Pen & Ink with Oils

On a personal note, the renovations to our bathroom are almost complete, so we have finally moved home from our cottage. So, now I am in the process of getting everything organized and in order, and, I am finally getting down to some serious art work. The following pieces were completed over the summer months - I am now focusing my attention on some coloured pencil projects and Christmas ornaments and decorations.

This first piece called Springtime Clock (notice mine did not end up being a clock!), was designed by Maxine Thomas and can be found in PaintWorks April 2002. The instructions are for acrylic painting. I just love this piece! I decided to do it on wood - after prepping the wood (whitewashing, sanding, spraying) I took a cloth and applied some burnt umber oil paint to it, then rubbed the paint around the edges, constantly drawing it in towards the center of the pic. This technique gave me a darker outer area with the colour fading towards the center - almost an antique look. I then sprayed the piece, put my pattern on, applied the inking and then the oil rouging. I did add some acrylic paint to the pussy willows and yellow flowers.

I found this project interesting and different. However, for some reason, it did not like the camera - I took many photos, but could not get a picture that showed the true colours - and, the pics always seemed to be somewhat blurry. Oh well, I decided to post it anyway. It is called In Perfect Solitude and was designed by Susan V. Cochrane - it can be found in the August 2010 edition of PaintWorks. The instructions are for acrylic paint. I used a plastic oval platter that I found at the Dollar Store - I prepped it, then applied the background with acrylic paint. I used a Faber Castel disposable pen to apply all the inking (and there was definitely a LOT of inking in this pic), and then just added touches of oil paint here and there to the sky and water.

I thought this design was adorable - it is in Viki Sherman's book Kindred Hearts and is called Makin' a Wish - the instructions are for acrylic paint. I had a little wooden sleigh and decided to put the design on that. After prepping the wood, I basecoated it with acrylic paint, then applied the pattern. I then inked the details in and rouged oil paint onto the snowman and moon. I used a stencil and white acrylic paint for the stars. This pattern could be applied to any number of surfaces or ornaments.

My fall art sessions have now started, so the girls will be completing lots of new artwork that I will post over the next few months. I actually still have some pieces that the girls did in the spring that I will post shortly.

Happy painting!