Two Tall Mosaic Birch Paintings Ready for Chalk This Way

 I finished these two Oil paintings just in time for the Chalk This Way Art Festival coming up this weekend.  I used a lot of thick oil paint applied with a palate knife in a mosaic pattern.  They are very large; each one about 8 square feet and they look amazing on my red entry way wall.   Almost too amazing to part with.   Come see me in the tent at Chalk This Way in Lewisville to see these up close in person. The festival hours are from 9AM to 6PM. Location is around MCL Grand and Lewisville City Hall, at Church and Charles Streets, Lewisville, TX 75057.

Tall Mosaic Birch I                  Tall Mosaic Birch II

Oil on Canvas                           Oil on Canvas

24" x 48"  $400.00                                 24" x 48" $400.00

Paint On My Walls new blog header

I have been experimenting with a lot more collage elements in my work lately.  So, I thought this would be a fitting new header for my blog.  Most of the letters are made of actual photos of my paintings, and the tree trunks and grass are from paper scraps.  The trees are done with layers of ink and acrylic paint applied with a sea sponge.  I love taking old photos or paper scraps that would have normally been thrown away and using that as a foundation in art work.  It just seems to be a great way to make something beautiful even more meaningful and adds story behind the work.  

New blog header for Paint On My Walls!
Mother's Day 2014

I have tried several different mixed media adhesives so far and the one I like the best is Aleene's Matt decoupage.  It is much less sticky than regular mixed media adhesive and easier to manage.  When it is dry it creates a good surface to add more layers of paint or ink on top.

Also; I am getting ready for an art festival next weekend.  Chalk This Way takes place at Lewisville City Call and MCL Grand area, 100 North Charles, Lewisville, TX 75057.  To find my booth, just look for the Paint On My Walls sign above.

New York City Collage

This one was for my daughter Courtney.  She has been to New York several times and LOVES Broadway.  Some of the scraps from theater flyers and maps from her trips were used in this collage as well as magazine articles and paper scraps.  Combining them with the paint really captures the excitement of the city.  More like this to come. Enjoy!

New York City
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage on Canvas
24" x 36"

Four Square Birch Oil Paintings

These 4 oil paintings remind me of confetti.  The trees seem happy to me, like they are having a party in the woods to celebrate the coming of spring.

Oil on canvas board
Framed in Black
8"x8" each
$40.00 each

Top Left  is Square Birch I,
Top Right is Square Birch II,
Bottom Left is Square Birch III,
Bottom Right is Square Birch IV,

Spontaneous II - Three Artist Show at MCL Grand in Lewisville throughout May, 2014

Left to Right:  Myself, Cheryl Harris White,  Scott Kilgore, Vanessa Lee
Spontaneous II Artists

“Spontaneous II” by the Visual Art League of Lewisville
April 19 – May 24
A collaboration of the member artists of the Visual Art League of Lewisville will be on display in the North Wing Gallery of the MCL Grand from Saturday, April 19 – Saturday, May 24.  The exhibit will feature art work from Cheryl White, Vanessa Lee White and Scott A. Kilgore.  Cheryl White is a versatile artist who uses acrylic, oil, mixed media and collage. Vanessa Lee White is a photographer working in abstract and sculptural photography and Scott A. Kilgore is a photographer with an eclectic mix of photography from nature to sports cars. For more information on the Visual Art League of Lewisville visit VisualArtLeague.org.
Photo credit: Vanessa Lee White, Cheryl White, Scott A. Kilgore

Spontaneous Trees I and II on display now at the MCL Grand in Lewisville

Theses two bright square paintings were a successful experiment I did with india inks. The tree shapes and blue background were done by covering the canvas with water and india inks and allowing them to become whatever shapes they wanted.  After it was dry, I saw trees... and developed their forms with acrylic paint.  I like the abstract look of the branches and trunks in front of the tree shape instead of up inside the trees, partially hidden.  They are the star of the show.  These are currently on display in the the north wind of the MCL Grand in Lewisville.  Enjoy!

Spontaneous Trees II
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic and India Ink
20" x 20"
$150.00

Spontaneous Trees I
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic and India Ink
20" x 20"
$150.00

First Place Asel Award Winner

I was honored to win recognition for one of my Posey paintings this month at the Visual Art League of Lewisville Monthly Meeting.   It is a group of such talented and varied artists whom I have had the privilege of learning and working with.  Many of them have realized amazing artistic achievements and I just LOVE the inspiration that comes from coversations I have had with each of them.  

