Everything's Eventual

Everything's eventual. In this instance: with enough sunlight, this red has faded to white.

There's the slightest hint of red, but this sign has enjoyed many an afternoon in the Florida sunshine.

Another sign nearby:

Unclear Clearance

A little odd the most important part of the lettering disappeared first.

Pollen Stains!

Pollen stains on concrete!

(...really doesn't take much to excite me, does it?)

It's something I've had to mimic on outdoor scenic painting without a great photo for reference. Enjoy!

Just Say 'No'

Ever think about the buttons you push as you fill up your tank?

Start with 'Credit' or 'Debit/Atm' (Unless you're paying cash...that still happens.)
Zip code or PIN (Number pad wear is pretty even. 'Enter' shows a bit more wear. 'Clear' isn't used much.)
Car wash today? Y/N (Looks like most people choose 'No'.)
Print Receipt? Y/N (Looks like most people don't need one.)

And it looks like very few people have pushed 'Help'.

I'm on the lookout for a number pad with heavy wear on just a few numbers.

Can You Crack the Case?

Today I spotted this lock and handle in a hall:

Lovely example of key scratches - notice the arcs on the wood?

Natural oils from hand reveal how the handle is utilized.

So, detective, I've provided a close-up of the handle. Which way does the door open?

Convenient Aging

Some objects age in patterns - over time, users reveal usage habits.

Consider this bin: with four holes to choose from, two show far more wear and rust than the others. Why? Observe the overall position. With the bin placed against a wall, traffic moves on only one side. The bin's hood creates a sharper angle for depositing recyclables in the back openings. Hundreds of bottles and cans - contributed with an almost unconscious decision process - have revealed a pattern of use.

A Contributed Photo!

I love this photo - very subtle water damage from climate control.






And even better - this photo was sent to me!

Thanks for seeing something dirty and sharing. It made my day!

 

 Spotted in Downtown Orlando

This Blog is Becoming Quite Dirty

Love the vertical grime on this wall downtown.

Well, the Stucco Still Looks Great

Seems like the drivers are only hitting the left side of the post at this drive-thru...

What's Left of a Line

Found this stop line on a brick street downtown. Curious wear pattern - I like it.

Awning Aging - In Hi(gher)-Res!

Well, I'm excited to have my Canon back out.

Found this beauty on my drive home: looks like the white awning has build-up from the street traffic, as well as aging from exposure. The effect emphasizes the contours of the architecture, and draws focus to the sections connecting to the eve spout.

'Just paint it green'

Found this gem of an access panel near the lake.

Several factors contribute to paint separating from concrete - such as inadequate surface prep, exposure, moisture, and time. Admittedly, I like this look better than a giant solid green rectangle.

Paint on a Post in a Park

Though I did consider another title for this entry: "This is Why You Can't Take Me Anywhere".

Lake Eola Park is lovely. While most people were photographing the birds, I focused on aging elements around the lakefront. The base of this post had some lovely effects.

(My ipad isn't cutting it...I promise picture clarity will be much better next week.)

Rust, peeling paint, and scuffs - who could ask for more?

Where the Sidewalk Cracks

Well, technically a driveway.

But why does concrete crack?
Concrete responds to changes in the environment. It's a material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled. The underlying soil responds to temperature shifts and erosion. Force from heavy traffic can also contribute.

Subdividing the concrete into sections help relieve the tension. Note the strong line at the bottom.
(Thought the 90 degree intersection on this driveway was interesting.)

Three Weeks of Traffic

It doesn't take long for new paint in a freshly paved parking lot to show signs of aging. Three weeks in this case.

Note the section close to the curb has the least amount of traffic. (Yep. 'Traffic'.)

Settling Dust

Aging and distressing the low/underside of objects can be visually appealing and fairly easy to apply. (Not to mention easier to reach than the top - and I know what it's like to hunt for a 16' ladder at 2am in a deserted building.)

However, this photo provides a nice opportunity to examine how airbourne particles settle on a horizontal surface. The bottom of the pipe is rusting, but fairly clean. The top is covered in black exhaust.

So it doesn't hurt to occasionally think like a dust bunny:  find the horizontal surfaces and let gravity influence your airbourne aging.

Rust on Concrete

This morning I took note of a rust stain on the wall of a parking garage.

Rust on Concrete

Rust 101:
Rust is formed in the presence of iron, oxygen, and water.
(If you want a more detailed breakdown: iron oxide is mix of ferrous oxide and ferric oxide. 3Fe + 2O2 = Fe3O4.)

Why would concrete have rust stains?
 Concrete is a porous material. Water with a high mineral content - also known as 'well' or 'hard' water - would penetrate the surface and leave behind a rust-friendly surface.

Howdy!
As a scenic artist, I'm frequently asked to make new objects look old, old objects look new, and projects that fall in every category between.

So...what does stuff look like as it ages? And why?

Remarkably, I've made it through quite a few classes without ever researching the chemistry behind aging. Or developing a photo collection to reference. I'm hoping to do both.

Enjoy!
J