However, just because I haven't been posting doesn't mean I haven't been creating. I have several finished pieces to share in time, but one is a challenge entry and the other is a gift so they must remain under wraps for the time being. I'll be back!
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| "Rooted and Grounded" by Judith Atsma. Commissioned by and on display at New Hope Foursquare Church in Salem, OR
This piece was commissioned by my church to coincide with a "40 Days in the Word" sermon series, which started yesterday. I was given a phrase ("Live the Word") and complete artistic freedom of expression within the confines of the space available. My original plan was to display this piece as 3 separate canvases hung side by side, but in the end I decided to take pity on the ones who had to install the artworks and joined the canvases together with spacers.
I built up the colors in this work using very thin glazes - I believe there are nearly 80 layers of color throughout. The tree itself is not black, but layer upon layer of 4 different colors. Each leaf has 4 colors also. The black text was created with rubber stamps from my collection - I finally got to use them! - and the white cursive text was written free-hand using a mix of Golden's pouring medium and paint applied with a needle-nose squeeze bottle. I am definitely going to use that technique again!
Would you believe that the most difficult part for me was keeping my fingers OUT of the sparkly embellishments I love so much? There is not a microbead or a speck of glitter anywhere. Not even Pearl-Ex, LOL.
P.S. It *isn't* crooked in real life - everything is level and square except the way I held my camera when I snapped the pic.
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