Let's do a trade.

I have a very good friend, Michelle,  who is tentatively planning on moving in a few months.  We met as members of a yahoo group, Assemblage Artists, and have been friends since that time.   I find her work totally inspiring and very out of my comfort zone.   When I knew she was leaving, I wanted to buy a few pieces of her work to add to my collection.   She thought maybe a swap would be better.  She wanted this picture and I was thrilled to find a good home for it.   It is large about 2 x 3 feet and framed, although the picture doesn't show the frame.

This is what I traded for

We have another trade in the works and I will post that soon.  

I think Maggie created a monster - Boats and more boats

My last post talked about me learning a tiny little bit about acrylics.   The only way to learn more is to do more.    I really like boats - don't own one, but I really like them.   I decided to do more boats.  If you remember I went to a class by Maggie Ruley a few weeks ago and discovered that I loved acrylics.

First, I sketched on what I wanted.   This helps me get the proportions right.

Second - I added a wash of color for the canvases.   Need to cover every square inch with paint so you have a base to pain on.

 Then I put on several layers of paint, shaded them and when satisfied, put a couple coats of shiny varnish on them.   I love them. 

Maybe I will said away in one of them.   That would be fun. 

Inspiration - amazing where it comes from.

Last Thursday I attended and posted about a painting class at Maggie Ruley's studio.    I really enjoyed it and felt really enthused when I got home. 

I had seen a painting at The Studios show in March.   Loved it and thought something similar would be good.  Since then, I've seen about a dozen similar ones in Pinterest and figured I would try it.

I've had this canvas cut and in this frame for years (years is NOT an exaggeration).   I took the second photo (one I found on the Internet - similar to the one I saw in March) and sketched it on the canvas.   Step 1  - done.

 Here is the photo I had printed off the Internet.  

 Below, I had  blocked in all the areas with a base coat of acrylic paint.   I am not really experienced in acrylic as I started in oils, moved on to watercolors and now I am trying acrylics.   So far, so good.  

A little more detail added.   Sorry about the feet in the picture.  Oh well, that's the problem with my TINY studio space.   Doesn't handle big paintings..
 Still more details being added.

 Picture finished with two coats of acrylic varnish.   I like the sheen on the painting.  Intensifies the colors too and I really - really like that. 

 Picture framed and is now hanging on my ever-crowded walls.

You notice that I left out the board that props the boat up in the picture.   Didn't think it was necessary.  

This is really fun.   I will have to go through my pictures and see if there is anything I want to paint.   I expect there is and I will post when completed.  

An afternoon of painting!

Yesterday my friend Michelle and I attended an afternoon painting class by Maggie Ruley.   She has a great shop with great paintings.

The medium us acrylic.  One I am familiar with but not too experienced with.  

 

This is the result of about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.  I did the boat below.  Now I plan on doing more boats.  

Enjoy!

Looking to a Higher Power!

I have found a new love.   Gluing stuff to a canvas.    I have lots of stuff, so this is fun.  I found the girl form at an art and soul retreat.  The face was from my sister.   The cross was a purchase! 

Enjoy!

Unlock yourself

I purchased the face and body at a craft sale at The Studios in Key West.   It has been in my stash for a long time.  Finally got it out and assembled another piece.

Enjoy!

Dressed to the Nines

Dressed to the Nines is an english idiom meaning "to perfection" or "to the highest degree".   That's my title for the two assemblages I created.   Pinterest is going to be the death of me.   So many ideas and so little time to do all of them.   Similar ideas are all over Pinterest and this is my interpretation.

 

They were so much fun!!!