Home is where the heart is...

Over on my old blog I shared some of the HOME paintings I did with KOI watercolors. I ended up painting 29 skinny ones and had them all spread out here on the back porch. I never made it to 100 like I'd hoped, but maybe I'll start painting them again, soon. I really need to scan all of the ones I have and make prints to sell in my shop.

Recently, I decided to start painting again... but this time with acrylics... again. I seem to switch back and forth from acrylics to watercolor and back to acrylics every few years. I also wanted to do more mixed media pieces and dug up an old canvas painting that I had given up on in the past.

I began by gluing scraps of patterned and textured paper all over the canvas in a patchwork pattern. Nothing specific. I was just trying to cover everything.

I was worried about the air bubbles, but as it dried it flattened out again.

There was a small gap between papers, so I grabbed one of my business cards on the table and used it.

I then started adding washes of color, wiping away certain areas, trying to decide what to cover and what to let show through.

I ended up covering most of the paper, but you could still see the textures and I blocked in the house, sky and ground.

I used a stencil to add a faint pattern and outlined everything with charcoal.

I drew simple flowers and grass and added words with a white sharpie...

and ended up with this:

It was a lot of fun once I convinced myself that it didn't have to be perfect. :)

I've been sketching in the evenings while watching tv with my husband. I thought I'd share some every few days along with whatever else I'm working on at the time. I'm hoping the adage, "practice makes perfect", will prove itself true eventually.

charcoal pears

pen and ink portrait

What do you like to doodle or sketch in your spare time?


Take care & God Bless,
Lana