Technique Tuesday

Howdy, Peeps…I hope you are having a wonderful day!

I’m just getting going. 

Something/Someone has been outside that Charcoal doesn’t like and now he is being clingy!

I am the only person he ever sees and he has been without me in his sight for very few hours of his life with me…sigh

He likes to ride in the car, so yesterday, against my better judgement, I let him ride with me during the daylight (it is almost always late when we go riding), knowing he would see…PEOPLE!

He rides really well, but was a nervous wreck seeing so many other cars.  He did his “half bark” at the first couple of cars, but soon decided that it would take too much energy to “half bark” at all the cars, so he stopped…LOL He did NOT like those cars driving by HIS side of the car…he was so funny as he inched to the edge of his bucket seat closer to me.  THEN, when we had to stop in the turning lane, he REALLY didn’t like that truck being next to him, so he climbed to the back seat.  The lady in the truck laughed as I mouthed to her, “CHILDREN”…He was ready to be back home, because he climbed out behind my back when we got home…ROFL…So, I am left with the sadness of trying to figure out what is best~~leaving him home to be afraid, or taking him with me to be afraid…it is a tough decision. We continue to work on his phobia.  I hate that my lifestyle has caused him to be this way.  He is so funny!! ♡

This weekend, a lady from my etsy group who sews, posted a sketch of a future doll. INSTANTLY, I fell it love with it, and I KNEW a friend who would also love it, so I asked if I could buy the sketch to paint.  She graciously said YES, and I was thrilled.  Since I am in the habit, I wrote the instructions and gave them to her as my attempt to always try to go above and beyond what is expected, so she would be HAPPY to sell it to YOU!!

I am no good at designing Primitives.  I wish I were, but at least, I am learning to paint them and that is a big accomplishment for me.

I thought I would show you how I created the background.  It is not a new technique at all and is one of the favorites among Primitive painters, but it can be used with any color combination.

copyright is held by Becky Thompson McKinzie of Cotton Picking Folk Art...Please honor her ownership!

Backgrounds are tough for so many people.  When someone approached me about possibly publishing something, I asked what she thought I could do to improve my designs.  She said BACKGROUNDS.  Even though that opportunity didn’t pan out, I have taken that advice to heart, and continue to try to work on doing my backgrounds.  Sometimes, I fail, but other times, I succeed!

I have learned so much about backgrounds from following Tracy Weinzapfel on Mixed Media Mondays.  Don’t ever be afraid to learn other techniques, because so many of them can be incorporated into our normal decorative paintings.  Yes, I have heard some “grumble” that they do NOT like Mixed Media, and I honor their opinions.  I don’t like when all those flowers, sugar skulls (ick and eeeek) and weird things are added, so I understand.  I DO like the backgrounds, though.  And shoot, if you put a happy PAINTED daisy on anything,  you pretty much have my heart! 

So, the lesson I ask you to learn is, LOOK at other styles and see what you can learn from them.  See how you might be able to work what you like into what you create.

For this background, I gathered, what else, but my DecoArt Americana Acrylics and an old candle!

I used: Deep Midnight Blue, Winter Blue, Sand, and Tuscan Red

I based the piece with Deep Midnight Blue.  Allow to dry.

I added candle wax where I wanted the paint to look chippy.  I concentrate on the edges, because this is the natural area for peeling, and I also wanted to leave the center for the design.  I did put some smaller places in the middle to keep a consistency.

Learning moment: You can use just about anything to create a barrier.  I think candle wax is the easiest, but you can use: Vaseline, chap stick, soy candle~~anything with a “waxy” nature.

Paint Winter Blue on Top and let dry completely.  Do NOT use your hair dryer, because it will melt your wax~~honestly, I don’t know what that would do, so, just don’t do it!  =)

When the Winter Blue was dry, I took an old piece of sand paper and sanded, especially where the wax was.

 

Learning moment: It is best to use an old piece of sand paper, because the wax is going to clog your sand paper, and you won’t be able to use it again, so use a piece you won’t mind throwing away….don’t use you good little sanding pads!  

When you finish sanding, make sure to wipe the piece well, to remove all traces of the wax!

After this, I randomly added stars in Sand and some in Tuscan Red.  I sanded these to make them look old, too.  I used a stencil, but you can easily paint them.

I used the awesome stencil from DecoArt: Personally Yours~~Between the Lines.  This Alphabet stencil comes with 8 awesome background stencils.  It is a great addition to your collection.

This is the finished product…I just love him!!

I added stain and crackle to make the background even more primitive.

If you want to paint him, Contact Becky, and I know she would be tickled primitive red to sell you the pattern!  She is on Facebook and on etsy.  If you can’t find her, let me know and I will get you in touch with her.

I hope you will try this technique, if you haven’t.  If you do, again, share it with me…I love to encourage others.

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world…I hope I have inspired you in some small way.  May you find all the good that life has to offer!  I am simply blessed to create~~charlotte♡

Oh, If you like to munch while you paint, I want to share our favorite “munch”.  I was eating some Bugles yesterday, and thought you might like to have this recipe.  Mother got this from a friend when she traveled with them to the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly…I have made BUNCHES and BUNCHES of it.

A Note about the Bugles:  I use 2 BIG BAGS of Bugles, but they are tough to find.  I have only found them sometimes, at Save A Lot…AND the paper bags, I can only find at Aldie…To give you an idea of how many bugles I use, the sack is about half full…AND if you can’t find a brown paper bag, make one out of the brown paper mailing wrap!  It works!!  I hope you like it! We also use the plain fish crackers, and not the cheese.

Bugles Mix

Well, now, Charcoal, I need you to move your head a bit!

As I moved the cookbook over so you could see the recipe, He put his paw on it to stop me!

HOW could I get angry at this lump of love!! 

Giveaway

Click on

 This Link to go to my Fb Page: Roma Land Woodcrafts

to find the pinned post to leave your comment to:

What is your most favorite SERENDIPITY moment, ever?

The drawing is open to all, and I will draw the winner's name on May 24, 2016 at 8:00 pm, CDT