I didn't do a progression on this 11 x 14 one but I wish that I had because this one almost became a gesso "paint-over." I just kept fiddling and fiddling and it finally came around. I am working on these panels.
I find that it's just too bouncy on a regular canvas and I can't scrape and sand and abuse it as much as these wooden panels. They are very affordable and I love to use them. The background is collaged scrapbook paper and then the "you get what you get" technique. Yes, I have gone pear crazy.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Crackle Pear
Here is another 11x14 with Golden's Crackle paste---which I love. it takes several hours to crackle so I let it sit over night.
The background is scrapbook paper and layers of glazes with reductive painting-(wiping it off).
It is pretty much a "you get what you get" type of thing so you just have to be intuitive (yikes--intuitive!!) and just see what happens.
After it crackled then I laid on a dark glaze (and wiped it off to make the cracks show) and then lighter glazes to make it stay transparent and luminous. Kinda like what we do in the Pear-ology class.
And there it is---Crackle Pear!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Flowers in Paris
I am certainly into my crackle phase. I have tried several crackle pastes and by far the best is by Golden. If you have any desire to crackle anything it definitely works the best. The Ranger crackle in the tiny bottle just isn't worth the cost of that although it does crackle well.
This is not much of a progression for you to see. After I get my new camera (YAY!) I should be able to take some better progression pictures while it's on the easel.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Here's the other Orchid
I decided to go ahead and paint the other Orchid since I had drawn and blocked it in. I haven't put the Minwax protective varnish on yet. I love doing that part. It really yummies it up! I used Matisse Southern Ocean blue acrylics for the background. The texture in both paintings shows up but it's hard to see it in the photos.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Orchid Progression
I had two more of these 12 x 24 canvases so I thought I would paint an orchid from my house-(it's fake). Still lives are hard for me to do because I get too detailed but I am trying to just paint the likeness rather than the thing itself.
I just stuck the Orchid on the desk with some cardboard behind it. Certainly not a professional still life but it just gives me the shape and some shadows.
Then I quickly sketch it out just to see if I could do it with a Sharpie.
Below the canvas was already painted black so I decided to stencil some texture with Wood Icing.
I had two of these canvases so my first thoughts were to paint them both at the same time.
Here is a close-up of the texture with some brown gesso added. The brown gesso adds a folk art look to the paintings when it peeks through.
I sketched out both of the canvases with a chalk pencil.
Then below I blocked in the images using negative painting.
From there I worked just on the green one because I am not sure if I will paint another Orchid on the blue one. Maybe I will turn it into something else. I used a palette knife for the flowers and for the texture in the planter base. So here is the finished green one with lots of texture, stamps, scratching, sanding and.... praying.Monday, April 2, 2012
Pear-ology class starts today!
For me, I think that this is my best class so far because not only do we paint pears I show many watercolor techniques that will help for future watercolor paintings. I had fun filming it.
If you signed up then I sure hope you enjoy becoming a Pear-ologist. :))
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Journal Page
I used my Pan Pastels and I should use them more but sometimes I do these journals at home and the Pan Pastels are at the studio. I also sprayed it with SpecraFix which is non toxic and sets the pastels.
I also used Puff Paint for the tree. it's so cute and puffy but you can't see it in the picture. That is really fun stuff!
I also used Puff Paint for the tree. it's so cute and puffy but you can't see it in the picture. That is really fun stuff!
AND THE WINNER IS......
Rebecca!!!
(...and no foolin!!!)
Congratulations, Rebecca, for winning a class in "21 Secrets" Please send me your email so
I can send it on to Connie at 21 Secrets!
Remember if you want to join---the button is at the right!
THANKS!!!
Thank you ALL for your comments!!!
Friday, March 30, 2012
21 Secrets Give-away!
Also if you don't win and want to take the class I would greatly appreciate if you will join the class through my blog. You will see the button on the right side of my blog: Just click it and it will take you to the class site.
Thank you much!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Practicing loose---
One of my goals as an artist to just have fun painting and don't think too much about the exact shape of things. Abd sometimes I come across an artist that sets my creative spirit free and helps me to loosten up. That artist now (I have had a few) is Robert Joyner. He is REALLY loose and sketches with a fat Sharpie for pete's sake!
So I decided that I was up for the challenge so I found my fat Sharpie and started to sketch. There is something about that fat Sharpie that set me free. At least for today. Sometimes I think I am free but the cage door is still open and at the end of the day I go back into my little cage. Ok, so I know why the caged bird sings...
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Maya Angelou
She is not a poet that I read but I thought this was appropriate for my art life.
I am that little bird in the cage that sometimes gets to soar--- because the cage door is always open.
PS Yes, I know, it does look like Robert Burridge. I like him too.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Hi big journal...I have missed you!
It's always so fun to finish up a page spread in my big journal with the grid. I like to use stamps and stuff I don't usually use. Plus I love to write with Calligra-FUN letters. I am just about the fill this one up.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Another repurposed canvas
I painted this after spending the morning watching several Youtubes of Robert Joyner. He is very loose but I so enjoyed watching his instruction and demos. There are so many gracious artists on the internet who give away they expertise for free.
This was a repurposed 12 x 24 canvas that was screaming to be painted over. I had fun painting this because I had a plan before I painted it. It helps to have a plan. I used a palette knife for the flowers, a credit card for the stick- like marks and also for the border--- and my new leaf stamps I carved for the 36 x 36.
