Step One
The hardest part of the painting process is deciding what to paint. Sometimes the process begins with the object to be painted; a board, a tray, canvas, a “found” item or the design dictates what I paint on. Once that is settled in my mind, I pull the colors that I need for the project.
Step Two
Next I prepare the wooden sign to be painted. It must be sanded, primed, sanded again and painted. I do both sides and then completely finish the back to avoid damage to the completed painting. (I learned this the hard way.) Here I am laying in the background for a garden of poppies and Queen Anne’s lace.
Step Three
To paint the background I used a foliage brush and four shades of green over black. I have placed the design and have started to fill the surface with Queen Anne’s lace in bud and full bloom. The shapes for some of poppies can be seen amongst them.
Step Four
Poppies of various colors and stages of bloom are added. They are shaded and highlighted to define petals and give depth to the painting. The process takes several days. Small filler flowers, blades of grass and leaves complete the picture.
Step Five
All that remains is to sign my name and seal the piece with several coats of varnish to protect the painting.
My husband, Ed, came up with the idea of recording the process of painting a painting from start to finish. I thought it would be fun to do. We finally got it together when I painted this sign as part of a series.
I had painted an Autumn sign and sold it at a craft show. About a year later the lovely lady that bought it saw me at a Christmas craft show and said, “I need a Spring sign to hang in the spot where I have the Autumn sign.” After Christmas I started thinking Spring. I completed a landscape filled with daffodils, tulips and iris that is now hangs in the spot where the picture with a pumpkin, gourds, squash, fall leaves and berries once hung.
I also have an idea for a summer back yard scene that I want to paint. Then I’ll have to start thinking about winter while I am working on all the fun fall projects.