Friday, January 28, 2011

Sneak Peek Friday


Welcome to Sneak Peek Friday everyone!  I'm hooking up with others from Studio JRU, to show what's on your desk from this week. 


At first I thought, "I got nothin".  Aaaaahhh, but seriously?  So, I thought I take you through my struggles to get to this egg painting, which is my latest finished product.

Most of the prototypes--starting with pastel paper and finishing with oil on linen sewed onto watercolor paper

My art lover friend said she thought I just whipped these things up and realized when she painted with me that you have to plan and work at it.  Do you notice the last 2 are just gesso'd egg shapes.  I realized I was wasting so much time perfecting the egg and then made mistakes at the end.  So now I do everything first and then paint last.

The origin of this idea started with the old antique egg prints, which have that aged background.  Because of their age perhaps they're not on white.  How do I get that without painting it?  First I started with the linen paper, which failed because the oil would bleed around the egg.  Then I thought, the masters painted on linen, why not? 


I learned that if I drew a line with a fabric pencil, I could keep my sewing straight.
I bought some linen at Joann's that you use for needlepoint.  I also used a product called "Fray Check" to stop the fraying ends. 

Finished product - Recycled gold frame, painted  beige/cream color.
Do you have a friend or someone you bounce ideas off of?  I am always bringing my ideas to my closest designer friend, and then I go back redo and show her again.  So before I showed her my finished painting, I said, "I'm done with this egg painting stuff... it's way too hard".  Long story short, she loved it, knows someone who would love it and so on.  Guess I'm not done, yet!

If I just showed the finished product, you might think like my friend did that I just whipped it up.  I know, but  I think successful artists persevere and don't give up.  It's a hard practice to follow though, isn't it?  So if you have a really good idea, keep trying or you'll end up walking through Anthropology and see it there, right?   :)

Check over at Studio JRU if you would like to join in! 

18 comments:

Cindy said...

Diana, I love the eggs...it is warming a bit here in Texas, and the spring birds that are migrating north are singing - so eggs and nests are dancing in my mind once again...plus I have a bunch of linen - recycled from old clothing - that I was thinking of using for painting (as the old masters did)...so I am entirely inspired here! One question, did you finally paint on the gessoed shapes after you did the sewing?

Jodi Ulschmid said...

What a neat idea! I would have never thought to use linen like that. It turned out great!

Diana said...

Yes, Cindy. The linen is very porous so the shape needs to be sealed with gesso first. Why waste oil paint and have it bleed through. Also, I tried one on drop cloth fabric for that reason. I like it too, but I think the linen is prettier.

Terri Smith said...

WoW Diana..what an incredible idea! Love your inventive use of linen! And matting gave everything such a sophisticated finished look. Got a few good chuckles from your egg storyline leading to guess "you're not through yet!" And Diana..thanks for the nice comment earlier at my place. I'm watching and learning from the wonderfully creative women I'm meeting throughout blogland. Each new lesson..Each New Friend is such a blessing!

Marianne said...

Diana, I love these and thank you for showing us how much work goes into our art. What looks very simple can in fact grows over time with many many adjustments along the way.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful! I loved seeing the process of how it came together. Thank you for sharing with us and I can see why you'll be making more!

Cameron said...

They are most charming! I always make the mistake of assuming that more talented artists then me just "whip" things up...haha! They look amazing and were worth the time of figuring them out!

Love em!

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

I knew they would be more work than first meets the eye! :) They are gorgeous. I think eggs are so pretty. I love the speckles! I so love that you showed the process... it is so interesting. How neat to paint on linen! What a blessing to have a friend to bounce ideas off of. My husband gets that job for me! ;) So grateful you joined as we begin 'in the studio' for the year!

Lorrie Everitt Studio said...

The linen background is so beautiful with the speckled eggs. Thanks for sharing!

Carola Bartz said...

Diana, I love these eggs. It was very interesting to go through the process with you, the linen idea is pure genius. Thank you for sharing this!

Heather said...

Diana, the eggs are beautiful. i love the texture of them and how you used the linen!

Crystal said...

It is just beautiful. I love it on the linen!

Sonya McCllough Lockridge said...

I want a print ... or something ... it makes me feel so at peace. Is it in your store yet?

Rhonda said...

Wow! So awesome how you got from beginning to end. The finished product is wonderful.

Diana said...

Thanks, Sonya. I tried a print and didn't like it. It just defeats the natural feel of the linen. One of the nicest parts is that you can see the edges and sewing are straight but not perfect. So I think I will do a few originals for the shop and give a big discount to my blogger friends.

martinealison said...

Les oeufs... c'est la vie... Lorsqu'on veut se sentir bien ou mieux on se recroqueville en forme d'oeuf...
Les vôtres sont beaux...
Bisous

Unknown said...

Oh Diana- I just love these!! How creative and beautiful. The linen compliments your beautiful painting style. What a fabulous idea!! Anthropologie better watch out. :D

Carrie Schmitt said...

This is so clever! I love the idea of using the linen. You are so creative! These are beautiful, and I am sure you could sell lots of them!!!! Beautiful!