MOTHER'S DAY - The Girl with the Paint Brush

The Girl with the Paint Brush

24 x 30 canvas

Mixed Media

I've been working on this canvas for a couple of weeks now.  Had to paint it in my kitchen because I don't have an easel so I painted it leaning against shelves in a hutch that I have there.  I kept making trips back and forth from my art room to the kitchen....so ultimately, my kitchen was covered with paints and art stuff....you know how that goes.  This is one of those paintings where you could keep adding a little something here and a little something there....as a matter of fact, I came back from church this morning and I'm still dressed for church....I didn't even want to take the time to change into some "paint" clothes.  So far as I can tell, I haven't got paint on my skirt!

I'm going to show you a little bit of the progress of this painting...

I knew from the get-go that I wanted a checkerboard pattern in the painting.  I also knew that I wanted to have a female figure.  That is all I knew when I started to create this.  I drew the floor, sketched a female figure on another piece of paper and traced it onto the canvas and added  a simple table.  I hadn't intended, originally, for the girl to be painting the wall...I was going to have the figure standing in front of the wall looking out.  

I made up the flowers and I have a school of fish on the bottom.  After I had collaged the clothing onto the figure, the flowers are what I worked on next....just punches of color in lots of shapes.

A close-up of "the painter" as she works on her flower.  At one point, I had thought to put myself in as the painter, but in looking at the colors I was working with....I opted to give her red hair (not me!) to add more color.  However, I am a lefty, so I guess in my mind....there is a part of me here.
More detail.....

She has a little bird to keep her company as she paints.  The bird is probably thinking that the caterpiller might be a nice treat.  I added 3 to the painting and one is crawling on the floor.  I also added a couple of lady bugs.  

Doing this painting for me was like reading a good book....something I don't want to put down and in some ways, you don't want it to end....because now I have to think of my next idea.

I'm enjoying my Mother's Day.  Mom's put their families first for most of their lives, but I have to say, today is all about me (I have an empty nest)....having the time to do what I love to do.