I learned a little more about one of my fav bloggers, Amy @ Mod Podge Rocks today when she joined in on Craft’s 5,4,3,2,1 series. I’m playing along and answering the same five questions below.
One Project You are Particularly Proud Of
1. It has to be the Safari Mural I painted in a baby’s room four years ago. Some animals were nearly life-size and some were barely a couple of inches tall. This project has become even more special since I just painted his almost-born baby sister’s room too!
Two Mistakes You’ve Made in the Past
Only 2?
1. I never used to take the time to fully plan what I was going to paint, hoping my muse would kick in. And it would. Eventually. But I’d waste a lot of time in the process. A lot.
2. Feeling insecure because I’m a self-taught artist. {I still battle with this.} Those insecure feelings led to doubts, which led to painting, repainting, and repainting some more. And it usually wound up looking like it did in the first place if I had just trusted my instincts.
Three Things That Make Your Work Unique
1. I like to make my paintings look real. Whether it’s a doggie or a fake hole in a fire station, it’s fun to see how close I can get to realism.
2. I share how I’ve painted things on my blog. Sometimes in a full tutorial, sometimes just ramblings about my process.
3. If I’m painting a commission, I never forget the client. It’s all about them and their home, not me. I’m just the conduit between their imagination and their wall. Years ago I went to a high-priced hairdresser and walked out with what I thought was a nightmare and he thought was a masterpiece. I had to live with it for a couple of months and he had forgotten about me when the next victim client sat in his chair. I never forget that it’s an absolute honor and privilege to paint in someone’s home.
Four Tools You Love To Use
1. FolkArt Floating Medium for canvas and watercolor paper. It helps acrylic paint move and flow easily. I’ve tried other mediums, but always stick with FolkArt.
2. For walls, I mix paint with Floetrol. Really helps when I’m painting on a textured wall.
3. Graphite transfer paper. Saves oodles of time if I sketch the image first, then have it enlarged to scale, and then transfer it onto a wall with graphite paper.
4. Chalk. If I’m comfortable sketching directly onto the wall, chalk is great because it just wipes away with a damp towel.
Five Inspirations
1. Blogs, for sure. I rely on their first-hand experience for products and techniques.
2. Magazines & Catalogs. I rip ‘em to pieces and file photos and images, either in binders or {ahem} piles.
3. Google ‘Images’. Quickest, and most comprehensive, way I know to get photo references.
4. Pinterest. My latest addiction. I think I’m gonna start setting a timer when I’m on there.
5. Craft stores. I love walking the aisles and just taking in all the new colors and shapes, not looking at specific products. I used to work in a craft store and loved when the seasons changed and new product lines would roll in. Now I like just browsing and finding inspiration in anything from scrapbook paper to kids crafts.
That’s my 5 things. How about you? Wanna play along? Leave me a comment with a link to your five things so I can learn a little bit more about you!
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