3yZL9TjIKo59n9szQsXPdyXvoZWHy0R7AdC9CwkNzGEOwZLKy87FQH8N_C6tSmmAsr6jA2afgYSqCCj949qHhENcxQIai9NrOOkw34WbnY59cM-NwZpW4FnyduFGflKcBDvAA/s1600/Liberators+photosketch2+flat.jpg" height="232" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p> The photosketch - all photo references combined with a bit of digital overpainting.</o:p></div>
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We did not have references for the slave’s appearance, other
than suggestions that John was a big man. I found an online photo of a
beautifully painted portrait (by one of my favorites, George Caleb Bingham) of
Missouri State Militia Major Levi Pritchard. He is one of the two Union
officers arguing with the Liberators.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDpkJMUdq9m6hUF8M6gdmyH28DELKWJ3NmOuJp_jVVzJamAomQ1gYSI0gmp2Yum4Bi4zFRYCjMXy4Le9Z2a98Vpkj0G0H5iFHGzWTMzd59ETjAVVnX8mtT5KDp4kPdPXcBKxfp_aAhO4/s1600/Pritchard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDpkJMUdq9m6hUF8M6gdmyH28DELKWJ3NmOuJp_jVVzJamAomQ1gYSI0gmp2Yum4Bi4zFRYCjMXy4Le9Z2a98Vpkj0G0H5iFHGzWTMzd59ETjAVVnX8mtT5KDp4kPdPXcBKxfp_aAhO4/s1600/Pritchard.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
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Major Pritchard</div>
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While there are photos of various Liberators, I opted to
take a chance and concentrate more on the other characters. It seemed to me
that the overall composition and narrative was better served by not turning
this into a “Where’s Waldo” type of history painting. </div>
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The train was based on various period photos and some great
shots of recently fabricated, top-notch HO scale model railroad box cars
intended for train and Civil War enthusiasts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje67NlokXtrXa-YgQTNvA_MlJCDUSn7gB-7Wa-nXduUmrOarFpHL-5TZp73XGQuO6K6WFKbUP-AD3RDM5KjSc2QKN-PTodreViuDHuDw43SEYjhqZMhphmfgX45fIOCY6YVjbRkRABk2o/s1600/HouseCarPrototype.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje67NlokXtrXa-YgQTNvA_MlJCDUSn7gB-7Wa-nXduUmrOarFpHL-5TZp73XGQuO6K6WFKbUP-AD3RDM5KjSc2QKN-PTodreViuDHuDw43SEYjhqZMhphmfgX45fIOCY6YVjbRkRABk2o/s1600/HouseCarPrototype.jpg" height="217" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqJPr61fJuvqy3kZlj8h_9xJXWm8g7MCXgJAIFp43qfPWc_nstwugNBax7g2u5kc4na7B3Fb0no4vp9k1S-7y08_IPXnBuqXcTkaWnit9jQXXdPKtK_gnWjHxJcxsaBxayAaxRU7bcD4/s1600/boxcar-kit-finished-picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqJPr61fJuvqy3kZlj8h_9xJXWm8g7MCXgJAIFp43qfPWc_nstwugNBax7g2u5kc4na7B3Fb0no4vp9k1S-7y08_IPXnBuqXcTkaWnit9jQXXdPKtK_gnWjHxJcxsaBxayAaxRU7bcD4/s1600/boxcar-kit-finished-picture.jpg" height="165" width="400" /></a></div>
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The ten year old in me still loves model trains . . .</div>
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The project progressed and the painting (can we say
“Alliteration” folks?) was built up in the usual stages:</div>
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1. Read period accounts</div>
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2. Sketches</div>
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3. References</div>
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4. Comprehensive photo-sketch</div>
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5. Transfer to the masonite “Gessobord” (I really dislike
cute names like that, but love the actual “bord”, so . . .)</div>
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6. Careful underpainting of lines and value masses.</div>
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7. Layers of corrections until the deadline or my dear wife
says time is up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-S9-obvipR6an2cGrR9Sy-pa3tffJYFig7z440EOUbOUVj7c548lE3R3CtTktR2s_6reuja6hSi4ZJBGOHKf_OXn9pKZdevdSri7GykfdeZeJ3KjyIiQY0qM0m02Ol1vuLS9FBDZBuQ/s1600/Liberators+underpainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-S9-obvipR6an2cGrR9Sy-pa3tffJYFig7z440EOUbOUVj7c548lE3R3CtTktR2s_6reuja6hSi4ZJBGOHKf_OXn9pKZdevdSri7GykfdeZeJ3KjyIiQY0qM0m02Ol1vuLS9FBDZBuQ/s1600/Liberators+underpainting.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkdh5aXUqzZuHlHoPilHX7RWd3MBERrleJC_HDXKw9VgGir8itWJv7ARoEqLGWT9WtnZ1i-43s9R8vJJ5iFNsRHTXpdynextViypIUoxWGaHZMmh32iZg5ovoz9XPJk2Rw-gpt2EJzLg/s1600/Liberators+painting+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkdh5aXUqzZuHlHoPilHX7RWd3MBERrleJC_HDXKw9VgGir8itWJv7ARoEqLGWT9WtnZ1i-43s9R8vJJ5iFNsRHTXpdynextViypIUoxWGaHZMmh32iZg5ovoz9XPJk2Rw-gpt2EJzLg/s1600/Liberators+painting+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8IRc7lwAcBnsMRLPMYcXHD3HhHW37EXqEJfhDG_kyL2i0ITCoBRdomlXmOxEA0Dg5AZI969h1QqFCORqgNBmjHbJrB3E_WoR74TGgBeockbFzyn7AZmz9Bb1OTF0yncO5sJoy_gLdBU/s1600/Liberators+painting+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8IRc7lwAcBnsMRLPMYcXHD3HhHW37EXqEJfhDG_kyL2i0ITCoBRdomlXmOxEA0Dg5AZI969h1QqFCORqgNBmjHbJrB3E_WoR74TGgBeockbFzyn7AZmz9Bb1OTF0yncO5sJoy_gLdBU/s1600/Liberators+painting+3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4dAg1d3_33ndQwD7auRc7QjT2m695gO7lgI_yi17Gu3vygRwSrMWi2tq5H4fmtcgNdjAH0TSK9G3E6JAdKAK3NcB-OtrxJRmBE00wyjYCNgrvCGpmkJRdFDOhpxwZLoJYoZyM6DKKAk/s1600/Liberators+corrected+scan+medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4dAg1d3_33ndQwD7auRc7QjT2m695gO7lgI_yi17Gu3vygRwSrMWi2tq5H4fmtcgNdjAH0TSK9G3E6JAdKAK3NcB-OtrxJRmBE00wyjYCNgrvCGpmkJRdFDOhpxwZLoJYoZyM6DKKAk/s1600/Liberators+corrected+scan+medium.jpg" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQTF0uhTBG6u_smrM6vBAXUwhxngregvL217Z_g_VuoqJ6Wk1VbPdX9Kjt7ZXCWSKnWACFYdMDZf1nk36J5Pyw6XmVYuGkGrwEefL9Lp665Lvk5uY0ywRjGyApdzSds7F0XNsRnoakds/s1600/Liberators+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQTF0uhTBG6u_smrM6vBAXUwhxngregvL217Z_g_VuoqJ6Wk1VbPdX9Kjt7ZXCWSKnWACFYdMDZf1nk36J5Pyw6XmVYuGkGrwEefL9Lp665Lvk5uY0ywRjGyApdzSds7F0XNsRnoakds/s1600/Liberators+detail.jpg" height="347" width="400" /></a></div>
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I can honestly say that this project was a pleasure to work on, and as far as I know, nobody has painted this scene before. While the images of the painting are only a small part of the finished documentary, they stand out and highlight an important moment in our history.</div>
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If you get a chance, check out this and the other documentaries in the series by <span style="color: cyan;"><a href="http://sites.mnhs.org/civil-war/videos" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</span></div>
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Cheers, for now!</div>
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David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-8005976618171604742014-04-11T13:37:00.002-07:002014-04-11T14:33:05.865-07:00"The Charge" is finished."The Charge"is ready to hang on your wall!<br />
<br />
After a journey that started more than a year ago, (you can read the gory details in my <a href="http://davegeister.blogspot.com/2013/06/well-this-is-my-first-post.html"><span style="color: cyan;">June</span></a>, <a href="http://davegeister.blogspot.com/2013/07/changes-to-charge-part-1_21.html"><span style="color: cyan;">July</span></a> and <a href="http://davegeister.blogspot.com/2013/09/changes-to-charge-part-2.html"><span style="color: cyan;">September</span></a> 2013 posts) my interpretation of the charge of the First Minnesota Regiment at Gettysburg is painted, scanned, printed, signed and numbered . . . and waiting for you to buy it and hang it someplace prominently in your home or office.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAXMek9h_j6_mjA5_EnXplOo3h5UNzYZ2P2S2PYvXs_tA1Mi-nPqVJK2j1D9L0Xbwwiz86eJNjnx_vJEc5ZZ1l683R3fZiLN1b6asMqNoxGw_qJovdaBcU5olTsMOJ7np4FJ-TH9qmAA/s1600/The+Charge+final+art+3+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAXMek9h_j6_mjA5_EnXplOo3h5UNzYZ2P2S2PYvXs_tA1Mi-nPqVJK2j1D9L0Xbwwiz86eJNjnx_vJEc5ZZ1l683R3fZiLN1b6asMqNoxGw_qJovdaBcU5olTsMOJ7np4FJ-TH9qmAA/s1600/The+Charge+final+art+3+small.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just before the signing and numbering began . . .</div>
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It was printed by Husom and Rose of Hager City, Wisconsin, a fine shop run by two artists who know their stuff.<br />
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For years, other people had hired me to paint, reproduced my work and printed vast numbers - none of which ever sold out, or even came close, as far as I know. This time, the entire project was mine, and I determined to "do it up right" by making a limited - edition just that. Limited. It is limited to 47 regular prints, 4 artist's proofs (these last 4 have small, hand-drawn remarque sketches) and 2 special reserve prints.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9p_cHrODUPItpsi-xcBRr0-6bBrMEeM3FC0oPI3jgfTq0hV9GUOjUd09vctgDvptcnH7KjBbKZGikGAOC9_TqJRI10MSoKPiriNA1U_JIbdYIy5tqSswHe5Lvx2aIwF6roTO-2jfvlk/s1600/The+Charge+remarque+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9p_cHrODUPItpsi-xcBRr0-6bBrMEeM3FC0oPI3jgfTq0hV9GUOjUd09vctgDvptcnH7KjBbKZGikGAOC9_TqJRI10MSoKPiriNA1U_JIbdYIy5tqSswHe5Lvx2aIwF6roTO-2jfvlk/s1600/The+Charge+remarque+sketch.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have added remarque sketches to the Artist's Proofs and the 2 special reserve prints.</div>
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The number 47 has special significance to historians of the First Minnesota. As the battered remnants of the regiment gathered around the shredded remains of their flag right after the charge, there were only 47 men standing. Although others rejoined the regiment that evening, that initial roll call no doubt stunned the survivors.<br />
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I am happy to say that as I type this we have already sold all the Artist's Proofs and 12 of the regular print, and I am thrilled that folks like this work.<br />
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The painting ( and yours truly) is shown briefly in these videos made by the Minnesota Historical Society and Antietam Creek Press -<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMpJNOnwkbg" style="color: cyan;"> David Geister: Civil War Artist</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o0IRK1Q6pk" style="color: cyan;"> <span style="color: cyan;">Minnesota Remembers: Battle of Gettysburg, 1863</span></a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv6FjWZyuEg"><span style="color: cyan;">"The Charge" painting unveiling at Gettysburg.</span></a><br />
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If you are interested in a copy of "The Charge", please go to my website "store" (<a href="http://www.davidgeister.com/shop/"><span style="color: cyan;">click here</span></a>) for details and send me a message. I will be most happy to accept your hard-earned money and in return I will send you this labor of love.<br />
<br />David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-42260715152728965812014-01-07T13:18:00.000-08:002014-01-07T16:02:05.129-08:00The Goblin in my Basement - Part 1<h3>
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There really IS a goblin in my basement!</i></h3>
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It’s true. I have a little goblin in my basement. Don’t believe
me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me show you indisputable
photographic evidence . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKPMDljtCtPcAueVc0ObaYKBAEl4rIBBaweigmNR-htFzSqrY-CNAoMSHLVCx815hUaKwInm8gxuEvlckM3YZyRFgba8ifZH_c8omr3JA77_hi4pHatR47iTfl0sfN7CZyZQRDc66HI8/s1600/Mr.+Geister's+Goblin+still+frame+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKPMDljtCtPcAueVc0ObaYKBAEl4rIBBaweigmNR-htFzSqrY-CNAoMSHLVCx815hUaKwInm8gxuEvlckM3YZyRFgba8ifZH_c8omr3JA77_hi4pHatR47iTfl0sfN7CZyZQRDc66HI8/s1600/Mr.+Geister's+Goblin+still+frame+large.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Charming lad, eh?</div>
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This mischievous chap is not particularly large (maybe 8
inches tall on a good day) and, to be fair, he’s not particularly mischievous,
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am inclined to believe
that he is a sympathetic little creature, and that he may have once been a
member of a royal family . . . the fact that I cannot understand a word he
utters suggests he doesn’t speak English, and therefore is not a member of THAT
royal family.</div>
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I really ought to know more about this green-skinned
humanoid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am, after all, his
creator, and he is the “star” of a short, animated movie I have been making in
my basement for the last two years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2B7JbWZcggi209Pp9d6lgTsjrT0eZlXrOV-tq7Kw251mHKI6gk0WriROsSD7MArvy1BSEzGQwIvgCl59FtKVvTf4U8n9JtzPfdcPtiThdiNkmCZYes-HJKpU6C98RFKiC6WmU5RPBe0/s1600/daveanimating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2B7JbWZcggi209Pp9d6lgTsjrT0eZlXrOV-tq7Kw251mHKI6gk0WriROsSD7MArvy1BSEzGQwIvgCl59FtKVvTf4U8n9JtzPfdcPtiThdiNkmCZYes-HJKpU6C98RFKiC6WmU5RPBe0/s1600/daveanimating.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yours truly and his houseguest.</div>
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Let me start at the beginning.</div>
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As a child, I saw the 1933 movie “King Kong” and immediately
