Until the Water Falls: acrylic

Showing posts with label acrylic. Show all posts

Saturday, May 22, 2021

U-Pick Floral Notecards

As with my abstract patterned notecards, and my Michigan-themed cards, I also have U-Pick listings for my floral notecards. These cards include designs based on my floral colored pencil drawings, as well as floral acrylic and watercolor paintings - some of which also feature abstraction or patterned elements on the flowers themselves or in the background of the artwork. I also have plenty of pre-selected variety packs focusing on a specific style or color scheme (e.g. all of my colored pencil drawings done on blue and green paper are in a pack together, the watercolors I created of flowers being bound or harmed for my undergraduate BFA thesis series are in a pack together, I have another pack of the six abstracted floral acrylic pieces I completed as part of a "Cloud Atlas" inspired series, etc.) - but today I'm showing just the three U-Pick floral notecard listings available in my Etsy shop: U-Pick Vertical Floral Drawings, U-Pick Horizontal Floral Drawings, and U-Pick Floral Paintings.

(I separated them into three listings simply because there are so many different options - but if you wanted to mix and match between the listings, you could. Just send a message when you place your order listing the four-digit codes of each notecard you'd like me to include in your variety pack - I print all my notecards on-demand, so I can print whichever ones you'd like. The price of all my notecards are the same, regardless of subject matter or style.)

The U-Pick Vertical Floral Drawings listing has 36 different designs to choose from. You can select one design to be printed on all your cards, or create your own variety pack of 6, 8, or 10 different designs. All 36 designs are oriented vertically (a.k.a. "portrait" style).

The 36 different designs available in the U-Pick Vertical Flowers listing are:

9835 - Trumpets & Poppies
9836 - Hibiscus & Bells
9837 - Hollyhock & Sunflower
9838 - Marigold Clematis
9825 - Lotus & Lilies
9826 - Gladiolus Roses
9827 - Blue-Violet Bouquet
9828 - Yellow-Green Bouquet
9829 - Orange Bouquet
9830 - Red Bouquet
9823 - Black-Eyed Glory
9824 - Tulips & Lychnis
1704 - Race Bouquet
1705 - Gender Bouquet
1716 - Sexuality Bouquet
1718 - Religion Bouquet
1719 - Class Bouquet
1721 - Ability Bouquet
9839 - Blue Violets & Anemone
9840 - Blue Carnations & Azalea
9841 - Pink Protea & Hibiscus
9842 - Pink Geranium & Peony
9821 - Daisies & Dandelions
9822 - Wilting
9819 - Tiny Petals
9820 - Tansy & Aloe
9831 - Amaranth Gerbera
9832 - Pale Bouquet
9833 - Brown Bouquet
9834 - Sunflower & Ti Leaves
1410 - Yellow Rose
1417 - Flowering Herb
1550 - Radiant Dahlia
1551 - Dried Roses
1556 - Detroit Petunias
1620 - Norfolk Rose

The U-Pick Horizontal Floral Drawings listing has 74 different designs to choose from. You can select one design to be printed on all your cards, or create your own variety pack of 6, 8, or 10 different designs. All 74 designs are oriented horizontally (a.k.a. "landscape" style).

The 74 different designs available in the U-Pick Horizontal Flowers listing are:

