Saturday, July 25, 2009

New Work


When I was at the gallery last week I took this picture of a painting I had forgotten to photograph at home. Don't ask me where I got the idea for this one! It just evolved on it's own. And believe me, it has a history of layers there.


My friend, Christy Murray, who usually designs and makes gorgeous jewelry, made this beautiful mobile from old book pages. Isn't it simply understated elegance? This gives recycling a new watermark for artists.


I've been experimenting with mediums and this is a sort of trial painting, but several people have remarked on how much they like it. I want to learn how to make a simple frame for my canvases, the kind that is made from simple strips of wood around the sides. Does anyone have any help on that?

Finally....I'm getting this and it's twin finished. I took Uta's advice and threw some dark glaze on the heart stamps and now they are hardly visible. Thanks, Uta! All I have left to do is paint a bird on each one. 

11 comments:

Kathy said...

Beautiful work!

Tess Kincaid said...

I enjoyed browsing some of your artwork in your older posts. Your header painting is especially nice.
Thanks for stopping by Willow Manor. Hope to see you again soon.

Uta said...

Hi Deb,
I'm lovin' the new work. Claudine Hellmuth's first book Collage Discovery Workshop has a section on how to make simple frames for stretched canvas. Or you can try what I do, I make sure I buy the stretched canvas that is stapled on the back rather than the side. Then I simply collage/paint on the edges as I do the front. It all looks neat and tidy and no need for a frame.

Unknown said...

Thanks, Uta. I already ordered that book because you recommended it before. Can't wait to get it.
Thanks for your support, Kathy and Willow.

Susan Carlin said...

Wow, Deborah- I hadn't visited in a while and was delighted to find how wide and varied your art projects are these days. I love to see such playfulness and exuberance!
I've only done this a few times, but it worked pretty well- you can buy thin strips of wood called lath that is two to two and a half inches wide, and frame your paintings with it. I didn't bother to miter the corners, but had the seams on the top and bottom where they wouldn't be noticed. Most people see frames from the sides. I just used tiny nails and a nail setter, then wood putty over the holes. Hope this helps.

Uta said...

I'm still waiting for my order of Rethinking Acrylics (I think that's the title) by Patti Brady. Its been a long time coming. I can't wait to read it after seeing all your new creations.

Dean Grey said...

Deborah!

I love your friend's mobile. The paper butterflies look awesome! I can just imagine this softly shifting about in a breeze.

Great abstract piece too. A lot of unique shapes going on. Visually interesting to look at.

-Dean

Unknown said...

Thanks, Susan. That was what I needed to know...I just wasn't sure how to do it, and then the book came that Uta told me about ( thanks, Uta....we''ll have to talk about more books) and like she said, it told how.
Dean, the mobile looked even more awesome in person. I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks, all of you, for encouraging me.

Paula Villanova said...

Hi Deb, I resorted to strip frames again harking back to my poor student days...here's how to build them:

You can buy lattice strips or similar wood at Lowe's or Home Depot for under $5/strip. It then needs to be cut to size. It does not need to be mitred but does need to be cut carefully so that the edges butt against each other carefully. It can then either be painted, stained, or left natural. They then need to be nailed to the canvas using the right size nails.

Good luck! I like the work you posted here...glad you're experimenting with other mediums...I keep saying I'm going to...

Linny D. Vine said...

Deb, your "trial painting" is gorgeous!!!

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

Deborah, I'm liking the mixed media you're doing and the mobile is divine!