wanted to know how it was made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I gradually became aware of more movies that had fantastic creatures that couldn't possibly exist. They didn't seem real, exactly; there was a toy-like quality to them, as they lumbered through forests or stomped down the streets of ruined cities, that I found mesmerizing. If you read my August, 2013 post about "Little Wars" you will see that same fascination with miniature worlds. In the end, t</span>he dinosaurs (and COWBOYS!) from “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Valley_of_Gwangi" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">The Valley of Gwangi</span></a>” and the poor
Ymir beast in “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Million_Miles_to_Earth" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">20 Million Miles to Earth</span></a>” grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t
let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZqcBKkwEO4oF-KsOUUbUPv_ZcTqQjDzswvgium7SoRJ2W484DYT4m4leO77kwFjg_RR-HHTrAkOolN8oLVAZ-aGV7zWS60kUUAO-5AV5ohnNPjXeEjxpQEZSel1jrBogUgF9jGF9Dtc/s1600/king_kong_1933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZqcBKkwEO4oF-KsOUUbUPv_ZcTqQjDzswvgium7SoRJ2W484DYT4m4leO77kwFjg_RR-HHTrAkOolN8oLVAZ-aGV7zWS60kUUAO-5AV5ohnNPjXeEjxpQEZSel1jrBogUgF9jGF9Dtc/s1600/king_kong_1933.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Magnificent.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZv1Z_9i7NMV1Ajhs7ubc2jN1Y6jyf3twZE8RimGwYIH-kYUXuwnHn0J2b2im9g3FwcHcRCs5TQeL7WAEV06-iSfzBO5UWM429I9Oc0urwemjrpV7ktCwZpUoyKU59TOrAbId1kV-e6k/s1600/valley+of+gwangi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZv1Z_9i7NMV1Ajhs7ubc2jN1Y6jyf3twZE8RimGwYIH-kYUXuwnHn0J2b2im9g3FwcHcRCs5TQeL7WAEV06-iSfzBO5UWM429I9Oc0urwemjrpV7ktCwZpUoyKU59TOrAbId1kV-e6k/s1600/valley+of+gwangi.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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As a 6 year old kid, I knew these guys didn't live at the same time, but it didn't matter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsk7mgl5-7nN5fjosHgJw2QegkfUz6Hty9KLYDLm5AAHpv55uWbptS3ZpuO9NUtWcEHHW8ptVqZfeEEBrIMYJ1d4aQsv8ZI9hkRrSJYbDUDemuShX8sG8srT_h76en6eEC-D8ZgmFdac/s1600/20+million+miles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsk7mgl5-7nN5fjosHgJw2QegkfUz6Hty9KLYDLm5AAHpv55uWbptS3ZpuO9NUtWcEHHW8ptVqZfeEEBrIMYJ1d4aQsv8ZI9hkRrSJYbDUDemuShX8sG8srT_h76en6eEC-D8ZgmFdac/s1600/20+million+miles.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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The poster says it all!</div>
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Thanks to a kids book on monster movie magic (NOT the
real title) found in the Prescott Public Library, I learned that these creatures were brought to life by
the use of something called “stop-motion animation”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Articulated puppets were placed in a miniature set and
photographed, one frame at a time, as they were ever-so-slightly moved from one
pose to the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Played back at a
rate of 24 frames per second, they seemed to be alive. I learned the names of pioneering animators <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis_H._O'Brien" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">Willis O'Brien</span></a> and <span style="color: white;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Harryhausen" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">Ray Harryhausen</span></a> </span>and to this day their work is every bit as important to me as Rembrandt or Rubens.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-6fEoOwbGUNdNDi0Ub-1oveaq38mCqIdLpGBDtXAjfGB4rSsnLyVhE2FOhsgGfeBdXjyQwTHDl2Xg3BxyrAMV2SQA1oPzwDbdql1PFe3gn1LvAvxLehXn7eZ-gKrOuNKm590yn5lFso/s1600/Sears+catalog+-+cameras+I+coudn't+have.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-6fEoOwbGUNdNDi0Ub-1oveaq38mCqIdLpGBDtXAjfGB4rSsnLyVhE2FOhsgGfeBdXjyQwTHDl2Xg3BxyrAMV2SQA1oPzwDbdql1PFe3gn1LvAvxLehXn7eZ-gKrOuNKm590yn5lFso/s1600/Sears+catalog+-+cameras+I+coudn't+have.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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I used to drool looking at these pages . . .</div>
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We were too poor to afford the super 8mm movie cameras that Sears
advertised <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with “single-frame”
options, so I never got a chance to try this out. I did, however, spend the
next 40+ years learning how to sculpt and paint miniature buildings and figures, and for a number of reasons, it was time well spent.</div>
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So endeth my ancient history lesson. <br />
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Still frame from "The Wargame"</div>
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In October of 2011, I discovered that I could make an animated
movie in my basement using a simple point and shoot camera, my military
miniatures and free image-sequencing software on my Mac. I stayed up several nights, carefully moving little tanks and shooting photos, until the sun came up. It was a blast (pun intended) and I was hooked. Here’s the link to
that first endeavor:</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrEv9Q5gtvE"><span style="color: white;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrEv9Q5gtvE</span></a></h4>
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2 lavishly illustrated books about the work of my animation hero Ray Harryhausen suddenly appeared on the shelves at Half Price Books and my childhood dreams of fantastic beings in fantastic worlds seemed to spring to life once more. My imagination ran
wild at the possibilities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dinosaurs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Monsters? Fairy Tales?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever should I do next?</div>
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<span style="color: red;">Stay tuned – more “Goblin” coming soon!</span></h4>
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David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-12521924496533631782013-11-15T19:51:00.003-08:002013-11-16T08:01:04.494-08:00Art Show Frenzy - part 2<h3>
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I survived!!</i></h3>
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This will be a short post - I am sick, and I have noticed a tendency to ramble when I sit down to write this blog, so brevity is the watchword. At least for tonight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiU4lfLVP7gQzXXaQBRxUbQsZhzKhOKxH8EOg_4Pxz41JV0SbgU0Rux_rJG3OeKLQKFQiwaLggV5atUKgAHPcLhPC8_m5R-0_QfWQqX7cEwt-58M_xpGETIa3g5fHAXcavq0p__hAWKRw/s1600/Taylorsfalls1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiU4lfLVP7gQzXXaQBRxUbQsZhzKhOKxH8EOg_4Pxz41JV0SbgU0Rux_rJG3OeKLQKFQiwaLggV5atUKgAHPcLhPC8_m5R-0_QfWQqX7cEwt-58M_xpGETIa3g5fHAXcavq0p__hAWKRw/s400/Taylorsfalls1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My own little corner of the show, surrounded by new work.</div>
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In the end, I only managed to complete 13 of the paintings that I started for the show, but that's o.k. I am just so glad that I had enough pieces to fill my display wall and that there was a bit of variety to that. A handful sold, the rest will be sold as the year ends and 2014 rolls on in.<br />
<br />
As I think about the process of painting these (which now seems like a month ago instead of last week) I am struck by how truly exhilarating it all was. I enjoyed bouncing back and forth between the fine detail in some of the birds and the looser, impressionistic brushwork of some of the backgrounds and landscapes. <br />
<br />
I began to glimpse a possible new style, more dynamic and atmospheric, for my commercial work. Can I do it? We shall see. I am a creature of habit.<br />
<br />
Here are a few of the finished pieces, prior to framing on the day before the show.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspIjD2ehYDsdDzrobHgBVwfBBmigrT3Y9TSkMUSr6Hvs7eCY_6HXQU7FKUZxhtF236gDup5UgK3T5Z6CSKIbQXZvo1SA3rZSFhaLQa_3HFGAK8nUhPdGa7al1BZXAzznD36QISU4wWis/s1600/%22+A+Crafty+Fellow%22+Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspIjD2ehYDsdDzrobHgBVwfBBmigrT3Y9TSkMUSr6Hvs7eCY_6HXQU7FKUZxhtF236gDup5UgK3T5Z6CSKIbQXZvo1SA3rZSFhaLQa_3HFGAK8nUhPdGa7al1BZXAzznD36QISU4wWis/s400/%22+A+Crafty+Fellow%22+Painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"The Crafty Fellow" SOLD</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkLatPQF2bjop91R5AGjFAqTt6794q4MDazLkoRlyVkJB7ZewpGvP5IPGff8p0G71nwKHJdAy6iZGVhY0keVmu6WZOX7LZygu2T84VNjQs6c5k3cZ70sU5o7YLz4I8Bz1WJgcveqa4XQ/s1600/%22Cardinal%22+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkLatPQF2bjop91R5AGjFAqTt6794q4MDazLkoRlyVkJB7ZewpGvP5IPGff8p0G71nwKHJdAy6iZGVhY0keVmu6WZOX7LZygu2T84VNjQs6c5k3cZ70sU5o7YLz4I8Bz1WJgcveqa4XQ/s400/%22Cardinal%22+painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Cardinal"</div>
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(A clever title, eh?)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hRfFN99Ze_KwIPRVgcdS8znGx8eoIJ475p4GBIE287YvnTlByiy2TAaQG1rFoO1Ac9UAQSb-lTHMr3kcbSGIkVbJCsEQnsQ73YOeJim_VLPeShmgkaUmOy3eHQGn8lqlOIc8iofM6ow/s1600/%22Chickadee%22+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hRfFN99Ze_KwIPRVgcdS8znGx8eoIJ475p4GBIE287YvnTlByiy2TAaQG1rFoO1Ac9UAQSb-lTHMr3kcbSGIkVbJCsEQnsQ73YOeJim_VLPeShmgkaUmOy3eHQGn8lqlOIc8iofM6ow/s400/%22Chickadee%22+painting.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
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"Chickadee"</div>
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(An even more clever title . . .)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHfEaTwYWWhv70N0irNZjCeOHxP-p3QrlvjQHrByhEJYBwEy0l3VFntYlN6HJgTVQzNf3H_44RGeCuhUerAJdu_8Nn5Iz3HDlMf1FjdRzDl_W31DLq7aqR8yiln602txMcmN5WHXdlCg/s1600/%22On+the+Cascade%22+Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHfEaTwYWWhv70N0irNZjCeOHxP-p3QrlvjQHrByhEJYBwEy0l3VFntYlN6HJgTVQzNf3H_44RGeCuhUerAJdu_8Nn5Iz3HDlMf1FjdRzDl_W31DLq7aqR8yiln602txMcmN5WHXdlCg/s400/%22On+the+Cascade%22+Painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"On the Cascade" SOLD</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbCwRZbs0pl5XpyRl4mZlvkmdYblaoIC-uxryjOQPLleJxTqFyt6Kkh-MkmQQt4VixfwDutpiYx7xX0PaIvKQQtTXTxxmtQvOtwbDIzB0WLv-D78x8lYYLCxg0XCOd8kWs3SrTEVVSxs/s1600/%22Winding+Down%22+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbCwRZbs0pl5XpyRl4mZlvkmdYblaoIC-uxryjOQPLleJxTqFyt6Kkh-MkmQQt4VixfwDutpiYx7xX0PaIvKQQtTXTxxmtQvOtwbDIzB0WLv-D78x8lYYLCxg0XCOd8kWs3SrTEVVSxs/s400/%22Winding+Down%22+painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Winding Down" SOLD</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj_AetMINQUOg-zi9Om8YeB0iCg7KCMAKOc3_jXH7L7HFQm9XKAqDuiTbnO6biR8_g5ZXPbMI5r8XOz4EJ4SoUj-72RK4pIUMWC73_2SDuzldwdNVivnLgpfwmtYxmtHqnaa34imc9vc/s1600/%22Superior+Overlook%22+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj_AetMINQUOg-zi9Om8YeB0iCg7KCMAKOc3_jXH7L7HFQm9XKAqDuiTbnO6biR8_g5ZXPbMI5r8XOz4EJ4SoUj-72RK4pIUMWC73_2SDuzldwdNVivnLgpfwmtYxmtHqnaa34imc9vc/s400/%22Superior+Overlook%22+painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Superior Overlook"</div>
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<br />
Thanks for swinging by - I appreciate any feedback you care to offer. In a few weeks I will begin animating my little Goblin movie, for the first time in a year, so expect some posts about that.<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-19603568650015743282013-11-02T21:13:00.000-07:002013-11-15T19:52:41.141-08:00Art Show Frenzy - part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h3>
<i>“I think I can, I think I can . . .” </i></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MobfPTtC1XT3io-kxKmjS3aKVF5OE-Ab4boVqa8oysoll6hdaWnHOlVI3UcruYry0Iueqs9vF-i3kYdleahd9hI6geBhOLDwi9YvP7mbkthSYfcrgtvU8tU2JZ-PHLb53B3j_lKRkeI/s1600/Art+show+frenzy+2013+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MobfPTtC1XT3io-kxKmjS3aKVF5OE-Ab4boVqa8oysoll6hdaWnHOlVI3UcruYry0Iueqs9vF-i3kYdleahd9hI6geBhOLDwi9YvP7mbkthSYfcrgtvU8tU2JZ-PHLb53B3j_lKRkeI/s400/Art+show+frenzy+2013+Poster.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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At least 15 brand new oil paintings need to be framed and
hanging on my modular wall in the Taylors
Falls Depot Artisan Show six days from now. No problem! I have done this show before; I must be almost
ready . . . right?</div>
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Wrong. Oh, so
wrong. Due to a variety of issues,
I have only been able to devote a fraction of the time I normally would to this
show. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oPQAfpt0fYPdglUFmPLDZRzU07REm_dOTaGErNSiogqPSnVvLK8veU0WLCbCWJPLNeVcceCF4DWgTFM_qU1Kltbgqn574N8svPQXp4upFkstctiIpueoRfoj0V6R3OAXMyQ9eP5XbjI/s1600/Art+show+frenzy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oPQAfpt0fYPdglUFmPLDZRzU07REm_dOTaGErNSiogqPSnVvLK8veU0WLCbCWJPLNeVcceCF4DWgTFM_qU1Kltbgqn574N8svPQXp4upFkstctiIpueoRfoj0V6R3OAXMyQ9eP5XbjI/s400/Art+show+frenzy+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This was taken a few days ago - do you notice the absence of finished paintings?</div>
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Not to worry. I
will be ready. I have a system, of
sorts. </div>
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For the last few months I
have been photographing anything that could serve as inspiration for a
painting. I have been printing out selected aspects of these photos,
scaling them to the dimensions of my ready-made Gessobord panels. I have been
