This painting wasn't very interesting until I looked closer and saw lots of creatures just waiting to be outlined with markers.
This is how it started out.
This is the first image I noticed. It is outlined with pink here so you can find it. See the fish????
And here it is after I drew on it, along with its mermaid friend.
It didn't take long to find another mermaid waiting for me too.
And these two? Yep, just waiting for me.
In my last post, I asked if anyone saw anything in this paint pour. I didn't at that point.
But then, I flipped it over. Do you see her?
There was another fairy lurking in the paint! All I needed was some black and white ink pens to find her.
She has quite the head of hair, doesn't she?
Honestly, I haven't been doing much but watching Netflix for over a week, since I had a case of the dizzies. (Vertigo)
But before that, I was obsessed with doodling over some of the "losers" in my giant stack of poured paint canvases. The paintings don't always turn out as you'd hope, and can be poured over and redone, but man, I was sure going through a lot of paint to produce a bunch of paintings that just looked like backgrounds.
Then, I thought, well hey, lets use them as backgrounds!
This one was the biggest inspiration, I clearly saw a lady's form in the paint.
See what I mean?
I'm sorta embarrassed to show you that I even did this one. Its hideousness was certainly destined for the re-pour pile. But then, I thought I saw a dragon eye peeking out at me….
So I painted the eye and got the pens out to draw some scales
Ryan loves it, it is for his apartment. Which is why I was using reds and blacks in the first place.
I'd experimented with swirls as I poured this one, and liked it, but it wasn't quite what I wanted.
I think it came out kind of Beetle-juicy after drawing on it.
This one will be next, I think. I'd added some veins with a toothpick while pouring it, but I think it needs more. So far, I don't see a specific shape in it, do you?
My seascapes and other flow paintings are now available in my Boutique and on Etsy.
There are a variety of sizes and colors, all inspired by my favorite beaches.
Some have a ton of "cells" (the layered, textural, bubbly bits that you can create in fluid painting).
And some have a very few.
When painting, I've tried to enhance the "pour" that I did, after it dries, by touching up with a brush. But I do my best to not cover up all of the wonderful cell activity that I find.
(These are a few close ups to show you the details)
There are paintings from different times of day…
Although I do tend to love sunrise and sunset.
Prices range from $50-90.
Thank you for the interest you've already shown.
I've loved working on them, and can't wait to paint more.
Sometimes, a paint pour doesn't go the way you'd hope. The other day, I had one blah result after another. I'd scrape off the canvas after swirling the colors into a muddy grey, and start again just to get more boring paintings. I was ready to quit (before I went broke, I'd wasted bottles and bottles of paint), and get back on with my regular style of work and give up on this technique that was becoming sooooo frustrating.
At one point, I looked at the grey mess, and though, hey, that could be a pretty background. So, I poured this rose. It started as a pink blob. I added cranberry and white, then swirled them with a palette knife to get this.
After it dried, I added detail and depth with a paint brush. Here is a close of up the pretty cells that formed when I pulled the knife across the wet paint.
Nope, not gonna quit now. I want to go dump and swirl more paint!!!
You can find this painting in my Boutique, here
You might have heard me mention pour painting…. I've been severely addicted. And especially with ocean scenes. I'm so in love with them, that I decided I wanted them to be around me.
All around me.
So, I might have gotten a tiny, itty bitty, carried away with hanging them in the bedroom. (These 2 are 8×10)
(These two are 11×14)
See what I mean? I've hung 8 of them in sets of two.
I knew it was not a typical way to style a room, but I decided to go for it anyway. They make me happy, they feel peaceful, and people who walk in to the space have said, that the room is really lightened up.
(I think I'll take down the mirror sitting on the built in cabinet behind the door)
Frames were on sale at Hobby Lobby, and I took a cartful of paintings with me to see who fit into what for cheap. I kind of chose the paintings I'd hang by how they fit into the frame and into the room, and by using a variety of sizes, not by choosing my favorites. Although, they all are my faves….
And I decided to go all out. If I was hanging a few, I might as well hang a bunch. (Even though it is the same scene over and over, in different lights or sized canvases.)
Some frames needed to be painted white, some were already the right color. I tried to get a variety of styles, to break up the sameness of the paintings inside them.
There was thought of keeping this large frame dark to go with the top of the chest, but after looking at it this way for a week, I felt like it was too heavy for the area, and slapped some white on it, then distressed the paint a little.
