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Sunday, April 03, 2011

Anatomy of a Painting


When I whined to my friends about how I've stopped painting they challenged me to create 4 paintings based on my trip to San Miguel.


It really clicked for me that having that goal would get me moving again.


So these are details from the painting I just finished.


I started by painting the beautiful Vermillion Flycatcher that I kept seeing in the big tree overlooking our patio.


I've been loving my watercolors again both in my journal and otherwise.


After I painted it I cut it out with a knife which gave me a stencil as well as the painted positive.


Scraped the plaster and paint off an older cradled board that I deemed not worth saving.


And glued down the watercolored image as well as walnut ink spraying the stencil onto the plaster. Glued down collage papers, then a layer of encaustic medium and some pigmented medium. This is how it looked when I went to bed last night.


This morning I made more medium and worked to unify the elements. I put in the hornizonals remembering the warm ochre wall that surrounded our casa.


Little by little I added more elements. Clear shellac tinted with powdered pigment and gold, incisions, oil glazes.



This is the finished painting: 20 x 24 inches on a deep cradled panel. Gold foil went on last.


My favorite parts are the yellow post-it notes that John wrote out for me before our trip trying to teach me some Spanish phrases. So painting #1 is completed. Ruth and Jenny are proud of me!

27 comments:

Danielle said...

This is beautiful!

Unknown said...

You pretty much rock Judy!!! I love it! I am proud and not at all surprised. :) Love that birdie too♥
Now you've got me inspired!
Love to you,
Jenny

Ruth Armitage said...

Yes, we are very proud, and INSPIRED :) Thanks for the peek behind the scenes of your progression. Love this, and can't wait to see #'s 2, 3 & 4!
xoxoxo

Jennifer White said...

Absolutely delectable, Judy...one of these days we'll connect and finally get to another class with you...such inspiration...and really great photography showing the detail! xo

Ro Bruhn said...

What a gorgeous reminder of a great time that you had.
Very inspiring.

Sharon Tomlinson said...

You are spreading inspiration just like hot wax. A beautiful piece and thanks for sharing a bit of your process.

60 years of Making Art said...

Your painting is beautiful and thank you for sharing your step by step process.

Caterina Giglio said...

It is a stunning piece and what a great reminder, your bird is wonderful and the sticky notes are a great addition, they lend texture and a good vibe about the trip... bravo!

Karin Bartimole said...

SO yummy Judy!! Absolutely gorgeous - and you have every cell in my body itching to be settled into my studio, focused on a goal and painting, too! Soon, soon, but until then I have my journal, and I will go to it :) thank you, xox k

Janine said...

Oh how clever! No you shouldn't stop painting! Darn I hate waiting until June for that book of yours to come out!

Kim Mailhot said...

I am proud of you too. And in awe and inspired by you too. Thank you for sharing that glorious process with us. Makes my fingers itch for the brush....
Love you !

Clare Wassermann said...

my gosh that painting has somehow really caught my breath!

Dawn D. Sokol said...

BEAUTIFUL, Judy!!! Thanks for sharing all the steps you took!

Janet Ghio said...

Just beautiful-love the little birds!!

Gigi said...

Love it! Now I'm inspired to create a painting...with a bird in it!

michelle allen said...

a wonderful piece Judy! love all your close ups. please let me know next time you do a workshop in your studio. :)

Laura said...

Amazing, as always. I could look at this for hours, so much here.. Can't wait to see your book. For some reason I'm having trouble with the pre-order link, but I'm looking forward to learning more of your magic.

Denise Mulligan said...

Wow! Amazing work! You've inspired me to get going on some painting as well.
Denise :)

Woodland Rose said...

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The color and free spirit is amazing. Inspiring especially since you were experiencing a block (of sorts). Wonderful sharing and very encouraging.

Judy said...

I love it! Gee- I MUST take a class from you.... someday? I just love this type of stuff you are doing!

Marit said...

Breathtaking!

Parabolic Muse said...

If a person say she has no words, that's kind of dumb because she's saying stuff about not saying stuff.

I cannot STAND how beautiful that flycatcher is. I must have it. I will give it only flies, gnats, flying things that are smaller than its head, and fruit. if I find flying fruit, I'll give it that, too. no fruitflies, though, because that's just going overboard.

I feel confident that, being so late to every single post that you write, I am welcome to write as much as I want to in my comment. This is something I tell myself when the painting you've shown me is too beautiful for words.

jill nalette said...

i'm so proud of you too, judy! thank you for some creative ideas and for sharing your process.
love you sweet woman!
xo + smiles~ jill

Emmy said...

A friend sent me a link to this post. Your work is absolutely beautiful. Wonderful texture and color.

somepinkflowers said...

the beautiful Vermillion Flycatcher!

!!!!!

oh my goooodness!

:-)


i am over here
counting the days
until the plaster workshop...

counting
counting
counting


PS--i like how you put in
the yellow sticky notes, too...
in my last mixed-media piece
i put in the label
from some ''skinny jeans''
as a Silent Prayer of Thanksgiving
to the Skinny Jean Goddess
who allows me to continue to fit
into
my
fav
jeans.


it seemed only fair...

LIesel Lund said...

Oh those textures are so yummy! Good for you for pushing through and painting again! It is funny how hard that is and how that doesn't make any sense to non-artists. Three cheers for you!!!! Thanks for taking the time to photograph each stage and show us some of your process! Hugs to you dear!

Judi D. said...

This is stunning. I love that you show the progression through the layers and that bird is gorgeous.