I like to try to stretch myself creatively by trying different things. As I mentioned in my last post, one of the ways that I've been doing that lately is by experimenting with creating on different types of surfaces just to see what happens. This time, I decided to experiment with wood.
"Live Love" was created on an 8"x8" Ampersand wooden artist panel. I immediately felt a different mood when working on the wood panel then when I'm working on canvas. The colors I was drawn to use were more earthy; reds, brown, and grays. I covered the background with old magazine paper and built up the layers using acrylic ink and paint and applying with my hands, paintbrush and hand-carved stamps. Again, I didn't really go into this with too much of a plan other than knowing I wanted to paint a girl. I love using the gray tone Prismacolor pencils so used this along with acrylic paint for her skin. I love how the hair turned out transparent so that you can see the texture underneath.
There was something very peaceful and serene about creating this piece and so I wrote the following around her body:
There was something very peaceful and serene about creating this piece and so I wrote the following around her body:
"I will choose to live in love today. I will choose to honor the gifts that have been given to me by God and share them with others. I will practice compassion with myself on a daily basis and seek ways to honor my voice." "To live in love is the greatest gift we can give."