This fix was requested by my Father’s wife Tere. I said yes, but I was thinking, “What???” Haha. It took me several days to complete. I am sure there are quicker, easier ways of doing things.
I worked the background first. That made it look about 50% done, so it boosted my confidence. Next, I worked on the “easy” fixes. Smaller cracks. I removed the red on the left, and in several areas. Erased the blue ink marks, made a border. Recreated a knee bottom left, a shoe bottom right. Painted the banner.
I worked girl by girl, doing the quick touch-ups first. The next pass I worked on the dark areas, the skirts. I whitened the blouses, evened out the many shades of grey, and reddish gray. Many were so damaged, I mostly “painted” them on.
I recreated a hand and arm, noses and mouths, eyes and hair. I blurred some edges, hardened others. I added a sepia filter, and that evened out the dicolorations even more. Boy did I have fun! Haha. 🙂
I’ve been so busy finishing up small projects. A few large ones too. I finally cleared off my desk! Whew! Just in time for the September 30-DAY CREATIVE GATHERING!
Holy Moly! September already!!?
And I am sorry to say, that again this year, I have done very little painting since the February challenge. Where has the time gone??? Haha.
Today I am sharing a photo of the frame I started months ago. It is done, but I think I might try it again with a DecoArt Metallic Lustre. What do you think?
Painting Gift from Sea Dean.
Frame close-up
Before, the frame was a worn black, with a red underpainting. It was battered and dinged. I sanded it in spots and painted it a light silver. I then added black brush strokes (fan brush) and small spattering. I finished with an “aging”, a thinned layer of brown, and a sealer. I don’t like gold frames, weird I know. But the silver alone was too cold. I had to warm it up a bit.
I apologize for the poor photo. I am so happy to finally have a frame on this gift from Sea Dean! (It may have been a contest win.) This was an “Oops” frame from Hobby Lobby. 8 x 10. Marked at $24, then red-tagged at just over $6. But it would be well over $50 if it was custom ordered. SCORE!
Frame beginning
Layer of Light
The frame was the first project I started, and it was the last I finished. Haha. It was soon buried under piles of to-dos. After I had the silver on, I was afraid to ruin it. So silly. DUH! It’s only paint, and I can always start over. Right?
This next paint project was a quickie. I found a tray online, the description said, “beach wood”, worn and weathered. Well, mine arrived and it was dark and dingy grey. Depressing and sad. Haha.
What I really wanted was a woven basket type tray. But those are outrageously expensive. Naturally. My budget-friendly solution was to add a warm and “sunny” finish. I had to sand a few spots, but otherwise, the surface was flat and even. I used an old gift card to apply the paint. I poured the paint directly on the tray.
Awesome happy accident! The wood grain remained visible under the multiple layers of paint. I think five layers. I wanted it to look like it had been painted many times over the years.
Wood Tray
Tray in use.
We are in our Monsoon season. It runs from the middle of June until the end of September. So far, it is a figment. Fragment. We have only had very short spurts, of … sprinkles. Haha. For the last few days it has been dark and dreary. And dry.
Still, the sky puts on a good show.
Shades of White. SMD 2020
Black and Blue. SMD 2020Pink Light. SMD 2020
I have started my first painting for the September Gathering. The last project on my to-do list. It is a 36-inch square canvas. The one that has been on my wall for four years unfinished. Haha. Tune in next week…
Tools
Paint is only wasted when it stays in the tube.
Hope you are all staying safe, and well. Safe from fires and floods… and upheaval.
It is with deep sorrow that I write today. My father passed away unexpectedly, early Tuesday morning. July 14. He had been ill for about a month. Pneumonia, and then, COVID.
He was in the hospital for only ten days.
He retired to Mexico, and his wife Tere speaks almost no English. My Spanish is limited as well. So details are slow coming. They recently relocated to Los Mochis, from Guadalajara. We were all looking forward to being able to see them more often.
I was prepared. To lose my father someday, relatively soon. He spoke to my brother and me about this when we saw him in January. He shared his thoughts with us.
But hardest of all, and something none of us could have anticipated, is this forced separation we are all living with. I always thought we would spend his last days together.
I will share more soon. There is so much more to say.
2016, Eric & Iza’s Wedding, Arizona
The American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion, Presidential Address, 1999.
Frank Delgado, President.
Morning walk, 2019
The morning after, I was led to my blog. I received a comment on an old post, and I always reply to comments. I read the quotes on the post, and they held new meaning for me. I listened to the song I had shared, one I am sure my father would have enjoyed.
Funny how things come to you. A sign from above…
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” A.A. Milne
Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie
Please know that I am so very grateful for your messages. I hope you can forgive me if I am unable to respond right away. (If you subscribe, you will be notified via email when I do.)
God Bless and keep you in his loving embrace. Please, please be safe.
