Decoupaging Your Artwork

You might recall the Carolina Moon Santa that I painted on wood. He was designed by Jill "Winna" Mordasky and we had the best time painting him in a workshop. Winna gave us permission, and instructions, to reproduce him by decoupaging a good color copy to a piece of wood. Her conditions were that we credit her on the reverse side.

So I decided to try something different by incorporating a copy of the painted Santa with some text using MS Publisher. Michael photographed the Santa for me using a black background. I pulled it into a document in Publisher and zoomed in to crop the photo to focus on his head and torso. I then added a circle of text which reads, "Nothing Could Be Finer Than Christmas In Carolina".

I printed the image on heavy paper, decoupaged to a piece of slate painted black and then added gold trim with a paint pen. On the back I wrote "Design By Jill "Winna" Mordasky on one side and my name and date on the other. Creativity and Technology.... ain't it grand!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Coral Rose

My son Michael is a professional photographer. I gave him a light box for Christmas a few years ago when he was just starting out. On a cruise through the floral department of my grocery store I found the most beautiful coral rose and asked him to photograph it for me as a reference.

This is my attempt to capture it in oils. It's no where near as beautiful as the original but it means alot to me. Below you'll see his original photograph. It reminds me of his excitement at receiving the gift that was part of his development as a photographer. I grin every time I see it!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Old Enamel Pitcher

I have this thing about old enamelware. I love the history it represents. The more dings and chips the better I like them! They remind me of my grandmother's kitchen where Patty and I watched her make bread, rolls and pies....and waited not so patiently for her wonderful fried dough treats!

This painting is a small 5x7 oil on canvas board. I painted it in a class with Tami Cardnella. I was checking the nooks and crannies of the studio and found lots of old enamelware that was destined to be painted with fruit designs and sold at craft shows. I may try to set up some still lifes for oil paintings before I do that!


Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Recycling Cookie Tins

For many years I worked in a church office. At this time of year parishioners would bring the office staff lots of fabulous treats packed in tins. When the tinsel settled I would gather up all the tins and pack them away.

Recycled tins make a great gift packed with baked goods, or hand painted soaps and towels, to name a few ideas. Clean them out well with hot soapy water. I let mine air dry to be sure that the inside remains rust free. I give each one a light...and I mean light...coat of spray primer in white. I do the tops and bottoms separately. I love the snowy scenes, like the one above, that remind me of New England. This one was inspired by a design I saw in a magazine years ago.

Snowy scenes obviously lend themselves nicely to the white base. If you want more of a year round design after you have the white base give the base a coat of Linen or light green paint mixed with glaze. While still wet apply a piece of plastic wrap...push it around slightly...and then pull off to reveal a marbled look. Let it dry well and paint a suitable design. Sometimes you need only paint the design on the lid itself.

When your design is dry give it several light coats of a sealer. Pack with goodies and watch the smiles!!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Pair Of Lemons

This pair of lemons was painted in my first oil class with local artist Tami Cardnella. Tami taught a group of us decorative painting one night a week for several years. She had to drag us to oil painting screaming and kicking!

I was sceptical at first and returned to the comfort of decorative painting until I decided to give it a try again this Summer. I'm so glad I did!

Now I enjoy the best of both worlds!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Sarah's Portrait: In Progress

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have so much to be thankful for! I started the day with calls from my mom and aunt in Massachusetts, and my sister in Vermont. I miss them so much, but even more on these special days. I spent the balance of the day surrounded by Eddie, the kids and grands. Couldn't ask for much more!

I missed a post or two getting ready for today. I wanted to catch up by showing you the progress I'm making on Sarah's portrait. Joyce, my teacher, really helped me to correct the feet. The shadows on her skin are not as red as they are in this photo. Next week I'll finish her up. She needs to be grounded more connecting her to the background better. I need to add some more highlights to her oversized gloves and hat.

I just love my oil classes!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Large Basket with Reversible Insert!

This basket is my favorite. It's a pretty big one at nearly 19 inches at the widest spot. The "arrangement" can be removed and flipped over to reveal another painted arrangement on the reverse side.

The removal insert has turnbuttons to keep it in place. There are two keyholes for secure hanging.

The unpainted surface and insert are available for $19.95 which includes a free book with painting instructions while supplies last.

Wednesday I'll post the reverse side painted with geraniums! I'm off to oil class Tuesday morning and look forward to finishing my portrait of Sarah! Watch for it in tomorrow's post!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com for more information.

Another Style Window Ornament

As you may have guessed by now I love to make very special ornaments! I display this one year round. The photo inside the ornament is of the Morris Island Light House off Folly Beach, South Carolina. Learn more about this national treasure at: http://www.savethelight.org/

The ornament itself is covered in glitter and has a window with swag draperies and candle. You can paint it yourself by using some tape or a 2"x3" post-it note to cover the proposed window while you pounce the ornament with a pearl metallic enamel paint. When dry paint your window and candle. For a finishing touch paint all but the actually window with Mod Podge and roll in glitter.

