Playing with Paint: September #1

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I've been PLAYING WITH PAINT on this in the mornings...very slowly, not my usual mode of operation. But, it's so relaxing and clears my mind. 

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 Here is the stage I'm at now, at day three of painting.  I haven't been worrying about the background and I've been concentrating on building up layers. This is a painting and not a photograph, so you edit and add where your composition takes you.

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This is the color study I shared before during my Mather Watercolor classes in August. Right now, I'm not worrying about anything other than building up layers...

This is much moodier than my new painting, I hope to capture some of this in my layers in the future.

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My color wheel from my paints. I probably should have made one just for this painting, but that would seem so limiting, I do refer to this constantly.

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My working Palette. I'll give you a list of the colors I've used  so far:

Lemon Yellow

Cadmium yellow Medium

Cadmium Red Light 

Carmine

Thalo red 

Sap Green

Foliage Green 

Yellow Green

Purple 

Prussian Blue

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Paynes Gray

Watercolor resist

My reference photos which are very bright because we have had such brilliant sunshine this summer. 

               

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Reference photo

Working from nature is always a challenge, as of course Nature is perfect.

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reference photo

These Mandilla had drooped but I watered them again and again, and they are still going wild.

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Reference photo

Early in the morning they seem to follow the sun. Note the white throats...I used resist on 

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Dahlias...are amazing, you wait so long for them to bloom. Mine have tons of foliage to produce these few blooms.

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I started with light washes of lemon, on the pot, yellow green on the baby tears and the leaves to the Mandilla. The Mandilla are Carmine, Cadmium light with brown under tones from mixing a bit of green for shadows. The white streaky stuff around the stems is where I had resist shich is now removed.

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You can see how the mixing space has become very dark, watered down,  layers/washes are applied, and some is lifted to try and give the petals highlights.

I also haven't attacked the centers which will be much darker with yellow/gold highlights.

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The opposite of the Mandilla at the bottom are the Dahlias with two layers of reds applied, Thalo and Carmine. I've added a bit of purple to a light wash to start enhancing the depth in the petal bases. The resist has been removed on the petal tips and in the buds, so I'm working carefully now. The greens are just in the early stages.

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The tones in the study are not as bright...but I'm doing the flowers in the sunshine now. 

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Mixing pan with Thalo, Purple and some Prussian blue, I think. Purple is very strong...so I'm trying to be restrained in adding it.

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I think this was with three layers of color, I still have to deepen the petals to make them not appear so flat. I've done three layers of washes for the leaves, these will need deepening. and more leaves/deep washes in the background.

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Balancing out the reds ...is a challenge, totally different and then with all that green in opposition. 

I may do another study, just to see how I should use the darks for the backgrounds?

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The container got a second layer of  Cadmium Yellow Medium

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I'm really glad I have labeled my pans...makes life easier to do these posts.

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I'm pretty sure this is Burnt Sienna, Cad Yel Med. and maybe a bit of sap green, I used in some of the leaves in first wash. The yellow at the top is being used for shadows on the pot.

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The pot is very flat now---I will add dark to both sides to make it appear rounder. In real life it is LEMON YELLOW.

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Working on the baby tears...I seem to do here and there. I think they will really pop when I do that lower right corner. So far, they are a mix of Lemon Yellow, Yellow Green and a bit of Sap Green.

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That's all for today, lots of other things have to get done around here.

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I can't wait to see where this goes next! I'm considering using whites for veinings...as I've washed the leaves almost too much?  

Do I know what I'm doing, not necessarily!

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Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

Love Your Creativity

Metamorphosis Monday

I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. 

Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog 

without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi

 

August was shot with Room REDO!

  What I did in the month of August...

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Here's a video I intended for and sent to my kids---so they wouldn't visit one Sunday...LOL. I'm a bit of a drama Queen. I never intended to use this here...but it pretty much shows...what happens when you fool around with one tiny room and go through EVERYTHING!

Hope you got a chuckle, Anyway, we live in a small house by today's standards a 1400 sq. ft. ranch with a full basement. We have one large bedroom and two small bedrooms...and one of course  is the INFAMOUS EXTRA BEDroom, for guests. LOL.

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You know you all have a space like that, where everything gets dumped---guests may never see it, or use it. Well...after last year's basement upset---it really was super full of everything---and the printer was in the LIVING ROOM...

