In The Style Of Gustav Klimt

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of artist Gustav Klimt. He was a master of pattern and colour. When I saw the Cubist stencil from Crafters Workshop and the Heart mask from Tando Creative I immediately thought of him.

I would like to share with you an artwork that I created using these stencils. I used the Flames stencil for the pattern effect but looking at it now she does look a little like Joan of Arc on a night out!

Materials Used:
Canvas Board
Gesso
Decoart acrylic paints
Daler Rowney: System 3 metallic acrylic paints
Crafters Workshop Stencils: Cubist and Flames
Tando Creative : Heart Background
Moulding paste

Lina x

Old Family Portrait

I was looking through some family photos. You know what that's like. It starts off being that you are looking for a particular picture and then you get completely consumed in the memories that each photograph holds. You realise after a while that what was supposed to be a quick task results in hours passed. 

Well as I said, I was enjoying looking through photos and I came across an old photo of my husband's grandmother. She was a beautiful lady. I thought I would have a go at trying to paint her portrait. It was quite a challenge to work from such a small photo but once I put some music on I became thoroughly absorbed in my painting. I usually end up with nearly as much paint on my clothes as on the canvas. I have trousers that I wear specifically to paint in they look like a Jackson Pollock creation. I painted this portrait using acrylics on canvas. I hope that I have captured her essence and that you like it.

Lina x

Daisy Chain

I don't really know if this flower is a daisy but when I saw it I thought of the daisy chains I used to make when I was a child. I always think that there is a freshness and innocence about them. This summer I saw a couple of teenage girls wearing them in their hair. I was too young for the hippy movement but I thought of this when I saw the girls. What a lovely form of jewellery.

This simple collage needed something to lift it, maybe a little bit of colour. I thought that the girl looked quite sad. So the daisy chain was added with the thought of another childhood game, picking the petals of flowers and singing "He loves me he loves me not". She looks as though she's not sure!

Lina x

Mixed Media

I have just got back from a short break in North Devon. The scenery was breath taking. I can’t believe that we are now in September and the school holidays are all but over. This always signifies to me the end of the summer and with the nights already drawing in I thought I would post some colourful mixed media pieces of work.

With mixed media you are able to combine a number of elements to create interesting art. The wonderful mixed media artist Christy Tomlinson inspired me. This led me to create the following pieces of artwork. The first three canvases are hand drawn.  I incorporated very simple shapes for the second and third so that those of you who lack the confidence to draw can see that this is possible.  Being misshapen adds quirkiness and fun. For the fourth canvas I used a Sizzix birdhouse die. Using dies makes this form of art accessible to all.

I had a lot of fun creating these and I hope you like them.

Lina x