Gourd Santa Step by Step

The gourd Santa is all done. I wanted to write a more detailed step-by-step tutorial, but I think I'll have to wait until I get more time on the library computers, or until I get something better than dial-up. I did get it listed on Etsy in time for Christmas so that's a start.

Here is a brief list of steps:

1. Find a Santa shaped gourd and clean it well.

2. Coat with gesso, let dry and sand with fine sandpaper a bit to smooth surface again.

3. Draw light guidelines on gourd with a pencil

4. Block in colored areas with first coat of paint using a medium brush.

5. Let dry thoroughly

6. Go in with finer brush and do all the detail work, making sure every part gets at least 2 coats of paint.

7. Sign your gourd

8. Coat with clear acrylic spray

9. Enjoy

Gourd Santa Step-by-step

In spite of my frustration and confusion about Christmas, sometimes I get a hankering to make something Christmassy. So I was staring at this gourd in my yard, and it was staring back, and I started to think,"I bet that gourd would make a good Santa." So I washed it all up, and noticed it had a broken/soft spot about a nickle in size.  Rats. I can still use it for a birdhouse or something, but since the Santa is all in one piece it wouldn't work for that.  So I went out to the studio and got another one of a similar shape and got it all cleaned up.

So now I'm about 3/4 of the way done with the Santa. It suddenly got blustery outside and I got hungry so I put it all away until tomorrow. But I plan to make a step-by-step how-to to go with it.

Miniature Paintings of Lucerne Valley, California

First Lucerne Valley Painting
I think this one is my favorite.

Creosote Sunset

I worked on my first paintings at my new house today. Unfortunately the sun went down before I had time to finish but I'll show you what I did anyway.  I haven't been to the store to buy oil paints or masonite yet, so all of these are done on watercolor paper with acrylic paint.  If you want me to set one aside for purchase please let me know.

I'm using someone elses computer so I can't crop these perfectly.  Some of the margins have a slice of the painting next to it that won't be there when these are cut apart for framing. And as always, monitor colors may vary. Each painting is approximately 4" x 3".

Joshua Tree Sunset

One of them was of my Halloween pumpkin, since this is Halloween after all.

Turquoise House
 

Warty Pumpkin

Vespertine Hills

Miniature Oil Painting

For a long time I've wanted to get back into oil painting but the cost of new supplies was prohibitive. But I just got a book at the library by a lady that paints on canvas that is 2 7/8 x 3 1/4". Since the canvas is so small, it's easy on the wallet. Plus they take up less storage space, and galleries are more likely to have room for them. They are cheaper to frame and ship. And since you can finish the painting in one sitting, you don't lose the mood of the painting or the lighting if you are doing en plein aire or alla prima. I can even get by with the smaller set of oil paints instead of buying the large tubes like I did in college.  Now I just hope Guy will be willing to drive the 30 miles to Michael's or JoAnne's soon so I can get supplies. Or maybe I should just order them from Art Supply Warehouse. The book that inspired me is called Big Art Small Canvas by Joyce Washor. Even if you still prefer normal sized paintings the book is full of advice that applies to all paintings.

Two New Mixed Media Paintings

I've been combating stress with painting.  I hope you enjoy them too. For more about them look here.

Square Foot Painting Series

I started a whole new line of Square Foot Paintings. Then my boyfriend got me a table top easel Christmas.  For about a month I was doing a painting a day. And I can't believe I didn't put any of that in my blog. I guess I posted them to my other blogs. I wish someone would sweep out my brain and organize it better.
I even made them their own Etsy shop here. Square Foot Art Gallery. Each painting so far is priced $50, a steal for original art.  That may change in the future.

Art Cards Editions and Originals

When I was at my daughter's SLO Space art gallery all day I worked on these art cards.  They are done in opaque watercolor. All art cards are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", the same measurement as baseball cards.

Many people collect and trade art cards.  It's a way to buy original art that won't break the bank.

A Little Peace and Quiet Makes All the Difference

When some friends ask me to house sit, I realized that if I got away from the daily grind, I might actually have time to paint. I worked with egg tempera, and after two days of that I switched to opaque watercolor.
I know noise pollution affects me, but I was acutely aware of how much it's harmed my productivity ever since I moved to Anaheim. Once I was out in the country away from gardeners, noisy neighbors, screaming children, helicopters, sirens, and non-stop air conditioners, I could relax and concentrate.

Working with egg tempera on illumination.

Roses from the garden

Roses from a different angle.

Faux Pumpkin Painted Purple and Blue

The last thing I painted was a fake pumpkin. I'm making a diorama. Here is a clip that shows a bit of the demo I'm making for youtube. If you are interested drop me a comment and I'll embed the two part video here when I'm done.

Airbrush Practice Hypnotist T-shirt

Because not all painting is done with a brush.

Two New Paintings

I painted until the sun came boiling down on my back. And I said to myself, 'Self, I'm tired of quitting right when I get in the flow of things because it's too hot out here." So I got the spare canopy out of the garage with it's 36 poles and white canopy, and in the blazing heat I put that sucker up. But it was worth it. The temperature dropped about 15 degrees once I was in the shade, and then I finished not one painting but two.

12"x12" acrylics on canvas board.

I'm trying to decide if I should list them on rtist.com or etsy.com.

Ready to Paint

I got some 12"x12" canvas board today. I want to paint some onions and a red bell pepper I have in the kitchen. But by the time I got home I was in no mood to paint. So I made a mobile instead out of found objects. But I am hoping tomorrow goes better and I can paint.

If I could only find my Turpenoid, I could do oil painting finally. But if not, I'll do acrylic paint.

Monoprint

A monoprint of my hands.

Painting on Wooden Frames

Yesterday I started painting some wooden frames. It takes longer than you might think because of the sides and inner frame edges. I'm using acrylics, which dry fairly quickly. If I was using oil paints it would take a lot longer. I primed the frames with Gesso first.It provides a smoother surface to paint on and saves time and paint in the long run. I have 2 out of 4 frames done now. Time to go paint some more.
Please leave a comment.

Succulents in Twilight and Ovoids

Background  for Succulents in Twilight

Background for Ovoids

Ovoids part one

Ovoids

Succulents in Twilight

This morning I woke up in a painting mood so I grabbed my paints, canvases and brushes. The background is gesso tinted with acrylic paints, and the paintings are done in acrylic as well. The one with ovoids took a lot longer than the other one for some reason. It was fun to be painting again. The canvas size is 24"x24". Unfortunately it got dark and I had to stop for the night.

Canvases

I wanted to paint today but had no canvases. So I went to Michael's. I got two 8x10 canvases. Even though they were 50% off it still seemed high. I need to get some at Art Supply Warehouse or from Dick Blick or something next time I get some money. After paying bills today I'm down to my last $20. Scary. The sacrifices we make for art! This would be a really good time to sell something from my Etsy shop. Maybe I'll go recycle some cans.

Seascapes & Other Miniature Paintings

I could have sworn I'd posted the miniature paintings I did yesterday. Maybe I put them on a different blog. Oh well, I'll post them now.