1411 - Bouquet Stems
1414 - Tulip Bouquet
1415 - Red Hibiscus
1416 - Barcelona Blooms
1555 - Rochester Impatiens
1557 - Barcelona Roses
1559 - White Rose
1565 - Rainbow Crassula
1607 - Pink Impatiens
1619 - Purple Rose Trio
1561 - Purple Tint
1562 - Aqua Tint
1618 - Norfolk Succulents
2006 - Reservation (Four o’Clock Flowers)
1942 - Resentment (Petunia)
1563 - Sepia Tint Duo
1564 - Sepia Tint Trio
1570 - Blue Tint Sunflower
1946 - Justice (Black Eyed Susans)
2007 - Hostility (Tansy)
1702 - White Poinsettia
1914 - Constancy (Bluebell)
1941 - Strength (Ginger)
1990 - Fragility (Azalea)
2102 - Folly (Geranium)
9807 - Years 1 & 2 (Plumeria & Holly)
9808 - Years 4 & 5 (Anemone & Aloe)
9809 - Years 6 & 7 (Edelweiss & Morning Glory)
9813 - Years 16 & 17 (Marigold & Tansy)
9814 - Years 18 & 19 (Zinnia & Protea)
9815 - Years 20 & 21 (Tulip & Acanthus)
9810 - Years 8 & 9 (Orchid & Crocus)
9811 - Years 10 & 11 (Sunflower & Geranium)
9812 - Years 13 & 14 (Chrysanthemum & Carnation)
9816 - Years 22 & 23 (Peony & Amaranth)
9817 - Years 24 & 25 (Pansy & Daffodil)
9818 - Years 27 & 28 (Herbs & Bells of Ireland)
9801 - Pollinators
9802 - Busy Bee
9803 - Raindrops on Roses
9804 - Pale Roses
9805 - Purple Shadows
9806 - Rose Duo
1629 - 30 Days
1703 - 28 Years
1722 - Hydrangea Hues
1723 - Endurance (Succulents)
1724 - Anticipation (Anemone)
1727 - Shame (Peony)
1996 - Union (Myrtle)
1801 - Ambition (Hollyhock)
1802 - Fertility (Pomegranate)
1965 - Fame (Trumpet Flower)
1969 - Vitality (Zinnia)
1805 - Flight (Birds of Paradise)
1806 - Playfulness (Hyacinth)
1955 - Immortality (Acanthus)
1814 - Nourishment (Sunflower)
1902 - Enthusiasm (Bouvardia)
1959 - Whimsy (Carnation)
2010 - Creativity (Dahlia)
2101 - Faith (Iris)
2004 - Jealousy (Marigold)
2005 - Energy (Cattails)
1808 - Prophecy (Heliotrope)
1809 - Loyalty (Daisy)
1980 - Balance (Nightshade)
1910 - Hope (Button Pom)
1913 - Transformation (Protea)
1985 - Modesty (Violet)
2008 - Frigidity (Lithodora)
2009 - Attachment (Delphinium)
2001 - Wealth (Alstroemeria)
2002 - Luck (Bells of Ireland)

The U-Pick Floral Paintings listing has 29 different designs to choose from. You can select one design to be printed on all your cards, or create your own variety pack of 6, 8, or 10 different designs.

The different designs available in the U-Pick Floral Paintings listing include:

1101 - Barcelona Flowers
1105 - Oian Sunset
1201 - Waterlilies
1202 - Splattered Dahlias
0921 - Fire & Ice Roses
0911 - Bubble Wrap Roses
0918 - Bubble Wrap Lilies
1301 - Pam’s Bouquet
1103 - Melange Modele
1106 - L’eau de Parfum
1621 - Truths & Mistruths
1622 - Toppling Dominoes
1623 - An Infinite Matryoshka Doll
1624 - A Spent Firework
1625 - The Eyes of Friends
1626 - This Busted World
0922 - Feminine Layers
0923 - Silk Caution
0924 - Poisoned Rose
1003 - Debris
0925 - Stabbed
0926 - Pinned for Safety
0927 - Bandaged Duality
0928 - Ace Bandage Field
0807 - Rose-Lily
1102 - Rose Stems
1203 - When Fear Gets in the Way
1004 - Bound
1002 - Hanging by a Petal

Monday, December 31, 2018

2018 Art Year in Review

I kind of lost steam in the second half of this year, as life got in the way - but I still managed to accomplish a lot in the first several months of 2018, and I've got a lot more planned for the first months of 2019 as well! Below are just some of my art and blogging highlights from 2018.

Some of my colored pencil drawings from the Canton Village Theater's GRRRLS Like Us exhibition (Nov-Dec 2017) were featured in a Heaven Spot episode of Detroit area artists. The video premiered at Young Felix Loft on January 19, 2018; you can read about my experience at the premiere party and watch the video here.

My "Bandaged Duality" 22x30" watercolor painting hung in the Carr Center in Detroit from March 3 to April 26, 2018 as part of their "Nevertheless She Persisted" Women Art Exhibition.

In the spring, I completed my largest artwork commission to date - an acrylic triptych of the Charlotte, North Carolina skyline, measuring 28x66" in total.

My colored pencil drawings "30 Days" and "28 Years" were hung at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial from July 12 to August 19, 2018, as part of their "Flower Power" Art Exhibition.

I was selected to act as an official art juror at the Art and Apples festival in Rochester, Michigan in September 2018.

My Etsy shop continued to see sales throughout 2018, especially for custom watercolor bouquet commissions, original Great Lakes watercolor paintings, and art print notecards.

I created more 8x10" colored pencil drawings on colored paper for my ongoing floral symbolism series. ("Flight" on blue paper and "Ambition" on red paper were two of my personal favorites.)

This blog, "Until the Water Falls," hit 15,000 total views, and two of my posts from this year entered my "Top Three" most viewed posts: Entitlement (which has nearly 230 views) and Missed Miscarriage (which is now my most viewed blog post, with 460+ views).

I received lots of great comments on several Instagram pics this year, with some posts earning close to 90 "likes." Follow me on Instagram and Twitter to see more posts in 2019!

