Swan Song

20"x24" Oil on Canvas

"Swan Song" is the newest painting drying on my easel.  I don't dare move it for fear of getting phthalo blue all over the rest of the house.  It's one of those colors that just seems to want to reach out and touch you & everything else in the studio.  This a little larger palette knife painting than I usually paint so I painted it in two sessions.  Yesterday I painted the background & today I finished the swans.  It's really a good thing that I painted this one in two sessions as today's paint was beginning to get a little dry before I finished. 

These two swans used to come by our dock every day to visit & I really miss them.  I'm so glad I took lots of photos while they were here.  I enjoyed painting them & preserving this sweet memory.

~Sarah

Swans - Part One

Yesterday I started a new palette knife painting from a photo of two swans that used to live on our lake.  I knew that I wouldn't be able to finish the painting in one session so I painted the background first.  Hopefully, by working in segments like this, it will all work out.  I will post the results as well as additional comments when I am finished.

~ Sarah

How Thick is Too Thick

Acrylic Impasto Palette Knife Painting

Today I decided to paint over a painting of red tulips that I did when I first started painting with thick acrylic paint.  First, I painted over them with a dark pink (this one not shown).  I wasn't too happy with that so I added in some white.  Then I decided the leaves & stems needed to be thicker (2nd photo).  Next, oh my, the jar looks wimpy.  So on & on the thick paint was piled on with the palette knife, really, really, thick (3rd photo)!

Oops, too thick, too messy & playing around in it didn't help.  Knowing when to stop is not always easy. 

~Sarah

Fun Flowers

Acrylic Impasto Painting

These simple flowers were fun to teach.  The kids enjoy picking out the colors & most any color will work.  Quick, easy, & fun = happy painting.

~ Sarah

Sunny Beach

Acrylic Impasto Painting

Today I had fun helping the kids create beach paintings.  They wanted to see just how thick the paint could be piled on. 

So much fun.  Such great memories.

~ Sarah

Seaside & Sun

Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Today, Jenna wanted to create a special painting for her mom.  It rained almost everyday on their vacation to Seaside, Florida & ruined most of the delightful activities her mom had planned.

Even though it rained, Jenna said she still had lots of fun being with her family.

We came up with little painting as a memento of her vacation.  I think her mom will be very proud of her.

In this painting I loaded the knife for her but she completed the most of the strokes on her own.  She's learning more & more each time we paint.  I'm also learning a few things too.

Before the summer is over, teach a child to paint.  I promise you will learn something.

~ Sarah

Gold Star Sunflowers

6"x6" Acrylic on canvas

This is another project that I helped 7 year old Jenna with.  She quickly caught on to the sunflower stroke & completed this sweet little sunflower painting in no time.

I most definitely think it deserves a gold star.

~Sarah