The Art to Painting the Sides of a Canvas

What color should I paint the sides of my canvas? How should I paint them? Should I paint the sides of my canvas?  Do I leave spills or clean them up?

Some artists run into these dilemmas, and ask these questions, typically in the beginning of their art career. Once you have established a painting style it will not even be a second thought with what to do with all that extra white space. As you will see, you can incorporate more than one look into your style. 

Here are some things to consider:

Will your piece of art work be framed?

If it is framed then there really is no need to paint the extra canvas space. 

Do you like uniformity?

Then I would consider painting the sides of all your work either black or white.

The following are some other options and examples: 

You can always choose to 'wrap' the painting around the sides of the canvas. This is the same as 'extending' the picture as shown here in Let There Be Light and Baptism.

You can see the ombre effect on the side  

I went one step further in Bands of Love and used the palette knife to continue the image. Yes, that uses MUCH more paint and adds more time, but this was a special painting for me so there was no holding back.

Use a Background  or Complimentary color:

This is an easy one to apply and I have seen it used often. Take a look at Regret. The background was black so I just continued the color to the sides of the canvas. If I would have opted to go with a complimentary color then I would have chosen either a silver, a dark grey, or a dark purple. 

Contrasting Color

One last color option is to choose a Contrasting Color to paint the sides of your canvas. I see this mostly in whimsical and children's art. But it certainly is not exclusive to them.  

Spills ~ do I clean them?

It depends. If you are painting a modern, or 'clean', painting then you may want to consider wiping up any spills. Also, it may add an interesting contrast to leave it, just a thought. 

Here is a piece that had spills that I chose to leave. Have a look at Heavenly.

If you are an artist then perhaps this has given you some new ideas to try next time you create your next masterpiece. If you are a collector or admirer of art then perhaps this has given you some insight on what an artist experiences while working. 

Please feel free to comment, which look do you prefer?

Scattered Promises

Scattered Promises
16 x 20 x 1.5 in
40.6 x 50.8 x 3.81 cm
First painting of The Covenant Collection

Where do you keep your covenant?
That sounds heavy...on a reinforced shelf?

Where do you keep your covenant?
That sounds special...in a precious box?

Where do you keep your covenant?
That sounds personal...in my heart?

Where do you keep your covenant?
That sounds complicated...can someone else handle that?

Where do you keep your covenant?
Or.....are your promises just scattered about.....

Close-up
Swarovski crystals in Lt Col Topaz 3mm, 4mm, 5mm

Please share with me, where do you keep your covenant(s)?

The Blessing

The Blessing
18 x 24 x 1.5 in
45.7 x 61 x 3.81 cm

I don't necessarily think that you have to fight for what you want, but I do believe struggles are involved. When you have your eye aimed and locked on a goal, or on a dream, then challenges are strategically set before you and mountains suddenly appear from nowhere.

We are constantly dodging and weaving just to keep our goals and dreams in view, that we often miss the beauty in the struggle.

Think about when:

a flower opens for the first time...

a baby is delivered...

that firecracker explodes...

...wow, that is some beautiful chaos.

Find the beauty in your struggle. And close behind, you will find your blessing.

Please share, what blessings have you received from certain struggles?

close-up

close-up

Is That Art Two?

While my intentions were to compile a list of my favorite things at the Americas Mart Atlanta; a dead camera battery changed my plans.  And then my computer crashed and burned. Bummer! So I am going with the flow, and resisting the urge to become frustrated. I developed a new idea...Is That Art Two?

 It was the architecture in the print that first caught my eye. Then I realized how much I liked the greys, muted greys, and light Titan Buff colors on the even lighter grey background. It is the Italian Grisaille with Architectural Wall Scene by Tara Shaw - Maison.  


I first saw this wonderful print on a dining chair, and said "Wow!"  After that I was hooked and lured into the wonderful world of Tara Shaw. She has been importing French, Italian, and Swedish antiques for almost 20 years. Her new line, Maison, includes hand-carved reproductions from the original European antique. 

