Thursday, March 16, 2017

Sundial



It was intended to be a simple project: alter a large plain canvas into something that could be hanged over the fireplace. My original plan was to apply a background paint in pink and then cover the entire canvas with doodles using a white puffy paint. In my mind's eye, I had imagined white doodles standing out  brightly against the pink background. Alas, it did not turn out that way. It actually looked depressingly vapid!


So, I glazed the whole painting with a wash of blue. 


It was an improvement from the previous one but still not satisfactory. Then I decided that if I am in for a penny, I might as well be in for a pound. So more layers of doodles and more layers of glazing followed
After all that,  it still looked like a nicely layered background lacking a focal point. I was reluctant to make it into a collage project since it was a large canvas (36"x 24") and would involve days of work. The idea of adding embroidery (or more like string art) came to me in sleep. The next morning, I started on it as soon as I got up.


After a couple of hours it looked like this. 


It finally felt complete and ready to take its place above the mantelpiece. 



It wasn't a complicated project involving complex techniques. What it needed was lots of creative thinking to bring it together.

Linked to Paint Party Friday. Thanks to Eva and Kristen for hosting.

19 comments:

  1. Is it bad to say I'm glad your first attempt didn't work out because I love where it ended up!? Really gorgeous! Happy PPF!

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  2. Very pretty! I often gesso over older pieces! Great idea on the string art! Haven't seen it since the seventies and it wasn't coloured string!good job!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. It is absolutely amazing Indira - a WOWSER in my eyes and would fit our
    OUT & ABOUT
    ART-JOURNAL-JOURNEY-CHALLENGE
    perfectly as well!- You are welcome to link it !
    Happy PPF and happy weeekd for you!
    Your art alwas inspires me !
    oxo Susi

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  4. It is beautiful! Looks great on the wall and the other art.
    Happy PPF xx

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  5. This came out beautifully! The sunburst embroidery looks wonderful on your canvas. Happy PPF!

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  6. Oh, I love this! Such a clever idea and I love the sunburst of color. :)

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  7. Wow it has a real emotional punch. How wonderful that great ideas sometimes come to us in dreams.
    Happy PPF

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  8. WOW! This turned out beautiful, the string sunburst is perfect against your background!! It really looks fantastic above your mantel.

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  9. Stunning art and it looks fantastic on the wall!!!

    Happy PPF
    Jan

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  10. Wow! I absolutely love this piece, it is stunning!

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  11. Well I absolutely love how this turned out. This is a magnificent piece.

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  12. turned out to be quite an interesting piece, Indira.

    have a nice weekend

    much love...

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  13. That is gorgeous. I could never paint anything that large.

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  14. Impressive, so colorful it makes a person's heart sing.

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  15. Wow! What a delightful piece this turned out to be. I love the bright thread art and hearing about your process as it unfolded. Happy PPF!
    ~~ Irene

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