This piece was done with acrylic and collage.  I actually tore up a hymn book for some of the flowers and glued them to the surface with mixed media adhesive.  I really liked how the old hymnal pages soaked up the paint.  

This was a mixed media technique I actually learned from Misty Oliver's Art Journaling workshop and I just tried applying it on a canvas board on a whim.  It turned out beautifully.

This painting along with 10 others are currently on display in Spontaneous II - A Three Person show in the North wing of the MCL Grand.  Free to the public and open Tuesday through Saturdays, 1-5PM from now through May 24th.  

Posies in a Pot I
First Place Asel Award Winner
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage
11" x 13"
$75.00

Posies in a Pot II
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage
11" x 13"
$75.00

Easter Crosses, Glorious Reminders of Life and Love

Easter to me is the most precious day of the year. It’s the day the first believers discovered the tomb was empty, after Jesus had suffered and died on the cross and had been put inside it three days earlier.  Easter is a day to thank God, who had enough love for us to allow his son to be executed to cover our sins.  It was the only price great enough to allow us, imperfect people to connect with God, Holy, Perfect, Loving, All Knowing God.  Depending on the pain and experiences humans have had during their trek through life here on earth, the cross can symbolize different things, some of them negative, especially if one only knows part of the story.  I know the end of the story.  The same resurrection power that raised Christ from the depths of the tomb  is waiting for me when my journey here on earth ends.  So, to me, the cross is not a symbol of death or pain, it is a glorious reminder of life and love.  I celebrate that here with these colorful Easter crosses.   

Acrylic Collage Easter Crosses
Various sizes, between 8" and 16" tall

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NASB

 The crosses are all made of wood.  To make them I painted the back's black and on some of them had to attach a nail hanger.  The fronts are done with a collage of actual dried acrylic paint that I peeled off my palates and saved.  The palate paint would have other wise just been thrown away and wasted, but instead, I have given it new life.  I used Mixed Media adhesive as the medium which is very messy, but the end result is a smooth shiney finish that really makes the colors pop.  Enjoy!

Art Post Cards

I think it is so important to feed your creativity as an artist, and creating a post card is a great way to do that quickly and inexpensively.  They are small, so if you don't have a lot of studio time, it is a great way to feel like you have accomplished something artistic which is not only beautiful, but also useful.    I purchased blank post cards made of heavy water color paper at Asel Art Supply.  They have a new location in Denton by the way!  You can use water color or any paint on them if you want, but these were done with India Ink and they are lovely.

3 Steps to Bluegrass Bronco

Last night we had a spectacular turn out for the opening reception of our Wild's of Texas show.  I enjoyed meeting so many new people and catching up with my fellow artists.  One of the questions I got at the show was about the process of creating one of my pieces.  So, here it is, step by step incase anyone wants to try their hand at their own artistic creation.  

Step one (bottom) After I gessoed the canvas and laid on a layer of acrylic with a sea sponge, I planned my design.  I use chalk because it is easy to remove and change.

Step two (middle) I filled in the spaces with color and some highlights.  I taped off the point where the horse's hooves hit the ground and used the edge of a palate knife to add splashes of paint.  This anchored my horse to the ground.

Step three (top) I continued with layers of color and outlined with Bob Ross Liquid Black Acrylic.  The thick black lines added drama and created a feel of quick motion for the painting.

This is currently on display in the gallery at the MCL Grand Lewisville for the rest of April and May 2014.  Enjoy!

Bluegrass Bronco
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic on Canvas
20"x20"

Step 2 for Bluegrass Bronco

Step 1 for Bluegrass Bronco

Texas Opening Reception April 12, 7PM to 9PM MCL Grand in Lewisville

SOLD
Texas
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic and Collage on Canvas
12" x 36"

Hope to see you tomorrow night if you are local at the opening reception of the Wilds of Texas show at the MCL Grand Art Gallery, April 12th 7:00 PM to 9:00PM.  I will have 3 pieces in the show.

2nd Place Asel Award Winner! Sour Apple Bronco

Each month I attend a local Arts group meeting at the Visual Art League of Lewisville.  I love the different variety of artists that attend and have found it to be a great way to learn more about what inspires other artists to create their work.  I was honored to win 2nd place in their Asel Art Award contest last month with this painting of my Sour Apple Bronco.  It will be shown soon in the upcoming Wild's of Texas Art Show.  More details to follow soon.

Five Paintings and Quotes about Flowers

I did five of these together and LOVE them.  I am posting them here, each with a quote about flowers.  May they bring you JOY!

