Selena Inspired Mixed Media Art

Hi everyone!!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day.  I've been busy working on a new canvas and I'm finally ready to share it with you.  This piece is inspired by a beautiful photo I found on Pinterest of the late Tejano music singer Selena.

Selena Quintanilla Perez 1971 - 1995

This is my interpenetration of the photo.  I decided to give her angel wings which proved to be a challenge for me but first let me show you how I started.

I'm using a 12x24" canvas.  I added scraps of blueprints, book text and joint tape backing to the background using matte gel medium.

 Next I applied a thin layer of gesso and then chose my paint colors.

Using the photo as a guide, I sketched her out.

I always start with the flesh tones and then start adding the eyes and hair.  I go keep going over the colors with highlights and shadows until I get a look that I like.

I've never done angel wings but I really wanted to add them so I decided to just go for it.

It took me about four tries before I was happy with the wings.  I wanted share pics of my first two tries but I couldn't get the files to save properly.  This was my 3rd attempt and my guys kept telling me it looked like she was wearing a feather boa, lol.  So I went back to the drawing board.

I followed my son's advice and added a top bone then varied the sizes of the feathers.  Of course he still had constructive criticism to share, lol.  He even drew examples for me to follow :D

I think she turned out gorgeous!

I added hidden sugar skulls like this one in her bangle.

For even more texture, I stamped roses, flourishes and musical notes to the background.

Here's a look at the two together.

I'm not sure if anyone would recognize this as Selena but that's okay because she's a stunner either way.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and remember:

Keep Calm
and
Bidi Bidi
Bom Bom!!