River Stones - Looking back on the past

Hi Everyone!

When I first looked at this new stencil called Pebbles Tied by The Crafter's Workshop, it reminded me of all the hiking trips with my parents. We all had backpacks, even the dogs, and would hike five miles or so to find the perfect camp site. I remember one river we camped near had all these small white pebbles all marked up by what they hit coming down the river. They were black and white. This memory is the inspiration for this canvas.

Here are the stencils I used.

Pebbles Tied

Corncob Etching

The Crafter's Workshop provided me with stencils to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own because I do love to use them.

As I took pictures I had lots of ideas, but as you'll see they change. I first thought I was going to do this all in spray paints. I took the large canvas outside on my deck and started with these two colors.

 This is what it looked like then I had another idea.

I didn't like the spray paint so "Gesso to the Rescue" and covered it up and added the Pebbles Tied stencil here.

I used the edge of a palette knife and added super heavy gesso to the pebbles.

Didn't like where it was going so I painted over it again.

 Next I added the Corncob Etching stencil with super heavy gesso to different areas of the canvas. 

When it dried I sprayed it with water and put a drop of black high flow acrylic on it and let it do its thing.

I continued for a while and it looked like this.

Another idea, a wash of black.

I taped off some of the stencil design and started adding the pebbles with super heavy gesso.

Once dried, I sprayed the pebbles with water and added black high flow acrylics and let it go where ever it wanted.

Although its finished and signed, I may change a couple of things. Not sure yet. It will sit for a while.

You can see more of my art by following me on Instagram (karenlizhenderson). 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

ARTSISTA'S RETREAT OCT 2015 - PART 1

Hi Everyone.

I'm a little behind on posts.

I'm still trying to unpack from my last art retreat.

 

 

 

 

 

We all got together again to laugh, cry, create art, eat, laugh, cry, eat, create art.

I was also shown the art of going to tag sales and antique shops.

Not all antiques are old!

 

We had an amazing time.

+Pam Wildeboer  and Sherie +Sherie Eddy rented a house in Michigan on the lake.

It was beautiful.

Tons of room for all our supplies.

 

Today I only have pictures from my cell phone.

I took 295 pictures with my camera.

I'm still going through them.

 

+Pam Wildeboer brought a selfie stick.

I've never used one but it worked out great since my arms are so short.

I can never get everyone in the picture.

 

These were taken at the lake.

 

With Pam

 

 

With +JackieP Neal 

 

With Sherie and photo bombed by Jackie!

Love this picture...so funny.

 

Pam and Sherie taught us how to make dolls.

I didn't think I would like it but it was so much fun.

I think I may be making a few tiny robots next.

Here is my doll.

I will have pictures of everyone's dolls in my next post.

 

Front:

 

 

Back

She did have a spider hanging in the back but it fell off.

Both sides and back of her head I used the Spider stencil (TCW) and black modeling paste to add more details to her head.

 

 

I brought Yupo, India inks, high flow acrylics, and The Crafter's Workshop stencils and showed the girls how to use it.

That was another surprise.

I didn't think they would like it. They loved it.

Again, more pictures in my next post.

 

Here are three paintings I finished at the retreat.

Each one I used a couple of The Crafter's Workshop stencils.

 

 

 

The best part of these Artsistas' weekends is that we have so much fun and get to create amazing art.

We feed off each other and end up with lists of what we want to buy and create next.

Can't wait until the next one!

I've grown to really love my Artsistas!

They are truly a blessing.

 

More to post soon!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!