paying extra special attention to color and light effects out of doors lately –
filing away mental images that I find intriguing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa4wgsJyI21DhPIqvNo1_Z7eMC09ol6l6KNiVES8kxVtSjARa83OYtZ_1NTJhwFIRoN9uAcHEPIbigcnKJ3-Zeg3MTPIhBXbO8B8tjsPiyfpuEfX3SZYemL526zkuwk3xUHeJQ83y3X0/s1600/Art+show+frenzy+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa4wgsJyI21DhPIqvNo1_Z7eMC09ol6l6KNiVES8kxVtSjARa83OYtZ_1NTJhwFIRoN9uAcHEPIbigcnKJ3-Zeg3MTPIhBXbO8B8tjsPiyfpuEfX3SZYemL526zkuwk3xUHeJQ83y3X0/s400/Art+show+frenzy+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p>As soon as we stood on this spot, overlooking Lake Superior, I was inspired to do a painting of it.</o:p></div>
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Two boxes of frames just arrived from an online framing
company, and have joined the ready-made frames I picked up from a local craft
store. My taboret (combination
wheeled cabinet and palette) is loaded with tubes of paint and several new
brushes.</div>
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My approach in cases like this is to plop the primed panels
into the frames, tape whatever image I intend to paint right onto the panel and
then move onto the next one, trying to get a sense of just what the show might look like. I
play musical frames, selecting the style and color that I hope will work best
with the finished painting. Having a series of works in progress displayed on
easels all around me takes some of the panic away.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMkW_W7zF4GCHxpEQtxnkWYMtG4aa0oLt6lAm7lx6-gE5uCQiybMJTFvp6F0ZS81Pylrae10k2YIGQ5lB5kkoLLQqYlEFtrQETIvLjEQ3_qbs3TDCB-sETrkGBTWHogYtyQjkER9pwDs/s1600/Art+show+frenzy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMkW_W7zF4GCHxpEQtxnkWYMtG4aa0oLt6lAm7lx6-gE5uCQiybMJTFvp6F0ZS81Pylrae10k2YIGQ5lB5kkoLLQqYlEFtrQETIvLjEQ3_qbs3TDCB-sETrkGBTWHogYtyQjkER9pwDs/s400/Art+show+frenzy+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p> My patented "panic mode" approach to starting a painting. Note the printed photo as well as the frame still in its packaging. No time to waste.</o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfNeNGFoYPDTObDu0z5jAcS1eJOZofG6Foiy_IMpV8P6TJFFyAWFQ27mIdtN5K1RgeMG42FUOg96pbCoHEr-EI5gl6NBDHrWhymnHc1y-bt5lbQsOCiMH8i-vgEMXqilku4PF-9Pij0A/s1600/Art+show+frenzy+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfNeNGFoYPDTObDu0z5jAcS1eJOZofG6Foiy_IMpV8P6TJFFyAWFQ27mIdtN5K1RgeMG42FUOg96pbCoHEr-EI5gl6NBDHrWhymnHc1y-bt5lbQsOCiMH8i-vgEMXqilku4PF-9Pij0A/s400/Art+show+frenzy+5.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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Ojibwe lodge created for a recent rendezvous at the Northwest Company Fur Post near Pine City, MN.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbOViKnx6-0hrao7k1t8TVCp6RVlU7MeucFilMREjDFnRttsnpBn909I7sfiry1ZJkJ8-r5ZfBCjnogfP0O9_CvWlKF_gc7vg8Ffq6bw9iYU7ErIMukr-zv1m6sGJ9XGccpWNffGT6Ug/s1600/Art+show+frenzy+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbOViKnx6-0hrao7k1t8TVCp6RVlU7MeucFilMREjDFnRttsnpBn909I7sfiry1ZJkJ8-r5ZfBCjnogfP0O9_CvWlKF_gc7vg8Ffq6bw9iYU7ErIMukr-zv1m6sGJ9XGccpWNffGT6Ug/s400/Art+show+frenzy+3.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
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My initial sketch in burnt umber using the previous photo for inspiration.</div>
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To make sure I use my limited time and energy wisely, I start tackling the more complicated pieces first,
sketching in pencil and paint, then blocking in big masses as quickly as possible. The smaller pieces, mostly bird pictures and little landscapes, will be the last ones
I worry about. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD-lzpHN0cAiyjoFP83q-_CjI_SKr1VZLrO-yEnI7d3MD8ykBErJuz9-GPduyuQCT1BWlLUZtYxQfOh7Tqvq_9epzqbzNubcl7DMIKdYsCfLr9zmhkWm9SzSwu-AZR2d4g1PVvsy6Aoc/s1600/Art+show+frenzy+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD-lzpHN0cAiyjoFP83q-_CjI_SKr1VZLrO-yEnI7d3MD8ykBErJuz9-GPduyuQCT1BWlLUZtYxQfOh7Tqvq_9epzqbzNubcl7DMIKdYsCfLr9zmhkWm9SzSwu-AZR2d4g1PVvsy6Aoc/s320/Art+show+frenzy+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At least these two are nearly finished. It's a start, eh?</div>
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If this seems a bit mercenary, it should. I am painting
these to sell, and for both my sake and the sake of my clients, these need to
be economical pieces. Having said
that, I should point something out.
This is actually one of the few times during the year when I can paint
whatever I want – and this freedom is so exhilarating! I reconnect with my love of
painting, even while standing in the middle of a mad house for a few weeks.</div>
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My next post will show the finished pieces.</div>
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Cheers!</div>
<!--EndFragment-->David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-84433807339044604632013-10-12T11:56:00.001-07:002013-10-12T20:36:50.845-07:00Creating Dred Scott - part 3<h3>
<i><br /></i></h3>
<h3>
<i>Time to get dirty!</i></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HcMgIbyqTMsbwhz5QBcwD_Sen8_NORTdHFCtU9XSHHDIOEsrxvKo9GgYe6WVlhsO7kfIwN7ohSm1TZpUBCjfsrwXnWIniCcUB4ACwfClivA4314uuVXPajEOyo1pKIJy7XY6PG_pgNc/s1600/Harriet+charcoal+transfer+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HcMgIbyqTMsbwhz5QBcwD_Sen8_NORTdHFCtU9XSHHDIOEsrxvKo9GgYe6WVlhsO7kfIwN7ohSm1TZpUBCjfsrwXnWIniCcUB4ACwfClivA4314uuVXPajEOyo1pKIJy7XY6PG_pgNc/s400/Harriet+charcoal+transfer+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The back of the Harriet Scott photo/sketch, covered in charcoal, after tracing.</div>
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The modified drawings were coated on the back with charcoal,
taped down to Gessobords (not my spelling, I swear - these are commercially available, prepared masonite panels) and I traced the most
important lines and features. These crude and easily smudged drawings were cleaned
up, details were modified and each panel was given a protective layer of spay
fixative followed by brushed-on acrylic matte
medium to keep the drawing from lifting while during underpainting and add just
a slight brushstroke texture.</div>
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Ah, where would we be without all this messy stuff?!</div>
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I decided to introduce even more texture into the piece
using acrylic gel medium. This
would give an actual 3-dimensional
quality to certain areas of the painting – in fact, I would come to regret my
rather sloppy application of the gel this time around. </div>
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Within an hour, I was painting.</div>
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I began by staining each scene with warm tones, a light
ochre for the outside scene and darker burnt umber for the interior scene. This is a way of setting the painting up for a specific color scheme, and quite frankly, I don't like staring at all that unpainted white background when I work. In
neither case did I allow the stain to obscure my charcoal lines. I don't really have photographic evidence of this stage - I was too BUSY trying to meet a deadline! You will just have to take my word for it.</div>
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You can pick up a hint of the ochre stain underneath some areas here. Things are pretty loose at first.</div>
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For Harriet’s picture I restricted my palette to muted
yellows, stronger reds and deep browns – there is just a touch of blue/green,
weakened by mixing with red-brown. For Dred, I used the exact same palette with more blue worked
into the shadows areas to create a feeling of strong outdoor daylight.<br />
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As I painted I made continued reference to the existing images of the Scots, as well as my modified photo/drawings, as a way to ensure not only the features were correct, but the folds and wrinkles in the clothing and the effect of light were accurately captured. I never follow these references exactly, but they do give me answers to some questions. Like my brush and palette knife. they are simply tools to be used as needed</div>
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This is a typical set-up. Well, it may be a <b><i>bit</i></b> more organized than usual, but you get the idea.</div>
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I moved the flagpole to the top of the round tower, where it likely was in the late 1830's. Hey, it's history, you know?</div>
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The texture that I introduced at the beginning worked well
in some areas, like the shoulder of Harriet’s dress, especially when compared
with the softly painted broom in the background. Light bounces of those little
ridges, giving a physicality to the surface and this contrast makes the
shoulder stand out appropriately. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSxK_fBF9FlD1T2KcOMGQfObjSngDsDdAkceVAM1KQUtNwbko9jjZBaaMeZLnPzJnFUF0dJ3qw1NAlP5gzEzar81dFU4V2GUJt3GHThkrQWpn9TU1pfKHCV1XOTZaYWSzhX6cs3xogsA/s1600/Harriet+painting+shoulder+and+broom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSxK_fBF9FlD1T2KcOMGQfObjSngDsDdAkceVAM1KQUtNwbko9jjZBaaMeZLnPzJnFUF0dJ3qw1NAlP5gzEzar81dFU4V2GUJt3GHThkrQWpn9TU1pfKHCV1XOTZaYWSzhX6cs3xogsA/s400/Harriet+painting+shoulder+and+broom.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Contrasting light and dark, soft and hard edges and a bit of texture for good measure.</div>
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However, thanks to my haste, some texture was allowed to
creep into shadow areas, and even into Harriet’s face, and that, folks, is what
we call a “Bad Idea”. When unwanted
texture obscures details or breaks up what should be a smooth plane, it is a
distraction (especially in shadow areas) and can confuse the viewer as to your intent. While we accept and often look for texture
in an original painting, in a print or book illustration it can be a problem. I continually use Photoshop to "paint out" annoying texture when a piece has been scanned for reproduction.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV0HXg6KUvuuBSF1q7ttPDBKEzc8zbGXxfAcWoD7o2gco-jt4zaM2BLms6G2_Py2I3B8trVOM5LYz6aE042YUHQvsIRBozPTDuuwOA-1_lqJBtM9Vie2oceLv-0yE5LCsCIBFYP7gE-8/s1600/Harriet+textured+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV0HXg6KUvuuBSF1q7ttPDBKEzc8zbGXxfAcWoD7o2gco-jt4zaM2BLms6G2_Py2I3B8trVOM5LYz6aE042YUHQvsIRBozPTDuuwOA-1_lqJBtM9Vie2oceLv-0yE5LCsCIBFYP7gE-8/s400/Harriet+textured+face.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It got a little too bumpy here and there.</div>
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In this case, I don’t feel that the texture is really a problem. I just need to be a bit more careful next time around. Bloody amateur.<br />
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Perhaps the most enjoyable part was the firelight and detailing of the table, kettle and vegetables. No real pressure, just a chance to play with light.</div>
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I think these paintings took about two weeks to complete. In each case, the painting is a gradual build-up over at least 3 or 4
sessions (with an occasional touch up even later), each layer modifying the
previous one. My brushes tend to get smaller with each session, as I focus more on details. At the same time, I am constantly looking for areas that may need softening and blending into the background. I need to remind myself just what is really important, and what can be allowed to drop out of focus. This can be the trickiest part of all, after capturing the likeness.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIglJA2_pWGV2v5tYSur2mYMCrEMyk8G3xByEiteSFgYEfi566Nak5GueyJ9hWju1-kq1Ne1BFv_PGf3SvFEYSOo9U7UK4lqRC81zLOQC3ekMKMYQjFRuB9TkeLSyRldmfL5oMHQa1W_4/s1600/Harriet+Scott+painting+on+easel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIglJA2_pWGV2v5tYSur2mYMCrEMyk8G3xByEiteSFgYEfi566Nak5GueyJ9hWju1-kq1Ne1BFv_PGf3SvFEYSOo9U7UK4lqRC81zLOQC3ekMKMYQjFRuB9TkeLSyRldmfL5oMHQa1W_4/s400/Harriet+Scott+painting+on+easel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Harriet Scott painting on the easel.</div>
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Harriet Scott</div>
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The Dred Scott painting on the easel.</div>
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Dred Scott</div>
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And there we have it, folks. Whew. I hope I have done justice to history and to the spirit of these two human beings who ended up playing such important roles in our nation's past. When I have decent scans and a link to the finished documentary that these were originally created for, I will make a final post.</div>
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Cheers - and thanks for letting me share this process with you.</div>
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David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-59234996021749206232013-10-07T20:22:00.001-07:002014-03-06T13:27:00.165-08:00Creating Dred Scott - part 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h3>
<i>Putting it all together.</i></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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After approval was given to forge ahead with the paintings, I
had an important decision to make.
