Zen Garden Mural Update

I've made some progress on the mural since my last post. After contouring most of the major branches, I tried painting a few leaves. I was inspired by a Russian Olive tree growing near our nephew's dorm. Painting the leaves is relaxing to me. I was happy to find I could use a green straight from the bottle. The rest of the colors I've used so far are mixes.
I also added some detail to the ground under the tree by painting the suggestion of some rocks. It's probably the most difficult part of the project since I have to sit on the floor while painting this area. It's helpful to have a second pair of eyes sitting across the room while I work. I'm hoping to recruit my husband for the next painting session for this section. He gave me input while I worked on contouring the main trunk and branches.
Thanks to all who have encouraged me with your wonderful comments. I am very grateful for your support. xo

Zen Garden Mural Beginning Stages

Following is a peak at my latest project. I'm painting a mural in the reception area of a massage therapy business in Ames called Zen Garden.

Water soluble graphite was a great choice for drawing the design on the wall. It is easily removed with a damp cloth. Most of the paint I'm using is Liquitex Soft Body. I mix it with Liquitex Matte Medium at about 50%.
Stayed tuned for updates.

GPP Crusade No. 34

Collage of elements from my experiments on black paper.
When this Green Pepper Press challenge was announced, I was excited about the possibilities and wanted to explore ideas I have for working on black backgrounds. Earlier this summer I painted a design on black for my husband and have wanted to do more. But it's been a busy month with other priorities. I didn't know if I would get to follow through.
I decided to tear 8-1/2 x 11 sheets of black cardstock in half. Late in the evening I would spend a few minutes trying different media on the paper. It's the end of the month and I have a collection of papers to show for it. I plan to bind them into a journal.

I monoprinted and stamped white gesso on some pages. When dry, I experimented with adding color using opaque watercolor, water soluble oil pastel, and stamping. The gesso was very porous and the colors were very muted on it.

Opaque watercolor and soft pastels were worked directly on black paper with more dramatic results.

Metallic pigment markers were used on glossy black cardstock. I also used them to ink a rubber stamp which is the butterfly in the collage above. The shimmery quality of these images doesn't show up well in the photos.

I used masks and applied soft pastel to a page for dragonflies. I stamped with white chalk ink over hand-shaped masks. I scumbled white gesso around the hands to make them stand out against the page better.

These are among my favorites. I used heavy body acrylic paint - regular and metallic. Paint was applied with a brayer. The papers on the right and the left have been stamped as well. I used acrylic paint on the stamps.

I made notes with more ideas on another black page using a metallic gel pen. I bought black illustration board with the intention of cutting it into covers for the journal, but I cut pieces for new artworks instead. I have already started a new work on one of the pieces.
[I will NOT be pursuing art pieces on this black illo board because the top layer of paper began to delaminate when I put juicy washes of color on the gesso base coat.]

This was a great idea for a challenge. I learned a lot and now have a new set of inspirations to work from. I found that a few minutes spent on a consistent basis will turn into more than I could have imagined. Thanks Michelle!

Homeward Bound

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

Let Your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57

This is the latest painting that I completed. It's been mostly done for a few weeks. I joined a critique group earlier this month and picked up a couple tips to improve the composition. After taking time to consider the ideas, I tweaked the painting a bit, added varnish coats and now it is ready to be installed in a black frame similar to the black border I added to the digital image you see here. The acrylic painting is on an 18" x 24" canvas panel.

The painting started out with a completely different idea in mind. I painted a mottled blue violet background on which I printed white gesso with plastic canvas circles. To soften the circles, I applied filmy layers of gesso with cheese cloth. At this point my original concept was abandoned. I started to see clouds and my inspiration took off. I imaged traveling through the universe to heaven. That's why I named the painting Homeward Bound.

What else have I been up to? I exhibited jewelry and paintings in Marshalltown and Nevada earlier this month. It's a lot of work, but the reward is meeting people who appreciate art. Next week I will start painting a mural that has been in the planning stage for the past several weeks. I have been working out the composition and color scheme. Check back for an update on the project.

