Friday 10 September 2010

Some new bookmarks and a painting in progress

Hi again, wow two posts in one day - i had better calm down a bit LOL.

Here is a painting that I started in a workshop on our True Blue conference a couple of weeks ago. Today I fiddled with it a bit but there is still a lot to go.
It was with an Aussie artist Kathy Van Ee

She is a fabulous artist and it is the second workshop I have done with her in the past couple of months. This workshop was a portrait study of a photo that Kathy supplied. It is done using Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue and White using the wipe out technique. I still have a lot of fine details and touching up to to but I was quite pleased with my first portrait painting. it really took me out of my comfort zone as I always say that I am not very good at faces but Kathy really made me see a face differently and she showed us how to pay attention to the little details that in the end make such a difference.

The first photo is the reference photo and step by step photos that Kathy supplied. the second photo is my painting.

 At the moment she has a rather large nose but Kathy said I have the shape correct so I have to adjust that. It also needs more highlights and just more detail. I also liked the way Kathy did her background. We just added odorless solvent to our oils on the brush and let it run. That was a bit scary and I had to stop myself from touching it till it had done its work but I really like the effect.
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 I also made some bookmarks today while I was playing with background papers. They were adaptations of pages I made in my art journal a while ago. Here are the step by step photos
The paper was first painted in stips of Napthol Crimson, Brilliant Magenta and Orange. Sprayed with water and swiped with a credit card. I also pressed over the page with  a daisy patterned paper towel.



1.This is using the end of a cardboard roll dipped in white to stamp.
2.Then I glazed over the stamping with Clear Glaze and Brilliant Magenta and Napthol Crimson
3. Next I used a favourite daisy stamp
4. Here is the stamp. I also used a heart shape brush scrubber as a stamp too with Yellow Deep. They are the yellow dots.

5. Here it is finished with some liner work in Yellow Deep and Pale Gold.
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My next one was with the same background colours but with a different stamp and detailing.

1. a paper stencil for the background pattern
2. This is the background sponged with pale gold
An oriental writing stamp
The stamp was random all over using up the ink each time before restamping.

Added a Peace stamp
The finished page.

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The next one was with Pthalo Blue, Prussian Blue and Diox Purple
Background three colours blended together
Stamped Iridescent Violet with bubble wrap
Used a swirly flourish stamp randomly all over
after the bubble wrap and stamping
then used a birdie stamp set with Pale Gold paint
Finished page.
I have cut them up into bookmark size and tomorrow will write some quotes on the back and laminate them.

Time for a nice long meditation, dinner and then on to painting some Christmas decorations that I will be teaching with a friend at our True Blue Christmas Breakup.

Have a great weekend everyone
Namaste
Lee

8 comments:

Serena Lewis said...

Awesome job on the portrait, Lee...and the same goes for your papers/bookmarks. You've been quite busy!

Tyggereye said...

Great portrait. Love the papers. All the layering is terrific!

Sophie said...

Fun little tutorial for your background papers. They came out beautifully.
Hugs,
Sophie

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Lee,
Oh wow, what a wonderful job you've done on that portrait.
Yep, I would have been scared with that background too!

Your decorated pages look fantastic! Great instructions.

Hey, what's the plan for Christmas?
Chat soon,
Hugs,
Anna

Wini said...

Your artwork looks wonderful! Well done with the portrait, and the journal pages are so pretty and decorative! They would make beautiful wrapping paper. I have the same birdie stamp set. Its so cute!

Cindy Belseth said...

Hi Lee!

Your portrait is great! You did an awesome job! (I always have trouble with faces!)
I also love your bookmarks btw, the layering turned out lovely! I'm feeling inspired to try making some myself now!
I look forward to seeing more of your work!

-Cindy
(off to go browse the rest of your posts :))

Anonymous said...

WOW WHAT A BUSY GIRL YOU ARE!

THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE AND DROOL OVER HERE...ALL OF YOUR LAYERED EFFECTS IN CREATING YOUR PATTERNED PAPERS...STUNNING!


AND THE PAINTING IS OFF TO A WONDERFUL START!

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...AND DOUBLE POSTING IS NEVER, EVER A BAD THING IN MY WORLD!

CIAO BELLA

CREATIVE CARMELINA

Unknown said...

oh your portrait is amazing! you've captured a look in the eyes. fab.

love love the papers for the bookmarks, the oriental one especially. thanks for showing the process.
i want the peace stamp! lol

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