Girl’s Name Canvas

A few months ago Tiffany @ MakingtheWorldCuter hosted a blog Baby Shower. How fun is that? I immediately contacted her and offered a handpainted Baby Name Canvas as a give away.

Annette @ Seasons of Joy is the winner! Here’s the cool part – or what I think is the cool part -Annette is pregnant, yes, but she’s having twins!

We could’ve worked up a cute canvas for twins, I’m sure. But Annette had an even better idea.

She has three sons and one daughter. I know, I know . . . and here come twins! Gotta hand it to this gal! She’s one busy lady!

She had the idea to have the canvas painted for her 9 y.o. daughter, Katie Grace.

One girl with three brothers? She absolutely deserves something pink and pretty, don’t you think?

Me, too!

I sketched an idea out.

Just a rough pencil sketch. Annette told me Katie loves pink, pastels and dance stuff.

A few colored pencils and Sharpies give just an idea of what the finished piece will look like. I emailed this to Annette and got her approval to go ahead with the painting.

Different shades of pinks, creamy yellow and cheerful spring green. Yum-Mee.

I loosely painted yellow and green stripes and then a mottled pink border.

I’ll explain ‘mottled’ in a minute.

Feng Shui Savvy note: the stripes add the Wood element. The assymmetrical curve of the border adds a little Water.

Some pink stripes connect the top and bottom borders.

Okay, I said the border was ‘mottled’, remember? That’s just two or three shades of pink wet-blended together. Gives a little more depth and dimension.

And it’s just so much fun to smoosh the paint all over!

You probably can’t tell what this from this pic. It’s a chalk sketch of the bow and ballet slippers.

If you’re not comfortable freehanding, you could transfer some clip art. But I like chalk. If I make a mistake – which I do – often – a damp paper towel easily erases the chalk.

And the crown/tiara. Every little girl must have a crown/tiara in her room.

It’s written down somewhere, I believe.

If it isn’t, it should be.

Every little girl should have a tiara in her room.

There.

Now it’s written down.

And Katie has three brothers already with possibly more on the way.

She gets a crown and hearts!

The first basecoat.

I’ve used Ceramcoat & FolkArt thru the years. (as well as artist acrylics). Let me tell you, FolkArt covers so much better! Even Apple Barrel – Plaid’s less expensive paint – covers really well.

Bows & ballet slippers.

Stars & Crown.

Feng Shui Savvy Note: The ‘hanging’ ballet slippers = Water element. Stars & pointed Crown = Fire.

Are you keeping track? That’s four out of the five elements. What’s left? Metal. And the pastel colors = Metal.

That makes this painting balanced with all five feng shui elements.

Just in case you’re interested.

A little definition to the bow and slippers. Just a bit of shading.

Makes a world of difference, doesn’t it?

Just go a couple of shades darker than your main color to shade. If it looks too blotchy, apply the main color back over it.

For her name, I used the Lucida Handwriting font.

You can paint the name, use a paint marker, or a felt pen. Or if you have a Cricut or Silhouette, cut it out in vinyl.

By the time I figured out how to use a Cricut, I could just paint it. So that’s what I did.

I could’ve left it as is. Or I could’ve added some shading to Katie’s name to make it stand out more.

I could have.

But then I wouldn’t get to play with my favorite toys . . .

I ordered a set of 24 colors last year from Amazon. And I love these guys.

Love them, I tell ya.

Watch what they do to a painting . . .

And this . . .

And the piece d’ resistance . . .

Cool, huh?

Don’t you think it adds a looser, flowing feel to the painting?

Yeah. Me, too.

Now her Katie’s name doesn’t fade into the background.

I just have to get email approval from Katie’s mom and this’ll be shipped off to a very special 9 year old sister. Yay!

You did realize that I can ship my paintings anywhere, right?

And you do realize that I have a Nursery Mural Registry? Where all your family & friends can pitch in on a custom piece of art?

Okay. Good.

Just checkin’.

And you know, you could do a Birthday Party Registry if you have, say, a 9 year old little girl who needs a special painting (or whatever age).

I’m just sayin’ . . .

Don’t forget to link up your paint projects this weekend to Passion for Paint.

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I’m posting the linky tonite @ 6 p.m. PST so we can have the entire weekend to bloghop.