Showing posts with label gesso. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gesso. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Loving Florals


I love flowers and I'm drawn to floral paintings, any type and any style. Slowly I'm trying to paint them but I'm starting small.  I'm also trying to use brighter colors. Most of my paintings are dark because I love using black. Maybe it's my mood at the time (hmm doesn't sound good LOL).

This canvas was actually another painting I hated. Gesso to the rescue!!! I decided not to think just do something that looked floral and this is what happened.

Here is a close up of the flowers or berries. I dipped the end of a paint brush to create them. You can see the leaves are just a swoosh of green paint. Nothing difficult.

The funny thing is that I've been trying not to think and just create but having a hard time of it. I wish I can remember where my mind set was when I created this piece so I can do it again.  Working on abstracts I can just go with it but florals my mind and hands do not cooperate.
 
Maybe working towards abstract florals might help. I find I get frustrated practicing in my art journal that I stop altogether. I never seem to keep the focus going. Is there something you are dying to learn to paint but it never seems to work out?  Does your frustration stop you? 
 
Thanks so much for stopping by!
You can see more of my art on Instagram.
Search for @karenlizhenderson


Monday, July 27, 2015

A Big White Blob: I just went with it.

Yes here is the blog.
It was supposed to be a fine like of white paint.
The tip of the bottle, which was old, broke off and this happened.


So I just went with it. I love it.

First, here is a list of the supplies I used.

  • 8x10 Canvas Panel. You can buy these at your local art or craft stores.
  • Gesso - Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft
  • PITT artist pens - cold grey and black
  • Gelatos - orange soda, bubble gum, red cherry, passion fruit, boysenberry, lime and margarita mix
  • Mini Circle Grid by The Crafter's Workshop - TCW203s
  • Rubber Stamp (sorry no idea who makes it)
  • 1 piece of deli paper
LINKS TO PRODUCTS:


 Here are the steps on how I created it.

Step One: I used a palette knife to add gesso to the canvas. I love using a palette knife because it gives the canvas texture.



Step Two: I added an alphabet stamp to the background with the cold grey PITT artist pen




Step Three: I love writing or scribbles in my pieces. I used a black PITT artist pen to add my writing. Yes, it does say something but that's between me and my canvas.
 

 Step Four:  I started at the top and added  orange soda, bubble gum, red cherry, passion fruit, sprayed it with water and used my finger to blend the colors.  I repeated the same technique with   boysenberry, lime and margarita mix for the bottom half.


Step Five: Once the top and bottom were all blended I sprayed it again with water and layered a piece of deli paper on the top. I do this to take off some of the color. I like it to look a little distressed in places. It's like monoprinting without the plate.


This is what the deli paper looked like.



Step Six: I then used the Mini Circle Grid stencil and a baby wipe and took off more color. I chose to only do it on the one side of the canvas. 



Step Seven: I wanted to add more white in the middle of the canvas where the colors meet.  I added gesso in a fine tip bottle with a little water BUT it was an old bottle and the tip broke and put a blob of paint on the canvas instead.  So I went with and just squirted out the rest of the paint which gave me the perfect finish to my painting.

Here is a picture of the blob of paint before I show you the finished canvas. Remember there are no mistakes in art. You just go with it and you will find it wasn't a mistake at all.


Here is the finished painting.




Although you can use gel medium on top to seal the Gelatos, I use Krylon Acrylic Sealer Spray. The  Gelatos are water colors and if you add more water or something wet they will run.  I found if I take my time and spray lightly they don't run.  This piece has four layers of the sealer.

I hope you find this an easy way for your to create something special for your home.

Thanks so much for stopping by!