Thursday 30 June 2016

It's so exciting...

...to welcome a new baby into the family, and the arrival this past week of a grand niece was no exception.  Of course, it meant that her first piece of art needed to be created last minute (because that's just the way it goes, right?).

I started with a gessoed 16 x 16" panel, and loosely laid out cheesecloth and dried botanicals to ensure I had room for the photo I wanted to include.


I glued them (and my fingers, toes, armpits and walls) to the panel surface and sides before I put the first coat of gesso over it all.  I always love the look of the technique at this point - the ghostly shadows are so subtle.  Yes, I know that's not my style at all!


It was time for the first coat of colour; using thin washes of quinacridone gold, Van Dyke brown, burnt umber and sap green, I loved watching the paint seep into the crevices created by the cheesecloth and textural organics. 


Before deepening the colours, I added the photo and surrounded it with poppy seed heads, pods, and a variety of other natural dried items.


 Another layer of colour,

and more yet was added before I incorporated some polished stones (created by this sweetie's father when he was a child) to finish the piece.


 I'm so fascinated by the beautiful texture here.






Welcome, Esmae - we're just delighted to have you join our family!  xoxox



26 comments:

  1. Gorgeous textured art to welcome your new grand niece. Beautiful! Have a great long weekend, Shirleyxx

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    1. Thanks, Shirley - we're over the moon about this little beauty. Hope your weekend is the BEST! xo

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  2. ps..thanks for the inspirational step by step. It's been a while since I've created a textured canvas, must get back to it as I'm so fascinated by the textures and colours. xx

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    1. That's terrific, Shirley - I'll be watching for your next canvas! xo

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  3. Congratulations on the new baby ! Your project came out fantastically !
    Corrie x

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    1. Many thanks, Corrie - we're beyond excited about the new arrival, and loved having a couple of days cuddle time on the weekend. They really must move closer!!!

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  4. A lovely way to welcome a new family member!

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    1. Thanks, Val - we are VERY excited to have Esmae in our family. She's a peach!

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  5. Congrats on the new little one...love what you have done Win!!

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    1. Thanks, Roz - it was a delight to work on from start to finish, knowing it was going to someone special!

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  6. What a beautiful first piece for Esmae's future art collection, Win. Loving those cheesecloth textures. It makes me realise that I don't use texture a lot in my work, despite all those pieces of ribbon I feel I have to save from boxes of chocolate and the like :)

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    1. Many thanks, Tracey, and now I'm excited to see where your knowledge about texture will take you. Perhaps we'll see some of the ribbons on upcoming journal spreads! ;-)

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  7. Awww, so cute! You've created some amazing textures with the cheesecloth and the natural elements and I like how you built up the colour. Loving the poppy seed heads too!

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    1. Thanks, Zsuzsa - this was definitely a labour of love for this little munchkin. We are beyond excited!

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  8. Your piece is exquisite as is little Esmae. Congratuions on pulling out all the stops to get this painting done in a week (or less) to welcome the little babe.

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    1. Many thanks, Alice - we're beyond excited about this little munchkin. And I doubt that I've ever finished a painting in such short a time to meet a deadline...you're a fine influence!

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  9. I love all the textures and depth in this organic beauty. It's the perfect natural environment for the sweet photograph of the baby. Blessings!

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    1. Thanks Arnoldo - you'll no doubt be able to tell we're expecting to have an outdoor lover in the family! :D

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  10. Lovely Winn and gongrats to the family. Angela x

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    1. Many thanks, Angela; such a joyous project to enjoy!

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  11. Congratulations on your new grand niece. What a beautiful piece to commemorate her arrival!

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    1. Thanks, Kimberley - she's already loved beyond measure, and it was such a pleasure to create this for her!

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  12. What a treasure! And what a great idea, this is so lovely and she is just precious, I love her name. Have a Happy 4th of July you talented Puffin lady you.

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    1. Thanks, Deann - it was such a pleasure to do. And of course, we think she's perfect too! We've had a great Canada Day weekend; I've been arting with a friend for three whole days - heaven!

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  13. Win!!! This is just exquisite! What a gorgeous piece of welcome art for sweet ,beautiful Esmae! congrats to you as well!! xx

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    1. Thank you, Jackie - it was such a pleasure to do this piece and to welcome Esmae into our world. We're SO happy to have her in the family. xo

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