While I was going beachy, I thought I'd add some beach elements to the room. Not too many, just a few mermaids and shells.
This chest of drawers is new, from the West Bottoms antique district. I shopped on an extremely hot day, and was trying to find the exactly perfect item to fit this wall. Well, I thought I found it, a gorgeous, low chest with a giant, aged marble top. But it was higher than my budget, and looked heavy. I decided indulge myself anyway, then as I was starting to pay for the thing, the salesclerk said, "Wow that is a big, heavy marble top!"
On a sweltering day in the warehouse district, when I was already exhausted, the mere thought of getting it into the truck, then out and into the house was too much for me. I think I was delirious from the heat and couldn't rationally think about trying to figure out the logistics of getting the monstrosity home.
I backed out on the purchase, and went for this smaller, much, much cheaper, fixer upper instead. It was only $100, a nice shape, and just needed handles, and paint.
Also, it weighed nothing compared to the other one.
The top was attractive, it simply needed wax and elbow grease to shine it up. The base, I painted white and dry brushed with gray for a driftwood look. I found handles at Hobby Lobby, just to discover I was two short, and they were discontinued. So I returned them and settled for repainting the shiny brass handles that originally came on it. Because I was too lazy to drill new holes and patch the old ones to make a different style of handles fit.
When done, it fit nicely, has the space I need, looks good in the room, and is pretty. But you know what? Maybe I'd settled too much. Wrong hardware, wrong piece.
I look at it and wish I had the gorgeous slab of dreamy, aged, marble that I was too worn out and drained from the unseasonably steamy day to deal with.
It's a good thing I have such a serene, peaceful bedroom to calm my buyer's remorse angst. It is hard to be sad about a furniture screw up when I am embraced by walls filled with seascapes.
The seaside knick knacks were pulled from the cabinet in the bathroom, where they'd been on display previously. So, the bathroom got a bit of a redo too. Some of the art work that had been in the bedroom was used in there, and I adjusted the shelves to hide any gaps from removing all of the shells.
A grayed, aqua was already on the walls, and even though a fresh color of paint can really lift a room, I decided against changing it. This color suits me well, and I'm not ready to move away from it. Even though another blue might blend better with the seascapes, I enjoy the contrast and didn't want it too matchy.
The results are pleasing, and refreshing.
If you'd like to learn how to do a poured paint seascape, I have a youtube video with directions. But please forgive the lack of editing. And take a dramamine before watching it.
Or check back to my Boutique later this week, when I get some ocean scenes photographed and listed for sale.
Here is the video.
While I have been celebrating my 60th from early April to mid June, my poor husband only got one day of partying for his.
He made up for it by mentioning his age (57) from the time I turned 60, until he turned 58 a month later. Hmm, yes, I heard that, Rich!!
I wanted to do something special for him, since he put up with all of my celebrating of my own holiday.
We spend a lot of time out on Lake Clinton, near our home. And we have a favorite area, a quiet cove that is ideal for swimming and picnicking. So, I took dozens of photos the last time we were there, and did this painting from them.
At first, I framed it. Then, took a look at it on the wall and thought it looked like a little old lady painted it. (which I realized that I am)
Once I popped it out of the frame, I liked it better.
Here is our cove from another angle. We are often the only people there when we go. Lake Clinton is a beautiful spot and I am always surprised at how quiet it is.
Although, we do our best to liven up that cove!
We have even convinced our son, Ryan to come out on the lake with us this season. He hasn't been as fond of the place as the rest of us, over the years.
For Rich's birthday, we packed a picnic and headed out to our cove to have dinner. It was only one party for him, as opposed to the 7 or so I had…. But I think he liked it. And I hope that he will enjoy the painting.
Around here, there are a lot of paintings, but I tried to make this one special for him.
The obsession with oceans has not let up.
Acrylic paint pouring is a real trip. You never know what you will get, even though I'm trying to control my paints, and I do use a brush to touch up and add detail after it dries, the paint itself has a mind of its own.
See how the "cells" develop? I adore that part.
Here is another close up of the cells. I call them Sea Cells.
This is the painting it is from.
I mixed the acrylic paint with water, a conditioner, and coconut hair serum.
This is how it is poured out onto the canvas.
Next, I use a cake server to spread the colors, much of it pours off the side of the canvas. What is left, I try to manipulate into waves and clouds.
It is hard to believe that this becomes…
This, huh?
The process intrigues and fascinates me. And since I am land locked, here in Kansas, it is nice to think about oceans.
