Circles and Waves

Destiny and I were experimenting with stencils recently to make paintings. We started this one off with just stencils and paint sprays and didn't much care for it when it was finished. So we decided to see if we could turn it into something we did like, and this is the result--our Circles and Waves mixed media painting.

The background was mostly red, yellow-orange, and pale blue paint sprays over stencils. Then we added more stenciled shapes using acrylic paints. Then we added the stenciled waves with black paint, and also added the yellow-orange circles using round foam stamps. A cardboard tube was used to add the white rings with acrylic paint. Then I drew on this cross-hatched designs, and we stamped on the black circles with text in them and a few other small details with paint marker.

I definitely like this after adding all the extra stuff to it. Destiny wasn't thrilled with the colors in the end, but she had a good time making it, so I count that as a win.

Splish Splash Abstract Art

I finished this art piece last weekend while in the studio. It was a commission by one of my former art students. She wanted something for her daughters' bathroom--something abstract. She wanted me to use purple and bright green, since those were her bathroom colors, but the rest she left up to me. And this was the result. 

This is mostly acrylic paints. I scraped the background colors on with an old credit card. The circles were made with various lids in my studio and a few other round things here and there. I added some details with markers and paint pens too. It was fun to create and I was so glad to be able to do this for them.

Something Different

Recently my daughter showed me a painting she liked in a local store. She and I have very different tastes, so I didn't really care for the painting. But I knew she liked it and that's all that mattered. But rather than spend $40 on a painting that was probably made in China or somewhere, I decided to do one in a similar style myself as a gift for my daughter. And this be it. :)

The original painting had similar rings, circles and lines, but also a couple of colors my daughter didn't like. She prefers all neutrals most of the time. So I used the same kinds of rings, circles, and lines, and added a few details of my own when I created this for her. And thankfully, she liked it. 

Definitely something different than I usually paint, eh? It's definitely not my style at all, but as long as she likes it, I'm a happy painter.

Connie's Abstract Stained Glass

I was going through some photos of some of my artwork and found this one. It's of a stained glass piece I created for my friend, Connie, several years ago. Connie was my mentor when I was student teaching in art, and we became friends and colleagues when I became a teacher in the same district. This was a piece I designed especially for her.

Connie loves abstract art, and she'd had a special stained glass piece in her home not long before I met her. But a fire ravaged her home and that stained glass piece was one of the many casualties. I was so glad to be able to make this for her. I used lots of cobalt blue and white glass, along with some varieties of clear glass and glass bevels.  I wish I had a better photo of it, but digital cameras weren't quite the rage yet then and it wasn't always easy to get a good photo. But I'm glad I have the photo anyway...I don't always remember to photograph my artworks that I make as gifts...but I'm getting better. :)

Abstract Glass Panel

I'm not a fan of abstract art myself. I totally appreciate it, but it's just not my favorite form of art. That doesn't stop me from creating abstract pieces for other people though.  The piece below is one that I did for a friend's daughter, as a wedding gift. She likes abstract art, so I thought a stained glass abstract piece was in order.

The colors on this are blue and white, with some textured clear glass mixed in. The blue is almost cobalt in color. What I like about this piece is that it looks like something different to everyone who sees it...kind of like the inkblots on a Rorschach Test.