New Painting - My Largest to Date

My mother has really eclectic taste in art. She acquired three fairly large, colorful paintings from a local artist and although they are really fun to look at, they don't really go with the rest of the decor in her house.

 

About 6 months ago she asked me to make her a painting for her newly remodeled diningroom, but I never got around to it until now. I chose to make her 2 ft x 3 ft painting in a 4 part canvas series, different sizes but put together they make one large painting. She can eventually hang them together as a series, or hang them separately throughout her house.

 

I asked her what palatte she wanted (I like to work in a color theme), and she asked me to match the colors in her funky paintings, which is pretty much every primary color and every other bright color under the rainbow). I did the best I could, I think it will match well and will tie all of her paintings in every room, together.

 

I used acrylic paint on gessoed canvas. This took me from sketch stage, to paint stage, to lining stage, to the end about 2 weeks (1 full weekend and a couple of hours every night).

 

I haven't given it to her yet, but I know she will love it. It's very detaailed and there is something to look at in every part of the painting.

 

Enjoy!

Step-By-Step Sketching

I love making patterns.  I am very symetrical, I have a hard time not balancing things out when I draw.  (I really need to learn to let go of that!)

 

I drew this mandala with the help of my 9 year-old son who directed me on where to place the lines in my picture as I drew.

 

The first step I took was to sketch it out in pencil (sorry, I don't have that picture to show you!).

 

The next step was to line it all in pen, then erase the pencil lines.  I used the Micron pens for this step.

Looks nice but kind of boring with all the same size lines.

 

Step three, I made some lines thicker and added the fine details, again with my Micron pens.

It's looking way better!  My son loves this last step.  I colored everything in using my Copics, Sharpies and Bic Mark-Its.  My son picked the colors to use.  Then my final touch was with my white paint pens. 

Turned out pretty nice for a mommy and me project (he says "mommy and me" sounds to baby-ish - hahaha).

Doodling with new pens

I got a new set of the Faber-Castell Pitt Pens the other day.  They are the smaller brush tips.  I really like them. 

 

I've been testing them out with a few quick doodles here for your pleasure:

 

 

Let me know what you think!

Lovely Sara gets her painting

My family and friends always want a piece of me.  Well actually, they want a piece of my art.  When I have time or when the inspiration really hits me, I give them what they want. 

 

This time it is in the form of my first Doodle Painting.  I have been dwelling on how to get what I want from a doodle but using painting techniques on canvas (or any other item I can get my hands on).  My lovely friend Sara asked me to paint her something that could go in her bedroom or hang in her bland office at her accounting job. 

 

I let her help me pick her favorite color palette (she added the blues since she needed something to match either place) and then I went to town.

 

Now mind you, I will not create art for someone who wants me to completely change up my style for them.  I do this for free so what you see is what you get.  I haven't had an argument over that aspect yet.

 

Here is Sara's painting.  Shhhhh, it's a surprise.  She hasn't seen it yet!  Let me know what you think!