Who would pose as Dred and Harriet Scott? If I had needed to
create recurring African – American characters for a picture book, I would have
selected appropriate African - American models, as I did in the past with Gwenyth Swain's <b><a href="http://www.davidgeister.com/index/#/washington/" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">Riding to Washington</span></a></b>.
The situation this time was different. I would be replacing my
model’s faces with the faces of Dred and Harriet. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Therefore, I opted to go the “easy” route, and could get
away with using a pair of Anglo-Saxons – my wife and myself. We are simply the cheapest and most accessible models
I have ever used.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Harriet Scott, my dear wife dressed in an 1830’s pattern
dress she had hand-stitched a few years ago. Without this valuable piece of
costuming, I would have had to modify the photos of Pat wearing a dress from a
different time period, which is pretty common for me. I rarely have all the costumes and props exactly as I need them, and end up becoming a type of tailor armed with pencil and eraser, with a
stack of costume books and internet images underfoot.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zViz3UHdHHEMWTt_hoPSj6XhDYSlF8MWDxeyIcXfbd5QtMrnafsmJEQML5KjAWAkPlV34de7fnene_Q1TIrVx9VfddROKSCiyHrF4RLQui-9IAnaM_DuiuRjX1h6UfYBv1aT_lMsubY/s1600/Pat+as+Harriet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zViz3UHdHHEMWTt_hoPSj6XhDYSlF8MWDxeyIcXfbd5QtMrnafsmJEQML5KjAWAkPlV34de7fnene_Q1TIrVx9VfddROKSCiyHrF4RLQui-9IAnaM_DuiuRjX1h6UfYBv1aT_lMsubY/s400/Pat+as+Harriet.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Pat as Harriet - she's chopping vegetables on a box of miniature soldiers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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I showed Pat my preliminary sketch and then we posed her
standing in my cluttered studio, with light coming from two directions to
simulate both window and firelight.
Thank goodness for cheap clamp-on lights from our local hardware store. Pat even
sliced some small, red 19<sup>th</sup> century appropriate potatoes for me
while she stood there, which we later ate prepared with green beans and her home-made pesto. Yum.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Normally I would set up the camera on a tripod with a 10
second delay on the timer, and pose for myself, but this I wanted to do it right. I made a phone call to our dear friend
and neighbor, Rebecca (artist/photographer/thrower of awesome Halloween
parties), and she shot photos of me posing in the raking, morning sunlight. The
folks driving past my home in South Minneapolis are becoming used to the sight
of me, Pat and a host of neighbors and friends in costume, play-acting for the
camera in the yard or on the sidewalk. We have never been visited by the police
after one of these affairs – even when posing with guns – so I count myself
lucky. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCZwvUePHQveRBDvV1TDS6qLtizZ041WbHnReKsXPxVwWS-3q5nTgmAWnf-kTfwGTyVhjKmct7ZtxBG-D3BKrkemOwzaxRWqiz6tMtHTE7FIRHuIrPJTHu_b0oKWPt-MAI8QVOdWM2Dc/s1600/Dave+as+Dred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCZwvUePHQveRBDvV1TDS6qLtizZ041WbHnReKsXPxVwWS-3q5nTgmAWnf-kTfwGTyVhjKmct7ZtxBG-D3BKrkemOwzaxRWqiz6tMtHTE7FIRHuIrPJTHu_b0oKWPt-MAI8QVOdWM2Dc/s400/Dave+as+Dred.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Me as a well-fed and freshly laundered Dred Scott.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For my role as Dred Scott, I was able to get away with wearing my early 19<sup>th</sup> century clothing and doing a few pencilled alterations. I also found it necessary to erase a few pounds from around my belly and jawline; Dred Scott would not have had access to the array of snacks that are my great weakness.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45yiqg2xFVMvAdvd7MeVzUP5FosjfOjPXJ79WKA3ZTVxoWwhQlTZlnSj0CtNOVp97T8I_1jhtFQMpKd8IA9Ndx9xJgqf5-TXRgXdsoloNI4mkWKEjG515H42bEL1Cp14L0tVh4Tttd1E/s1600/Pat+as+Harriet+Scott+photo+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45yiqg2xFVMvAdvd7MeVzUP5FosjfOjPXJ79WKA3ZTVxoWwhQlTZlnSj0CtNOVp97T8I_1jhtFQMpKd8IA9Ndx9xJgqf5-TXRgXdsoloNI4mkWKEjG515H42bEL1Cp14L0tVh4Tttd1E/s400/Pat+as+Harriet+Scott+photo+sketch.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Photoshop is my friend.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6-w3gCCpR39qFsSPMsuunqLsLSO93bAzpJDDwS0g0qK3dbb9m0Xi2d1rl8qss0f12wdY6zgdtcMRbHAUiiSYXFNqTmWpBkUrsRYsqY61j63OD9OZlVoMr_eZS4vG6jW4fOyUNJN64mA/s1600/Dave+as+Dred+photo+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6-w3gCCpR39qFsSPMsuunqLsLSO93bAzpJDDwS0g0qK3dbb9m0Xi2d1rl8qss0f12wdY6zgdtcMRbHAUiiSYXFNqTmWpBkUrsRYsqY61j63OD9OZlVoMr_eZS4vG6jW4fOyUNJN64mA/s400/Dave+as+Dred+photo+sketch.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
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The axe head and chopping block came from a photo taken at the fort.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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In Photoshop I combined the pose photos with the background
photos or sketches and printed out both pieces at full size on my printer. These prints will become my comprehensive sketch and also my tracing sketch.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Finally, using the only images I have found of the Scotts, I broke out my pencils,
sharpies, and white paint and began to carefully draw right on top of the printed references, Dred’s face on top of mine and
Harriet’s face on Pat's. This
involved shifting the position of eye sockets, noses, etc., and worked
surprisingly well. At this point I
also drew some of the details of the Scott’s environments, but left
much to the painting phase.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fHAyNf5UnyEjsO8Wgw0-G7vxbLYCdETkt7dyR0zWclDu04m37NMQV-W1xSnjLCt3dY9ru3K3GS7_nEFNkmlzE8lCj1vVAN96jEudEU742BgrzXG3Zhqg1RpajIeAumW445JkY03v1qc/s1600/Harriet+Scott+tracing+sketch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fHAyNf5UnyEjsO8Wgw0-G7vxbLYCdETkt7dyR0zWclDu04m37NMQV-W1xSnjLCt3dY9ru3K3GS7_nEFNkmlzE8lCj1vVAN96jEudEU742BgrzXG3Zhqg1RpajIeAumW445JkY03v1qc/s400/Harriet+Scott+tracing+sketch.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Much better!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cd2KuPIwNOQcL2S6PLdGc43-HNN3h4rS2eXkfZbWvoA55NoHSLmLEphYLnFkNAjc_bmWR4FFD-Gs20-RANkdmz0AwKuJEU1LCEX-Olep7Hfu8u47-TrBVicIL0_B47pU4yRoybHwA5I/s1600/Dred+Scott+tracing+sketch+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cd2KuPIwNOQcL2S6PLdGc43-HNN3h4rS2eXkfZbWvoA55NoHSLmLEphYLnFkNAjc_bmWR4FFD-Gs20-RANkdmz0AwKuJEU1LCEX-Olep7Hfu8u47-TrBVicIL0_B47pU4yRoybHwA5I/s400/Dred+Scott+tracing+sketch+1.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's quick and not very pretty, but sketches like this make my life a LOT easier.</div>
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<h3>
<span style="color: yellow;"><i>In a few days I will post Part 3, where I talk about transferring the sketches and painting the final pieces. Cheers!</i></span></h3>
<!--EndFragment-->David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-81135233376206243192013-10-04T13:42:00.002-07:002013-10-05T09:31:55.320-07:00Creating Dred Scott - part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h3>
<b><i>"You need it WHEN?"</i></b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was recently asked by the Minnesota Historical Society to
paint pictures of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_Scott" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">Dred and Harriet Scott</span></a>, slaves who met, married and lived
at Fort Snelling in the 1830’s while their owners were posted there. The Society is creating a series of short documentaries
relating to Civil War topics and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_Scott_v._Sandford" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">Dred Scott Decision of 1857</span></a> is one of the powder keg issues leading up to that war. They were editing together a 6 minute piece on this subject, and needed a pair of images to add "life" to the main characters. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzd0a_kJmi1dQ4VeJvctvOcipZKNfmldJguDJCMdlju_N4J1rPVGRedVxjWjnBSIsIdx8OpopK2ML3u_QpCC3N0-5axyp9pWI2b2bbYr1zBeA8vHukpHzVmGwmFxNKGoNBNvHsaccPAE/s1600/Harriet+and+Dred+Scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzd0a_kJmi1dQ4VeJvctvOcipZKNfmldJguDJCMdlju_N4J1rPVGRedVxjWjnBSIsIdx8OpopK2ML3u_QpCC3N0-5axyp9pWI2b2bbYr1zBeA8vHukpHzVmGwmFxNKGoNBNvHsaccPAE/s400/Harriet+and+Dred+Scott.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Period engraving of Dred and Harriet Scott.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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The producer wanted to show both Dred and Harriet at work
within or close to the walls of the fort, a place near and dear to my heart. My dear wife and I met, married and worked there for more than a decade. As far
as I know, Dred or Harriet Scott have never been painted, and the chance to be
“the first” was more than I could pass up. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As usual, there was very little time to pull this off –
there never is. I immediately accepted the challenge, despite the fact that I was