Abstracts are fun to do too. This one was done with a "dirty pour". All of the colors are layered into a cup, turned upside down on the canvas, then I "swiped" across it with my cake server.
My typical painting style is too detailed, much better suited to illustrations than art to hang on walls. So, I've been using this technique to try to teach myself to let go a bit and let what happens, happen
Here is a tutorial on how I do these. Please excuse the mess and the lack of editing!
This medium intrigued me and I thought I'd give it a try.
uh oh
I was hooked!
You mix acrylic paint with silicone or dimethicone (found in Coconut Hair Serum), and a conditioner to make it pour easily, a little water, and then use different tricks for pouring it onto a canvas. Afterwards, it gets hit with a heat gun to create the "cells" or bubble formations that come from the heat making the additive rise to the surface.
And it is an ooey, gooey, mess of fun!
After a few days of learning how the paint moves and how to control it a little (haha, it is wayyyy out of control, but you can try!)
I decided to try some more representational works. Or as Sugarwings calls it, intentional pouring.
And then I discovered oceans…..
And I cannot stop.
This is why, the elusive cells. When they happen where I want them, it is a wonderful thing.
Some have more than others, but I can't stop chasing them and hoping I catch some.
While cleaning up a bit in the studio, I came across my old photo album of murals and painted furniture. I'd forgotten I had it and enjoyed looking back over the years as I flipped through it.
Which is why we do scrap books and albums right?
I apologize for the blurriness of most of these pics, they are photographed through the plastic covers on the pages.
And taking a photo of a picture isn't always the best (or smartest) way to do a blog post, huh?
But please forgive me as I indulge myself in showing some of these old pics. They were glued down, and if I had to remove and scan each one, it wouldn't have happened.
So, instead, you get a quick and crappy trip down memory lane with me and my smeary pictures.
Some are from antique mall booths, and of painted furniture.
This is from a baby's room.
This as well.
And here is a master bedroom painted a deep color that I was asked to paint blooming flowers all the way around the baseboards.
The iris "bloomed" all around the room.
This was for a boy's room, with all walls done in a planetary theme.
His sister's room got dolphins.
Extra blurriness for this one, it is in a dining room and is part of a scene that filled all four walls.
I can't even remember painting this one.
But back in the day, I did do a lot of pets on walls. Often, the furry little guys would pose for me in person.
This is a Velveteen Rabbit scene for a niece.
And some frogs for another little girl who had actually saved up her own money to hire an artist to come and paint her bedroom. She loved frogs.
I painted this landscape in my mud room, hated it, and painted over it. My home is layers upon layers of painted over murals. My son's rooms changed every couple of years as they were growing up.
A friend had me do this for her, and the best part was hanging out and laughing together as I did the work.
I did public spaces too. Here is a basement laundry room at an apartment building near the KU campus.
And a bar in Louisiana. This was huge, the whole thing was 20×60'
The sunset was done with spray paint. I'm trying to remember why there was a desert in Louisiana, but I just can't. It was a cowboy bar, and the guy roping the moon was the logo.
The little guy in the beer bottle was the logo for another bar, and I painted a wall of him in various poses all over the place. A larger version of him is holding the bottle. It was like a big, drunken hallucination and was such fun to come up with.
I painted this restaurant wall to brighten up a narrow space. (I did the faux finish too)
And I was hired to paint tropical plants at a country club in Florida.
Funny, years and years later, my husband is working for this company now and is actually a VP. He wouldn't ever have hired me, that would've been nepotism, so I'm glad he got the job later on. This was one of the most fun paintings I've done, I had a week to stay at their private hotel at the club, order room service, and sit by the pool contemplating what to paint next. I had free reign in the dining room and snack bar to create on the walls.
Guncle Randy always gave me free space to decorate his walls too. Everytime I visited we would paint together and add more to his art room.
I was lucky enough to get to do some Design Showhouses too. This was in a music room of a very old, wonderful home. The walls are bronze, gold, and copper. The piano bench is covered in sheet music and is used in front of the bench my son built and that I now have in my studio.
Some of these, I really enjoyed seeing again, others are slightly cringe-worthy. I always painted fast, most walls were done in less than a day, and at the time, I kept pretty busy with daycares, hotels, and so many other spaces. It makes me a bit sad that digital cameras weren't around and I don't have better photos of most of the work. Painting murals was quite an interesting job and I got to travel, experiment, and really loved the work.