Posies I
Acrylic / Mixed Media
8 1/2" x 11"
by Cheryl Harris White
$40.00

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. --Claude Monet

Posies II
Acrylic / Mixed Media
8 1/2" x 11"
by Cheryl Harris White
$40.00


Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. -- A. A. Milne

Posies III
Acrylic / Mixed Media
8 1/2" x 11"
by Cheryl Harris White
$40.00


The earth laughs in flowers.  -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posies IV
Acrylic / Mixed Media
8 1/2" x 11"
by Cheryl Harris White
$40.00
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.  -- Henri Matisse

Posies V
Acrylic / Mixed Media
8 1/2" x 11"
by Cheryl Harris White
$40.00


"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,"  Matthew 6:28

Posey Tree

I loved making this one.  Everything I learned  by making the small previous pieces in the last 3 posts, went into this one.  Some of the materials I used were painted papers and hymn book pages, jagged scissors, acrylic paint, gel medium, black liquid acrylic, mixed media adhesive, clear acrylic sealer and sponges and brushes.  I'll be doing some more like this.

Posey Tree
by Cheryl Harris White
Acrylic Collage On Canvas
12" x 36"

Rythem of Life Series - Joy

This was just an experiment really.  I liked the idea of flowers, symbolizing joy, growing out of an old boot.  Sometimes life gives us an old boot, and it is an effort to plant seeds of joy. . . but once we do, the joy grows.  Happy sowing!

JOY
Mixed Media
by Cheryl Harris White
81/2" x 11"

Rythem of Life Series - Peace

Here is another one I tried the same way.  Layers with washes of color built up on top of each other.  I call this one Peace.  If you look closely there are pages from the hymnal on the bottom layer.  

PEACE
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media
81/2" x 11"

Rhythm of Life Series, Dream

I have been experimenting with different papers and how they absorb  diluted washes of paint.  I found that an old hymnal I found had thick pages that were very thirsty and just absorbed the rich colors very well, but didn't fall apart and get soggy.  I must admit, I hesitated at tearing up the hymnal.  It had been on a shelf for years and no one ever used it.  I went ahead and used it though, because at least now, the words from the songs are on display in some really bright pieces of art.  It is definitely getting more attention now than it did collecting dust.  I created several of these and call them my Rhythm of Life Series.

DREAM
Mixed Media
by Cheryl Harris White
8 1/2' x 11"

How to make your own Hand Made Art Journal

3 pages folded and sewn together.
Do this 5 times to create 5 booklets.

Book Supplies: 
*15 pages of heavy water color paper cut or folded and torn to 9" by 11" dimensions 
( fold them in half to create the shape of a book 4 1/2" by 5 1/2 " and put them in groups of 3)

5 booklets taped together to form
one art journal book.  You are ready
to make the cover!

 * Waxed linen thread and a needle (Use the     needle and thread to sew them together at        the fold to create 5 little booklets)
 * Binding tape (Slip the tape through the           thread on the outside spine of each booklet     and hold them all together.

Adhesive Canvas
can be found at art supply
stores in many sized.   For
this project, use 11" x 14 "

Cover Supplies:
*1 adhesive backed piece of canvas 
size 11" by 14" 
* Water colors ( or other paint )
* Brushes
* Masking fluid (optional)
* Stencils ( used these to plan my designs
but they are optional.)
* Ruler (before you paint the canvas, 
use the ruler to mark off where the binding,
the front cover and the back cover will be.)

Paint your canvas with whatever paint
you like.  I used some masking fluid,
water color crayon and markers for mine.
Notice that there is extra room on the top
and bottom edges that will not show.  It
will get folded over when you cover
the book.

* Scissors
* Sharpies

Finished Art Journal!

Once the cover is dry and your
booklets are sewn and taped together;
simply cover the book.
Use scissors to trim corners.

  

Thinking Pink Art Journal Page

Thinking PINK

 "Almost all words do have color, and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see someone's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too." --Gladys Taber.

Since this blog is a celebration of color, light and life, the idea of a color belonging to a word or words was interesting to me.  It caused me to make a list of pink words. I began with the obvious ones to get rolling; lipstick, bubble gum, cotton candy, blush, roses and lips. Then I branched out a bit, which worked much better.  My top PINK words were; Joy, Lily, Sensing, Intuition, Inspired, Beauty and Lovely.  So share a PINK word with someone you love today and have beautiful, inspired day.  

Thinking Pink Art Journal Page
by Cheryl Harris White
Mixed Media