Quick Tip – Using Partially Dried-out Modeling Paste

This is something I accidentally discovered today when I went to use my modeling paste on a work in progress. There was a big blob of paste on the edge of the jar left from the last time I'd used it where I'd scraped the leftover paste. Obviously I should have stirred the leftovers back down into the jar because that blob had dried out... but not all the way. I pulled it out to throw it away, but when I grabbed it, I realized it was the consistency of clay or play-dough.





*lightbulb*







I squished it together, grabbed a stamp, and pushed it into the paste. I'll let it air dry then have it on hand for a future project. Ta-da! Fun dimensional piece using materials I had on hand and was just going to throw away.

This is the original stamped piece I made with the large blob of paste. The one with the word stamp was done with paste I scraped from around the top edge of the jar using a pallet knife. As you can see, I use paint on my stamps and don't clean them very much. Ahem.

So, if you happened to have some mostly dried-out bits of modeling paste, give this a shot! You can attach the dried piece to a canvas or journal page, paint over it, layer with it - whatever you want.

*Just be sure you use LIGHT modeling paste because it will be flexible when dried and much easier to work with than regular or "heavy" modeling paste – that kind is very brittle when dry.

Finished — "Life"

So I actually named this one. I don't think I've titled any of my pieces, mostly because I have no idea what to call them, but this just came to me so I went with it.

"Life"
20" x 16" acrylic on canvas
Started 4/15/12; Finished 7/1/12

As with virtually all of my paintings, I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out, but I love it. It ended up even better than I'd hoped and I'm so pleased with the final results. I branched out a bit from my normal pallet, throwing some bold yellows and some red in the mix, not to mention going with a landscape orientation. Very much in a happy place with this piece.

Here are some detail shots. At the end, I have a short video showing the evolution of the piece. Enjoy!

Expressing my Inner Jackson Pollock

A.K.A Making a Mess:

I was in a "smear a bunch of thick paint on a canvas" mood then followed it up with a "how about flinging some paint" mood.

This is what I like to call the Full Of Possibilities stage.

Oh who am I kidding? This is just me making a mess. It's fun; you should try it some time!

"In The Garden" Art Show

My very first art show! Well, as an adult.

I did have some pieces in student shows while in high school, full disclosure.  But that was like a million years ago, so I'm claiming this as my first REAL show. Yes, it was a small one, but I was BRAVE and entered two paintings. One was selected for the juried show. I didn't ever think I would win any of the prizes, I just want to take the plunge and give it shot, you know? (And, no, I didn't win a prize or ribbon, but I don't care - I'm just so glad I did it!)

After all, I DID proclaim Be Brave as my motto, so I'd better step up to the plate. It was disappointing that Dwight's painting was not selected, especially after seeing some of the paintings that were. But all art is subjective, and just two judges did the selecting. It seemed pretty clear they leaned towards watercolors. Granted, there were a LOT of watercolor pieces in the show, so that probably had something to do with it!

The gardens were beautiful! The main area was circular divided into four wedges, each labeled with a season. In the center was a small pond, complete with lilies, goldfish and croaking frogs.

My parents came along and were so proud - awww. *blush*

Aren't they cute?

They had a two-story deck thing so we went up there and I got some shots of the grounds. I love the little buildings! Both the one on the left and the greenhouse on the right (you can sort of make it out in the third photo below) had paintings on display. Mine was in the greenhouse. It was perfect. I loved it in there. I wanted to dig up the entire greenhouse and take the whole thing home with me!

The outer ring of the circle was paved with regular paving blocks along with bricks bearing every day of the year. 

There were vertical post markers at the start of each month. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a giant sundial or what, but it was very clever and absolutely beautiful. I was so impressed with all of the gardens there. 

Pansies and violas - my favorites!

I didn't think to take photos of the winning pieces until a bit later, so I managed to skip right over the "Best in Show" as it was in the first booth. Meant to go back, but spaced it (it was a lovely panoramic watercolor {surprise!} of a farm).  Here are the other winners and a couple of the honorable mentions.

1st Place

Mine next to the 2nd place winner - it was an amazing photo-realistic 

acrylic absolutely deserving of a prize!

3rd Place

A couple of the honorable mentions

Here's to more shows and lots of fun making the pieces I'll enter next time!

WIP – Messy Daisies and Poppies

16" x 20" canvas

I put the book paper on this canvas last night using matte gel medium. It's from a really old copy of the works of William Shakespeare. For real. Making art with art. I just blew your mind.

ANYway.

Tonight I picked some inspiration images and started finger painting. It's my favorite way to paint... except when my favorite way is with brushes. Or watercolor pencils. Or... You get the idea.

But honestly, I love freedom and messiness of painting with my fingers. It was a great way to spend an hour on a Friday night!

Finished - Tulips

Here is the finished painting. I posted a WIP about a month ago. Now I just need to wrap it up to give to my sister for her birthday. Which was April 6. Oops. Better late than never, right?

I added some white drips, removed a leaf, added another elsewhere (felt like I had "bunny ears" on the previously posted version), some detail throughout, splatters - that sort of thing.

Here's a side-by-side.



I'm very happy with the finished painting. I hope my sister agrees!

WIP—Gold Face

Here's one of my current WIP (12"x12"). Still lots of work to do on this. If it looks metallic to you, you're right! I put a thin layer of copper paint over the face and hair area just for the hell of it.

I'd intended for this to be more abstract, but it's coming out more literal. Her nose definitely needs more work. Right now it's way too "LaToya" for my tastes. I'll adjust the shading and make it closer to the inspiration photo I'm following.



I picked up this free wedding magazine at the grocery store. Lots of good face/flower/posing inspiration!



I don't know what I'm going to do with her hair, but I'll figure it out as I go along. I have no formal training with painting — ok, I had a random "painting and drawing" class in HS—so I'm pretty much winging this whole thing.