Welcome to T stands for Tuesday! This week I wanted to share the progression of a painting…from blank canvas to hanging on the wall.
I’ve had a 30×40 inch canvas standing in the corner for a good month waiting for me to get inspired or brave. My original thought when I got the canvas (at 70% off) was to do another poppy painting. After some time had passed, my excitement for more poppies dwindled.
Since last week we had a couple of simply perfect Fall days, I decided to set up outside. I tried to hang it, brace it, stand it etc but in the end I set up on the ground on a sheet with it leaning against a tree. I used latex wall paint…I know…crazy right?! But I had 5 small partially used cans of paint tucked away in the storage room.
I started out using brushes and a large plastic lid as my palette…soon I was dipping my hands directly in the cans.
At this point I knew things has gone terribly wrong…I hated every single bit of the painting. I went in, washed up my hands and grabbed my phone to snap the photo. I decided that this was going to be a good learning experience.
Next I got the garden hose…yep…the hose. I sprayed off the still wet paint and scrubbed the canvas with a rag.
It was already looking better and had some amazing texture. I left it to dry for a good hour and thought about what I might want to do next. Since I was experimenting I thought it was a good time to use the brayer I bought over a decade ago and still hadn’t used. Keeping the rule of thirds in mind I painted the bottom two-thirds a grey tone and the top off-white being careful not to completely cover the background.
I then added some red iron oxide (actual artist paint) then some little touches of black craft paint with a palette knife. At this point I was totally happy. I let it dry completely and brought it inside. It stood in the livingroom for a couple of days and kept bugging me…I liked it but… Finally, one evening staring at the painting while chatting on the phone with a friend, I envisioned something curving down through the empty space…but what? Circles of course…I love circles!!
The next morning I added the circles at the kitchen table. I was so excited about the way it looked I couldn’t even wait for it to dry before photographing and posting to social media. I had to stand on a chair to get the whole canvas in frame. :)
And here it is on the wall above our bed. In reality, it’s hung a little to high but I was just reusing the nails already in the wall. The previous framed print we had there was a little larger, I also really want to repaint our bedroom…since the painting doesn’t especially “go” with the icy blue wall color…it’s a good excuse to make that happen.
I congratulated myself for a job well done with a glass of new kind of wine. I almost forgot to snap a photo before it was gone. It was a prosecco in a lovely gold bottle. Honestly I think I bought that particular one totally based upon the pretty bottle. It was good but not something I’d bother with very often.
Tuesday has the last volleyball game of the season and the first choir concert of the year. A day of firsts and lasts. I’m excited for both! At least they are in the same building and won’t overlap time wise. Of course, fitting dinner in for all will be a challenge.
What are you doing today?
LOVE how you have taken that canvas to a new level. I really love the grey and red much better than the autumn inspired colors. It suits you!
Glad you liked that wine. It looks a bit like 7-up. Thanks for sharing your new canvas and your wine with us for T this week. Love your nail color (grin).
Sounds like a great messy art play day! I do like prosecco on occasion but prefer a brut sparkling wine-much drier. Happy T day!
Your painting came out amazing. I’m glad you hung it on the wall and it really pops on that icy blue wall. Happy T day- Hugs-Erika
The poppies are amazing but I LOVE that abstract canvas – you had fun and the results are really, really good. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
your painting turned out spectacular – reminds me a bit of some encaustic work i have seen and admired. woohoo!! great you found a place to hang.
happy t-day!
Its a fabulous abstract painting, I did smile when I read about the hosepipe treatment it had in the early stages. The poppies look beautiful as well.
Happy T day.
Yvonne xx
Stunning! So creative. I think abstract art is harder to create than people often realize. I think it has a lot to do with balance within the space and a way for the eye to travel across the canvas. I’d say you nailed it!
A fantastic abstract Halle ! Congrats !
Happy T-Day!
oxo Susi
Loved watching your process! I know a painting that size would have to wait for me to have a VERY brave day…lol Fun to see your painted toenails in the photo op..lol Great job! And i’m so glad you shared. Hugs! deb
Wow! That is worth hanging on the wall! And so interesting watching how it came about.
Hmmm I love Prosecco. It’s very expensive here so we don’t buy it often, but in Holland and in the UK it appears at every celebration. Very nice indeed.
Happy T-Day,
And have a good week,
Lisca
It looks like you had so much fun painting your canvas, you really made me smile when you said you used a hose too :-). Your canvas is stunning, I love the texture you have created and the layers of paint. The red iron oxide and black paint you applied with a palette knife is gorgeous and your finishing touch of circles is just perfect! Prosecco is my favourite tipple too and you really deserved that golden bottle after all your creativity! I love it :-). Happy T Day! J :-)
Congratulations on such a successful transition with the painting. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect wall color to complement it. :) Happy T Tuesday!
Wow! I really love your abstract painting – the hose did the trick! You definitely should be toasting yourself! Hugs, Chrisx
Gorgeous abstract painting. I’ve never tried to paint on a blank canvas. My daughter does it all the time She says painting calms her down. I love wine.It’s my ever favourite drink. Have a magical day!