Tuesday

In Harmony With Spring


I recently decided to give two of my pieces to the Rotary Club of Eastwood to be auctioned off for charity.  It’s a cool way to give back to the community. Know, before you go thinking I’m this amazing giving person, it’s also a way for me to get my name out there as well (it’s a win/win). In return for the donation you get your name (and a picture of a couple of your pieces) in their glossy 8 X 10 magazine, pretty fancy, hugh! When you check out their website, oh and I know you will, (http://www.eastwoodrotary.org/) you’ll be able to actually see a copy of the magazine online. I personally picked up 25 copies for myself, not sure who I’m handing them out to, family and friends perhaps? Hahahaha! (I can hear them all groaning now!) Anyway, it was a lot of fun to do the pieces, you know me, any excuse to paint something!

Here’s the first piece. It started out as this "cuteugly" table. Cute when I first did it,  but ugly now that I look at it! You know what I'm talking about! You've all been there. My painting has grown and matured over the years, so a lot of my earlier pieces look silly to me now, but I still love the phrase on it though! It’s great isn’t it!


So, as always I primed it down. I had to sand the dots on the legs because they were a bit heavy (she said in a very critical voice). Next, I taped off the areas I was going to crackle (see http://thedecorativepaintbrush.blogspot.com/2010/12/girl-can-change-her-mind.html for a more detailed tutorial). I base coated in a tan, ragged off (painted on the brown with a brush, then took a rag and pulled paint off in a random fashion) with a darker brown (Ben Moore Roasted Coffee Beans 2098). Then I applied the One Step Crackle Medium by Deco Art. Dried it with a blow dryer to speed up the crackle process, then I wiped Minwax stain in Red Mahogany #225 over the surface to fill in the cracks and give it a deep rich leather feel.  I did this step on the legs as well.




Then when it was dry I pulled the tape and started painting the center parts. I laid down the base coat first then when back in and started to draw out and tape off where I wanted the designs to be.


I had recently gotten a Cherry Blossom stencil and knew I wanted to use it. Spring has finally arrived here in New York and I really felt like conveying that through this piece and felt like the cherry blossom stencil would really help me do that.  The great color palette of pinks and greens coupled with the earthy brown just pulled the look all together.  So, when I was looking for a word to go on top “Harmony” just seemed like the perfect choice!








Well, I’m hoping someone will love this piece enough to bid on it. I’m really hoping it brings in some money for the Rotary Club and all the wonderful charities they donate to throughout the year.  If you get a chance, really, check out all the other great artists that are participating in the show! http://www.eastwoodrotary.org/ I’m stoked to be a part of it.  Look for the second piece next week. Peace!

Cost: Table was free (given to me by my sister-in-law)


Colors Used: Benjamin Moore

  • Pink Ladies 1347
  • Island Sunset 1346
  • Bermuda Breeze 1345
  • Dark Celery 2146
  • Olive Tree 390
  • Roasted Coffee Beans 2098
  • White Dove

  • Minwax Stain Red Mahogany 225
  • Reeves Acrylic Metallic Silver

Happy Painting,

Mary




14 comments:

Monica said...

At most of those rotary events the guys are drunk so maybe you could sell someone the rest of the set!

Carol said...

LOVE the tables. I can see the eyes on my granddaughters now if they were to receive one of those!

Be Colorful Coastal said...

But of course this is you. I linked up on Ms Mustard and then started perusing the thumbnails. Lots of brown furniture painted white. Overdone. I'm yawning. Then I see this fun colorful pattern. I'm intrigued. I'm here and I laugh when I see it is your post. You know I love it. You are a rockstar with a paintbrush.
Pam

Suzanne@thriftstoredecorjunky said...

Beautiful, as usual! Love the stencil. Do you just draw the stencil in pencil and then color it, or do you actually us a stencil brush and do a stencil the regular way? I am asking because I see the picture drawn in pencil on there, so I wondered.
Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Ok - long story short (hopefully). Just moved, now have a workshop (yay!) Haven't done furniture, but GREAT thrift shop close by. Stuff I see online bores me to tears! (don't tell, okay?)

But this, THIS, inspires me. I don't think I can come close to you, but I can have great fun even trying! Now, I'm truly inspired! Thank you sooo much!

Sommer said...

Holy smokes look at that cool table! I'm loving all your stuff. I'd be delighted if you'd like to do a guest post on decorative paint on my blog sometime. Let me know =)

Raeanna said...

Every time I check out your blog I'm so inspired! (Now if I'd get off my butt & do something while I'm feeling inspired!!!!!!lol) I absolutely LOVE your wild painting style!

Deborah March said...

Love love LOVE the rainbow table...mmmmmmm!!!!!! So did you have Mags in mind when you did this one? ;)

At The Picket Fence said...

Great job! I think they are beautiful, and how special for you to contribute to the auction! Thank you so much for linking up to Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence!

Heather

Suzanne@thriftstoredecorjunky said...

Hi Mary,
I just want to let you know that I have been so inspired by your work, and tuorials, that I tried my own project. I gave you credit in my post, of course..
Read about it here if you want:
http://thriftstoredecorjunky.blogspot.com/2011/03/crazy-caninet.html

Mary said...

Hi! I just popped in to say that you were featured on "Top Ten Fav Picks" at Boogieboard
Cottage! Have a great weekend, Mary :O)

Cassie Bustamante said...

those are so fun! love the saying about the rainbow- it is so sweet!

Deneen@dreaming-n-color said...

You are so talented! I love hand painting. I am an artist to so I appreciate the work that goes into these pieces! I am your newest follower! Would love for you to follow me too!
dreaming-n-color.blogspot.com

Connys Cottage said...

you make soooo wonderful thinks....


i love it......