Grisaille Mid Century Chair*

 Notice the handle on top of the chair.*

The Grisaille print on a pillow sham.*

Pillow displayed on her Shelter Sofa in Belgian Linen *

Yep, that would be Tara Shaw and myself standing in front of  the Grisaille prints on wall panels *

My intent with this blog isn't necessarily about exposure to/for Tara Shaw; you see, she is already internationally known. My hope was to showcase art in a different light. Perhaps widen the lines of  your box a little. Maybe you are able 'to see' art not just hung above the sofa on a wall in a home, or in a museum, but in many different unexpected places...a pillow, a chair, a wall panel.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you think this is art?


*Pictures taken and used with permission by Tara Shaw. Thank you Tara, it was a pleasure meeting you. 

Is That Art? Indeed!

Perusing through the isles at AmericasMart Atlanta, two very different artists stood out among the rest. Their vision of using different materials in nature to create beauty was noticed.

Christopher Marley uses bugs! While I am sure there is a scientific name for collecting insects, when you see the examples below, most will think - bugs. The images below are incredible. His precision in placement and arrangement is the key to his displays of art.

Finae by Christopher Marley*

A collection of stag beetles found in Indonesia.

30 x 40 Damselfly Diamonds by Christopher Marley*

Damselfly found in the Philippines
I encourage you to look at his website to view the amazing blue color of these damselflies.

In contrast, artist Michele Alcock, uses parts of plants and flowers to create her whimsical
"Garden Girls, Nature's Magic with a Little Bling". She carefully and thoughtfully layers the materials until an image is born. In most of her pieces she uses over ten plants and flowers. She adds a bit of 'bling' by adding Austrian crystals. Each work of art is signed by the artist.

Augustine by Michele Alcock*

Grace by Michele Alcock*

*Photographs were taken and used with permission from the artist. 

Thank you Christopher. Thank you Michele.

To learn more about each artist:

Christopher Marley website:  www.pheromonedesign.com

Michele Alcock fan page on FaceBook: 

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Micheles-Garden-Girls/235842186430599?sk=info

Bands of Love

Bands of Love (close-up)
24 x 24 x 1.5 inches
61 x 61 x 3.81 cm




The Bands of Love
wrap around us,
weaving a gold thread
through our souls.
The arms,
protect us,
and give us
boundless boundaries.

The Bands of Love
play an
unforgettable,
haunting,
melody.
The music,
beckons us.
The lyrical quality
seduces us.
The notes?
The notes can reach highs,
highs we only dream about.
And the lows?
The deep bass in the lows
make us tremble.

The width of the band
cradles us.
The deepest band
centers us.
Its strength,
Unbreakable.
Its power,
Eternal.

Finished painting sitting on the easel.



close-up to show texture



Moved or Captured - yes

As an artist I get asked, “Do you like, buy, or collect other artist’s work?” My response? “Of course I do!” There are SO many forms of art I like. But the ones I LOVE typically move or capture me. 

When I’m moved by a piece of art it can be the obvious physical movement; a smile, a smirk, a pout, a verbal “Wow!”, a change in my stance, a tilt of the head…Or it can be an  internal twitch that makes me study a piece longer because I’m trying to discover …what is the source of the movement?  It can set my mind in motion, stir my thoughts, propel my imagination or dig up a memory.

Paintings that move me.

                                          

                                          Deep Memory by Laurie Pace*

                                          Atrapada by Henri Peter*      

                                            

There are also those few paintings,  that my eyes become fixed upon. I just stand and stare. I’ll squint to see if there “is more” to the picture than what I initially saw. I’ll step closer. I’ll step back. I’ll ‘analyze’. My eyes never leave the piece, they can’t, they are captured. This treasure hanging on the wall has abducted my vision and confiscated my surroundings. Time is trapped and the masterpiece has conquered me. 

Paintings that capture me.

                                                      Play Boy by Laurie Pace*

Elements by Henri Peter*

        

There is a third scenario. A scarce piece of art that has the ability to both capture and move…priceless…

Day of Reckoning by Laurie Pace*                                           

 

Cascada de Amor by Henri Peter*                             

*The above paintings are by artists Laurie Pace and Henri Peter. Each have graciously granted me permission to use images of their paintings in my blog. Thank you Laurie. Thank you Henri.

Here are links to more information on them:

http://www.lauriepace.blogspot.com

http://www.henripeter.com/