Winter Cardinal

When I see a Cardinal, I always think of my grandmother.

She loved these gorgeous red birds too.

In my last post below I shared a few of the birds I've painted over the years. I also shared  a background technique called "Smoked"

It is done to place a shaded smoke look to a background of a painting.

Designed using a burning candle and a real silver spoon.

By holding the spoon over the flame, it will begin to create black smoke.

Then carefully you hold the spoon with one hand and place your project over the smoke as it

swirls up from the flame. With the other hand you hold your project and move it around placing the smoke in areas you want it to go.

Please ignore the big mess of my studio.

See how black the spoon will become?

This should be done with a real silver spoon you no longer want to use.

It will discolor so basically it becomes an artist tool.

Yesterday I painted this Cardinal design from a study in Birds by Nancy Kinny.

I used a light weight catering tray from the dollar store painted with chalk paint in the color called Timeless.

Only this time, I painted my design first, then did the smoking technique.

I was able to place the smoke around the bird and balance out the design

adding more or less here and there.

Seal with a spray matte varnish using

Krylon Matte 1311.

If you brush on the sealer over the smoke it will move or come off on your brush.

1311 dries incredibly fast too.

Sitting on a snowy branch, he looks puffed up and keeping warm.

In this pic you can see I added a bit more smoke.

I sanded all around the tray to give it a distressed time worn look.

This sweet blue bird is another I painted right over a musical graphic paper 

printed on card stock from the Graphics Fairy.

Sorry for the glare of the glass.

It's very hard to get a nice shot with the glass over the painting, but you get the idea.

I placed this one in a distress soft grey frame with a burlap matte.

The musical graphic had an antiqued shaded look in browns and similar to the smoked look

but done in ink right on the vintage graphic.

Since a few commented about the smoked technique, I just wanted to share the process again

and I enjoyed painting this recent Cardinal.

I also want to say thank you for your kind comments on my painted birds in my last post.

I am thankful for the gift of painting 

and the studies I have done ~ and artists I have learned from over the years.

Any little bit of talent I may carry is simply a blessing from God 

given to me to use for my time on earth.

 I always hope to use that gift to pass some joy on to others.

I will always continue to learn my decorative art form and practice as I go.

There is still so much to do, learn and share.

I heard from a customer a few years back who said a tray that she had purchased

from me was for a gift to give her great aunt who was in a nursing home.

It was for her aunt to look at while she lay in bed.

Something for her to enjoy in her last days.

That's what it's all about my friends.

That joy is far greater to me then any price I could place on a painted work.

To God Be the Glory!

Wishing you 

Southern Day Dreams

~Be Blessed~

Celestina Marie