On A Roll

While the fascination with mixed media continues, I'm currently adding more of my traditional painting to the mix. The iris below is an example of where I have used oils to paint the flower on an acrylic, mixed media background. 

  

ROYAL QUEEN   oil flower on acrylic background 6" x 6" on cradled wooden panel (2" deep painted sides)
$150. SOLD through Sunny Raven Gallery

As a result of the TURNING THE PAGE exhibition, in July at Sunny Raven in Canmore, the gallery has accepted my small paintings. I'm delighted to say that they are doing well there. Surely it helps that I am no stranger to Canmore, which was my home from 1986-2008.

  

SONG SPARROW   framed 6" x 6" canvas, bird painted in oil on an acrylic background $150. SOLD through Sunny Raven Gallery

Still available at Sunny Raven Gallery are ...
RAZZLE DAZZLE (left) oil painted iris on an acrylic, mixed media, "cell" textured background unframed 9" x 12" cradled panel with 1" painted sides $295.00 and
PAINTING SUNSHINE (right) framed, acrylic, mixed media painting 8" x 10" on canvas $295.00

  

CREATION   unframed canvas (painted sides) acrylic painting 8" x 24"   $150.00 available at Sunny Raven Gallery

TIME IS ON MY SIDE   unframed acrylic mixed media on 12" x 16" cradled panel (1" painted sides)  
$175.00 available at Sunny Raven Gallery      

It's also with great pleasure that I report other, recent, mixed media painting sales ...

 

BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE (left) though Sunny Raven Gallery, PEACOCK PRIDE (centre) at the Claresholm Willow Creek Art Sale and FANCIFUL FEATHER (right) through Willowtree Designs

And last, but not least, I finally completed and delivered this commission ...

DANCING QUEEN   framed oil on MDF panel 5" x 7"   $150.00   SOLD 

Peacock Recipient

Wondering if she would like it, I watched with bated breath as Avery opened her Peacock painting.  She said "It's a picture, it's a peacock." And in her softest voice "It's so pretty!"  My heart soared.  Her Father said "We can hang it in your room." and her Mother said "It's not going upstairs!"  So, her Dad found an empty nail and hung it on the living room wall.  He later wrote to say "She was/is enamoured with this painting."

It was a grand birthday party.  Gathered to celebrate were sixteen adults, six children and a new born baby!  To see the photo essay, please click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150882033405438.742678.715295437&type=1&l=34153b159a

A Peacock for Avery

Today is Avery's birthday!

In June my granddaughter and I spent an afternoon at the Calgary Zoo. I was excited to be showing her the large animals, especially the big cats.  She enjoyed them well enough but what captivated her most was a peacock.  We happened upon one of these free roaming birds, prancing on the spot with his tail feathers fully outstretched, and Avery was awe-struck.  Closing in on him, I'm sure with the intention to touch, he squawked.  She froze but didn't turn away ... she couldn't, she was completely mesmerized.  I eventually coaxed her on but for the rest of our visit she kept asking for the peacock.  As we left, one was calling out to us arrogantly posed on a roof looking just like this ...

Peacock    acrylic/mixed media on canvas   24" x 12"   NFS

What a wonderful learning experience/experiment the entire project was!  I used Golden Gel Medium Molding Paste for the heavily textured background.  The yellow colour, which I thought would be an appropriate contrast, didn't please me at all ...

At the end of day one 

The following day I scrubbed watered down turquoise and purple over it and, to my delight, the pretty Interference Gold still shone through. Recently added to my obscene collection of rubber stamps is a large (4.5" x 6") overall pattern of peacock feathers.  I was bummed out when it wouldn't transfer onto the textured surface of the canvas until I thought to fill in the "dimples" with molding paste - using a palette knife - over that area to make it smooth enough to receive the stamp.




End of day two ... I needed more feathers!


I painted feathers, loving a reason to use Iridescent Copper.  Then, I was horrified while sticking down the first real peacock feather, to find that matte medium I used had sucked the iridescent life out of the glowing, shimmery colours.  And when I tried to pry it off the paint was coming with it!  It had to stay; so, using gloss medium this time, I buried it under more feathers.

  

Finished painting detail

For extra, good fun and to top it all off I sprinkled an opaque, micro fine glitter (Western Blue by Jewel Glitter Ritz) onto wet medium on his neck.

Can such a young child enjoy yet another painting from her grandmother?

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, AVERY!