Palettes and Posies: Mixed Media on Canvas

Palettes and Posies: Mixed Media on Canvas

Palettes and Posies: Mixed Media on Canvas

Palettes and Posies: Mixed Media on Canvas

Palettes and Posies: Mixed Media on Canvas

Palettes and Posies: Mixed Media on Canvas

Mixed Media on Canvas

Mixed media design on 8X8 inch canvas. started with a gelli plate for mono printing and went from there. 

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 I just finished this mixed media 12" x 12" canvas, torn papers, acrylic paints and 23 karat gold leaf. I love the effects of gold leaf in my work. I work with gold leaf a lot at my part time job. I usually apply it to carved signs, the technique is a little different and a lot more time consuming.
http://www.gildedplanet.com

Very Sweet 8" x 8" Raw Burlap Canvas with gesso and acrylic paints.

 

 

I took an encaustic painting class in DC thru the art league this past weekend. It was fun and informational, the pigments are so pure and vibrant. I just love this medium. Each color or layer needs to be fused to the background layer with a small torch or heat gun.   The above is my masterpiece. 

 

Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used. The simplest encaustic mixture can be made from adding pigments to beeswax, but there are several other recipes that can be used—some containing other types of waxes, damar resin, linseed oil, or other ingredients. Pure, powdered pigments can be used, though some mixtures use oil paints or other forms of pigment.

Mixed Media Collage

 

 

 I just love this art form...there is no formality to it, this is the second piece I have created. It is like being back in kindergarten, all rules are out the window with the creative aspect. I used acrylic paints, burlap, torn handmade and scrapbooking papers, marker pens and of course the medium that holds it all together on the canvas. There is even a little bit of gold leaf in it. I cannot wait to start another. I think I will use a series of three canvases this time and see what I come up with.

 

 

 

 

 

 This is the before of a window that had been covered up in a old farmhouse due to an added addition. The client wanted a faux window with shutters painted over the old window.

 

The challenge was that the walls were not square and  I had to give the illusion of a straight shutter on a very curved wall. I think over all it turned out well.

 This is the before of a window in an old farmhouse that had been covered over due to an addition.The client wanted a faux window painted back over the covered window.

 

 

This was a challenge, the walls were not square and they wanted shutters. I had to make the sh

Finished Vanity Table

 

The vanity turned out really nice. I think it is a little on the shiny side, I should have gone with a matte finish, better yet.. left it natural and added a piece of matte glass to the top. It would have saved me time..oh well.  I still need a new lighted mirror and a proper stool to sit on. I saw a great little stool with storage and it had french typography on a linen fabric. It is at Home Goods I will have to go back and see if it is still there, It will look perfect with the graphics on the top. PS as noted the graphic came from the graphics fairy site. Link is on my page

So many projects and never enough time. I get these ideas in my head and so they are numerous. There are a half dozen of them on the work space in the basement .. Well here... is another almost completed project. I just love the burlap it is so organic. I bought the burlap a year ago in Leesburg, VA. while spending a girls weekend with my sister in-law Pat. I had started a wreath project a few months back and ran out of this particular soft weave of burlap. I went to visit Pat last weekend for another girls only weekend, as always a fun and inspiring time. The store that sold the 6" x 4 yd. roll no longer had it.  Thanks to Pat I found it at the last moment in an antique store in Leesburg. I love the shabby chic look. My home is somewhat eclectic. I like some of this and some of that. I would love to have one room dedicated to the shabby chic/flea market find look. A cottage in the woods would be perfect. This wreath would make a very romantic theme to a wedding or anniversary. I will finish it during the during the storm expected to greatly impact the eastern seaboard tomorrow. 

Awesome Color Tool

It is like finding gold, I have found the coolest online application ever! Sherwin Williams provides a tool called Chip It. You can upload an image of your own as I did, these are just taken with my digital camera. Once the image is uploaded the software matches Sherwin Williams colors to the image. You can then save them in a book at the site or save to your computer. This could really become an addiction. I can't wait to take my camera out today on my walk with River (my furry female friend) and play with the colors of nature. The possibilities are endless. I may have to take a trip to my local S.W. to compare the color chips to the colors on my screen I am sure there is a slight difference. I will keep you posted. The last picture is a macro of the flower arrangement I posted most recently. Here is a link ;)

Sunrise in the Front Yard.

Cancun Mexico

My Fall Flower Arrangement

Fall Palette

I wanted to finish my table today, however it is a little chilly in the garage. I may work on it this afternoon. I decided to switch my summer flower arrangement over to fall. I love this urn or vase, my sister in-law Pat gave this to me a few years back. I was admiring it when we were in Maine and she surprised me with it. It has so many uses. I put a small Christmas tree in it around that time. If you click on the image you can get a closer look.  I have always wanted to take flower arranging classes at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. http://longwoodgardens.org/ It is an incredibly inspiring place. I actually went twice this year and I will be going back around the holidays for the tree display.  

Was an ugly table

I should have taken a picture of this table before I started to refinish. I bought the table about twenty years ago at a yard sale with the intention of refinishing it. It sat for 20 years as ugly as it was (it was real ugly) in my bedroom with a TV on top. Well we replaced the TV and I had no excuse but to do over. I should mention my husband sanded it for me, that was the hard part. I just applied the stain and the graphics. I intend to use it as a vanity in my bedroom. I found this great pattern written in french on a site called The Graphics Fairy. I love that site, lots of vintage graphics and ideas.  I will protect the piece by putting at least two coats of a clear coat on it. I hope to have it completed this weekend.

Finally a New Mailbox

Painted this mailbox just this past summer. I painted this for myself but am taking orders. The mailbox I believe is 39.00 dollars. I will customize it for an additional 25.00. Your address and whatever else you would want. I am in the Chester County Pa area and can be reached  through this site.

Finish the Floorcloth Design

  Today I plan on at least finishing the design for my latest floor-cloth. This cloth is going in a powder room that will carry the beach theme. I think I will paint beach umbrellas in vibrant hues and then paint a pale lime green border with possibly a quote about beaches as in the other floor-cloth. Not sure, it will come to me as the painting progresses. When the design is complete the cloth needs to dry twenty four hours and then sealed with three coats of matte polyurethane. The cloth is actually a canvas that has been sealed with gesso and primer that is the first step.