Painting Process The Paulding County Carnegie Library

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting by Borbay

On Easter Sunday, 2011, I was painting the El Cortez Hotel on Fremont Street in Las Vegas alongside fellow artist Ari Lankin. That day, a woman named Susan Pieper stopped by and asked if she could take a couple of action photos. We agreed, and I added, “it would be great if you can send those over if you have a chance.”

Susan said yes, and added she’d love for me to paint an important landmark in her hometown some day. Well, sure enough, Susan sent the photos, and about eight months later — Paulding County in Ohio commissioned this painting of their historical Carnegie Library.

Carnegie Preview Source Image Borbay

Above, you will see the source image I used as a point of departure… the lower image indicates where I planned on collaging the surface.

Carnegie Visual Notes

Following some initial feedback, we decided to replace the current full trees in the front of the building with the younger saplings from years ago… and, of course, the flowing flag.

And now, a recap of my contribution to the history of this venerable building.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

Starting out the 24″X36″ canvas with a basic outline of the building, and collaged headlines trimmed to form.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

The content was carefully chosen to add a literary flare to both the history of the Carnegie Library and surface of the canvas.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

Fully collaged with a preliminary drawing, I then bathed the surface in an orange gel-medium wash.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

Getting down to business: the sky is blue and the grass is green.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

With a larger un-collaged tree flanking the side of the building, I wanted to give it a distinctive look and feel.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

Beginning to carve into the building itself… I strove to create the elements individually… stones, windows, cornices.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

In another departure from my standard process, I painted the windows with a wet palette of six colors.

Carnegie Library Borbay Detail

Here is a detail of the main entrance… the interior had to feel active and alive.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

The painting is really starting to take shape at this stage, but I wasn’t feeling the light tone of the marble, so I decided to dig deeper.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

I studied the original image of the building and found the deepest tone I could identify and applied that as the base color. Alas, it was too dark.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

Meanwhile, the area around the building continues to build… the foreground was formed with a sea of greys, greens and select deeper and mid tones.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting Process by Borbay

This was a key moment, I found the correct base tone of the building, and mixed a purple-yellow complement to establish the shadows. Once dried, I hand painted each brick in a slightly lighter tone.

Paulding County Carnegie Library Painting by Borbay

And here it is, the Paulding County Carnegie Library. I am honored to be the first artist commissioned by Paulding County, Ohio — a project I owe to Susan Pieper’s passion and conviction. Thank you Susan, Michelle, the Paulding County Carnegie Library Board of Directors and Paulding County, Ohio.

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Carnegie Library Borbay Detail Flag

Salute the flag… detail. If you stare at the stripes, you can see the letters coming through.

Carnegie Library Borbay Detail Bricks

A close-up of the hand-painted bricks and collaged tree-line.

Carnegie Library Borbay Detail Signature

And the signature. Borbay. 2012.

Play it again Sam.

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4 comments

  1. Susan says:

    We love it! Working on our unveiling next Tuesday during National Library Week. What a fabulous story and project. It has been a pleasure working with you!

  2. Borbay says:

    Hi Susan, thank you again for everything. I’m excited to hear how the unveiling goes, please do send over the updates as they happen. Likewise, it was a distinct pleasure working with you… here’s to a chance encounter in Vegas!

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