Frida Kahlo Mixed Media Canvas

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope this post finds you all well.  Today I'm extremely proud to share my latest canvas with you.  This canvas is 20x24x1.5" and took me several days to complete.\

When I started on this canvas, I had no destination in mind.  I just wanted to enjoy the creative journey.  I focused on color and pattern to ensure that the background would be rich in depth.

I drew inspiration from a sugar skull that I'm creating.  It has beautiful zentangle flowers so I added them here in various sizes.  I used metallic paints to add to the bohemian feel of the canvas.

I chose to use a photo of Selma Hayak in her role as Frida.  I loved the intense look she has in the photo.  I usually sketch my image but the dark background really didn't allow me to do so.  Instead I painted an outline with paint.  Since this not my usual technique, I was frustrated and unsure of myself.  But I believe that in order to improve at your craft, you have to venture out of your comfort zone.  So with that in mind I resisted the urge to paint over her and do something easier for me.

I was worried about the hands and relaying the intense look she has.  Slowly I continued to add layers and make adjustments until she sprang to life.

I'm so happy that I resisted the urge to give up because I am so proud of how she turned out.

I love the detailed background too.

Now I just need take some better pics and find a suitable title.  What do you think?  What should it's title be?

Let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you.  Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing a piece of your day with me!

UPDATE:  Prints are now available in my Etsy shop: LittleHoneyBeeStudio

 

Also available in a beautiful handbag

Adios!

Angel Among Us - Original Mixed Media Canvas

Hi everyone!  I'm back with a new canvas.  I've been away from my studio for awhile because my husband had surgery about a month ago.  Thankfully he's made a full recovery and now I can refocus on art.  I bought this really big canvas and have been dreaming of the possibilities. 

I began by creating this beautiful background.  I used acrylic, oil, stencils and spray paint.  The pic is pretty bad but you can get a better look on FB.

I debated what to paint.  I thought of beautiful doors, a quaint chapel and settled of this beautiful lady.  She is inspired by a photo I saw of an angel tombstone.

Her face actually gave me a hard time.  I guess I was a bit rusty from my time off.  I think the key to art is probably never stopping.  Just like any other skill, it takes lots of practice.  The more you work at it, the better you get.

 I kept the wings simple and opted to let heavy paint strokes create depth.  I wanted the stenciled quote to show through so I went with a wash of color.

Since you can't read the stenciled quote, I chose my favorite part to write around the wings.  It reads, "At the end of the day who you are is completely up to you".

This canvas is 30" x 40" x 1.25".  Since it's so large, I won't be listing it on Etsy but I will be adding prints soon.  If you are interested in the original, you can email me or message me on FB.  Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Have a wonderful Father's Day weekend!!

Update!  Prints are now available HERE

Mermaid - Advice needed on this one

Hi everyone, I hope you had a great Easter weekend!  I working on this new canvas.  I don't have any progress pics to share other than the ones on FB because this one went really fast.

I love the way this turned out but I need your help deciding on adding a quote or leaving it as is.

I found a quote that I think would work well but I just can't decide whether or not to add it.

So here is a full shot of the canvas as is: Option 1

And here is the canvas with the words added digitally: Option 2.

  

So what do you think?  Add the quote or not?  If I add it, it would be handwritten not digitally printed.  Help, please, share your thoughts :D

Update!  I ended up leaving the original without words but added the quote to the prints.  Both are now available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

1.Original   2.Print

Free Bird - Mixed Media Hippie Art

Hi everyone!   I have a fun new piece to share with you that I just completed today.

I'm calling it "Free Bird".  (Let's see how many of you get it.) This is just a really fun canvas don't you think?!

For this canvas I set out to just play.  The base colors are new ones that I just bought and wanted to try out.  If you follow me on FB then you saw them.  They were a crimson and navy blue color.

I treated this canvas like an art journal page and just started to doodle.  I did my favorite tangle/mandala flowers and then added beautiful vibrant colors.

I really wanted this piece to be free.  Does that make sense?  You know, very organic.  At one point I thought, "what the heck am I doing, this is a hot mess" but I just kept at it til it made me happy.  I think that's really important when creating.  You have to trust yourself enough to let go and follow your instincts.  Especially when you think you've made a mistake or ruined your piece.

In the end it came together perfectly.  I love the vibrant colors, doodles and birds.  It totally reflects my mood when I started :D  I hope you love this one as much as I do!  I'll be adding the original and prints to Etsy soon so please keep an eye out for that.  Thank you for stopping by and have a beautiful day!!

You can find the original HERE and the print HERE

She's a Dreamer

Hi everyone!   I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.   I took some time off from my studio but I was itching to get back to painting.   I found a beautiful photo on Pinterest that inspired me to create this lovely lady.

In case you haven't noticed, I love gypsies, hippies and all free spirits so they're a favorite subject for me.  I even tell my kids that I was a gypsy in a past life, lol.

The majority of the background is a thin book text wrapping paper along with scraps of patterned papers.  Then as usual, I sketched out my focal image.

She came together nicely.  I kinda wonder if I should have left her color like this.  What do you think? Do you like this better than the darker/colorful hair in the finished piece?

No gypsy would be complete without beautiful jewelry.  So next I added tons of gold trim, bangles and necklaces.

With her done, I added warm tones to the background and beautiful flowers.  I was really loving the piece at this point but I really wanted to add a sentiment.

I found the perfect quote:

She's a Dreamer, a doer, a thinker.  She sees possibility Everywhere and in Everything.

So what do you think?!  I love her and I hope you do too!!

Here is a closer look at the background and the flowers.  You can see the book text wrapping paper and beautiful zentanglish stamped flowers/flourishes behind the painted flowers.

Close up look at her ;D

This canvas is 16x12".  I'll be adding it to my Etsy shop, LittleHoneyBeeStudio tomorrow.  Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you've enjoyed your visit!  Until next time!!

Update!  Original available for purchase HERE

The Creation of Reyna

Hi everyone!!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Okay as promised, here is more on Reyna:

I'm a villains kinda girl and my favorite one is the Evil Queen.  So that's who inspired Reyna's creation.

I was killing time on YouTube the other day and started watching some artist videos.  I was so fascinated by all of the different styles. 

So I decided to share my process with you.  Please join me in my studio :D

Thank you so much for watching.  I hope you enjoyed seeing Reyna come to life.

The original canvas is for sale HERE

She's also available in a beautiful porcelain ornament HERE.  Thank you stopping by & Have a Wonderful Day!

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!!