Welcome

To my first blog post on my new site!

OK, so this is how it's going to go down. For now.

I plan on using these posts to talk in depth over some of my art. Kind of like the work in progress views, the artist statement, the inspirations, the tough and easy spots, etc.

First up: the most recent work to date.

THE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

I have been wanting to do some hand painted ornaments for a while now and had gotten some log slices from an art supply store several months back. I think the hardest part of any creative idea is the getting started. I have a million ideas, I just find it very difficult to lay down the first brushstrokes on any of them.

The mouse was the original idea. Fifteen curled up dormice sleeping for the winter. That was all fine and dandy, but I love working with variety too much to have all of them be that of a mouse. I decided it was going to be animals of all sizes peeking out their respective sized holes. Most being some animal that would live in a tree with a hole, as this was a log slice after all.

I stuck with a neutral brown palette. The colors used were mainly titanium white, Indian yellow, bronze yellow, burnt sienna, burnt and raw umber, neutral and Payne's gray, and ivory black. The base coat is a matte Superblack color. This was helpful to hide the wood grain. The wood grain itself was not fun to paint on and though I could have sanded it down smooth, I did like the texture it had on the paintings. Rustic vibes for my woodland creatures. After signing the back with a copper sharpie, I covered both sides in a semi gloss finish to help protect the art a little. The gloss helped a lot to give it a finished look.

Will this be something to sell?

I don't know, you tell me! Leave me some comments on my Facebook or email me directly and let me know that you wouldn't mind buying Christmas ornaments from me next year! This first year went to family and friends, animals chosen randomly for each one of them. We will see if I get to making more for next year!

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