Well, we gave our twin pullout (to King) daybed to our son for the Grand to use.

I ordered a small twin loveseat size sofa for the tiny room.

Guests can use the master with the bath attached and I can sleep in here. Or a single can sleep in here...but a lot of stuff had to go.

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Amazingly, this is comfortable...and the old Swedish trunk on gliders is perfect for storing bedding and putting your feet up on. It's on sliders and will scoot right over to open up the bed. Now the Grand can have her own space when she visits.

I ordered a set of twin sheets and pillow cases.  We have the vinyl plank flooring to redo the floors during the winter.

My budget for the rest of the room was basically

 ZERO $$$$

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Okay, I'm a collector---Most of these books are research for the historical fiction I'm supposed to be finishing. The rest of the file boxes are personal family genealogy stuff, and remnants of the magazine clippings I have been doing for 25 years or so.

I NO LONGER get ANY magazines anymore---I just look up at anything I want to see online.

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Ta, DA! All the boxes under the desk on the left are our four family trees photos, from both sides. This winter photos will be digitized, and originals hopefully sent to other families. My mom got every photo from both sides and never did a darn thing with them. Boxes and bins of them, this is maybe 20%. 

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Wanting to save money and open out spaces elsewhere, I gathered three tables from  in the house...I just strung them along the outside wall, and one on the left behind the printer. I used some upholstery vinyl to make beige tops to help unify the look...cost $12.00.  The light beige brightens up the room...and protects the wood tops of the furniture.

The middle desk table is perfect height from my sewing machine. Picnic baskets below have sorted patterns and fabrics for my doll projects.

The windows face north and there is also a roof overhang which keeps it pretty dark in here. So the lighting is tricky. I opt for two smaller desk lamps which I can easily move around for where I'm working.

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The printer cabinet came from the basement and my husbands office. This is working well here as it is centrally located for the network to get the signal.

My label printer is here for the Etsy shop and all the paper, cardstock, labels, sticky stuff for storage. I love having it all in one place and not in the basement, as I do much of my comp work in the living room while watching tv.

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Reconfiguring the room...meant my wall art and memory pieces had to get adjusted here and there. I've been picking up cottage art for years, and have needlepoints, crewel, photos and original art up here along with little memory pieces and gifts from others.

The ceramic lamp---was one from my potting days...and it works perfect on top of the radio. The green cabinet is one of two Swedish Cheese cabinets  I used in this room that I've had for over 30 years. They are great for hiding bulky desk/work projects for easy put away.

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Little bits of our lives, and cottages.

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The largest task was the five foot closet, again, stuffed with photos, antiques, patterns and fabric pieces. Some art supplies also. Every bin has been sorted and labeled. I plan on printing labels, but right now they are scribbled on paper or scraps of contact paper...I did purchase three cheap fabric bins...for 1.25 each at the $$$store. 

The rest I already had. I still have the top shelf to do---and thin out the patterns and sell the ones I'll never use...kids grow so fast. 

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Crazy what you accumulate with the dolls and sewing for over 60 years.

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The other side where bins are sorted to types of fabric, projects, and repairs.

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These are the photos of our families, that have been sorted, but I have to start sharing them to others. The temporary stickers aren't sticking---I'll have to get on that right away.

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This result took over three weeks to go through everything in this room, sort, throw away, donate, and collate. (Three garbage cans of throw away, 2 trunks of donations and a pile to be sold. I did deep Cleaning and  very little decorating. We will lay new flooring during the winter, but for now it's ready for me or company.

Last night I attended my online Zoom meeting for Windy City Barbie Doll Collectors Club

in a comfortable chair with decent lighting and a clean work surface...really a first in 7 years. My doll room downstairs is always a work in progress, so unless I have a display to show...this room will work perfectly.

Another plus, I have freed up space in two other rooms by removing the tables.

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My only other purchase was this chair cover,  I LOVE...under $5.00 online...heavy smooth polyester knit which works great and helps to unify the space. My desk Scooter chair, we had and is easily adjustable.

Informational Sources for my INEXPENSIVE REDO.

Twin Loveseat from Temu, on sale $274.98 with tax.

Quite comfortable, works smoothly, well constructed and that fabric will wear like iron a thumbs up. Well packed.

One Twin bottom sheet and two pillow cases Temu on sale under $7.00 something, can't find the paperwork.

