OK…Here’s “Hula Cardinal” again. I’m not sure if I posted him on the old onprimetime.com site. I have posted him to the NatureScapes.com bird forum for some GENTLE critique and comments. “Hula” actually received some VERY positive comments from professional shooters I respect. The only kinda-sorta negative comment was the square crop of my image. (I liked my original crop, but did make the change!)
I decided to use “Hula Cardinal” as my entry for this month’s Rockport Center for the Arts Member’s Gallery. I had my printer..Ron Brant…make a 20 x 24 print on canvas for me. Ron has a TINY print shop…Art Castle..in Corpus Christi, TX. Ron is a MASTER colorist and is probably one of the most detail-oriented individuals I know. Needless to say…”Hula Cardinal” looked awesome on canvas!
Wanting to do something different, I had a poplar frame made. I laid down a sand color base coat…applied a crackle finish product…and finished it off in a medium brown. A couple of clear coats had the frame looking good. I had never tried a crackle finish and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
I mounted my canvas image on foam backer board and dropped it in the frame. Then I added a dust cover on the back…applied the hanging hardware…and it’s done!
Yesterday “Hula Cardinal” was dropped off at the RCA and should be hung in the gallery today. I priced this image conservatively and hope it finds a new home soon. I’ll let you know…SEF