Saturday, February 25, 2012

Dining Room Art - Designing the Canvas Art

I originally intended to paint some flowers, but didn't quite trust my free-hand painting yet, though I do want you to see an incomplete project that I began last week, in preparation for painting on this canvas:


I made this rough draft on watercolor paper, which is really thick, using acrylic paints.  I enjoyed the opportunity to just paint, but my perfectionistic tendencies kicked in and made me not too happy with this.  It's no bad for a first attempt, but in doing this, it made me realize that painting on my Dining Room Canvas will probably not be possibly because it is too 2-D and my art is calling out for 3-D!  So I will instead be using much more paper products to create paper flowers, stems and other things.  

This pic shows me layering a bunch of grunged-up pieces of papers that I aged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap.  I love the look of old postcards and birdies and flowers and butterflies, so there will be even more of those things layered on the canvas.  But this was a start.  I also printed some song notes and some journaling on vellum, and used that to layer because I love the translucency of it.  I used decoupage glue to adhere the pieces to the canvas.  


So here is a pic showing the project to date.  I will continue to prepare the rest of the pieces that go on top of this first layer, but it will take time for them to dry before I can add them to the canvas. 



Here are some handmade, vintage, paper flowers using pieces of the journal paper that I layered on the canvas.  Here's how I made the flowers:  



I inked the strip of paper, then wet it a little, so I could manipulate the paper and wrinkle it up nicely.   I then gathered it up into a round shape and glued it in place. 


I then added some little flower buds that I had made a while ago, to the centers of my grunged flowers. 


These flowers will add a lot of dimension to the project.  I also plan to make some butterflies and maybe a bird cage and some birdies.  And, of course, the center piece of the art, which is not totally developed yet!  
Off to create I go!



Progress to Dining Room Art - Adding Burlap

This series of pics show me using my hot glue gun to attach the sewn strip of burlap all around the frame.




And viola!  The finished, burlap-covered frame.  Notice the uneven lines of the burlap on the frame.  I did that on purpose. 


Next up, the beginnings of the design on top of the painted base!



Dining Room Art - Redefined

Okay, so in my last post, I told you I received a brainstorm in the middle of the night.  This caused me to start the project all over again, but I am much happier with it now.  So here are a series of pics showing the revision and how I got on a better track!

Pic 1:  Turned the canvas around so I will be using it backwards!  Had to paint the inside of it, and guess what?  It took a lot more paint because the inside was not pre-gessoed for me and I didn't realize it till I was into it!  Oh well, I will know for Canvas #2!

Also, I added 3 new colors:  Tangerine, Fresh Foliage, and True Burgundy.  All FolkArt acrylic paints.

Pic #2:  The inside canvas fully painted!  I love it!.  The brighter colors are more vibrant than how I'd done the outside, and this new combination fits more with my style.


Pic #3:  I love the look of burlap, so I decided to frame my art with it.  First I had to sew an edge to the strip I cut, so it would not fray while I manipulate it onto the canvas.


 Pic#4:  Close up of straight stitch on burlap.  One side was straight, the side that goes along the outside of the frame.  The side that goes on the inside of the frame, on top of the painted part, was sewn with curves to give it more of a flow.



Next post will show the hot gluing part.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

New Direction - So Excited

I woke up at 3:25 this morning, after a dream where I was painting on some smaller canvases than the ones I am using for my dining room.  It was definitely a God-thing, because the dream gave me inspiration to go a whole different direction than what I'd already started, and will require a re-do on the painting, as well as using some additional tools (i.e. sewing machine).  But I am even more excited now because this new direction will be a truer representation of me!  Can't wait to show you, but it will probably not be until the weekend!

Got stuff going on at home that will keep me from focusing exclusively on my art.  More on that later.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

A Blank State

I have recently been having a fun time working on some cool home decor projects; so much fun that it's kept me from blogging.  But now I am enjoying this project so much, that I decided to blog about it as I go.

I am working on 2 canvas art pieces for my dining room walls, and will be using a mixed media approach.  That means that it will entail the use of various elements:  acrylic paints, decoupage, patterned papers, fabric and lace, stamps, masks, and mists.  I'm excited to see where the Spirit leads on this one!

So first up, the blank canvas, stretched and pre-gessoed for my convenience, it is 16 X 20:


Pretty cool, huh!  A bit intimidating at first!  But, oh so many possibilities!

Next up, the partially painted canvas, using regular FolkArt paints, Country Twill, Bayberry, Tapioca, Sunflower, and one Delta Ceramcoat Trail Tan:


Stunning, I know!!!

The finished canvas next: 


So now the fun begins tonight.  I will begin playing on the freshly painted canvas and update the blog until I finish!