Stand Clear the Closing Doors

Metro Card Empire State Building No. 1

I've been a virtual Metro Card painting factory lately. I've been scavenging discarded cards, cleaning them up and then prepping them for painting.

 

I lay them all out on sheets of cardboard, face up. Next, I haul down my giant tub of acrylic gesso. Slathering the card with a layer of gesso provides a more stable surface for the oil paint. The gesso is a thick, milky white, much like marshmallow frosting.

I affix piece of masking tape along each card, using the magnetic strip as a guide, so as to just apply the gesso on the area to be painted.

Looks pretty messy, doesn't it?

Then they've got to sit and dry, overnight at least.

 

Grrrrr. The waiting is the hardest part, no?

But once dry, I'm ready to go! Some of the cards require a little gentle sanding to smooth out the surface. Then again, the streaky, rough surface can work to create an interesting texture in the painting. 

Here are two more that I've finished........ 

 

Metro Card World Trade Center No. 1

Metro Card World Trade Center Above the Clouds

Finally, here are a few more that are still in progress......

The completed cards are going up on my Etsy shop as soon as they dry -- will keep you posted!