What about this one?

Better?

Darker?

More contrast?

I was standing with a few 'proof' prints of my 'Innocence and Experience' painting, and asking my poor flatmate his opinion.

"They all kinda look the same" he says.

And to be honest that was pretty much it.

​I had spent yesterday printing out variations of the piece. Fine tuning a wee bit of brightness and contrast here, a wee bit of cyan, magenta, and yellow there. 

Looking over them with a magnifying glass...standing them on top of the actual painting itself...parading from room to room to where I might get the best light to see them with.

In the end my eyes were going doolally.

I decided to give them a rest overnight.

And yup, on closer inspection, today's keyword will be 'subtlety'.

What I had thought yesterday were marked differences in colour, contrast and brightness, were, on today's viewing,  actually very slight variations.

"No one would be able to tell the difference" he says.

"I would though. There's no way i'm sending out anything that I wouldn't be happy with" I said.

And trust me, reader, these are the kind of things that keep artists awake at night.

The brightness, the contrast, the colour...how much border to leave for matting, to what looks good in a frame...to the weight of the paper and it's texture - and yup - I went through 17 different types to get the one that i'm happy with for my artwork. It had to have the right white point, and thickness and feel in my hands.

It's worth it though. If you end up buying one of these limited edition prints then you'll know that the whole process from start to finish has been done by me. From painting, through to photographing the artwork, to colour proofing and printing. 

You'll also know that i've been a bit obsessive about it and that if i'm not happy with it then it doesn't even get sent out the door!

And after all that 'alchemy' the final print is below.

I'll pop up links to where you can buy these handsome chaps asap.

Hope you're having a creative day!

​Davy

Gilbert Baker, the creator of the gay pride flag died today aged 65.

A fantastic gift to give the world, a rainbow flag that does not belong to any one country, a symbol which truly unites, and which millions of gay folk and gay allies have marched under.

And you know what they say about rainbows right?

There's always a wee 'treasure' at the end of each one!

Have a sweet day one and all!

Davy