What I love about looking back at the last twelve months is that even if there were a few months where I felt "not productive enough," I can still look at the year as a whole and marvel at everything I accomplished. Like any year, 2018 had highs and lows; if I focus on the high points, I can see that I really have a lot of positives in my life - which helps me get excited for the plans I have in the works for 2019.

Thank you to everyone who continues to read my blog, follow me on social media, purchase artwork from my Etsy shop and just generally support me in my artistic endeavors and in life!! :) In 2019, you can look forward to more colored pencil drawings, more watercolor paintings, and more personal vulnerability, as I write about my artistic journey and life journey on this blog. Happy new year!!

Friday, June 1, 2018

Varnishing Acrylic Paintings

I recently finished up my sister-in-law's Charlotte Skyline acrylic painting with an isolation layer and two layers of varnish, to help protect the three large canvases while they are shipped to her and on display in her apartment for years to come.

Because I had never done this step to an acrylic painting before, having only minimal experience with acrylic and using only making small paintings (or ones not even on canvas, but just on acrylic paper), I first had to buy the supplies.

I bought a new flat brush, Golden polymer varnish, and Golden soft gel gloss. (I also bought Golden soft gel matte, thinking I could use that as an isolation layer - only to later read on the label "DO NOT USE AS AN ISOLATION LAYER," at which time I went out and bought the soft gel gloss as a replacement.)

I used the Golden brand website to find instructions for how to apply the isolation layer and varnish layer. The directions were also on the labels.

I applied an isolation layer to my "test painting" first - "Find a Proverbial Mountain," the much smaller acrylic painting I completed in November 2016. I let that dry for a couple days, and then added a layer of varnish on top. When that painting survived just fine with no ill effects, I decided I was ready to try tackling the large skyline triptych.

Assembling my materials

Adding a layer of varnish to my painting

I followed the same procedure on the larger painting, following the directions on the label for ratio of soft gel gloss to water, and applying it in a thin isolation layer. It was white at first, but dried clear.

After I'd given that a couple days to dry, I went in with the polymer varnish (also diluted with water according to the label instructions). I did one coat to all three paintings, let it dry for 24 hours, and then added a second thin coat on top.

I then let it sit on my table for two weeks to make sure it was all fully dried and cured. I knew I would have to wrap the canvases in plastic and bubble wrap (not to mention packaging them in cardboard boxes) in order to ship them to North Carolina, so I wanted to make sure they were completely dry and ready before I did any of that.

They turned out great! And now I have the supplies on hand to do the same steps to any future acrylic paintings as well, to make sure they're all protected and will last a long time.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Charlotte Skyline - Finished!

This triptych of three large canvases (each 22"x28") was commissioned by my sister-in-law, who lives in downtown Charlotte, NC. She wanted the Charlotte skyline painted in earth tones/dark colors and gold, to match her favorite colors and her apartment's decor.

First, to see the blog posts of this massive painting in progress, visit these:

Planning and Sketching: http://untilthewaterfalls.blogspot.com/2018/02/charlotte-skyline-in-progress-planning.html

First Layer of Paint: http://untilthewaterfalls.blogspot.com/2018/02/charlotte-skyline-in-progress-first.html

Adding Details 1: http://untilthewaterfalls.blogspot.com/2018/03/charlotte-skyline-in-progress-adding.html

Adding Details 2: https://untilthewaterfalls.blogspot.com/2018/03/charlotte-skyline-in-progress-adding_14.html

Adding Details 3: https://untilthewaterfalls.blogspot.com/2018/03/charlotte-skyline-in-progress-adding_28.html

Finishing Touches: https://untilthewaterfalls.blogspot.com/2018/04/charlotte-skyline-in-progress-finishing.html

And now, without further ado, here is the finished piece -

The entire set of three canvases

Note: If they look a little tilted/not completely lined up, it's because they're just leaning against the wall in our basement in these pictures, and not hung on the wall. Also, I personally think the colors look a little gross in this blue-gray room - I guess I should have taken these photos in another room instead! They'll look much better when they're hanging up in Juile's apartment, surrounded by colors they better complement. :)

The far left canvas

The middle canvas

The far right canvas

There is still one step left - adding a layer of varnish on top to help protect the paintings. Once that is finished and the varnish is dry, I'll be packing these canvases up and shipping them out to North Carolina, where they'll hang on my sister-in-law's wall!

Friday, April 6, 2018

Charlotte Skyline in Progress - Finishing Touches!

After working on this painting for about two and a half months, I'm finally in the very last stages! Below are my final "in progress" photos, as I finished up this three-piece acrylic painting on canvas.