Finally, insert your picture...ahhhh, the tricky part! I print out my photos on a sheet of transparency paper. I then give the reverse side of the transparency paper a coat of spray-on white primer. This allows the bright color of the photo to stay crisp, but you still have the properties of the transparency when it comes to cutting, rolling it on a pencil, and inserting it in the ornament. It will pop open. Be sure to cut the photo circle to the same diameter as the ornament. This one is 3.25". After your photo is inside you can use the pencil to position it properly.

For another style, paint the ornament with shutters instead of curtains and have the photo be of family inside the house. These make a very special gift!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com for more information.

Door Baskets With Reversible Inserts

Here is one of my pet projects. I call it a Door Basket. The inserts are reversible allowing you to have as many seasonal arrangements for your door as suits your fancy.

The baskets (unpainted) with an extra insert (so that's 2 inserts total) are on sale for $19.95 per set. The basket is approximately 14.75 inches tall, 10 inches wide and an half inch deep. The inserts are roughly 9 inches by 8 inches. Turnbuttons are included. The basket has a key hole for hanging.

Buy one now and I'll include a free book with the 4 season designs shown here while supplies last.

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com with questions. To order with Priorty shipping click on the Buy Now Button to the right!

Heirloom Ornaments

These ornaments are so much fun to make and always get lots of "oooo's" and "aahhhh's"! In the photo to the left the two front ornaments have painted inserts to view through the window, while the back ornament has the rose painted on the glass itself.

The base ornament is clear glass. First use Gallery Glass gold leading squiggled in a circle to create the viewing area. Let dry over night. Then use the clear glass Gallery Glass applied roughly around the outside of the circle and sprinkled with cheap glitter while wet. Let dry.

Now you have the option of filling in the small circle and painting in that area, or leave the circle clear, like a window, and paint your design on transparency paper to insert in the ornament.

In the first photo I used a pale pink Gallery Glass to fill in the window. Let dry. Finally, paint your rose or design on the dry smooth center. This one is a rose in the Marjorie Harris Clark style.

To insert a painted design, paint your design on a piece of transparency paper (from office supply store). The circle should be the same diameter as the ornament. When your painting is dry roll the transparency around a pencil and insert in the ornament!

Contact Kathy at kathysweeney@gmail.com

A Work In Progress

I've started this portrait in class of my granddaughter, Sarah Mae. Sarah, now six, was three at the time and very much into dress up. She was sporting an oversized straw hat of mine along with a pair of long gloves that were much to big for her tiny hands.

I've roughed in the painting and will complete it in class next week. She needs a lot of work to add dimension and bring her forward more. It's a labor of love as well as a skill challenge, but I'm having so much fun!

Tomorrow, a tutorial on painting ornaments!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Orange You Glad it's a Florida Orange!

Remember that old Knock Knock joke? Sorry, I couldn't help myself! A word about Florida Oranges though. My painting pal, Vicki Alley works for Florida's Natural who produce 100% Florida orange juice....no foreign oranges allowed.

Here's a link to a site with some creative ideas for what should be done with foreign oranges: http://www.orangediaries.com/ .

Mine is a nice juicy Florida Orange....oil on 5x7 canvas board!

Contact Kathy At kathysweeney@gmail.com

Carolina Moon Santa

This is one of my very favorite santas. He's designed by Jill "Winna" Mordasky. I painted the original in a workshop with her about 6 years ago...at least!

Jill gave us permission to reproduce Carolina Moon Santa on a limited basis. This high quality reproduction is decoupaged on medium density fiberboard. He is free standing with the aid of a small foot inserted in the back of the Santa. He stands approximately 17 inches high and is 9 inches wide at the base.

To order your Carolina Moon Santa for $35.00 plus shipping please email kathy at kathysweeney@gmail.com

The Onion Painting

The Onion Painting is a right of passage at The Studio. The Studio, owned and operated by artists Joyce Hall and her husband Martin Ahrens, is an amazing place. I was so fortunate to find such wonderful teachers and generous individuals.

Each new student begins their journey by painting this particular piece. It's an opportunity for Joyce and Martin to gauge the students experience.

Joyce tells me that she spots this painting all over town. The Studio walls are dotted with them in various stages of completion.

I love mine. I love it because it represents a big step for me; the first step in my painters journey!

Juggling Act

I'm really enjoying my classes! Often it's a juggling act just to get there but when I do the rest of the world fades away and time stands still.

This little Fall veggie vignette reminded me of what it had taken me to just get to class that day! Joyce had me paint the background with a variety of colors but all in the same value. There's red blue and yellow there but it's subtle because the values are similar.

10x10 Oil on stretched canvas.

Waiting For The Party

These guys are waiting for their opportunity to serve. Most of the time they wait patiently on the shelf, but today is special and it's their time to shine.

I've felt that way myself from time to time! How about you?

This painting is a 10x10 oil on canvas.

The Old Dock

In June I found Joyce Hall and started my journey with oil painting. Those two and a half hours a week transport me to a special place. I so look forward to my classes.

This is a 7x14 oil on canvas board. The dock is old and rickety but I just know that this senior citizen has some great stories to tell!