Birds of a Feather

I have a new obsession with texture paste and painting.  I did summer classes with it, I'm using it in my own paintings, and I was able to show "S" how to use it for hers.  It is so fun to use and adds so much to a painting!   "S" is going to be a senior this year.   She is such a joy to be around and working with her was so fun.   The idea she chose was great for working with tints and shading and then spacing for an image.  She pretty much replicated the image that was her inspiration.  No doubt this will be a painting she will enjoy for many years to come!  I was sad to have it leave my house!

The first day we met, "S" traced in one circle and then used a palette knife to create the texture for the painting.   Perfect!  You can see the dried result below.

Day 2 we got into the more technical stuff.  This part required lots of blending, I spent most of the time looming over her to get a good view of where to add more light and dark.   "S" you were a great sport!  I snapped a TON of pics, mostly to show her as we worked.   Seeing the painting through a camera lens or stepping back to view it always helps as you compose the painting.   I posted quite a few of  the pics here as well to show the process building.  It's fun to see, plus, a good guide for someone who wants to try it at home!

Adding in some light to blend more....

Here you can especially see the benefit of using the camera (and me looming behind her :)   Here she could see where and how to place lighter strokes, notice the difference from the top image to the one below.

Our final step today was placing the silhouettes in the painting.  Using some simple techniques, "S" worked in her branches and birds.  Time consuming at first, but taking time for placement is important to a solid painting.   I also love that she wanted to do it, straight with black paint, and no sketching!  Brave girl!

"S" you were such a good sport with my picture snapping!   

Awesome!   We stopped here today. She would come in one last time but now had everything placed so she could work totally independently for her last session.

Love this girl!

Session 3:   "S" came for her last time to add in the branch details.  She came during a class so I was busy and then looked up and was IN LOVE!   Awesome work!

 Beautiful work "S"!   Plus, you are gorgeous!   Love this pic!   It was a complete pleasure to meet you.   Have a great senior year my friend!

How Great Thou Art

This painting was created by a good friend's daughters.  I have known these girls for years and also taught them in my art camps earlier in the summer.  It was an absolute blast to work with them one on one.  And their result was AMAZING!   See what we did step by step below!

 Little "M" is going into 2nd grade and I have known her since she was a pre-ker.   This little girl is full of life!  Super fun to paint with!   She had an enormous painting here to create a background for.  I had her use sponges for most of it, which allowed for the marbled look that was achieved.  I would pour on the paint, and she would blob..and blob. and blob!

 First colors in!

 Now we added some of moms favorite colors, and more interest with these yellows and browns.

 "M" was great with moving those blotches up and filling this massive canvas!

 Finally, she overlapped the dark brown to complete the backdrop!

And the artist is finished!  It's so big I couldn't even fit it all in the picture!

Then, "M" stayed and played with my son.   Zhu's Zhu's...not sure if he would approve of me sharing these, but how could I not? Too cute!

Next up was big sister "K", coming in to add poppies.   We were basing this painting of a modern art painting that mom found on-line.   I had penciled in the poppies and stems so she knew where to paint.  So much of a good painting is use of space on a canvas.    Here "K" is adding the darker background stems with a very steady hand!

 Then we were off to the fun stuff!  The poppies!   I taught "K" how to use a mix of reds and oranges for the poppies and then she filled in, playing with her color options.

You can see our inspiration image below.   I helped with painting an outline for her....and we used black for more drama with the flowers as well.

 So Beautiful!

Now "K" put in her lighter stems.  I love her face below!  So involved!

Now her part was complete!  EXCELLENT job "K"!  This is stunning! 

 Here are the artists posing with the finished work!

I love these girls!

 Now their work was done!   Mom wanted this picture in the kitchen and chose out the hymn
 "How Great Thou Art" to be painted on the piece before she framed it. So the final product is below. I love it and think they will too!