New techniques...labor of love.

So I had this 24"x 36" canvas just waiting for me to paint - really wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it so I covered the piece with vintage clothing pattern tissue paper and covered that with gesso... from there I used my brightest colors and just started painting (see above)

From there...I just kept adding layers.  Layer after layer of beautiful color.  I would stop and and look and decide what color I wanted next...and just kept adding layers...

 I never really knew when I was done with the background...so I added some stencil layers...some white ink...dripped some white ink...just got lost in it :)

After I felt the background layering was complete I decided I wanted to create flowers out of the background colors...initially I was going to paint some white flowers on top of the background...but I have been wanting to try a new technique of creating layers and then painting over the layers...Flora Bowley, world known artist (and a De Pere, WI native!) is known for this.  So..I tried it.   Initially, honestly, I really wasn't happy with what was going on but I just keep working on it...and working on it.  Getting lost in the piece and the ideas just kept coming to me.  I love...love...LOVE when I get lost in my work.

After adding to it some more I started looking through my paper mixed media stash and found some card tags...I started writing words...just inspirational words that I was feeling at the moment.  I aged the cards with stain and started gluing them on the piece....

I still felt the piece needed some more loving and broke out my oil pastels...outlined the paper cards...outlined the flowers...again...just got lost. 

I am sooooooo in love with this piece...it is truly a labor of love...I love working on a piece from start to finish - there were times I just didn't like the piece and just kept working on it - using techniques, using color, using what I know...just letting my creative side take over.

Card tags...stained...before oil pastel outline...

This piece taught me...patience...it truly did.  It also made me love my skills and appreciate what I know.  It keeps me excited and wanting to learn more...can't get enough!