Trusting is simply believing; simply looking beyond what you can see.

 I found a canvas that I started a while back and decided to give it new life, trusting that it could turn into something better than what I had.  The purple from the original kept coming through and I decided to go with it.

I took some old sheet music, doilies, vintage papers, watercolor paper and some washi tape and added it to the canvas.  Adding a few connecting scribbles with my stabilo. Below is my supply list of the items used. 

A combination of Golden, Grumbacher and Liquitex paints.  Alcohol ink and re-inkers were also used.  Love to use the inks for drips to the background.  Make sure you dilute the alcohol ink with water before you begin, as it dries very quickly.  Just let it run and spray it with a water bottle for a fluid appearance.

I began sketching in  my figure, using a #2 lead pencil.  Darkened some areas with my stabilo pencil.  I just love these pencils, great for blending, especially with gesso.  As I continued to sketch, I readjusted the figure and the features.

Began developing the face with soft washes of burnt sienna, alizarin crimson and zinc white.  Blending back and forth between these colors and the white.  Using the stabilo to add more detail as it dried.  Adding touches of paynes grey and sap green hue.  The green is one of my new favorite colors to work in shadows.
Adding black charcoal to the darkest shadows and blending them out with a damp brush.

I added more drips and color to the background.  The heart shapes were an accident, as was her dress collar.  They came to life from my collage background as I developed the painting.  Adding more dark shadows to the figure and  white highlights to the face.  The words are printed off the computer.  I wasn't sure what this painting was going to say.  I printed out several inspirational words.  I went back to my drawing table and looked up on a box where I had this verse taped to the corner of it.  I felt it fitting for the painting and used it.   The textured stencil in the right hand corner (top and bottom)remind me of part of a stained glass window.

Sometimes as in life, the painting doesn't always go as planned.  There are mistakes and there are surprises.  Just trust you inner artist and see where it leads.

Simply trust and  believe in all your dreams!

 

                                        Summer Sunday afternoon walk through the neighborhood...

As I was finishing up tending to my flowers, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye.  A beautiful doe (a female deer) walked across our driveway.  I stood very still, clippers in hand, garden gloves and all.  Watching her graze on the empty lot next door, eating the fruits of the tree and bushes while she gracefully moved closer to me.  It took her a while to spot me and I kept thinking that I should run and get my camera.  In doing so, I knew she would be startled and run off. After she spotted me,we stared at each other for what seemed minutes before she pranced off and down the street.

So, I did go in and get my camera and decided to walk the area where I saw her run and enjoyed the peacefulness of a Sunday afternoon.  Although I never did see her again, I enjoyed the walk and snapped photos along the way.

                                A lovely statue and a good subject for my next angel painting.

The covered bridge leading up to a neighbor's home.  It is surrounded by woods and logs he is using to make a fence around the property.  As I was taking this photo, it began to rain and thought to find shelter under it's protection.  But, the rain only lasted a couple of minutes.

 

     Lake Springfield in the distance.  I had to walk through someone's yard to capture these photos.

                       I would have enjoyed sitting and swinging on this tree swing for a while. 

                                                

Love the way these lions are lined up on the empty lot next to us.  The one on the left had a visit from a bird and it almost looks as though he is crying.  Construction of a new home will begin next month and the peacefulness will be replaced with the noise and bustle of new construction.

This little guy was waiting for me when I returned home.  He has been living on our deck and lawn chairs for a couple of weeks now. 

   Thanks to my lovely deer visitor, I took the time to enjoy my surroundings and capture the moment.

   "I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set it free"

                                                                     Michaelangelo

                                                             My latest journal entry
Painting angels has been an obsession with me lately.  Kate Thompson's class has taught me so much about backgrounds, plaster and veiling.  Love the look of veiling and blending the colors into the main image with Golden Acrylics and watercolors.  I have tried the alcohol inks, but prefer the softness of the watercolors.

I found these metal butterflies that someone discarded. Using these, and a well worn Prima stencil, I applied texture paste with a palette knife. Spreading it onto the shape and into the stencils. Placing it here and there to the background and allowing to dry.  Removing heavy areas with my palette knife .Then, placed it out in the sun to dry quickly.