still finishing a series of picture book illustrations. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I visited my good friends, the historians at <a href="http://www.historicfortsnelling.org/history/slavery-fort-snelling" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">Historic Fort Snelling</span></a>,
and we talked for a while about just what the Scotts would have done there on a
daily basis, as well as how they may have dressed and what their quarters may
have looked like. My camera came in handy, but I realized I would have to modify the recreated quarters to accurately
reflect their likely 1830’s appearance. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jL3BE13RALG9GgpKZeLX3B1_kSn9l2qINyUTQKL7DP92iibyJquRZZxOitApIOEMYBRTGOCkwfD2JatA61yihBuLrNdgrUH65q5r0F9iWMk02US5_9cwsXhwz7Y74yURoFe_o5LOKcE/s1600/Harriet+Interior+plate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jL3BE13RALG9GgpKZeLX3B1_kSn9l2qINyUTQKL7DP92iibyJquRZZxOitApIOEMYBRTGOCkwfD2JatA61yihBuLrNdgrUH65q5r0F9iWMk02US5_9cwsXhwz7Y74yURoFe_o5LOKcE/s400/Harriet+Interior+plate.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Interior of the recreated quarters at Fort Snelling.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM67Bpltb12dZmJEhJ6mj_FanF-9H-LaLCWnoxJcvOg7bjpsFLcy70MkMyGtmeliL4A_mArMzzNN_wc0PZCyGfwY1ETLXINJcFZAwHR-hCptxHx_W6M4bL2gKNFjeWxrz_jLxpjZhn07s/s1600/Dred+Background+plate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM67Bpltb12dZmJEhJ6mj_FanF-9H-LaLCWnoxJcvOg7bjpsFLcy70MkMyGtmeliL4A_mArMzzNN_wc0PZCyGfwY1ETLXINJcFZAwHR-hCptxHx_W6M4bL2gKNFjeWxrz_jLxpjZhn07s/s400/Dred+Background+plate.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My dear friend Tom "poses" for me in front of the Scott's quarters. The other pop is mine. Really.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FAXJmGIM37CMHLpAddoSGiCeWWFNer2hz_219vqM_rl9NJlh-SpotaQ75k77MlC3e_VH4cljWjVBN89-t3ArQjm9DL4YTTJlDoFI620SH2zwpD7ox0enjhvtEpZ_E6zeG70SYmPSkoI/s1600/Dred+Axe+head.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FAXJmGIM37CMHLpAddoSGiCeWWFNer2hz_219vqM_rl9NJlh-SpotaQ75k77MlC3e_VH4cljWjVBN89-t3ArQjm9DL4YTTJlDoFI620SH2zwpD7ox0enjhvtEpZ_E6zeG70SYmPSkoI/s400/Dred+Axe+head.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The correct shape for an early to mid 19th century axe head. This is important.</div>
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The following day, I shot photos of myself as both Dred and Harriet, and then drew two compositional sketches based on these. Time was slipping away and I simply needed warm bodies to quickly establish the most basic information upon which to build a scene. Details would follow later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcvltw1ZLXyJ4zBl_OM1W7KVlcpF8Lk8b8uKTlmz1rYGnzXg0tUgV-JS1qxr5QBdbz-qzT8-HX4X1iWvxguHKBzV9yZUONGGd2IMqcwRnvKPzTUYsHfCP_mLoLbrNPrhR32Kg5DYR7Y8/s1600/Dave+as+Dred+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcvltw1ZLXyJ4zBl_OM1W7KVlcpF8Lk8b8uKTlmz1rYGnzXg0tUgV-JS1qxr5QBdbz-qzT8-HX4X1iWvxguHKBzV9yZUONGGd2IMqcwRnvKPzTUYsHfCP_mLoLbrNPrhR32Kg5DYR7Y8/s400/Dave+as+Dred+1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Me, as Dred Scott, holding my nice axe.</div>
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You can see the picture book I was trying to finish, taking over my main easel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6MzqvBsxJlI6gsa5FKdFbm6i4VdjuX76yD1CZTHRAFsoJP6JYPSfBmt5qQEa4BTRVQF1U1UkgjdL7aqT27JpIc7gQNWAM-sbSLyNa7qFxH0LhWnTMqoH3jsZnbBpRW0OgvfsZ4rkKmA/s1600/Dave+as+Harriet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6MzqvBsxJlI6gsa5FKdFbm6i4VdjuX76yD1CZTHRAFsoJP6JYPSfBmt5qQEa4BTRVQF1U1UkgjdL7aqT27JpIc7gQNWAM-sbSLyNa7qFxH0LhWnTMqoH3jsZnbBpRW0OgvfsZ4rkKmA/s400/Dave+as+Harriet.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Me as Harriet Scott. I didn't even need a dress for this one. Just some puffy sleeves and a warm body.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVdazBQgXg5unRtZkJFl6ndahKyq7EV4kkjLg45yxfWEijxg_D3OoNLA8mImJ5ktIOSLJRbgVaHdX4u6ssFotTOtWR0IUz44cHf3O86g_c_HgMC-xCBzY8vbr5x6VM86Jfkn1-RR1LcQ/s1600/Dred+Scott+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVdazBQgXg5unRtZkJFl6ndahKyq7EV4kkjLg45yxfWEijxg_D3OoNLA8mImJ5ktIOSLJRbgVaHdX4u6ssFotTOtWR0IUz44cHf3O86g_c_HgMC-xCBzY8vbr5x6VM86Jfkn1-RR1LcQ/s400/Dred+Scott+sketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dred Scott sketch. See how it all comes together, minus Tom and the bench?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPdjLIgS8GQH-7-mSuw5iIMz1IjvFGLT791qgNIfAwtA0jHi8Zh0tJNVFsODGXooPO-v2SSA2AzzG_MzJ4Fz8i0amv23tOTEQsRK6GMDYfWxMG5Jdlj-BpqKZfGIozA0psXZU3Bj4eUg/s1600/Harriet+Scott+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPdjLIgS8GQH-7-mSuw5iIMz1IjvFGLT791qgNIfAwtA0jHi8Zh0tJNVFsODGXooPO-v2SSA2AzzG_MzJ4Fz8i0amv23tOTEQsRK6GMDYfWxMG5Jdlj-BpqKZfGIozA0psXZU3Bj4eUg/s400/Harriet+Scott+sketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Harriet Scott sketch. In the end, we changed the walls and hearth and lost the printed pattern on the dress - thank goodness, because those patterns add TIME to a painting..</div>
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I didn't hear anything back for a crucial week, and was prepared to take on my next project when I received word that the project was a go. Thankfully these sketches were approved, and the REAL work could
begin.</div>
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<h3>
<i><b><span style="color: yellow;">In Part 2, I will continue this process, so check back soon.</span></b></i></h3>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-75053258365458957312013-09-07T22:00:00.001-07:002013-10-04T13:43:43.945-07:00Changes to "The Charge" - Part 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h3>
<i>It’s done!</i></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy07RHiBLCiIQMqr-kUOwJycUvCIfX2K-zgZ_LZwRb9kgVkxwiwvgyTkrvcL43GiVLOBOxpTotQotrvQ3o6guC8V2mNFnK4KT-fMuEtKGy9zS7dKa3HREtm3QmtRlHnzSFvcBu9goN0R0/s1600/%2522The+Charge%2522+finished+painting+Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy07RHiBLCiIQMqr-kUOwJycUvCIfX2K-zgZ_LZwRb9kgVkxwiwvgyTkrvcL43GiVLOBOxpTotQotrvQ3o6guC8V2mNFnK4KT-fMuEtKGy9zS7dKa3HREtm3QmtRlHnzSFvcBu9goN0R0/s640/%2522The+Charge%2522+finished+painting+Medium.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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"The Charge"<br />
30 x 48 inches, oil on canvas</div>
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Thanks to the timely assistance of my dear granddaughter
Violet, “The Charge” is done. Really. I swear.</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5fv5afF6FRvfbuOb4HHtgVAeS_o5UV5AkAy7eg6HCUHrJSNRdJ1hFcIk3S-TOm7SkOf4YqsNM0dC1Ce0hyEwGW1lQl6srGb2B9lfyQHN7f3-3rQLddULxV9SjNz1ZiLuI_1voktrrIM/s1600/Violet+helps+Grandpa+paint.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5fv5afF6FRvfbuOb4HHtgVAeS_o5UV5AkAy7eg6HCUHrJSNRdJ1hFcIk3S-TOm7SkOf4YqsNM0dC1Ce0hyEwGW1lQl6srGb2B9lfyQHN7f3-3rQLddULxV9SjNz1ZiLuI_1voktrrIM/s640/Violet+helps+Grandpa+paint.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Violet helps Grandpa paint.</div>
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In the end, the biggest change involved moving most of the
First Minnesota into the Charge Bayonets position. Some participants mentioned the left companies halting once
or twice during the charge; in my interpretation, that end of the line hasn’t
caught up with the rest of the regiment, so I reasoned that they haven’t heard
the order. Artistic license? Perhaps. Educated guess?
Sure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIpCKFKp2CpsyxmtQTF_JgnCDlVpCtDewvlQbl29tYJx7PRCMmry0qrJRusissTgHDtMlS9wiH5jc0roo_w7R-wJqZsjBIHWMQ5lBCKSlXP7T1mNqDRsQSMbhxb2W_sNoSOsaNM1MCWc/s1600/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+First+Minnesota+right+wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIpCKFKp2CpsyxmtQTF_JgnCDlVpCtDewvlQbl29tYJx7PRCMmry0qrJRusissTgHDtMlS9wiH5jc0roo_w7R-wJqZsjBIHWMQ5lBCKSlXP7T1mNqDRsQSMbhxb2W_sNoSOsaNM1MCWc/s640/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+First+Minnesota+right+wing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The right wing under Lt. Colonel Adams charges into the 11th Alabama Regiment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioInCReqn7QSVOMEvePPFTzaqGQIsai1uIKgMY2Rm1aDCSEcTutEutevzu9Zphb7TmVHV7hJMflRBHfkRXPpDJGbTxZ6Gkmb4AJa0vUFrmr93XTkAfQzRLdow3rDLmqkmuZHI0a-nzwJI/s1600/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+First+Minnesota+left+wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioInCReqn7QSVOMEvePPFTzaqGQIsai1uIKgMY2Rm1aDCSEcTutEutevzu9Zphb7TmVHV7hJMflRBHfkRXPpDJGbTxZ6Gkmb4AJa0vUFrmr93XTkAfQzRLdow3rDLmqkmuZHI0a-nzwJI/s640/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+First+Minnesota+left+wing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The left wing under Major Downie rushes to catch up.</div>
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To be honest, this painting is the result of a whole series
of educated guesses, with a liberal sprinkling of artistic license to fill in
unknowns and allow me to create particular visual effects. It’s always this way, and history
painters who can’t admit this are fooling themselves and their followers.</div>
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I am under no illusion that, given the use of a time machine
or (<span style="color: red;">GEEK ALERT! GEEK ALERT!</span>) Doctor Who’s blue police box, the Tardis, surviving
participants of the actual charge would recognize this painting as a
representation of their experience.
