Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Bougainvillea Butterfly-DecoArt Media Design Team Post



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Howdy Artsy Friends!!!

For those of you that did not get to see this when presented by DecoArt Media on their web site... 
I can now share this project that I did as one of their International Design Team members.

And - for those of you who DID see it...
there are more pictures and a BIG QUESTION for you...
at the bottom of the page so please take a look!!!
I really would like to know your CHOICE!

We have a beautiful garden at the ranch and part of it includes some incredible Bougainvilleas which the butterflies love!









Watching the dance of the flowers with the butterflies this spring inspired me to create this Bougainvillea Butterfly canvas!!






It all began with DecoArt Media Crackle Paste and an Artploration stencil entitled Weathered Wood. 


Next came the fabulous DecoArt Metallic Lustre Iced Espresso. 


Applying lightly at first and then adding more to get the right look including Metallic Lustre Black Shimmer and Rose Gold.


After drawing in a few of the flowers, the painting began. I was concerned about the placement of the leaves around the post so I began with those. The butterfly is a Stampers Anonymous Stencil. 


Here is a picture of my stencil, entitled Perspective CMS213, and a photo of the completed butterfly. 



This is how the painting looked after the initial painting. 
Quinacridone Red
Primary Magenta
Vermillion
Yellow Green Light
Blue Green Light
Green Gold
Sap Green
Diaxazine Purple
Quinacridone Violet
Raw Sienna

Also used the DecoArt Media Misters in: Red, Purple, Shimmer Yellow and Shimmer Turquoise. 

Faber-Castell Big Brush and Pitt Pens were used to outline.



The background was fun! I used a sponge stipple brush with DecoArt Media Raw Sienna and DecoArt Media Medium Grey Antiquing Cream. I just love the Antiquing Cream...proof: I have emptied an entire bottle of my fav two colors very quickly!!! 


After the background was done (the first time)!


I thought I was done... but I just couldn't leave it alone!!



I just HAD to have some shimmer and a bit more color. 
 Plus...I studied the real bougainvillea flowers and tried to make them look better as I continued to work on the painting. Do you enjoy the shimmer and colors in the finished piece?

On the flowers and the butterfly I added DecoArt Media:
Shimmer Mister Turquoise
Mister Red
Mister Purple
Interference Violet
Interference Turquoise
Interference Blue
Patina Green Antiquing Cream
Titanium White Antiquing Cream
as well as:
DecoArt Glamour Dust Ice Crystal
DecoArt Glamour Dust Black Ice






Here are some additional photos. 
I hope you can see some of the shimmer!












And here is the big question... which way does this painting go?
Everyone that has seen it so far likes it a different way. 
I like all three - really just don't know which way is best!
Let me know your choice! 

Choice #1

Choice #2

Choice #3



YES... Hubby made the incredible cedar planters for the Bougainvilleas.  NO... I do not keep up that huge garden. We have ranch hands that do it for us. And we have a gal with a green thumb too!!! We share the food with them and all of the guests that come for meetings at our ranch retreat center.   Hugs. j. 


P.S. This is the way it was originally painted!!!
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Excited to enter the following challenges:

Stamplorations/Artplorations
 Mixed Media Challenge


I used Artplorations Weather Wood Stencil. 



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Happy 2nd Anniversary to you ALL!
I chose: MMMC#24, Butterflies and Blooms


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14 comments:

Pamellia said...

Wow Joi, what a great post! Your home is so beautiful, I just love seeing photos of your flowers and yard, stunning! Your painting is breathtaking, wowzers! I loved it before you added the shimmer, but after...holy cow, how freaking amazing! What a difference a little shimmer can make, everything pops!! I love the branch/post that the flowers are all growing around, and your butterfly is just magical!! I think I would go with choice #1, there is a more natural flow that way. Hope you are having nice weather my friend. hugs :)

Brenda Brown said...

Wow Joi it is so lovely to see this painting again, I have viewed it with fresh eyes, seeing the rich colours of the butterfly and foloiage and I marvel at your amazing talent to create such wonderful art work. The background has really intrigued me this time too and I need to have a go with the paint and antiquing cream as I love the effects you have achieved. TFS this again. hugs Brenda xxx

Sue said...

Wow what a stunning painting Joi, the colours are so vibrant. I love the shimmer, and I would go with choice A - don't know why, it just looks right to me xx

Win Dinn, Artist said...

What a glorious piece, Joi!!! I love the whole thing, especially that you have used the inspiration from your garden to jump-start such a smashing canvas! Well done, my friend.

Karen Petitt said...

OMGee! Joi this is so beautiful, so very very beautiful! Choice #1/#A it looks like that was the way it was painted and it looks like that is the way it should hang. I will be pestering you for some tips about painting with acrylics - any help would be greatly appreciated Karen xx

Jean Hardy said...

A beautiful happy canvas, whichever way up! Greetings from the UK x

Words and Pictures said...

Stunning, Joi - from that fantastic crackled bark to the glowing butterfly and bougainvillea - a really glorious canvas. It would be choice #1 for me without a doubt... and the additional shimmer and depth of colour and shading is so perfect. You were absolutely right not to stop at that part way stage.
Alison x

Tanja said...

love your canvas and thanks for the step-by-step tutorial - we hope to see you again soon at the STAMPlorations Mixed Media Challenge

sarascloset said...

Love the bougainvilleas and the crackled wood piece (rail to me) which looks so realistic--thanks for the close up! Your background is simply lovely, and I love the finished product in the end (so pleased you didn't stop--more is more!) The detail that really steals the show for me are to tiny branches here and there that you added to the finished canvas. What a beauty this is, and I like choice #1. I used to turn my paintings upside down for stome strange reason to add more details, and my art teacher liked that about me. I often photograph my projects upside down for that same reason--it gives me a different perspective. But for sure your instincts were right when you created this the way you did. (Great to see the other perspectives,though!) I so enjoyed your post, Joi. For lack of ability to hop on a plane and fly down, it's the next best thing to visiting with you! Big hugs!

sarascloset said...

PS I can't wait to see the grungy USA flag! I actually was thinking this morning "wouldn't it be great if Joi painted a flag?" No, REALLY, I did think this!

SewPaperPaint said...

What rich texture and gorgeous neutral/color mix here! I really love this piece, Joi! The butterfly and branch just jump out!

Rachel said...

beautiful canvas!!! really not much else to say... its just gorgeous. Thank you so much for playing with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

-Rachel
rwkrafts.com

SewPaperPaint said...

Joi, I just saw that you were in the winners profile at Stamplorations for this gorgeous piece and wanted to say biggest congrats! I love it!

Melanie said...

Absolutely Stunning!! <3 Thanks for playing along with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!