Faces can be somewhat challenging at times.  If you don't feel comfortable drawing the features directly on your painting, draw it onto a piece of tracing paper first.  Then with a well worn piece of graphite paper, lightly add it onto the face.  Ever so lightly, just to get the placement.



Angels are shining down on us today.  A beautiful sunny and a good day to enjoy all that summer brings.

Watercolor painting step by step

                          Watercolor painting step by step

This is a quick tutorial, using Golden watercolors and Grumbacher opaque watercolors.  Angels have been my theme of late and this one was inspired by a photograph I saw in a magazine. 

A pencil sketch and light washes were added to darkest areas.  Background was wet on wet, a little salt and some splattters for interest.

I added gesso to the wings and white areas of the dress.  Then began layering washes.  Always leaving a little white showing.

When first two layers were dry, I went back and added more color washes.  Adding tints of other colors into previous areas to add depth.

Line work was then added to define the hair, features, flowers and wings.  Using a dark brown fine liner and a white fine liner, both water proof.   White dots were also added around collar, flowers and wings.

Hope you enjoyed the step by step process.  I hope to do more of these in the future.  Presently working on flowers from my garden.
                                                                    Happy Painting!

Painted furnishings and accessories.

It has been a long couple of months, but well worth the upheaval and wait.  We started renovating the kitchen cabinets with a faux finish and European hinges.  Hiding the existing hinges, adding the paint to 30 year old cabinets was not an easy task.

We then made the decision to continue the existing wood floor onto the entry hall and the downstairs guest bedroom.
The hall had cracked tile and it had to be jack hammered out and oh the dust!  

 After 3 weeks and furniture scattered throughout the house, it was time to move everything back in place.  Giving me the opportunity to add some new bedding and accessories.

                                              A small open nook.  The violin my dad made.

                                                 Looking for a few more throw pillows. 

                                                    Antique dressers that I have repainted.

                               I painted the mirror to match the dresser.  Love my feather collection!

      Now we can sit back, relax and enjoy our home once more. 

New designs and new floors

Working on new ideas is not always easy.  Sometimes I just sit and do not know where to begin.  Other times, I have so many ideas that I don't know what to do first. 

 I love taking on line classes for inspiration and to connect with other artists. This was inspired by Danielle Donaldson on watercolor paper.  Not only did I enjoy my week with her, but I won an original painting from Jeanne Oliver Designs network. A nice added bonus, I should say! It is proudly displayed in a prominent place where all can see.
The painting below part of a series that I now have in my Etsy shop and on Red Bubble. 

It has been easy working in my studio these last two weeks. Staying out of the way and in an area that is somewhat organized. 
 We are continuing our home improvement projects and have installed wood flooring in our guest room and entry hall.  Since our home is 30  years old, the remodeling is needed.  The tile was cracked in the entry and the carpet was out dated in the guest room.  I am so looking forward to redecorating the guest room with new bedding when the floors are completely cured.  They tell me it will be at least 4 days from now.  I am growing some what impatient as it is now well into the second week of this process.  Patience is not one of my virtues!
We have these areas blocked off to remind us and for our little Westie to stay clear.  As I admired them again, I noticed some paw prints in the newly varnished area, coming off onto the older wood that adjoins it.  Not sure when and how she got into it.  Sure hope they can fix it when they put the last coat on in the morning.

As we were working on the kitchen and floor renovations, I came across a beautiful door shutter or panel.  I have always disliked the way the door looked out to the garage.  It was very generic next to the panel doors we have throughout the rest of the house.  So, we painted the door the same color as the wall and that changed it in an instant.  Why didn't we do that years ago?  We also added the panel after a few minor color adjustments.   A great way to add interest to an ever so boring door.

Light Lovely Designs by Ursula: Spring is a wonderful time of rebirth and hope of ...

Light Lovely Designs by Ursula: Spring is a wonderful time of rebirth and hope of ...: Spring is a wonderful time of rebirth and hope of things to come.  As I look out my window, I see signs of trees budding, daffodils blooming...