However, I do believe they would approve of the spirit of the piece – it is my hope that it
would seem familiar. Does that make sense to you? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO2YWAZJOuSk4Bs3ksWpvh-Yc8C5oSeqn-TvyUF-TaE4rrJawCaj-9ExDURSbicFQKQtOv6GZmsG_U_MXUtO9TUe9JPwZNHpkWSP7eel7yKMqT4vfZcwM04XHP5Vmzzb8K7BB85tENlg/s1600/doctor-who.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO2YWAZJOuSk4Bs3ksWpvh-Yc8C5oSeqn-TvyUF-TaE4rrJawCaj-9ExDURSbicFQKQtOv6GZmsG_U_MXUtO9TUe9JPwZNHpkWSP7eel7yKMqT4vfZcwM04XHP5Vmzzb8K7BB85tENlg/s640/doctor-who.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Time travels with the Doctor.</div>
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So – what else changed? </div>
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The 10<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> Alabama got pushed
back a dozen yards or so, creating the “second line” mentioned by Minnesotans
who charged the 11<sup>th</sup> Alabama in the front and center of Wilcox’s Brigade. This also helped
separate the units into distinct formations, which is better from a narrative
standpoint.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt_W9izrRr9EIYY7ya6dc6O5BnQKz527MB5I-HYFO2DVXk0-NqQ9MUtOR9_dM76dPXqxQtYpXhcu4Dtmy4riFTGkYkCinzXjlcnRB-2M9QZjEo3dbbhwZA8-rOEa_AQ-qf6rE8nLE6hY/s1600/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+8th+and+10th+Alabama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt_W9izrRr9EIYY7ya6dc6O5BnQKz527MB5I-HYFO2DVXk0-NqQ9MUtOR9_dM76dPXqxQtYpXhcu4Dtmy4riFTGkYkCinzXjlcnRB-2M9QZjEo3dbbhwZA8-rOEa_AQ-qf6rE8nLE6hY/s640/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+8th+and+10th+Alabama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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8th and 10th Alabama Regiments</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mkYP6Us2saqqsTs97dTx1P2oZrvQC7GSCEbycrUH0KfZqGjVwcb8zCoPlamBTvJVNklOeXD3clAEu4cWQD0gBn2XQ9_ShpyoXwE8xr5TKoQ7GOfpprIZ_ajyrlPUM76E6DehBU0mLqw/s1600/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+14th+Alabama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mkYP6Us2saqqsTs97dTx1P2oZrvQC7GSCEbycrUH0KfZqGjVwcb8zCoPlamBTvJVNklOeXD3clAEu4cWQD0gBn2XQ9_ShpyoXwE8xr5TKoQ7GOfpprIZ_ajyrlPUM76E6DehBU0mLqw/s640/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+14th+Alabama.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The 14 Alabama in its new position.</div>
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The hills on the horizon line now more closely resemble the
actual geography and the Klingle farmhouse has
received a coat of whitewash. Pat
and I walked around and photographed the existing building during our recent
trip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVGwemqfF12FSNdqyH7IeRjiZMIML9yWhagwKxNGVRSDmo1lVmh_impNZtkS1d_1m1uMctM908hz1eit2QlbuTkH7VYS1TS1ZUjFZnIZ_bbTE2Uo4Dk4TLRjpJ-VDZ2eQic27734m_MI/s1600/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVGwemqfF12FSNdqyH7IeRjiZMIML9yWhagwKxNGVRSDmo1lVmh_impNZtkS1d_1m1uMctM908hz1eit2QlbuTkH7VYS1TS1ZUjFZnIZ_bbTE2Uo4Dk4TLRjpJ-VDZ2eQic27734m_MI/s640/%2522The+Charge%2522+detail+background.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ground Wilcox's Alabama Brigade advanced over - see the wreckage?</div>
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Colonel Colvill and the national colors have been moved to
right of center – a few of my serious historian friends have reasons for
believing that this was the case, and I defer to their judgement.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aKPIpJqZurCk3Hy7_2J_H53SyRcBb3EBF2vuQ2UQ8cRKpqjPQlRG0EkEYWYGJqrufiE4H5OdhJIRwSElIJRMEbwydotM253QBgGXJeoGLLm4z9Tl-m_VvpvpcyiF0w_leMbgobrtILY/s1600/The+Charge+detail+Colvill+and+national+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aKPIpJqZurCk3Hy7_2J_H53SyRcBb3EBF2vuQ2UQ8cRKpqjPQlRG0EkEYWYGJqrufiE4H5OdhJIRwSElIJRMEbwydotM253QBgGXJeoGLLm4z9Tl-m_VvpvpcyiF0w_leMbgobrtILY/s640/The+Charge+detail+Colvill+and+national+colors.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p> Colonel Colvill and the First Minnesota's national colors.</o:p></div>
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Finally, I broke up the formation of the First Minnesota so
that is a bit more ragged in appearance. In retrospect, I think it should have
been painted even more so – one participant said they looked like skirmishers
during the charge, a result of casualties and the breakdown of order as they moved
to engage the Confederates.</div>
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For those who may find it interesting, I here post a photo
of the painting with titles added to explain just who and what you are looking
at. I would like to
create a simplified black and white drawing of the main features of the
painting, complete with key, which was the way it was often done in the 19<sup>th</sup>
century. Ah, for more time and
energy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoOSrwR20nnoSouxkO6KiQY2FBdn2Wh1bRaNvMGurqze-xrGAq61MVhbHD9ozpfmK7sdDkSt4scfuWfNNVdZ6hj4RYgfL9C9azxaAjBVHMDfjCak5Zid39NtOnDYBTfQLo_AEt1hcvCY/s1600/%22The+Charge%22+finished+painting+with+Key+flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoOSrwR20nnoSouxkO6KiQY2FBdn2Wh1bRaNvMGurqze-xrGAq61MVhbHD9ozpfmK7sdDkSt4scfuWfNNVdZ6hj4RYgfL9C9azxaAjBVHMDfjCak5Zid39NtOnDYBTfQLo_AEt1hcvCY/s640/%22The+Charge%22+finished+painting+with+Key+flat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
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The key to "The Charge". Good luck, folks!</div>
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You know, as I look at it, I notice that we could use just a
few more grey-coated wounded and stragglers trailing out behind the Alabama
lines. They were there a month ago.</div>
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Where did I put that brush? Hmmm . . .</div>
<!--EndFragment-->David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-44258087195907294592013-08-16T23:06:00.000-07:002013-08-20T08:32:52.291-07:00Dave's Little Wars, Part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h2>
“Big Dave and Little Dave”</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am fascinated with miniature soldiers. For most of my life I have collected, glued together, painted and occasionally “fought” battles with little warriors from several time periods, and count myself lucky to have a number of friends who do the same. This interest in warfare throughout history doesn't mean I actually believe we should tread too often down that path. In the words of my friend Jeff Nordin, "May all our wars be . . . LITTLE ones."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SOIuzJlgv9rnJRh8hUymBJpUiylYCTcGkU1HDa90waNiS4I8hmBTqgO2NUHFpTYPmtYJB6F3-d6cWsBDm6i9Q6S4Qd5cdPWNcQPfcD_u3wpJqcTCJJiLXcTj7ChyphenhyphenSvX6VqNT2bkzYpg/s1600/Dave+and+Zulu+War+game+-+1988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SOIuzJlgv9rnJRh8hUymBJpUiylYCTcGkU1HDa90waNiS4I8hmBTqgO2NUHFpTYPmtYJB6F3-d6cWsBDm6i9Q6S4Qd5cdPWNcQPfcD_u3wpJqcTCJJiLXcTj7ChyphenhyphenSvX6VqNT2bkzYpg/s400/Dave+and+Zulu+War+game+-+1988.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
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Yours truly and his Zulu War figures, many years ago, while stationed at Camp Pendleton.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS0rXYNJIumFKsdMxVOqoeiyx_oBkFsgskLngYjrJCItx5ynfL_sOkJsZzozgjtiLL7wiazOthQgnomp-5ns0Hr4Iod_5iLYqsXDJjPDNK_mb7IbMB75ICOxgk1Uk7zEv-uSUPvt1vsw/s1600/british_and_hessians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS0rXYNJIumFKsdMxVOqoeiyx_oBkFsgskLngYjrJCItx5ynfL_sOkJsZzozgjtiLL7wiazOthQgnomp-5ns0Hr4Iod_5iLYqsXDJjPDNK_mb7IbMB75ICOxgk1Uk7zEv-uSUPvt1vsw/s400/british_and_hessians.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p> A taste of my 30mm tall Revolutionary War collection; nearly all are Charles Stadden figures.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibt5bMTeUocUdRd1vbE8k4rpOJpNgwlLQfjtAMhQY_xekVn8fjfjiWtX-kWBg5laRvNFXYQVSa5yGNYbRikfmcI33t_BlfZb4XUQBAn96uQCYbBQrxzzX9YlDKECVWW-wka-zxfiOLegg/s1600/10mm+ACW+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibt5bMTeUocUdRd1vbE8k4rpOJpNgwlLQfjtAMhQY_xekVn8fjfjiWtX-kWBg5laRvNFXYQVSa5yGNYbRikfmcI33t_BlfZb4XUQBAn96uQCYbBQrxzzX9YlDKECVWW-wka-zxfiOLegg/s400/10mm+ACW+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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These tiny 10mm tall Civil War soldiers are my newest obsession; they are fun to paint, and they create quite a spectacle . . . in miniature, of course.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LrEv9Q5gtvE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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My first ever stop-motion movie features a small part of my World War 2 army. Sit back and enjoy!</div>
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You may well ask, “Where does it
all start, this passion for toy soldiers and miniature figurines?” For me, the answer
lies so far back in my childhood, I can’t recall a time when I wasn’t drawn
to that little world. I do know that my dad, the ORIGINAL David Geister, is part
of the story.</div>
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I have three distinct memories of “playing soldier” with my
dad. Dad
was not a game player, but he knew the right time to take an interest in what his eldest son was doing.</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8uviw3brYir2gj6rJGQuQ4hj4R29cTjeQ1Bh81ETT-9wUpguyAiLMuTeLi5Aq6ZYAfad2saLs971ep5T1yo-O_NS868ZLv6HxG6Mh51OSHNqRo_NkEYnBMbjo-qGU70IFHfQp5sCecQ/s1600/Dave+with+Ft+Apache.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8uviw3brYir2gj6rJGQuQ4hj4R29cTjeQ1Bh81ETT-9wUpguyAiLMuTeLi5Aq6ZYAfad2saLs971ep5T1yo-O_NS868ZLv6HxG6Mh51OSHNqRo_NkEYnBMbjo-qGU70IFHfQp5sCecQ/s400/Dave+with+Ft+Apache.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My original play-set disappeared decades ago. Thank goodness for Ebay!</div>
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In the first memory, I am 6 years old. We are laying on the floor of
our duplex in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, and Dad is helping me snap together the
“wooden” palisade and mount the blockhouses on the corners of the classic
Marx’s Fort Apache (This is a gift from my Aunt Bonnie, who will spoil
me rotten for years). It has cavalry soldiers, Indians with a tepee and a cannon that shoots little plastic shells. I have no doubt that we <i>both</i> get a thrill out of the experience. </div>
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Be kind, dear reader - this is long before we had our eyes opened by watching the movie “Little Big Man" or reading “Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee”. The real
story of westward expansion and the destruction of American Indian people is
something I will learn about later; my love/hate relationship with military
history will gradually follow; for the moment, however, we are simply a couple
of lads off on an adventure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxVve0vSraHr_ZnsNxtOhYiz5dd9gW1VsHljU_II9ImuY4MWVdax3b4Lc6hiSDWKQ7909yB3lQ38F1WTcxIwcxcuNQhkF7fXoPvyfuFHwgJ4YlNehUqZ_dAOnG8bOL5gCKGvHdxTYic4/s1600/Airfix+soldiers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxVve0vSraHr_ZnsNxtOhYiz5dd9gW1VsHljU_II9ImuY4MWVdax3b4Lc6hiSDWKQ7909yB3lQ38F1WTcxIwcxcuNQhkF7fXoPvyfuFHwgJ4YlNehUqZ_dAOnG8bOL5gCKGvHdxTYic4/s400/Airfix+soldiers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These plastic Airfix soldiers were my mainstay for years, even after I discovered metal miniatures. GREAT box art, totally inaccurate but totally inspiring.</div>
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In the second memory, I am now perhaps thirteen years
old. It is a rainy Saturday in the
late fall and the two of us are at our first and only wargaming convention,
a small affair held in a cold building at the fair grounds in Rochester,
Minnesota. Thanks to a poster glimpsed on
the wall of the Little Tin Soldier Shoppe in Minneapolis (more about THAT place
later), the two of us “answer the call” and join in a Civil War battle being
fought with hundreds of quickly-painted blue and grey plastic Airfix
soldiers. Later, we spend time
talking with Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Dave Arneson. Dad proudly shows him some of my sketches
of Napoleonic soldiers, and I am both thankful and a little embarrassed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI0cVTuqtuyqBkCEU9bn6Mf20scIe9KudRLAgRnroAzBenX8rcmOMpoOzQMJu7x38gCv1u7W0c3b4iXghQ4zPCyasTHmCC80MhfNeaezoNj2AxTJLBvmpDfcSlQ07BxurGQE9ffn1hxA/s1600/Dave+with+Battle+Masters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI0cVTuqtuyqBkCEU9bn6Mf20scIe9KudRLAgRnroAzBenX8rcmOMpoOzQMJu7x38gCv1u7W0c3b4iXghQ4zPCyasTHmCC80MhfNeaezoNj2AxTJLBvmpDfcSlQ07BxurGQE9ffn1hxA/s400/Dave+with+Battle+Masters.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Battle Masters was guaranteed to satisfy my sword and sorcery needs.</div>
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In the final memory, I am in my late twenties and my father
is just about the age I am today.
