This blog post takes you through my artistic process on my new red poppy art. Get a behind the scenes look on my thought process when I paint.
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| Adding charcoal to the poppies. |
Art history
Lots of artists will paint over their art either by reworking sections or even completely painting something new over the canvas. Rembrandt did it. Degas did it. Van Gogh and Monet did it too.. So, I am in good company when I decide that I need to redo a painting.
This art’s history
This particular painting has been hanging on my walls for awhile. I liked it enough that I even had it framed and it was included in some gallery shows; however, it had never connected with a collector and last year I even took it off my website since I didn’t feel it fit in with the rest of my artwork. The art had been hanging in my husband’s office and was enjoyed by his staff, but I decided I needed to redo it.
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| I loved the bright colors, the composition and the art deco feel of the gold but I was a bit bored by the background and knew I could make this art more interesting…. So, I did! |
For months it sat in my studio in the unfinished canvas pile stacked against a wall ( lots of us artists have those piles) I kind of, sort of, forgot about it and got busy with other work. When I cleaned up my studio for that artist tour – I mean really cleaned as in dusted… which means I move my piles around. That is how us artists clean– we basically move a pile of junk from one side of the studio to the other. ( Did you miss my art studio tour? You can catch that HERE)
When I found this piece, I hung it up in my bedroom….and that is where the painting started nagging me
Paintings Talk
Oh you didn’t know paintings talk? Yep, they do but only us artists hear them… or maybe everyone can hear them if they listen hard enough. Every time I walked by this painting in the bedroom it nagged me to finish it… so on Saturday I couldn’t take the nagging anymore and I did.
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| Every inch of the painting now has rich imaginative layered detail. If you like this art you can collect the original mixed media painting or a fine art print. |
What I changed
I loved the bright colors, the composition and the art deco feel of the gold but I was a bit bored by the background and knew I could make this art more interesting. I didn’t even bother taking the painting out of the frame- risking dropping paint, ink or gel medium on the gold crackle frame.
I added layers of patterned paper, piano music, ink and more paint. I make the background more interesting and even added some texture to the flowers but I was sure to use some restraint so as not to make the flowers too busy to maintain balance and harmony in the art. To finish it, I added charcoal details to the flowers and also the edges of the canvas to give it a vintage feeling.
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| Does not even look like the same painting, right? I have a few more paintings in my studio I want to do a makeover on… ( us girls love a good makeover. My favorite movies all involve a makeover, I mean that is really the essence of the Cinderella story.) |
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| Want to save on this art right now? let me email you the latest coupon |
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| I actually redid the entire artwork in the frame, but then I took the painting out of the frame so I could scan it to get the best photo to show off the details in my listing and to be able to offer high quality prints. I also use this art for home decor accessories like shower curtains on cafepress. |
So I hung up the painting back in my bedroom. Now every time I pass the painting it says to me “Thank you”
brilliant piece, the renovation makes it even better.
It's a lovely piece.
The use of a music sheet as a layer for the poppies is a great expression of art within art.
I love the outcome! The backgroud looks a lot better and it is so much more meaningful now!
I would love to have art that I knew something about..My sister use to change up art work to her own creation.
Absolutely beautiful. I liked the before picture too but the after picture has so much more to it. The music sheets are a great add.
so gorgeous! I would love to have a piece like this… <3
I love what you did to the painting and I must say I think it looks better than before.
I love the music sheets incorporated. Looks great!
Awesome Piece of Art. love this.
I love it!! Although I am not that into art, although I did studied Art history….but this one looks actually interesting to me 🙂 well done!
Your makeover looks amazing. You were able to add the right shades and colors.
It looks AMAZING!! I wish i had that kind of artistic talent..
It's fantastic! I really like the layering and depth it added.
beautiful. i wish i was more artistic
That is beautiful. I love the colors.
How Creative Is This I Love Your Work So Beautiful!!
I love the musical notes within! I think it looks very pretty! I'm thinking about hanging artwork in my home office for some inspiration. 🙂
I love this! So creative and so beautiful. I would love to have this!
I love the painting it's so pretty.
I think the not just the step by step process but the intellectual process that goes into the creation of art is really important – and its important to communicate it to the buyer. It's what turns something from being a pretty picture to a work of art. You could argue that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or even meaning is in the eye of the beholder, but some beholders aren't literate enough in art to find the meaning themselves. I like this approach!
Lucy, I'm glad you liked it– this was a different approach for me to show my process, not just here is my art and why you should buy it but here is my art and why I made it. –Miriam
Jeannie- thanks so much… –Miriam
Diane- I liked the way you put it… yes, it has a new attitude! best, Miriam
I liked the painting before it was pretty, but I love the new makeover. It has a happy attitude now. 🙂 Great job!
Yes I like the new painting, it is amazing how you made it better.
Wow! I love it. And I love the fact you've taken us behind the scenes on your creative process. I adore poppies and I adore red.