After two weeks of making flowers and cards and occasionally battling with my first canvas in over six years – WE HAVE LIFT OFF!
The first big breakthrough came when I could finally admit I had bitten off more than I could chew and that it actually was okay to walk away from it …….. that took ten days to get to.
I had rashly committed to a canvas measuring 600 x 500 mm [23 1/2 x 19 1/2″] – it seemed quite small at the time considering that I routinely painted on 1000 x 800 mm back in the day….
What I was not considering was that I had changed mediums and styles – I used to work with acrylics and the odd bit of charcoal and pen and create giant imaginary land and seascapes – this would be my first canvas as a ‘multi-medium artist’ [Oh, giggle – it makes me so happy to think I might be an ‘artist’…. 🙂 ] Up until now when mixing my mediums, I had worked in my journal and on card size pieces only.
Having purchased and read Kelly Rae Roberts marvalous book ‘Taking Flight‘ and having checked out Willowing [Tamara Laporte’s] work on You Tube, I felt ready to give this thing a proper go……
Yesterday I got out a small canvas 300mm sq [11 1/2″] and set about collaging in the background. I used mostly ‘Websters Pages’ and added in some text from old books.
I painted over the whole thing with a brayer, removed some colour and added green distress inks around the edges of the torn pages and the edge of the canvas.
I sketched in the face and coloured it lightly with some distress inks:
…..and went to bed.
This morning I worked on it some more:
My confidence grew as I avoided all the idiotic pitfalls I could have fallen into and I didn’t screw up too badly….
So of course I kept at it- adding in Lumiere ‘True Gold’ around the sides of the canvas and pulling it into the front of the canvas as opportunity presented itself. I highlighted raised bits and edges of torn paper too. And if a little is good, more is better – right? I added gold highlights to her hair so it glimmers in the light – too much?
Finally I edged and highlighted with black charcoal:
Time to stop – so, of course, I kept going….
I added in the legend for that special someone and then the butterflies.
Here is the finished canvas:
I’ve chopped 2 – 3 cm off the top of the canvas somehow when taking the photo….. but you get the idea.
And some detail photos:
That’s my first Christmas gift made and it is still October – well for another 24 hours anyway ….. onwards and upwards!
Thank you so much for coming by today – I love that you did! 🙂
The Contented Crafter 
Wow this is so beautiful. The painting is gorgeous, and your words are so beautifully inspiring.
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Thank you Anne, I’m really happy to hear this – you never know when you create something if others will ‘get’ it [as you well know] – we artiste’s are so insecure! 🙂 Thanks for your kind words again xx
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: )))))))xox
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I missed this in my reader and am so pleased I went back and checked everything, Pauline this is just gorgeous…and I love the words. You are so talented!
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Thank you – that is just wonderful to hear first thing on a Friday morning! I am glad you like it 🙂
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Oh, Pauline, this is so fantastic done again. She is beautiful. Very talking, dreamy eyes. I love your work. Lots of Pawkisses 🙂
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Thank you – thank you! 🙂
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Wow, this is gorgeous!
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I love that you ‘wow’ed’ it! 🙂
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That was fun! I love her with her soft pink background, lovely green eyes and mischievous smile. I’m impressed that you could pull out a large canvas and get to work like that.
You also crack me up. Love your sense of humour.
I love that your making gifts like this for Christmas. Your friends surely adore and appreciate you.
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I am very happy that you enjoyed her creation.
She is for my eldest daughter who sometimes has eyes that colour – depending on the weather and who also is so busy caring for everyone else and thinking she should be doing more – I just want her to look at this thought every day.
I’m really enjoying working in this format and am half way through another one for youngest daughter. 🙂
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I hope they know how lucky they are to have you.
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We enjoy a mutual admiration society in our little family – I am so fortunate to have them!
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Nice! That makes me smile.
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I love how you document your process and the final product is stunning. I think you are an artist 🙂 Annie
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Smile, curtsey, clap hands! Thank you dear Annie! 🙂
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She is wonderful! I just love that book from Kelly Rae… So inspiring and I can see you have taken it to heart! Lovely!!
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That book has been very helpful – especially in guiding that beginning part of the process where I so often would try to finish before I had started ….. thank you for your encouragement 🙂
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It is funny how we need time with some pieces. This looks beautiful and encouraging. I like that you made the word wonderful bigger. Love your mixed media! 😀
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Thank you very much Patricia – I like that word ‘encouraging’ very much, it kind of encompasses how I feel about my abilities too 🙂 Happy dance!!
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As they say across the pond, yet somewhere’s between you and I, “I am gob-smacked” !!! I just adore her Pauline 😀 You definitely ARE an artist and I so love your style. I always wondered what came first, the process of making these mixed media works. Thank you for walking us thru and in such a funny way. I laughed out loud at, ‘time to stop…so naturally I kept going’…bahhaa, I’ve been there too 😀 Her eyes are so sparkly and such a pretty colour. The lucky recipient will be over the moon. How can you wait for Christmas to give it? Might you consider an Etsy shop?
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Now who is giving who a big head?? I am so glad you like her – it’s the first painting I have done in years that I am happy with 🙂 It’s for my ED for Christmas [shhh] her eyes are that colour sometimes – just beautiful!
It’s funny you should say that – I am thinking about an Etsy shop ……. not sure yet….. must do more research….
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