Celebrate LIFE...

After some great fireworks last night I got inspired to do a painting that paid tribute to the 4th!  Can you say RED, WHITE & BLUE?

pencil sketch

roughing out the layout

first color

adding more color & definition

adding a white behind the flowers to make them POP...and a light green tablecloth.

 Still working on it...taking a break to eat lunch...then back to creating!

Special niece...

Mixed Media work of Art for a very special niece of mine...she's named after me...now is that isn't special!  Her favorite flowers are daisies...so I knew that that would be the main focus...

tissue & other papers that I either color -washed or stamped

the beginning...background

Final...lots of texture and I added a quote on the right hand side.

SMALL, but BIG in color...

I started another painting today...sat down at my table and saw this little canvas calling me...again I started out with painting my canvas background RED...then decided on a complementary palette...greens & purples.  Not finished by any means, but wanted to share.    

sketch

1st laying down of color

about an hour into the painting...

My sister says that the center red flower below looks like a 'bulls-eye'... I hate to agree but I have to...tomorrow I'll work on it...always love feed back, even if I don't agree.  Big surprise to her (that I go along with her on this idea).  
: ) 

last pic of the day...decided I needed a striped vase...

(love those stripes) & more details in the flowers...got any ideas to add?  
Enjoy....DEIDRE

What is my next step?

Can you say FUN?  So far I like it...love the RED background...and am happy about the overall feel of the piece.  Now, thinking about adding some papers?  Not sure, think I'll stare at it a bit & ponder what my next step is?  Got any ideas?  Do share.  Nothing better than to be in my Studio on a rainy day (although it still is about 85 out)...and CREATE!  I feel a new energy about me...& it feels great!  ENJOY...DEIDRE

1

2

3

Something NEW...and a bit BLUE.

Today I started a new painting, not sure whether I'm going to just keep with the paint or add some of my paper (to make it a mixed media piece)...time will tell.  I began with a sketch, decided I liked the first one I did so then I got a blank canvas...painted the background RED...for a bigger contrast with the flowers that I'll be putting in the painting later.  Here are some pics of my progress...ENJOY my journey...DEIDRE

1st sketch...it's a winner!

Paint it RED!

Quick sketch with white paint 

Add color and proceed...

   

Maybe they're limes...

I've now decided that I like the 'green' in the lower right...maybe they're limes in a purple dish...I first had red there, but it took away from my red flowers...green is much better, don't ya think?  Tomorrow I'll play with the vase...not quite feeling it yet.  Let me know what you think?  ENJOY...DEIDRE

Making a mess & loving it...

I went from yellows to purples to greens...this is way too much FUN!  Can I just make papers?  Being able to dye white'tissue paper' any color I want is FABULOUS!  After experimenting with your regular tissue paper that you'd wrap a gift in...to trying out Dick Blicks white tissue, (great for paper sculpture & collage paper), I have to say there is no comparison.  Dick Blicks wins out for doing the kind of techniques I'm doing to the 'tissue', I need a sturdy paper that will not tear at the slightest brush of paint hitting it. I first cover my art table with plastic (any kind will work)...then I rip the 'tissue' up into various pieces...lay them down on the plastic and start painting.  In order to get a really INTENSE color on the tissue, I put less than 1/4 c of water in a small bowl and then add my paint, about the size of a dime to start with.  Stir together, if it isn't intense enough for you, add more paint to the water. Then grab your brush & let the painting begin!   

   

Throwing all the PAINT on it I can!

This is where I began with this first attempt at MIXED MEDIA...I did this over 2 days in a class that I took from Tara Funk Grim...she was fabulous.  I felt so free to explore...and now being back in my own Studio I have begun to work further on this piece.  Follow me as I continue this process...I will share my techniques,mistakes,successes.  
I don't know where this is going to lead me, but I'm willing & ready for the creative adventure!

Experiment...

More experimenting today...working on some backgrounds, playing with different techniques.  Palette knives, ends of different tools...