I used to write a blog called Cute, Smart and Organized that was aimed at reminding you just how amazing you already are. The following is a post from that blog.
I'm really excited to share a project with you that I've just finished up!
Are you familiar with Kristy Gammill? She's an artist from Oklahoma who I found through designer Tobi Fairley's boards on Pinterest. I love her textile-inspired designs with lots and lots of saturated, lady-like color. Yummy! I encourage you to check out her site.
I've been on a mission to find artwork for my walls for a few months, (I'll keep you posted on how that goes) and I decided to give my own Gammill-Inspired painting a shot. The end result? Well, it doesn't look a thing like hers, but I love it!
I've never been especially handy with paints, but the process was fairly simple. Want to give it a try? Here's what I did:
I Gathered Up My Supplies:
-a 16X20 canvas from Hobby Lobby, about $9 after my 40% off coupon
-These brushes
-And (O.K., all you real artists, don't laugh) these craft paints.
Plaid Liquid Leaf in Classic Gold, FolkArt Magenta Shiny, Ceramcoat Buttercream, FolkArt Orange Poppy (LOVE), Americana Coral Blush (Love even more!), Americana Peaches and Cream, and Americana Hauser Light Green. All paints were from Hobby Lobby.
Now for the Fun Part:
I painted a base coat over the entire canvas with the Buttercream.
Next, I made a very casual, unmeasured chevron pattern with the paints. I found it easiest to work from the light to the dark colors, so I made several sets of stripes starting with a light paint and moving to a dark paint. Each set of stripes would eventually be divided by a metallic gold stripe, but I left that white for now.
Made with the edge of my wider brush, each zigzag line is actually a series of thin up-and-down brushstrokes. I went back through each stripe and made sure the brushstrokes were well-defined and uneven in length. These uneven edges are what gave the painting its Ikat fabric appearance.
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After this, I simply added in the gold stripes in the same manner. I found it easier to do this last, simply because it was a different kind of paint than the rest of the colors.
*One note, I adore the hot pink paint- it reminds me of that delicious shade of dark rose-red that lines a peach seed. But, both the Magenta and Hauser Green were thinner than the other colors and had to be re-coated several times. It's hard to give something a spontaneous, carefree look when you have to keep going back over it; I would use different brands for these colors next time.*
And the finished product!
Isn't it fun? I love it! If you give it a try, let me know - I want to see the fabulous results!
You are so Cute, Smart and Organized!
Ginny