I realize this probably looks like a card, but I promise you....it's not. It's actually 18 x 24 inches...HUGE!
(click on the photo for a larger view)
You might remember the posts I made in January about the mixed media canvases I had created. I just finished and mailed off two more canvases that were commissioned by the same friend that I made the little girls canvas for when his 2nd baby was born.
This is the first of the canvases. They actually go together...kind of like those friendship necklaces that were all the rage when we were growing up. The canvases will go together in the girls' room and complete the quote: "Sisters are different flowers from the same garden."
I absolutely love working with patterned paper and canvas in this way. There's so much you can do with all the amazing colors, patterns, textures, styles, etc. of paper that's out there. My mind is always swirling with new ideas that I can put to canvas. I have three more 12x12 and two 12x16 canvases that are just waiting to be covered with paint and paper. Oh, if only there were more hours in a day and another day in the week!
The little turtle was something that my friend wanted included on the canvas, as his family has a fond affection for anything to do with turtles. I really like being able to incorporate special sentimental things like this into artwork that people commission. It makes it even more personal for them.
I did more than just patterned paper on these canvases. I added buttons to the center of some of the smaller flowers and on the large focal point flowers, I added a bunch of buttons to make up the centers. I really like the exta visual effect this gives the canvases.
Someone else had asked me how I apply buttons and such to my canvases. I like to use Stampin' Up's Crystal Effects for this step. It dries clear and has a VERY strong hold. Once those are down and it's dry, those buttons aren't going anywhere! And you don't need much of it. One of the things to keep in mind with Crystal Effects, though, is that it's going to take a little while to dry and harden. The more you use, the longer it's going to take. It can also tend to take on the impression of a finger print if you touch it while it's still tacky. It's best to just leave it alone and let it harden up and perhaps touch a small area that's not going to be seen with a toothpick if you want to test if it's done.
I also added rhinestones to this canvas. Considering that these canvases are for two little girls, I wanted to go bright/pastel and shiny! The rhinestones did just what I wanted for the shiny bit.
They blinged up the petals of the large focal flowers, as well as added a little bit of visual appeal to the tulips, which didn't have button centers and seemed kind of "alone" without something to add to them. I also gave some to the turtle to bright up his shell and used one for the eye on the bird.
It's been so much fun to work on these and see them come together. I had them propped up against my studio wall on top of my craft bins and it was nice to see them there as they were in the middle of different stages. That wall suddenly seems bare without all that brightness now that they've been packaged up and shipped out. I guess that means I need to get working on some more to always have that area of my studio filled with vibrant colors and works-in-progress.
There are two other canvases that I've created in my Etsy Shop for sale....plus prints of my canvases that are ready for framing. And....don't forget that 10% of any sales from my Etsy shop help to benefit Village2Village Project.
If you'd ever like a custom piece done for you, please let me know! I'd be happy do something custom!
Make sure to check back tomorrow to see the "other half" to this custom canvas set!
Happy Creating!
-Erika
