Relief Painting

I found an idea while browsing on Pinterest and recreated it in my own style and thought I would share the results here.  With the exception of a few errors on my part, I was pleased with the end result. 

Here is the inspiration:  Canvas covered in one solid color and then hand painted with 3D paint in white and that same canvas color applied again to give it a rustic appearance.  I truly love this artists flowers and greenery and the rusty color too. 

SOURCE:  http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/rusty-relief-painting.html

 

Here is my version:  A swirly vine using different colors, design, and a slightly different technique to create a coppery-like patina appearance.

Completed relief paintings

I started with four canvases and painted them a sea-green color and then used bubble wrap for slight distressing.

Beginning layer of paint

While the canvases were drying I drew my swirly vine on tracing paper so I could copy the exact design onto all four canvases.

Swirly Vine design

After the canvases were dry I penciled in the swirly design directly onto each canvas.

When I went to the craft store I did not pay close attention to the color of the 3D paint and accidentally purchased 3 clear glitter paints and one white paint.  I did not notice my error until after I traced my pencil drawing with the clear glittery paint that went on white and all but disappeared when it dried. Scraping it all of was not a pleasant process at all but I did and thankfully the one small bottle of white paint covered all four canvases.

After the 3D paint dried I lightly sponged on a purplish-brown color over the sea-green and then wiped away excess from the raised swirly design using a paper towel.

After the brown paint was dry I covered all four canvases with varnish for preservation and shine.




Close-up showing raised lines and color variation
 

I would love it if you would like to share any projects you have worked on recently or are hoping to pursue in the future. 

The Cradle of Familiarity

Blueberry Butterfly

Every weekend since February we have left our new city and condo and come back to our house that is not really in the country but that we lovingly refer to as the country house.  We shuffle between these spaces and pack and unpack bags and settle in to familiar routines.  Sometimes it feels all too much.  Sometimes I feel rootless.  Today however, I feel thankful for this long transition, for the chance to come back to a yard and trees and flower and herb beds: for the cradle of familiarity.  It reminds me of a recent conversation between my Mother and me while cleaning out a closet at her house.  There were 2 boxes of my barbies and other high school memorabilia and she asked if I wanted to take them to my house or leave them at hers.  I felt tears well up in my eyes and I asked if I could leave the boxes with her because as long as they were there then I felt I had my childhood home to come home to.  If the boxes were not there a great shift would take place, only felt by me, that I was not ready for and that I may never be ready for.  She smiled and said she understood and I know she did.  As much as I have purged and culled and tried to let go of holding on to things, some things and places I just cling to. Maybe it is the memory or the promise tthat these things and places once held that I cling to.  But I think these things and places cling to me too, that some of it is just love: what I love, what I need around me....the earth, small treasures of the past glittering, birds and bugs, the knowing of a place.....

Today I have found delight in:

• Listening to the melody of rain against the roof in the blue of the early morning.
• A solo trip to the blueberry patch between rain showers and not only picking a gallon of blue-black sweet ones but also spotting a beautiful butterfly.
• Running barefoot in the rain from store to car and feeling my 7 year old self emerge with glee.
• Playing fetch with my little monkey.
• Picking fresh aromatic basil from the garden especially for this evenings dinner
• Listening to a mixture of soft and kind music on Pandora's Lisa Hannigan Station.
• The chopping of farmers market fresh cucumbers for tonight's salad.
• Watching out the kitchen window as the hummingbirds dive bomb each other as the vie dominance over the feeder

Dinner is almost ready...a warm and yummy baked ziti for this rainy and grey evening.

Whatever you may call home, I hope it cradles you like a warm and familiar blanket of love and delight.