Rustypuppy

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 01:45:29 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: FINISHED!!!!!!

Used metallic copper acrylic paint for scales. Added 22 birds. Signed the bottom and back.

My DRIFTING DRAGON mixed media art is complete!!!!! ⛰️🐉⛰️

I don’t have a place to hang it with the right lighting, so 2 photos: one to show the overall art and the second to show the metallic scales.

Thank you to all who have followed along on this adventure. If you want to see how it went along the way, check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

I look back at how it started and am a bit stunned. But I could not have gotten here, if I didn’t go through there, and I am so very happy with how it turned out. 😍🎉

Not sure I want to work this large again, but I do have an idea for a personal piece I want to make next year that’s at least 18”-20” across. 😬

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:01:47 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: dragon back ridges

Did some experiments last night to figure out the right size, shape, textures, and colors.

Now to replicate all that 40+ times because Handmade Art means you make it all by hand. 🖖

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 23:18:40 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: tiny touch ups

Added greenery to the tops on the mountains so they are more obviously in front of some of the clouds.

Used little flat brush to smoothen out the top of the dragon body segments and added a wash of dark purple. Think they’re ready for scales now.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:13:32 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: clouds’ end

“Finished” adding the clouds to the top half of the canvas. Leaving it in quotes as I may change my mind tomorrow. But I don’t think so. Probably.

And, if you’re curious what a near-sighted artist sees when they work over a large painting without wearing their glasses, swipe to photo 2. 🤓

PS. the multi-photo upload in the new Damus is really awesome! 👏

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 01:25:14 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: much closer to final

Spent most of the day working on this in batches on the lower half of the canvas.

Added white tissue paper to the cloud areas. Added painted green strips of tissue paper to the mountain areas.

Sponged white + parchment acrylic paint into the cloud areas, then used my finger to create smoother/rounder tops, as the sponge tip marks looked too ragged.

Light wash of black over the dragon body to darken.

Very happy with how the lower half ended up. Now just need to repeat all of that for the top half.

And decide what to do about the sky … if anything.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:58:15 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: all about the values

Been ignoring this one for too long. Got tired of trying different ways to keep white white (would turn yellow near the mountains.)

1. In an effort to not start from scratch, I used gel matte medium to glue a layer of beige tissue paper over the canvas, maybe create a barrier. The tissue paper tore … so I tore it some more … and really liked the results. This piece was fun to work on again.

2. And I noticed how bad my values were; the range of dark to light, if viewed in only black and white.

Limited values make a piece less easy to “read” - see distinct objects.

Taking photos of your art and turning them monochrome is a great way to measure the values because you’re not distracted by the colors.

3. So now I’m working on increasing the lightness of the mountains and the darkness of the dragon.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 01:37:16 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: mountain time

Starting to layer texture on the mountains. Cut this sponge in half to better control the area that gets paint.

Dark colors first. This is a mix of liquid acrylic and acrypaint to get the color I wanted.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:45:09 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: more clouds

Cloud cover over a whole mountain on the back right. Sponge edges, which I really like and will likely use with green to get rid of the smooth edges layer.

White still not as white as I want, but we’ll see how this layer dries.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 01:43:22 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: cloud sessions 1 of ???

Added a mix of white and parchment color as the clouds base.

Surprised how much the green is showing through, given that the white is heavy body acrylic. But I kinda like the textures it’s adding.

Still a ways to go, but getting there. 👍

Next will be moar clouds ☁️

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 19:54:41 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: rocks and trees

Looked more closely at my reference photo, and vintage Chinese paintings, and added some rock faces to the mountains.

Added a lot of trees. Then changed the color on the trees.

And made the sky a bit more blue.

I “think” I should work on the trees more, but I “feel” I should put in the clouds … therefore going to work on clouds next. 👍

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 23:04:05 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: all scales done!

Finished up all the scales on the dragon’s body last night.

Found a new color of green when I bought some heavy body white acrylic today, so going to experiment with that for the trees on the mountains.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 04:40:39 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: laying it on thick tonight

Used the palette knife to lay down a layer of black-purple-silver acrylic paint on the rest of the dragon body. Carved scales using the back end of a pottery tool.

Lighter colors are we get further into the distance. Also slightly smaller scales.

Needs to dry over night, then I’ll go in with the gold paint pen to highlight the scales.

White paper on the left is a diagram to make sure I drew the scales in the correct direction on each segment.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 04:50:33 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: dragon body art

So here’s how I got to the look I was happy with for the dragon body ….