It is Christmas afternoon, we are laying on our groaning bellies right
smack in the middle of the kitchen floor, playing with my newest toy, Milton
Bradley’s Battle Masters. Plastic knights,
goblins, beast-men and even an ogre march back and forth across a large vinyl map in a Titanic Struggle between Good and Evil. The family carefully tiptoes around us as we unconsciously recreate the scene from my childhood.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUF6zGaiy-Q-eGJlNQ4ABYYpInWYkYcjlJO8z6GDQ8x4p2v8FRZpum164eB5ILqh4m2BYxLtxpe1EzYKEeTcntu9GOtnNZ6NpNAhiDh92PvUyAN31GX-ZrFCAc-vdlMY7WWr1rvGyonI/s1600/Big+Dave+and+Little+Dave+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUF6zGaiy-Q-eGJlNQ4ABYYpInWYkYcjlJO8z6GDQ8x4p2v8FRZpum164eB5ILqh4m2BYxLtxpe1EzYKEeTcntu9GOtnNZ6NpNAhiDh92PvUyAN31GX-ZrFCAc-vdlMY7WWr1rvGyonI/s400/Big+Dave+and+Little+Dave+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As I seem to remember it . . .</div>
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To be sure, I would have played with these things, and
collected them as I do now, regardless of whether my father had taken the time
to play with me on those few occasions. But his presence here, in the midst of
these fond recollections, makes the memories that much sweeter. <span style="text-align: center;">He was a good man. Not only did he encourage me to become an artist; </span><span style="text-align: center;">he showed me it was o.k. to be a kid. I appreciate that gift more than anything else, especially as I start to feel time slowly chipping away at me.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzddBTZGv-NieUWAyFBPiaXYIuQTxk_qGhrL6Pqoh1uieR2xq0ljEcIorokVrd27FnW1-cKjbq1iuLs6C0nwzPrC82GcRM5CNT-8S99I6oufBKEWWKAXEgQx2CRKbm_tDlnqdgaxEIGhQ/s1600/Dad+-+1996+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzddBTZGv-NieUWAyFBPiaXYIuQTxk_qGhrL6Pqoh1uieR2xq0ljEcIorokVrd27FnW1-cKjbq1iuLs6C0nwzPrC82GcRM5CNT-8S99I6oufBKEWWKAXEgQx2CRKbm_tDlnqdgaxEIGhQ/s400/Dad+-+1996+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My dad, a couple years before he passed away - can YOU see the kid hiding inside him?</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks, Dad. You are missed.</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-5463463467543379292013-07-21T10:01:00.001-07:002013-07-21T10:57:39.050-07:00Changes to "The Charge" - Part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
A history painting is NEVER done . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlJniXWSI8qV2aa8pkO_G5I_L18oBuFiyUQcrBGnd19EXyYNzv8eprrQNQZPc88yYVhcSabHgOv96nvlJ0zk8XQ2hq4tm8s7cOZlR4vEVDTc0pVJToesCYZ3RuTJgxrcYyDTN_1QYIzA/s1600/Dave+repainting+%22The+Charge%22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlJniXWSI8qV2aa8pkO_G5I_L18oBuFiyUQcrBGnd19EXyYNzv8eprrQNQZPc88yYVhcSabHgOv96nvlJ0zk8XQ2hq4tm8s7cOZlR4vEVDTc0pVJToesCYZ3RuTJgxrcYyDTN_1QYIzA/s640/Dave+repainting+%22The+Charge%22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've often joked that the moment I declare a
history painting "done", and put the last flourishes on my signature
in the lower corner, someone will show me a long, lost letter, chock full of
juicy, new facts that turn our previous ideas on their collective heads.
This is what we history painters both dread AND desire.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Well . . . it finally happened . . .</i></span></h2>
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On the evening of July 1st, Pat and I unveiled
"The Charge" at Gettysburg, in front of a room full of appreciative
Minnesotans. I joked to the crowd that a painting is never done until my
wife wrenches the brush and palette out of my hand. I showed them my “Artistic
License” (courtesy of <a href="http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">Kenspeckle Press</span></a>), and then went on to remind them that
this painting is just MY interpretation, subject to change.<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsBhtbJ8Z7VNYkCAlS9bwDLZ8u_VE_B5gRJWCy-YXNBhV87gkkmEFA0-4ZRiFd8ASsfP9FmTAosSBOu1xDcs6H6LutcqM8-8zeKhmf22LahC096WPDJPakBC93jKzBDMp48gQu9jMI3k/s1600/Gettysburg+2013+-+Jay+Grammond+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsBhtbJ8Z7VNYkCAlS9bwDLZ8u_VE_B5gRJWCy-YXNBhV87gkkmEFA0-4ZRiFd8ASsfP9FmTAosSBOu1xDcs6H6LutcqM8-8zeKhmf22LahC096WPDJPakBC93jKzBDMp48gQu9jMI3k/s640/Gettysburg+2013+-+Jay+Grammond+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(photo courtesy of Pioneer Press <i><a href="http://www.pioneerphotography.com/"><span style="color: white;">http://www.pioneerphotography.com</span></a></i>)</div>
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On the evening of July 2nd, we spent time with
fellow Minnesotans on the battlefield and participated in the rededication of
the First Minnesota Regiment Monument on the spot where they initiated their
charge, 150 years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oV63l871DfdG_6fLCh-cY4j1knwliWyYOpRrGXE_DtwGFPBZzNHElQ4KO_r2Ec-sNEzeADsv92U3Y3OQfIF8cuRBS3bNdwOYdbXadxfsZaT2ry32zyIJNBuj0yqH58CjL9Lb1wQk-Sg/s1600/Gettysburg+2013+-+Jay+Grammond+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oV63l871DfdG_6fLCh-cY4j1knwliWyYOpRrGXE_DtwGFPBZzNHElQ4KO_r2Ec-sNEzeADsv92U3Y3OQfIF8cuRBS3bNdwOYdbXadxfsZaT2ry32zyIJNBuj0yqH58CjL9Lb1wQk-Sg/s640/Gettysburg+2013+-+Jay+Grammond+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(photo courtesy of Pioneer Photography <a href="http://www.pioneerphotography.com/" target="_blank"> <i><span style="color: white;">http://www.pioneerphotography.com</span></i></a>)</div>
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That night, my friend, Wayne Jorgenson - a founder of the First
Minnesota Reenactment group, author, historian and collector- showed me
the transcript of an unpublished letter written by a member of the First
Minnesota Regiment who had actually participated in that famous action. This
letter suggested that the opposing Minnesotans and Alabamans were farther apart
than most accounts presented; that they stood up, without shelter, on opposite
sides of Plum Run; and that there was no bayonet combat. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Keep in mind that this letter was written by a soldier on the left end of the line, so his experience was limited to his narrow perspective. A common experience amongst combat veterans was to develop tunnel vision - they can generally only recall what happened immediately around them. I feel the safest approach is to incorporate as much as possible from the accounts of all the participants.</div>
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SOOOO . . . here we go, kids!<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Change 1</span></div>
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It
seems, according to my expert historian friends, that Colonel Colvill and the Regiment's National
Colors would have been farther to the right of the line, as opposed to dead center
– no pun intended. I fear the reasons for this might bore you to tears, but I like these details. With the recent dispatch of a company to skirmish with approaching rebels, Colvill may not have had time to reposition the color party to the center of the regiment. Like Colvill, I also have ordered these men to "Charge Bayonets", and am in the process of pulling their muskets off their shoulders and into a more threatening position.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__8r103zJGuYF90A5zeH588yCw9dxdbPVu9-q-fL4Cksj_sT9E81Re5OpVpKtflxHJHMtVbxBpYFsXWESnnaSCZ-qQSBgwSe8NfZQg3AE0CYYldeLV7PJYC8ctj6dIoyopuYakM6Lz_I/s1600/%22The+Charge%22+14th+Alabama+moves+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__8r103zJGuYF90A5zeH588yCw9dxdbPVu9-q-fL4Cksj_sT9E81Re5OpVpKtflxHJHMtVbxBpYFsXWESnnaSCZ-qQSBgwSe8NfZQg3AE0CYYldeLV7PJYC8ctj6dIoyopuYakM6Lz_I/s640/%22The+Charge%22+14th+Alabama+moves+back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Changes 2 and 3 </span></div>
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I have pushed BACK two regiments of Alabamans – the First Minnesota
fought hard to do this, but I managed to wipe them out in mere minutes with my
paintbrush. Putting them back into
their NEW positions will take some time, however. This change is needed in order to create more space between
the opposing sides, to delineate the separate Alabama regiments and to further distinguish
them from the scrubby trees and brush along Plum Run.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Historically, these Alabamans were becoming intermingled by this point in the fight, but I need to
fudge that fact <i>just a bit</i> to help tell the story. This where my "Artistic License" comes in mighty handy.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07k760NkbrMSq6X2WAoSqqrnBQoa_wg5aFKoOfWoDfgkEM-Jwya_mSj0su0qassrBlrtPd21Bpe_WCzavTqUxfpSIMY7yR11Kbzf2WgnNOohKN14HooVMXG7VR-mr9ux6ygDMXSatW-I/s1600/Artistic+License.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07k760NkbrMSq6X2WAoSqqrnBQoa_wg5aFKoOfWoDfgkEM-Jwya_mSj0su0qassrBlrtPd21Bpe_WCzavTqUxfpSIMY7yR11Kbzf2WgnNOohKN14HooVMXG7VR-mr9ux6ygDMXSatW-I/s400/Artistic+License.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">(<a href="http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/" target="_blank"> <span style="color: white;">http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com</span></a> )</span> </div>
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Now, where did I put all that gray and butternut
paint?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-30982827954319167742013-07-05T19:46:00.001-07:002013-07-09T08:56:35.092-07:00More sketches from the road . . .As my dear wife and I continued our travels from Maryland to Virginia and then back to Pennsylvania, we found time to break out pencil and paper.<br />
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I should clarify something - most of these sketches were finished up in our KOA Kabin or motel room. Purists may recoil at the idea - so be it. I don't care how or when the piece is finished, so long as I capture the spirit of the scene.<br />
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While on site, I made it a point of nailing down the position of all the features of a landscape, and spent time developing the basic tonal relationships, as well as indicating textures and details. I reckoned that I could push the values to their extremes later, in the comfort of my nest, and I rarely used my white colored pencil or chalk until that point. For extra emphasis, I occasionally relied on white casein or gouache paint applied with a small brush.<br />
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My memory of the scene, the values I had already laid down and what I felt to be important in creating a focal point all guided where the brightest lights and darkest shadows needed to be. In the future, I may use a little black ink for those deep shadows, and this, combined with the white paint, will give me a complete range of values.<br />
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However, there are inherent dangers to sketching on the road. <br />
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1. Sometimes, one's water bottle is empty at the worst possible time, and a few drops of a name-brand, carbonated soft drink, heavily laden with caramel coloring, has to be pressed into service as a means of thinning paint and cleaning a brush.<br />
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2. At other times, one will discover that peanut butter on one's fingers WILL leave a greasy blotch on one's paper . . . even in what should otherwise be a pristine, untouched sky.<br />
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3. Car lights, air-conditioning and phone battery-chargers should not be allowed to run down the car's battery while the car's occupants are inside their hermetically sealed bubble, blissfully sketching away. Luckily, this artist's wife is a master at popping the clutch while this artist and a historic site guide pushed the vehicle down hill.<br />
