This year my family decided to draw names and set a price limit on Christmas. It was strange, fun and a little unusual for us. Oh and gift cards were not allowed, or cash. No this year we were required to put a little thought and effort into our giving.
Knowing that I choose to ask for a canvas on my wish list. This way they could get a canvas of any size based on what was available within the budget limit we were set. You can imagine my surprise when I received from my brother a 30″ x 40″ canvas. He found a sale!
Being sick (again) I ended up waiting until today to begin working with my new canvas. Based on the overall size and my initial thoughts upon seeing it I knew this would be an abstract painting. I will admit though to wondering what it would be like to paint a portrait on a canvas this size. I imagine with the way I like the face to fill the canvas that a single eye would be the size of my fist. Imagine the details you could paint with that kind of space.
But I digress, a portrait that size will have to wait as this is an abstract.
This morning I began by layering on gesso and plaster and then the basic colors of the background.
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A bit of stenciling and a few bold strokes.
This is only the first layer of color and elements but I am very happy with the start.
I had to take a nap after, as it wore me out, but it felt so good to paint big again.
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