1. Use palette knife to cover red with thick layer of black-purple

2. Use back end of pottery tool to carve through black-purple to red to create scales

3. Use orange for belly scales

4. Use lighter orange for highlight on belly scales

5. Use gold paint marker to highlight body scales

… and now do the same process for the other 4 areas. 🖌️

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 06:35:38 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: what didn’t work over the past few days

Tried a bunch of things on the dragon body. Not happy with any of them. Did finally achieve something I liked, which I’ll share tomorrow after it dries and I touch it up a bit.

1. The pencil stencil. Also, scale direction is wrong.

2. Getting rid of the collage paper. Messy messy messy.

3. Black purple

4. Red streaks

5. Red wannabe scales

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 23:09:46 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: now happy with sky (again)

Had a really good art session last night, where I reworked the sky to a state I’m happy with (again).

1. Was going to add stars, now going to do butterflies instead, so wanted a more daylight than nighttime sky. Also been looking at lots of vintage Asian ink landscape paintings and want more of that look for this piece now. So, tried a Neocolor II to lighten the sky. Did not work.

2. Tried a layer of thinned acrylic paint using the sponge I originally got to try image transfers but don’t use in that process because I can’t stand the noise it makes. Worked a little bit.

3. & 4. Brought out the good ol’ Liquitex Parchment acrylic ink. Solves most mixed media issues, or at least gets you close enough to a base state so you can start over again. Worked-ish.

5. Because I didn’t water down the parchment paint, it was too solid of a paint layer, so before it dried completely, I took a paper towel to it, because I’m picky like that.

6. Lovely textured sky (finally). Starting to lighten the bases of the mountains. Discovered how much I love the jaggy mountain edges, especially the top right.

Next will be road work. And maybe another round (or two) on the sky.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 03:28:23 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: image transfer tests

Day 4 & 5 of the #The21dayProject

I watched a video by Laly Mille, my favorite mixed media artist, on how she uses matte gel medium to do image transfers.

And tried out the process with some papers I have as a test for possible layers on the big canvas.

1. Test supplies

2. Test canvas board with acrylic paint as first layer

3. Papers glued face down then heat gunned to dry because I’m impatient like that.

4. Images transfers successful. Took a few tries to get all the paper off (used an old plastic gift card because I couldn’t stand the squishy screechy noise the sponge made) but I like what I see and am going to try both the origami paper and the printed copy paper on the big canvas.

Next will be image transfer on the big canvas and “road” work.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:11:22 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: spray fixative

Day 3 of the #The21dayProject

My canvas on my little easel* and the can of fixative. It doesn’t say “workable fixative” but I have been assured by multiple articles and videos that it is.

This is my first time using a fixative of any kind on my art so we’ll see how it goes.

Sprayed 3 coats with drying time in between each one. Currently let it sit in the garage with the side door open for a cross breeze because that aerosol is stinky stuff.

Next will be moar layers!!!!

* if I attempt another large canvas I’m definitely buying a standing easel because this little tabletop guy is precarious with a substrate this large.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:46:55 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: stop messing with it and let it dry overnight

End of Day 2 of #The21dayProject

1. How this evening ‘s session ended

2. How this evening’s session started - Distress Ink on all mountains

3. Splatter, your mixed media frenemy: adds awesome texture, goes where you don’t want it to, turns all clothing into paint clothing

4. The color you decided to use when swatching …. that looks too pink on the actual canvas surrounded by the other colors

5. The color you didn’t pick when swatching because it was too orange that now is the one that looks good on the canvas

6. Happy with dragon road

7. Don’t like the sky

8. Happyish with the sky

Next will be applying spray workable fixative because 80% of this thing is now covered in water-reactive material, so if I try and do anything with liquid, it will move and change and yeah, don’t want that to happen.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 22:49:14 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: more black edges and ink …. Which takes FOREVER to dry 🤣

Also …. when you keep breaking the regular All Black pencil so you bring out the big gun.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️
#The21dayProject

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas…

Rustypuppy — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 19:52:28 GMT

24” x 30” Mixed Media Canvas Update: Distress Ink

Day 1 of #The21dayProject to finish this canvas.

Started experimenting on the hills.

1. Outline edge with a Stabilo All Black. Love this pencil. It lays down a rich black that activates with water.

2. Add drops of Distress Ink.

3. Spritz with water to dilute

4. Tap/move ink around with paper towel. Stop Messing with It Even Though It Looks Like A Mess So It Can Dry.

5. Come back an hour later to admire this awesome layer of color you created.

Next will be applying this same process to the rest of the hills, and on the closer hills, more than once since foreground objects are darker than background objects because of atmospheric perspective - not that this is in any way a realistic landscape, but applying concepts like that will help create the illusion of depth.

If you want to follow just this art project, you can check out the #mountainroadartwork hashtag.

#art #artstr #rustypuppyart #mixedmedia #artprocess #wip #🖼️