3 cloth bins for closet  from Dollar Tree $3.75

2yd. of vinyl upholstery fabric -Horrid Lobby (since Joann's is gone, only source close by now $11.96

Polyester Chair Cover from Temu $4.77 

Total under $306.00

Labels already on hand

Bins already on hand

Artwork: vintage, personal and antique--already had. 

Book cases 20 years old from IKEA Billy Bookcases.

3 Lamps over thirty years old, handmade, inherited or purchased.

3 desk/sofa tables,  (One, a curb steal (Yield House), one from 30 years old in living room, one from friend swap 8 years old from master bedroom)

Informational Note: I do purchases from Temu via Paypal...which gives me an added layer of personal protection. Deliveries seem to be shorter as they have opened warehouses in the US now. I have not had any problems with them in two years except some mini chair breakage from bad packing.

If you enjoyed this post please follow this blog by Blogger or FOLLOW IT 

which you will find in the

 upper right hand corner of this page. 

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

Love Your Creativity

Metamorphosis Monday

I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. 

Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog 

without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi

Not quite Fall, a walk in the Past.

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It's not quite Fall here in Chicagoland, Illinois the Prairie State, home of Lincoln and the Bears. Yes, it is football season, but it isn't Fall yet here after scarey temperatures all summer, lots of rain after years of severe drought...our state is rich and full with greens that haven't decided to die....yet.

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I dug in my old photos for some images I haven't used before...I tend to take oodles of photos, I may only use 4 or 5 of them.

Above is the buds from one of our Tree Rose of Sharons, really the last thing that blooms in Fall, when everything else is winding down.

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This is one of the greenest photos I have from late summer. I love the peeky hole the surroundings created.

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In the 1800's most of Illinois was prairie, except in the far north where I live which was woodlands, lakes, marshes with intermittent prairie. I live in Lake County and their are oodles of lakes, hills, and marshes across the entire county and parks.

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Our State or Lake and Cook County Forest Preserves also protect the prairies, woodlands, lakes, rivers, marshes and creeks. Wildlife is quite happy. 

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One of our favorites to visit is Moraine Hills State Park. Vast tracks of everything Illinois has to offer as well as undisturbed woodlands over 120 years old. Huge Oaks hug hills and ravines and it is always goregeous.

Lake County Forsest Preserves manage over 31,000 acres of land, over 10% of the county. We are blessed with their conservation efforts to provide green spaces, trails and parks.

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Smaller preserves such as Lakewood have had abundant wildlife. 

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Lakewood Preserve is currently under a 100-year transformation, they are trying to restore the original wetlands that had been improperly used for agriculture. A daunting project, these deer have moved north of the park now as the construction and rejuvenation continues.

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In Morraine Hills State Park  

you can really forget you are 50 miles from downtown Chicago  in the vast prairies and marshes.

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I take photos of almost everything, even dead/dying trees which appear to have become exhausted from dancing.

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The last years of conservation have been emphasizing restorations of native plants. Milky Weed  can be annoying in the suburbs but out on the prairie, it's magical.

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Fall foliage is my favorite, as is the light after 4pm...the best time to see the magic of nature.

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Clouds and light...

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Woods to walk in...

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Needles and pine...perfect bedding for deer.

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Oaks are naturally prevalent in the area.

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Lakewoods parking lot curb captures Maple leaves.

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In 1835 John Deere developed a plow that could cut through the prairie sod...and farming erased much of the natural prairies.  The middle of Illinois is nothing but miles of corn and soybeans.

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Thank goodness, the preservation that continues to restore the wet lands, unpollute the lakes and streams, and fill the prairies with the natural plants and critters and birds, we once almost erased. It's a blessing to see herons fishing in clean streams, 

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or a huge environmental success, 

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a pair of Whooping Cranes almost extinct in the 1970s, now peering at you just a few feet from the car in all the preserves.

Nature  spaces to Visit in N. Illinois, most are all within fifteen miles of our home. These are all free, so this isn't advertising, but informational.

Morraine Hills State Park and Dam

Volo Bog and Nature programs

Cuba Marsh

Fox River Trails, Marina, Campground

Deer Grove-Cook County Forest Preserve Park and Trails

If you enjoyed this post please follow this blog by Blogger or FOLLOW IT which you will find in the upper right hand corner of this page. 

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

Love Your Creativity

Metamorphosis Monday

I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. 

Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog 

without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi