Thursday, April 21, 2016

DecoArt Americana Canvas Painting Gallery - Grassy Wildflowers

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Howdy My Artsy Sweeties!!! 

This is a 12x12 painting on canvas. 
I'm hoping that it will be accepted for the:
DecoArt Americana Canvas Painting Gallery. 
It is totally done with DecoArt Americana products except
for some Faber-Castell Big Brush and Pit Pens for outlining.



This morning I had a visit about art with Lucy the calf that lives here at the ranch.  She explained art from "her perspective".   



Would you like to know what she said? 
Some of you will and some of you won't!!!
But here it goes anyway... just put on your imaginative hat. 

All cow patties are different and to a cow - part of the decor! 
They come in different sizes, shapes and colors. 
The have texture and dimension and symmetry. 
Often they make a lovely design... 
surrounded by an array of lovely florals.

And here is my version of Lucy's interpretation of art :)
Hey... what can I say... I live at the ranch and...
there really is a patch that looks very similar...
 just a bit darker in the center!!!! 
Sure hope you are smiling - its actually a lovely sight...
and it's all recyclable in keeping with this months Earth Day...
that is... if you have my country mentality :)  



I began with the wonderful DecoArt Americana Decou-Page Paper entitled Victorian Romance. It is just beautiful. There are three sheets in the package and I chose the roses!
If you haven't tried it - you should. I love applying it. 


And, of course, I used the DecoArt Americana Decou-Page Sealer/Glue Finish to apply the paper.  I purposely let the paper crack because I like the textured look.  When you are working on a soft background like a canvas - the cracking is easy to do!


After it was dry, I sanded it just to make it smoother.


Next step:
DecoArt Americana Weathered Wood Crackle Medium.



Neon Thermal Green
Cadmium Yellow
and not pictured but used in the background...
Indian Turquoise. 


Began painting in my floral design with gesso. 


Beginning design that changed before completed!!! 


Carousel Pink
Lavender
True Red
Sour Apple Green
Lamp Black
Snow White


And layer after layer of paint. 
And somewhere in the creative process... 
I added some Modeling Paste to the center flower. 


Ok so... let me tell you why this painting was out of my comfort zone.  Over and over I kept saying to myself..... hurry Joi - and I have paint splatters everywhere!!! Per the DecoArt instructions for this project - it needed to be done in two hours.... what??? Dear me! Very hard for me and needless to say - I felt that it wasn't finished when the timer dinged - of course!!! Thank goodness I turned off my timer when things were drying. Overall - I would say it's a pretty wild and crazy look for me. I honestly have never painted so fast - but need to speed up - I spend way to much time trying to make things "better" which puts me behind on everything!




And here are some bigger pictures of the complete painting!


Since the Weathered Wood was put over the entire background.... love how it comes through on the flowers too!! 






Ahhh - thank you so much for staying with me to the end. 
And thank you in advance for your comments - I love knowing you were here and you make my sometimes lonely days so happy.  Note: My blogger reply button still doesn't work - boo hoo. 

Have a great week. Hugs. j. 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Happy for the opportunity to enter the following challenges: 
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April: Spring


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April: Earth Day


This is my 'flowery meadow' for Earth Day. 
I began using the blues and greens as in your mood board - you can see those are the basic colors in my background. 
However, I just couldn't resist adding more colors to the flowers in my meadow.  I am thankful every day to see the glorious beauty of our wonderful earth and enjoy all the "creatures" living here. j. 

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Friday, April 1, 2016

Gypsy Fayre at Our Creative Corner - Misty the Gypsy Nag!




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 Do you have a gypsy nature???

I bet you do?

At Our Creative Corner... we want see your gypsy nature... 
Let your creativity run wild and free like a gypsy!

CREATE any interesting item/items that you might see at a traditional Gypsy Fayre. 

USE THREE (3) colors from the feature pallet above
OR
show us how your project is inspired by this gorgeous Ode to the Gypsy Soul. 


I just can't wait to see what you create!! :)

Blessed are the gypsies. The makers of music, artists, writers, dreamers of dreams, wanderers and vagabonds, children and misfit: for they teach us to see the world through beautiful eyes.

Gypsies are wanderers, purveyors of exquisite things, mysterious things, free-spirited Bohemians curating the beauty of life and sharing the wonder with you as they travel along. 

Tando Creative is the sponsor for this months challenge. 


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And now... for the gypsy nature in me..... 
Misty the Gypsy Nag!!! 

Yes, we do have a horse named Misty here at the ranch.  She is our oldest horse and trust me.... she is a NAG!!!!!!!!!!  



I by looking on the internet for a wagon I liked and then began drawing on a 16x20 canvas. I used DecoArt Media Paints.



Heheheheh - just couldn't resist playing with the eyes!!!!!! Are you laughing. Yes - I was doubtful at this as to my success!!!! 


And bad went to worse as time went by but I just remind myself... first coat, first coat, first coat!!!




I did the original yellow background with DecoArt Media Yellow Shimmer Mister.

The stencil is from The Crafter's Workshop - Balzer Designs - Mini Hex Flowers. They just reminded me of Gypsy Fayre!!





So now it's time to start on the horse's colorful mane!



I really used every color on the Our Creative Corner Mood Board.... even though you only need to use three!! 
I just HAD to make it bright!! 

Here are a couple of the colors and my wonderful wonderful fav brush for painting "hair" of any kind. 



Here is a close-up of the colors in the mane!!


After looking and looking at the picture... 
I decided I didn't like my wagon so it got an overhaul!!! 
Out came the gesso and more yellow Shimmer Mister.


Ahhhhhhh.....much better.... at least to me!!! 

Now need to add decor to the front (see picture below) for more Gyspy Fayre!



I also went back and redid some of my stenciling... 
Gypsy Fayre flowers... just have to have them! 


Same stencil but instead of paint, this time I used markers.


And here are some close-ups of the finished painting. 










As always, thanks bunches for stopping by for a visit. 
My reply button still does not work but please know...I am so grateful for your comments and read each one!

REMEMBER...
I will be watching for your entry to...
OUR CREATIVE CORNER Gypsy Fayre. 

And... I will leave you a comment when you enter :)
Hugs, joi 


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