The Anatomy of a Painting . . . .

As promised . . . . a break down of how I work. How my paintings work. And how it all comes together. And yes, I will also give you a few tips with the brushes!

The designs are created on a personal level. Really. I think long and hard about what design will best fit the bedding, the colors, the font AND the personality I'm seeing with all the info I've been given. And from that - the design will normally come together.

I freehand most everything - hence the uneveness of all my art. And when I say freehand, I mean I draw it on first - then paint. I have said in the past - I could always draw - never knew anything about painting to even try it. Soooo, sketching on the canvas is my "freehanding" it.

Here, I painted a thin line of paint of the design I just drew out. Now, if you look closely - you will see it's not perfect - even at the beginning stages! But it's ART - it's not suppose to be. And just for your info - I use a "liner" paint brush here - A VERY THIN ONE!


I walked away for a while at this point. I had to think about what I wanted the final shape of this design to look like. I came back with this brush . . .


. . . . . which is called a "round" and just went to town! And I came up with this . . . .

NOW, you can really see some crazy imperfections! I'll work on that later! About my fonts - I draw these on too! Does anyone remember the bunnies?? Remember the tape?? Okay friends, that is how I grid it out! For balance! Below will be a "D" - don't you see it?? haha - okay maybe not! And I ended up moving them out a little anyways!


When I draw a font?? I normally just write it out as if I'm writing - that way when I'm painting I don't have to "stay in the lines" - now there are times I do - but not many - not anymore! I found it made it harder to paint "in the lines" than to just "follow a line" with my brush and paint!


Now, my absolutely fav-O-rite brush is the Filbert! I own many in every size. That is what I normally do my lettering in.


So, check it out - I posted several up-close shots for you to look at the work I just described! Again, I challenge you all to try something creative. And I say again - skip the lame excuses! I really don't want to hear them!!!


I've learned that if I highlight the uneveness with a lighter shade of paint - it looks so much BETTER!!! Who knew?


I think the rule of painting is the "no rule" - it applies everytime!


I hope that the info helps some of you. And remember that I have no formal training - this is only playing around with it that I've learned what works best for me!


And by the way - can anyone guess where this one is going??


Uhmmm, you remember this one??


I know, totally different!!! Since we had to change the spelling, I asked her if she would want to do anything different! Ha! Good thing the spelling was WRONG!!!


I've got to update the website in a bad way! This weekend I will be adding alot of new pictures of the art from the blog! Not professional ones - but the ones you have seen here!

And btw - for straight{er} lines - try using a "bright" - my fave . . . .


or a "flat" . . . .

You will be amazed what it can do! Make sure you don't load it down with too much paint!