Sunday, January 31, 2010

MMM: What Was She Thinking?

"A Love Like Ours"
16 ' Round Canvas

I planned to do a canvas for my girlfriend's birthday (she requested something with a picture of her girls) so I asked her to email me some of her favorite shots. When I saw this one - with her eldest daughter in awe of their new arrival - I knew that I also had my piece for Mixed Media Monday's theme; what was she thinking. The expression of love and tenderness for her new baby sister was so powerful, that I was inspired to find a love poem to accompany it. The poem I found, A Love Like Ours, ended up serving as both the title and inspiration for the piece above.

Detail of acrylic base and pencil drawing

Several layers of watered-down paint are added

Detail of fabric frame - cut and staggered for interest

The painting was made using acrylic, vintage music sheets and wallpaper (which were then brushed over with watered-down paint in order to blend them into their surroundings), charcoal pencil (for both definition of the shapes and as a way to shade the edges), a ton of matte gel medium (to both adhere the collage elements and as a final wash), the tiniest bit of gold glitter (dusted on top of the gel medium before it dried to give the piece movement), a Swarovski crystal (at the ear) and a bit of fabric used as a frame. The poem is layered on top of the "awning" and reads:

A LOVE LIKE OURS

Within my heart their lies untouched / A love that's true and pure. / Someday I will reveal to you / And then you'll know for sure / That a love like ours was meant to be / Cultured in true romance / It will flourish well as you soon can tell / If you'll only take the chance. / Please lend me your heart and trust me / And let me call you my own. / For as long as our heart is growing / We will never be alone. -- Marvin W. Mabbit

Thank you for looking! To see more pieces on the theme, "What was he/she thinking", please check out all the talent on www.MixedMediaMonday.wordpress.com. xo

26 comments:

WrightStuff said...

Oh that's lovely. My sister is expecting twins. I can't wait to hold them - just another month or two to wait!

Amy said...

Pure Beauty..she will treasure this..what a lucky friend she has to make her something like this..wonderful of you to make it! I adore the painting colors

peggy gatto said...

Awesome art work, the best!!!
What a treasure!!!!!!!!

Diane said...

Oh, my goodness, Kristin - this is amazing! I can imagine how much your friend is going to love this piece! Very special indeed. Diane

joanna said...

Kristin, Your friend is going to love this!! beautiful treasure!

Diane said...

Oh, I love your take on this theme, and I love this piece--beautiful!!!

Cindy Adkins said...

Awww, that is absolutely precious!!!
Extremely beautiful!
Hugs,
Cindy Adkins
www.recoveryartist.com

Unknown said...

wow!!! that is wonderful and that will be cherished forever....I love the photo you used...beautiful work Kristin!!!

Hugs
Diana

Sandy said...

OMG this is really darling.
Lovey piece.

My Creative House said...

What a great gift, your work is so beautiful.

johanna said...

she will be so happy with this gift! it is wonderful!

Hermine said...

This is so precious

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous gift. This is really special. I love the round canvas.

Michelle said...

Your sketch and painting is just gorgeous! This certainly will be a treasured gift.

http://truutske.blogspot.com said...

Your creation is really lovely.
So precious!!!

Buffy said...

So precious,your friend is going to love it!

Martina said...

This piece is so sweet!
Lovely design!

Unknown said...

OMG how sweet is this!! What a GREAT piece of art, fantastic!!

Killara girl said...

aw i bet i know what she's thinking....you've made such a beautiful piece...definitely a treasure.

Rhonda said...

So sweet! Love the background, its just beautiful. Cheers!

Yvonne said...

very beautiful and oh so sweet, great to see the different stages in making this piece.

Yvonne said...

This is so beautiful and especially so meaningful, Kirstin!

Teresa aka Tess said...

Wow, this is fabulous. You touched my heart. I can remember seeing my baby sister for the first time when I was but 10 years old. I already had two brothers and so wanted a little sister. Precious memories...
The artwork is awesome...
Teresa aka Tess

Janny said...

So beautiful!

shabbyfufu said...

You do wonderful work....SO pretty!

Janny said...

Loved your comments and your daughter's;o)
A big hug for you both!