I should have taken progress pictures because it was an interesting progress but I got so enthralled I forgot to stop and take pictures. I started out gessoing over the failed spray paint graffiti underneath
then while it was wet with gesso I "smushed" down a stencil for some texture. Then when that was dry I decided to use some of my brown gesso that I bought at Art of the Carolinas but haven't used and put it all over the canvas. I sketched out the vase and the flowers quickly (like Robert Joyner) with some of Marc's sidewalk chalk then started painting. This one didn't take too long to paint. The dots were from underneath. I decided I would keep them.
This was a repurposed 12 x 24 canvas that was screaming to be painted over. I had fun painting this because I had a plan before I painted it. It helps to have a plan. I used a palette knife for the flowers, a credit card for the stick- like marks and also for the border--- and my new leaf stamps I carved for the 36 x 36.
I should have taken progress pictures because it was an interesting progress but I got so enthralled I forgot to stop and take pictures. I started out gessoing over the failed spray paint graffiti underneath
then while it was wet with gesso I "smushed" down a stencil for some texture. Then when that was dry I decided to use some of my brown gesso that I bought at Art of the Carolinas but haven't used and put it all over the canvas. I sketched out the vase and the flowers quickly (like Robert Joyner) with some of Marc's sidewalk chalk then started painting. This one didn't take too long to paint. The dots were from underneath. I decided I would keep them.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
All done!
I think I made the right choice with the grungy white-ish pot. I decided not to show you all the decisions that were rejected for the pot color. Painting is really just a series of problem solving, trial and error, and little sweat along with a little (ok, maybe a lot) of frustration but one thing I have learned about myself, if I just don't give up then usually I can pull it out in the end. So, I can't believe it...I actually painted a 36x36! Maybe I will start to feel like a real painter now.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Jackson-bill! Look who's coming to see us!!
There will be here in about an hour!
Can't wait to see my babies!
The big painting is done so I will post that tomorrow. Thanks for all your sweet comments about the progression. It was fun to do that. Maybe I will do more of that with my paintings.
Hope y'all have a great weekend!
Making progress--not sure which which direction..
I just didn't like the stems so ...
...when all else fails---crackle paste! I will have to decide what color it should be and it needs a darker glaze so the cracks will show.
YAY! Crackles. Not sure what color to paint it. Maybe it should just stay white/light-ish.
I added a crackle top and some more crackles down the front.
...when all else fails---crackle paste! I will have to decide what color it should be and it needs a darker glaze so the cracks will show.
I added a crackle top and some more crackles down the front.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
More Texture...
Who knows is any of this will show in the end but it's fun putting it all. It's all about the surprises at the end.
Pretty cool! I'm getting closer.
I love Wood Icing.
Pretty cool! I'm getting closer.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Hello leaves and texture...
I had an idea...I thought I would carve a quick leaf. I don't want to get too literal on this painting---but like a carved leaf stamp is literal anyway!
I think I like the effect of the leaf stamps.
So here I am so far with some of the leaf stamps Now to stand back and take another deep breath and decide want to do next. I think texture...
I think I like the effect of the leaf stamps.
So here I am so far with some of the leaf stamps Now to stand back and take another deep breath and decide want to do next. I think texture...
Stay tuned---
Monday, March 19, 2012
Hello flowers...
Ok, so the flowers were hiding in the hodge podge!
I pulled out my new Crafter's Workshop stencils to play around a little bit. This layer will get covered up anyway. This might not be the color for the background that I end up with.
It was time to take another deep breath and add some flowers. Red is in my comfort zone so I decided to try to say as comfortable as I could with this big canvas...which is the biggest I have ever painted in my life. So far I am enjoying the process...
Stay tuned...
Sunday, March 18, 2012
There's a vase of Flowers in there somewhere...
YIKES!! The blank white canvas!!
So I thought I would start by just putting paint all over the canvas to loosen up and get familiar with the paint again. I haven't painted with acrylic in a long time. And this is the first time I have used my new painting room and I do love it. The light is great.
Cutie-patootie...
Can't believe he's almost 3. Such a big boy now--no more diapers. He's got on his favorite boots Nana gave him. They are coming to Jacksonville on Friday. Can't wait!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Pair of Leanin' Pears
Is there a such thing as a red pear? I guess it really doesn't matter at all because I have painted blue ones before and I am sure there are no blue pears!
This is on my favorite paper--300 lb Arches watercolor paper.
This is a 10x10.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Apple of my Eye
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
And the winner is......
Congratulations, Pat!
Please send me your email so you can have a free Pear-ology class!
:))
Thank you all so much for your comments!
Thank you all so much for your comments!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Pear-ology Giveaway!
Hey guys! I have been working very hard on this class. As you probably know I haven't had a chance to blog very much but I really enjoyed doing this class. I really do feel that after you take this class your pears can look just like these pears and believe it or not, it's very simple. There is a trick to it which you will learn in the class. I will also show you some other fun "magic" tricks that I use for the background that you can use on any backgrounds that you paint.
So just leave a comment and Wednesday at 8 pm I will have Mr. Random.org choose a number. You all know how it works!
Here is the video about the class:
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Sixy Pears
I have been so slow starting up to blog again. When life interrupts the art flow it really is hard to get cranked up again. But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have it any other way than to be able to help Chauncey's mother get well from her surgery and have his mom and dad settled in to assisted living.
I think they will enjoy their life there when Chauncey's mother gets back on her feet.
I have been filming my "Pear-ology" class so actually I have been doing art but as I said in my last post, I don't want to choke everyone on pears. So with that being said here are six more I painted! I hope you are with someone who knows the heimlich maneuver for safe pear removal from the wind pipe!
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Here is some sad news:
We had a shooting at Episcopal School today here in Jacksonville and the head master was killed by a disgruntled employer. We are so shocked and saddened. Macaul and Zachry attended that school and respected and admired this head master.
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