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All right - enough chatting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEdJXFNIMYIyx-oRgHro2VLzifE5OyXV-KiHHgfotFzuzzGz1UFdKeQ_8KkqtRGinPBnx33uNPT65uVhB3vBvVok0nHzXEwIQ144IEZmWg8uQfSUCco5u4oyqtBCQ3nBJnMY0wB2mKBM/s1600/Jamestowne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEdJXFNIMYIyx-oRgHro2VLzifE5OyXV-KiHHgfotFzuzzGz1UFdKeQ_8KkqtRGinPBnx33uNPT65uVhB3vBvVok0nHzXEwIQ144IEZmWg8uQfSUCco5u4oyqtBCQ3nBJnMY0wB2mKBM/s320/Jamestowne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Site of the original, historic Jamestowne, Virginia settlement.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zu6mytr4u9xx6rnCUnDmx-S07yA7jDOZVBZyV0WjrjmE368UiOf98pOraWKotVnOXuKyXtvDg0feRQ_CD7mF50QeUk1t9uyDOMqyDVMkNpfO7gK1A11DsRuHRki4Tyl2wVtLkxCL1Qc/s1600/Fredricksburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zu6mytr4u9xx6rnCUnDmx-S07yA7jDOZVBZyV0WjrjmE368UiOf98pOraWKotVnOXuKyXtvDg0feRQ_CD7mF50QeUk1t9uyDOMqyDVMkNpfO7gK1A11DsRuHRki4Tyl2wVtLkxCL1Qc/s320/Fredricksburg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The original stone wall, sunken road and Innis House on the Fredericksburg, Virginia battlefield. The beauty of the site belies the horror of what happened just beyond that wall in December of 1862. (Can you tell I had a peanut butter sandwich while drawing this? Can you spot the stain? I sure can.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCPpADDcWkQbYoIqr1dJhoQIH5ODMmxhYUcIlvrcJdv0A9nuk1TXmd6tj_kBiAVtGdLNUcaDytwRv3zGXi2bSgXe7z4rinVkNFreMH9-nTKuUe0tnmQpWI90ZNnDKG4lnLeRcou-7l3U/s1600/Gilpin+House+at+Brandywine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCPpADDcWkQbYoIqr1dJhoQIH5ODMmxhYUcIlvrcJdv0A9nuk1TXmd6tj_kBiAVtGdLNUcaDytwRv3zGXi2bSgXe7z4rinVkNFreMH9-nTKuUe0tnmQpWI90ZNnDKG4lnLeRcou-7l3U/s320/Gilpin+House+at+Brandywine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Gilpin House, Brandywine Battlefield, Pennsylvania. THIS is where our car battery ran down. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicKyoTJ4W1KO-uOgN2rnoDUqNFaVt6Lfql9Xcew3J2y7Sj_4coZN-I_IDhzvt6yCrBOEYmdcDGpeVadKoiD1j09ZvOCsRFOo27NfUU9SG8ZbTn_fPLnRs39xIXFqT8hIk6n4KcwnKToQ/s1600/Little+Round+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicKyoTJ4W1KO-uOgN2rnoDUqNFaVt6Lfql9Xcew3J2y7Sj_4coZN-I_IDhzvt6yCrBOEYmdcDGpeVadKoiD1j09ZvOCsRFOo27NfUU9SG8ZbTn_fPLnRs39xIXFqT8hIk6n4KcwnKToQ/s320/Little+Round+Top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Little Round Top, sketched from amidst the rocks of Devil's Den, Gettysburg National Battlefield Park, Pennsylvania. I left out the hundreds of tourists swarming over the site.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumUEv77buVgkmd52zAw9S9mdnD2m8IjuFKYHP-AhqvRuQsy2lZwxx3svcpkzO52bkTC49Zs0wSj0MK5icaNKUclApURVQXDgJMwIn40-pvekzD3ZfUiAARnVBIjK4NJO6GHbH0mApkEg/s1600/McPherson+Barn+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumUEv77buVgkmd52zAw9S9mdnD2m8IjuFKYHP-AhqvRuQsy2lZwxx3svcpkzO52bkTC49Zs0wSj0MK5icaNKUclApURVQXDgJMwIn40-pvekzD3ZfUiAARnVBIjK4NJO6GHbH0mApkEg/s320/McPherson+Barn+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Another view (see previous post) of the McPherson Barn, scene of heavy fighting on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.<br />
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A simple sketch taken while we and a few thousand visitors waited for several thousand more visitors to form up in the distance and cross towards us on the site of what is commonly called Pickett's Charge, a key moment that effectively ended the Battle of Gettysburg.</div>
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I hope to add more sketches this summer, so check back in.</div>
David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-8345808189307613782013-06-27T21:43:00.001-07:002013-06-29T20:26:22.586-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sketching on the road.</div>
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Whenever my dear wife Pat and I take a "History Trip", we each make sure to bring our sketchbook. It is a much better memory-making device than our camera. We all have thousands of digital photos choking up space on hard drives, most never seen more than a few times before disappearing under the avalanche of, you guessed it . . . even <i>more</i> digital photos. <br />
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However, when I take the time - anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour - to sit or stand in one place and sketch a scene, I rarely forget that moment. I can still recall the hot sun on my neck at the 1866 Fetterman Massacre site in Wyoming or the feel of a Montana wind blowing down the valley of the Little Bighorn and through the greasy grass on "Last Stand" hill, while my pencil, paper and imagination carefully fused the past and the present.<br />
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The last few days, I managed to draw some small pictures while at Gettysburg and the Robert Morris Inn in Maryland, and here they are. I may post more over the next week. Be kind, dear viewer, and remember - they are simply intended to jog my memory and perhaps inspire me to break out my paints.<br />
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One more thing. The next time you venture forth, by all means - bring your camera. Just don't forget your pencil and sketchbook.<br />
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Sketching Round Top at Gettsyburg, Pennsylvania, while</div>
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in period costume. The visitors loved it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioChqj0E4wUVWxNmmQNOoMEbbLrqkGE_gr5jskNhmLpKBXUiFaIiSEVOGXCSgKiwHVPRCSOX6_KG__H6lX7eIShcwJeKzEmdofFbvnUAgBLE_2OQH111yXsuUqwTobJvL5AwKyFnIsFuw/s1103/Round+Top+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioChqj0E4wUVWxNmmQNOoMEbbLrqkGE_gr5jskNhmLpKBXUiFaIiSEVOGXCSgKiwHVPRCSOX6_KG__H6lX7eIShcwJeKzEmdofFbvnUAgBLE_2OQH111yXsuUqwTobJvL5AwKyFnIsFuw/s400/Round+Top+sketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Round Top from the north, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRBv1vtlV0zirED0TSVpxavUjMDbvbXUn0bdGjoeJnP25FirnLUzpzrQBJLbtA6vGGGjqM9jUMJ0Wl8SeWPyQTEg-uV1_SFIw1MD0xTIs9E8ltGiFGdEeDB1VY45JVYma2YhZLKK1Uv8/s1219/McPherson's+Barn+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRBv1vtlV0zirED0TSVpxavUjMDbvbXUn0bdGjoeJnP25FirnLUzpzrQBJLbtA6vGGGjqM9jUMJ0Wl8SeWPyQTEg-uV1_SFIw1MD0xTIs9E8ltGiFGdEeDB1VY45JVYma2YhZLKK1Uv8/s400/McPherson's+Barn+sketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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McPherson's Barn, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fMzTMWxNEAASvqK1_LrFnRCKJyO0ynux6Lrtl7T1nILRiVUd2B9kpneWVvyLV5rA4TnyYiny4fJYZo6KCc5CYipOg9-rM_G5cR4vPTTpd740GEXiax5IqxbjWlPCGownt2fc2Mp8hqo/s1173/Skipjack+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fMzTMWxNEAASvqK1_LrFnRCKJyO0ynux6Lrtl7T1nILRiVUd2B9kpneWVvyLV5rA4TnyYiny4fJYZo6KCc5CYipOg9-rM_G5cR4vPTTpd740GEXiax5IqxbjWlPCGownt2fc2Mp8hqo/s400/Skipjack+sketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aboard the 1886 skipjack, "Rebecca Ruark" out of Tilghman, Maryland</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXECTD_SVoBjKO7kpVUhuPLuobEMwN1GZ4RnBaaG2iOc62e2DNhY7E-w3zcZhTbTMd70j23wNTcneUK1qVwhizmA1XQjI32O9M-j7c1KECrbkrNMXxcfJo5aRv5nRycC67G4TAvbSvsc/s1138/Robert+Morris+Inn+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXECTD_SVoBjKO7kpVUhuPLuobEMwN1GZ4RnBaaG2iOc62e2DNhY7E-w3zcZhTbTMd70j23wNTcneUK1qVwhizmA1XQjI32O9M-j7c1KECrbkrNMXxcfJo5aRv5nRycC67G4TAvbSvsc/s400/Robert+Morris+Inn+sketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The 1710 Robert Morris Inn, Oxford, Maryland</div>
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<br />David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-11822286892783084972013-06-18T13:22:00.000-07:002013-06-18T14:37:32.586-07:00<br />
Last night I put what MAY be the final brushstrokes on my newest First Minnesota painting, which is currently titled, "The Charge - The First Minnesota Regiment and Wilcox's Alabama Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863." Hardly a stirring title, but WHEW!!! I signed it this morning and am preparing to safely carry it with us on our <a href="http://www.davidgeister.com/artwork/books/bisforbattlecry.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">B is for Battle Cry</span></a> book-signing and history tour. <br />
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At Gettysburg we will unveil the painting at a reception for Minnesotans gathered for the re-dedication of the various Minnesota monuments found there. On the 150th anniversary of the actual event, I am honored to be given this chance to share my work and my passion for this subject.<br />
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Of course, those who know me will understand when I say that the painting will probably receive a another working over once it is back in the studio - a painting is NEVER done until my dear wife wrenches it from my hands.<br />
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Since the previous post, there have been some slight additions and changes to the piece - good luck discerning them. For those who are interested, I intend to reproduce this in some form later this summer.<br />
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Keep an eye on this blog, my<span style="color: cyan;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.geister" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">Facebook</span></a> </span>page or my<span style="color: cyan;"> <a href="http://www.davidgeister.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">website</span></a></span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4y5hABtzNQjjgtyVFrhcyxKR1JG9eAfsktheoljqSYGyKd6y5WO6sxUpLEMFQOi4geUlF3gWtZJT6t6bgkpsvP5RiD-rCS4qScrYxUhm1bkc25G2nNU89MG1kW5XHbbzLYhEfNOMeJA/s1600/%22The+Charge%22+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4y5hABtzNQjjgtyVFrhcyxKR1JG9eAfsktheoljqSYGyKd6y5WO6sxUpLEMFQOi4geUlF3gWtZJT6t6bgkpsvP5RiD-rCS4qScrYxUhm1bkc25G2nNU89MG1kW5XHbbzLYhEfNOMeJA/s640/%22The+Charge%22+small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-40223891323896378612013-06-06T21:31:00.000-07:002013-06-22T18:59:48.656-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>More "First Minnesota at Gettysburg" painting details.</b></div>
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As promised, here are a few close-up images of the painting in progress.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDq2MVCChAe3Xcx1u3a3MffM-bf3WGI2SkRN2ut22kOl_OlMkMhXX2vDoMYR4r8IKqCKNtQjSVOeDcnCH7rScDx72pLdHMZexfTTI68iwtdamj_k5siNoTgP2ez7au9p4619leiiZw0w/s1600/First+Minn+close+up+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDq2MVCChAe3Xcx1u3a3MffM-bf3WGI2SkRN2ut22kOl_OlMkMhXX2vDoMYR4r8IKqCKNtQjSVOeDcnCH7rScDx72pLdHMZexfTTI68iwtdamj_k5siNoTgP2ez7au9p4619leiiZw0w/s400/First+Minn+close+up+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This shows Colonel William Colvill, several paces behind the National Colors, about to give the order to "Charge Bayonets". He will be struck by two bullets within a few minutes. The 11th Alabama Regiment can be seen crossing Plum Run Creek in the background, and some of it's men are firing at or turning away from the advancing Minnesotans. Since this was shot, I have added several more Confederates.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3ePHfDy3KjH9X_9oMvMUNspjWAbFgD6jEXwbZHk_3C_x9Ck161MXzOFc1Me8z0qtrw29fMlB0MbDns1g77AenlqiToAmBWhNXFKqDpYUarqe3VlWP9bXuVOtWbX88om7a7lgpUJlwz4/s1600/Wilcox's+men+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3ePHfDy3KjH9X_9oMvMUNspjWAbFgD6jEXwbZHk_3C_x9Ck161MXzOFc1Me8z0qtrw29fMlB0MbDns1g77AenlqiToAmBWhNXFKqDpYUarqe3VlWP9bXuVOtWbX88om7a7lgpUJlwz4/s320/Wilcox's+men+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The 8th and 10th Alabama approach Plum Run Creek.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIaiBRW-HQHj5FsQl-NGmztu5VrdlyUhwGI3TwNFCUh0lPXU8Ua2f-5QZewXkKMbu2QJtyuLYfxex-riNmlThRLurN9bflzZ1g4sSzFKfNJl0CzhUb37J6nHJu-4EI8XUo5RE-isRxiI/s1600/Wilcoxes+men+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIaiBRW-HQHj5FsQl-NGmztu5VrdlyUhwGI3TwNFCUh0lPXU8Ua2f-5QZewXkKMbu2QJtyuLYfxex-riNmlThRLurN9bflzZ1g4sSzFKfNJl0CzhUb37J6nHJu-4EI8XUo5RE-isRxiI/s320/Wilcoxes+men+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Even MORE Confederates, this time men of the 14th Alabama cross the knocked down, snake rail fence bordering a large wheatfield.</div>
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I continue to add more figures and refine the details of the landscape. Stay tuned - this baby has to be done by mid June.</div>
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David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-414697675226098377.post-80547283272105969492013-06-06T20:56:00.000-07:002013-06-06T21:07:20.545-07:00Well, this is my first post. It is kind of lonely out there right now . . . we shall have to do something about that.<br />
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<b>"First Minnesota at Gettysburg" painting</b></div>
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I am in the process of working on a large battle scene from the American Civil War, which will travel East to Gettysburg with my dear wife and I in late June as we sign copies of our picture book, "<a href="http://www.davidgeister.com/artwork/books/bisforbattlecry.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet</span></a>" and help commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the battle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibauSRo606E79AnYl8m_9_bPdAvEi8Ga3UbzT_-3AfId92sht9WvUaz54mMaGZPKVq5NWbL-Lj3VZK6ErsA4EPvphbALyH8vvaA3ufhe6LCtC_4q-2jr_Ny-moTZHyW_0D12KIGkGQ_qs/s1600/First+Minnesota+at+Getysburg+painting+May+30,+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibauSRo606E79AnYl8m_9_bPdAvEi8Ga3UbzT_-3AfId92sht9WvUaz54mMaGZPKVq5NWbL-Lj3VZK6ErsA4EPvphbALyH8vvaA3ufhe6LCtC_4q-2jr_Ny-moTZHyW_0D12KIGkGQ_qs/s640/First+Minnesota+at+Getysburg+painting+May+30,+2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is an oil on canvas, 30x48 inches, and it shows the depleted ranks of the First Minnesota Regiment charging into the Confederate brigade of Cadmus Wilcox and his 5 regiments of Alabamans in the early evening of July 2, 1863.</div>
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Close-up photos of this work in progress, as well as further details will follow . . .</div>
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David P. Geisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311214588754919668noreply@blogger.com2