Holiday Mermaid "Facebook Early American Folk Arts and Trades Marketplace" Painting, Post 3

Songs of Cheer and Good Will 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1213533635380525/permalink/1224830087584213/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1213533635380525/

***THIS PAINTING WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE AT THE ABOVE EVENT OCTOBER 15 AND 15, 2016. 

This is where I left off in my last entry and represents and stopping point for that day. 

I wanted to keep the background and the snow as clean as possible.  The way I spill paint these days, make this nothing short of a small miracle.  LOL.  

What's this painting missing??  I decided that it needed smoke coming out of the chimney and I also sprinkled some snow on the painting!  Can you see it.  Look at her hat.  As I said yesterday, I changed her hat by adding a scarf around the backside of it, bringing it forward to create a bow.  Here was how the drawing started: 

Before the hat was altered.  

While painting it, I decided to add the tie.  It made sense to me, after all, if it is windy, she may lose her hat!

No chance of any hats flying off of this head! 

In this shot, you can see that I both added the smoke and changed the title.  I just like the idea of Cheer and Good will!  That's what Christmas is about.  God's goodwill toward men.   It's worth singing about, wouldn't you say?! 

Don't forget to check out the Facebook event! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1213533635380525/

Enjoy and thanks for looking! 

Tweet

The Process of Creating new Mermaid Paintings

Mermaids, Mermaids, Mermaids

These two paintings will be taken to my show in Wilton Connecticut at the Wilton Historical Society November 6-8, 2015  

Americanartisanshow.com

Love the Fall Apples  - HER HANDS ARE NOT DONE! 

I have always been a big fan of the fall.  I had this wonderful old frame which was pine.  It had knots and patina and warmth.  Using antique frames is a wonderful way to repurpose old frames that nobody is buying.  

I am not finished with it yet because I want to add more details to the painting itself, like a ship and possibly a sailor or maybe a seashell.  Or maybe just a ship.  NOT sure yet! 

I think it's so wonderful and warm (the frame) and the basket is very 'Nantucket like.'  I miss painting for Nantucket Country.  Now that this store ihas closed, it feels sort of sad for me when I think of Nantucket.  Cam Dutton, you made it all wonderful.   

I would put the ship in the left side, I think.  It's going to be called, The apple of His eye.  

So many of you have seen this  next one.  I had it in a new and different frame, but I couldn't see it right in that frame.  I never have been able to find an antique frame to match it in size.  Recently, I found this one. It is very old, but someone painted it white--Ouch. 

Color has to go - :( Sorry Shabby Chic people, while I love this style, not for this mermaid. 

I picked up some milk paint and started to paint and paint and paint.  I wanted it to match the frame that is above with the apples.  Here is what I came up with! It's close but not exactly. I would give it a blue ribbon, though.  

The right frame is painted to look like
wood. 

I have to say that I LOVE this.  I really am pleased with how it turned out.  It's very picture realistic to wood and has a good look to it.  As you can see, the frame is slightly too big, so I will have to do a  modification on the frame, Alas, more time.  

Thanks for looking!  I will post another picture when I have finished up with these!  The one on the right is not finished! 

  

Closeup of frame technique

Enjoy! 

Tweet

Child Mermaid

The Little Pearl on Cape Cod 

A likeness without being a 'copy'

Whenever I do a custom piece, I strive for a likeness without being a direct 'copy'.  I figure, if you want a photo, you'll pay a photographer…ha.  I really admire people that can paint photo realistic, though, it's a gift for sure.  

The PHOTO! 

I wasn't sure if the owner of this little angel would want her picture on the web, so I made it very small.   

I love how the water and sky are the colors of shells.  

I really gravitate to the same colors.  This year, it is my goal to introduce some new fresh colors that I want to highlight.  For me, the ribbon color has a freshness that is very current.   

The orange is also carried up into the wave.  

I like to carry color (a little bit) all over the painting.  I think it makes your eye travel subconsciously over the entire piece.  The technique for this painting is my "Retrieved Wallpaper" technique. I talk about this style in other posts. 

In this shot you get a glimpse of her oyster shell tail. 

I wanted the painting theme to be about oysters.  She's the pearl!  The customer lives on the Cape. 

 

Here is the painting under another painting I am working on! 

I haven't blogged about the one on the top yet.  She is an ANGEL  mermaid.  Although, the two are not related to each other and the bottom one is sold, the top one shows how the colors blend with my other work.  I think this is very important.  I will be placing the top one in my show inventory. 

The ribbon brings out the orange in the frame. 

When I was selecting the ribbon color, I decided to go with something that would blend well with the frame.  

Drift wood box! 

Finally, here's an outside shot of this painting.  You can really see how it looks in natural lighting.  The frame is outstanding and is from the turn of the century, late 1800s.  Thanks for looking! 

Enjoy! 

PS- Don't forget the show that I am painting for currently.  Let me know if you live nearby and would like tickets! 

Tweet

Harbor Mermaid

Providing Safe Harbor 

When the Night loses its light, I am there

This painting was executed on paper using Acrylic paint in two techniques.  Watercolor

and dry brush. 

Although this photograph makes her face appear a bit dark, I wanted to include it so you could see how sweet she turned out.  See below for the true rendition. 

She's like an ANGEL with her little etherial looking face. 

I love a good story.  This mermaid has it with the lighthouse, the silhouetted ship, the darkness, the light, etc.  She is for sale, but not now.  I have to start painting for my show in September or I am going to be in trouble.  I will be forced to show up with all prints.  Cry. 

When the Night loses its light, I am there. 

I wanted her to glow, and she does.  Just like that lamp at her tail, she puts off light!  I love light.  This painting is actually the moon scene (background) that I painted a few months ago.  I had kept that particular painting, knowing that I would morph it into something else.  I wasn't sure what, though.  

Providing safe harbor (written in the water). 

I love the way the black frame and the gold liner pull the light and contrast the darkness that tries to overtake the night (of this painting).  Isn't it so cool that we have a moon and stars that give us light.  No darkness can overtake light, even a little candle is enough to outshine darkness.  

I love the silhouette ship and lighthouse! 

Enjoy and thanks for looking! 

By the way, this is the show I am painting for if you want to come!  I have free tickets to hand out!

Just give me a holler!  

Tweet