Here is another little birdie friend in the 2nd painting I've done for over the mantel.
Last spring, I found this top half of an old, ornate door at a flea market. It still had its wavy glass and I thought it would be the ideal frame for a painting above the fireplace on the rock wall. The first painting I did had too much going on, I needed something more simple that could hang high and still look good from across the room.
For the background, I tore pages from a vintage book titled, "Birds in Kansas" and glued them to a foam core board. Some pages were yellowed, so those were scattered around randomly with the whiter pages for a nice piecework pattern.
After that, I started in on painting the pot for the topiary I'd planned. At this point, it looks a little like Groot.
I think my family would have enjoyed the picture if I'd left it like this. We all adore Starlord and Groot.
Here is a close up of the roses.
And this is the nest in the mossy pot.
Doing the two paintings for the mantel was so much fun for me. I used to be a painter, mostly watercolors. But in the gallery world, I always felt slighted and looked down upon because my subjects were too "pretty". No edge, no drama, no angst. Just pretty and happy. My style didn't fit into that scene and I kind of drifted away from this over time.
Maybe now, being older, I just don't care what others think, so I can paint what I want without feeling like I'm lacking. I might be doing more painting in the future. I didn't realize how much I'd missed it, till I got lost in these roses.
Who needs angst when they can look at this beauty??
Beautiful!!!
There’s plenty of angst and drama already in the world. The world needs more artists who create pure loveliness, which this is. Congrats, it’s beautiful!! I love the book page backdrop. Is this watercolor then? Acrylic?
It’s gorgeous~! 🌺
Really beautiful Karla!! Go for it………the world needs much more loveliness these days. What a wonderful touch for your new hearth room. Seems like a lot of things beautiful are suddenly not in vogue these days………….makes me sad. Linda
Beauty wins! Your paintings are just so pretty – You are very talented!
Too true, Janet! Thank you. This is done with acrylic craft paints, the cheap kind from Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Everyone tells me I should try Golden brand, I just might.
Absolutely gorgeous!
They’re beautiful! Go back to painting!
your hands have been blessed, this talent is a gift from God. thank you for using it to bring happiness to your family and others.