Memorial Day Project, Acrylic on Wood

Happy Memorial Day to my U.S. friends and Wishing a Peaceful Weekend to all the rest of my sweeties! 

I saw a similar heart online but there was no artist listed to give thanks to for the idea. I adapted it to make a gift for one of our ranch hands. 

The big discussion was which way the word 'Fun' should have been placed!! I like it as is but others say it should have been upside down like the other words. And so is the way of creativity - right???!!! 

Hubby put the wood slats together for me. I added a bit of paint for a more even texture. 

The project begin by drawing the design onto the wood and then adding DecoArt Media Gesso with the DecoArt Americana Stencil - Pixelated.

If you follow me - you know I love shimmer and glitz! The cross was painted with DecoArt Bronze Dazzling Metallics. 

DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste was added to the stars and the cross. Love that texture.  The stars were just painted in with Gesso - free hand. They are a bit wonky - I agree - but fun and free!! 

To give the stars a bit more 'rustic' feel DecoArt Metallic Lustre was added. 

The variation of blue for the 'flag' was done with the DecoArt Cosmic Blue Metallic Lustre and the Primary Cyan DecoArt Media Mister. 

The Cosmic Blue Metallic Lustre was also added around the words. I am thrilled to own Dynasty liner brushes because now I can more successfully paint those tiny straight lines!!

The family name was done with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Prussian Blue Hue (one of my fav colors!) topped with Metallic Lustre Silver Spark. 

Products Used: 

Some close-ups for you!

Here you can see a bit of the luscious shimmer!!! 

Can you see the Texture Sand Paste in the cross? 

THANKS BUNCHES for stopping by. 

I love seeing your art and also sharing mine. Xj. 

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Really excited to share this with:

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Stamplorations/Artsplorations

May Mixed Media Challenge

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Embossing Sin City Stamps, Walnut Hollow Wood, DecoArt Media

Using a fabulous ornate Walnut Hollow Chippendale 8x10 piece of wood - the project began. 

DecoArt Media Crackle Paste was spread from top to bottom.  The Sin City Stamps in the photo were pushed into the crackle paste to form the flower pattern. With a pointed stick I drew in the fence and some earthy lines. 

After dry - spray with DecoArt Media Yellow Shimmer Mister. 

Have fun embossing!! 

Products: 

Lindy's Stamp Gang Embossing Powders:

Twilight Bronze Slate & Sweet Yellow Orange

Wow Embossing Powder:

Vintage Champagne

Ranger Archival Ink:Watering Can

Ranger Emboss It Dabber

The sky and the flowers were embossed. 

With the shimmering embossed flowers in the background, out came the flower stamp again.  This time it was coated with DecoArt Media Gesso and stamped right on top the other flowers.  

Time to paint the first layer!! 

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics

Cadmium Orange Hue, 

Quinacridone Gold, 

Diarylide Yellow

Dynasty Brush

And just keep repeating layers of paint until your flowers have the look that you can enjoy!

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics:

Paynes Grey, 

Transparent Red Iron Oxide, 

Sap Green, 

Green Gold

Love the natural background texture that you get when painting on wood. Here are some close-ups!

It's hard to see the shimmer of the embossing powders but it looks so pretty in person!

More crackle and embossing shimmer in the sky!  

  

Here are the products used.  The Yellow DecoArt Media Shimmer Mister isn't pictured. 

 Thanks bunches for stopping by to share some fun art with me! Xj.

I feel lucky to share with the following challenges:

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Sin City Stamps

National Craft Month Blog Hop

Arts and Crafts made with Sin City Stamps

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Craft Stamper Magazine

May: Anything Goes Stamping Challenge

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Mix It Up Challenge

Anything Goes + Embossing

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The Artistic Stamper

May: Backgrounds

Mine is a 'Scenic Background'!

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DecoArt Media Design Team Post - SUNRISE FISHING

Here's a Sneak Peek!!!

TODAY is the DAY: the great honor of a post on the DecoArt Media Blog.  Only six times a year and it's soooo exciting for me!! 

This time you will find:

• Image Transfer (using Andy Skinner's process)
• Stamping
• Stencils
• Textures
• Bright Fluid Acrylics on Large Canvas
• Water, Mountains, Foliage, Wildlife, and more!!

Please hop on over to the DecoArt Media blog and PLEASE...leave me a comment. :) 

Here is the link: 

Joi's DecoArt Media Blog Post!!

Thanks bunches to each of you! Xj.

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Cityscape, Portrait, Acrylic Painting on Canvas

Howdy from my studio at the ranch!!! 

This is an acrylic painting on canvas that included:
 a cityscape, a portrait, and even a painting of a painting - all in one!! 

A dear friend and valued employee of many years retired this week.  This was one of her gifts.

Here is the photo that was taken for the painting.

Painting the background was fun! It was done by mixing various DecoArt Media paint colors with DecoArt Media gesso and tinting base. 

This time, it seems overwhelming to try to sketch everything so out came the DecoArt Americana Transfer Paper. 

For me, the most difficult part was the portrait so I began with it. 

Slowly but surely... she began to come to life! So thankful for my Dynasty Brushes that seem to guarantee preciseness every time. 

The DecoArt Festive Red Dazzling Metallics, DecoArt Media Metallic Gold and DecoArt Media Black Shimmer Metallic Lustre were perfect for her jacket, glasses and streaks in her hair. 

The chairs were done with DecoArt Iced Expresso Metallic Lustre. A bit of DecoArt Media Translucent White added shading to the seat cushions.

Andy Skinner's Toxic Stamp set by Stampendous was used for the floor tiles.

And of course, DecoArt Media Liquid Glass was just right for the shimmering glass in the mirror!

The desk was done with DecoArt Media Carbon Black and DecoArt Gold Rush Metallic Lustre.

And this is how the painting looked when I stopped at the end of the first day.

Houston Texas cityscape time!!!  

Still in process!! 

And even when I thought I was finished, I worked more on those buildings at the bottom.

A wash of DecoArt Media Raw Umber Antiquing Cream helped make the scene look more like it was being viewed through a window.

And now the part I was looking forward to the most...

making a painting within a painting!!! Soooo fun.  

Using a bit of DecoArt Media Patina Antiquing Cream and Crackle Glaze... the planter received an extra bit of character!

Products Used: 

A few close-ups of the 20x30 painting! 

Hubby added a floating frame and I finished it with Carbon Black and Metallic Lustre Gold Rush to match the painting. 

It was covered during the retirement party and then shared!  When uncovered... there was a gasp... and then silence. Many were crying.  

Afterwards folks were saying, one after another, how they remembered sitting in those chairs - from year to year - overcoming issues in life and work thanks to a wise and understanding mentor behind the desk. 

They felt that her office was always a safe, happy and cherished place.

 What an honor it was for me to be able to paint a canvas of memories that touched hearts.

Thank you for sharing this joy with me. Xj.

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Excited to share with the following: 

Mix It Up Challenge Blog

This is a mixed media canvas and it was "mixed up" with techniques that produced a portrait, a cityscape, and a painting within a painting and more. 

So fun to be a part of the 'pre'- mix it up challenge! j.

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