Back to School - GPP Crusade No. 33

Michelle Ward has encouraged the Green Pepper Press Street Team to share what we are learning for our latest crusade. Being a curious person, I'm always learning. There are usually art books or magazines beside my favorite chair and beside my bed.
When I start a painting, I've been trying to remember to keep a record of the paints I use in a watercolor tablet. I learn what colors to mix for desirable combinations. This visual record can become the jumping off point for a new project. I'm learning that the tablet is an important tool for projects that are laid aside. When I return to the painting, the record helps me go back to the correct paint colors. Another lesson learned... if I DO NOT record my paints is bad. There is a painting that I will need to run color trials before I can work on it again since I don't remember exactly which paints I used and it's not a typical color palette for me.

Inspired by the book "Creative Computer Tools for Artists", I have been using my camera and Photoshop Elements to help me develop some of my paintings in progress. This image is an edited version of a wooden drawing model I photographed. I eliminated the model's stand and the background. I wanted to see if a figure in this pose would work on a painting in progress. After opening an image of the painting in PS Elements, I copied the model's image and pasted it on to a new layer of the painting's image. I could easily resize the model and move it around for placement.
This exercise was very helpful and much less stressful than adding an element to a very developed painting when I wasn't sure it would work.

I made progress on other paintings this past week because of my digital try outs. By using a translucent layer over an image of the painting, I could test the results of adding a glaze to adjust values. Next, I used the 'eraser' to remove the virtual glaze in areas I want to keep in the foreground. I was able to approach my painting with more confidence and did not worry that I would regret glazing over some of my lighter values.

Later, I photographed the adjusted painting. Because the painting has many hues, I made grey scale versions of the earlier photograph and the new one. In grey scale, I could more easily see that I had successfully adjusted the values.

There is another painting that is in its early stages, and I really liked how it looked. The problem was that I wasn't quite sure what to do next. After uploading a photo of the painting, I digitally painted more layers. I printed the results which I am using as a guide.

I hope to become more proficient with PS Elements through these exercises. There is a lot for me to learn about using digital brushes and I am excited about the prospects.

Have you used digital editing to help you with your painting progress?

Painting Progress

Just a portion of a 16 x 20 acrylic painting in progress.
This is on illustration board and I had a completely different painting in mind when I started it. Long story short, I blew the first concept and was inspired by a different idea and colors which covered up the original work very well. There are thick & thin layers of heavy body acrylic, heavy clear gel, fluid colors and airbrush paint. I am contemplating my finishing touches and hope to finish the painting in the next week.

This is a portion of a 4 x 4 work on canvas. The painting is one of four that work together. After base painting the canvas, I added a Golden texture paste. It's been long enough that I don't remember which one, but it is absorbant. It may be fiber paste. I let the canvases sit several weeks and just started adding colors to them this week. This is another project I hope to wrap up in this coming week.

I have two opportunities to display and sell my work in early October. I will have a display in a business, yet to be revealed, at the Marshalltown Art Walk '09 on October 8th. On Saturday, October 10th, I will once again have a tent at Nevada Uncorked - a wine and art event. More details to follow soon.

Inspired by Hydrangeas

The days are getting shorter, and there are signs that it won't be long before our gardens turn brown. But for now, the last surge of glory can be found. The hydrangea shrub at my in-laws was weighed down with bundles of blooms last weekend when we were visiting.
I used Photoshop Elements to alter one of the images I took. After cropping, I removed the color (making it b&W). Next I applied the watercolor filter. Then I added a green color filter.

I missed my blog anniversary last month & plan to celebrate somehow in the near future. I also hope to post more regularly in the coming days & weeks. I took a break from painting while my back was giving me trouble this summer. After following a new physical therapy regimen, I can stand at my art table again. It's been a rough start for me. Painting flows best for me when I can work with it on a regular basis. I have to be reminded of some of its nuances that are forgotten when I don't paint.

I have been drawing sketches to prepare for a mural project I'll be painting this fall. I'll keep you posted once I get started. This is an exciting challenge for me... my biggest "canvas" so far.

There are a couple of exhibits coming up in October, and I'll share more on them later, too.