60 x 40" canvas entitled "looking ahead"
i've been working on this piece since we got back from europe on monday. i woke up at 5 am and just started slinging paint around.
love all the colors filling the canvas background it is hard to see from the photo but there are dozens of subtle nuances in the color as it cascades down the canvas
then i started in with the india ink. letting it drip to form the stems of the trees and the poppies
then adding all the textural elements, color and dimensional aspects giving the piece some life.
i used EVERY red and brown i have, as well as a couple of yellows to create the colors of the poppies
i had most of it complete and then i sat and stared at it for the past 3 days.
i couldnt figure out what it needed, but i knew it wasn't done
lots of layers of messy edging in red, turquoise an gray...my favorite alphabet stencil and a not so quick trip to the hardware store for the 3 numbers and voila, canvas complete!
i love the feeling that a finished piece of art gives me...i can ride that high all week!
Thanks for showing all the steps...it gave me some wonderful inspiration!!
Posted by: Danielle | October 20, 2012 at 07:04 AM
wonderful..I love all on it!
Posted by: froebelsternchen | October 20, 2012 at 07:18 AM
When I sling paint around I get a mess. When you do it, you get a gorgeous work of art. It really is beautiful.
Posted by: Kirsten Alicia | October 20, 2012 at 07:37 AM
Gorgeous....I wish I could sling paint and it would look like this....You are so talented!!!
Posted by: Jocelyn | October 20, 2012 at 07:40 AM
fabulous...those trees just make my heart sing.
Posted by: mary walmer | October 20, 2012 at 08:02 AM
This is GORGEOUS. What a beautiful painting. Love it. marvelous composition and colors.
lovely greet
marja
(marjascreativity)
Posted by: Marja | October 20, 2012 at 08:10 AM
It's beautiful. I just love the colors, movement and texture going on - breathtaking!
Posted by: Kelly Luna | October 20, 2012 at 08:39 AM
I think this is fabulous, I adore the colours. I wish I could sling paint around like you, too!!
Posted by: Helen Lindfield | October 20, 2012 at 08:44 AM
This is gorgeous. Love those colors. I paint with those too. I always love bright and happy colors in paintings. They make me happy and smile.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Wendyswenne | October 20, 2012 at 10:02 AM
omg its the most gorgeous painting I've seen in a long time. Love the colors, the texture, the way the trees flow off into the distance, the composition. I can't stop looking at it! If it looks this beautiful on a computer monitor it must be stunning in person. You are a very talented artist.
Posted by: Pam | October 20, 2012 at 10:08 AM
WOW! IT's gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing the process - fascinating seeing this special piece develop!
Posted by: Bev | October 20, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Wow, wow, wow!!!!
I love it!
Posted by: Clivia | October 20, 2012 at 12:18 PM
That is gorgeous Donna....reminds me of my Tuscan holiday this year....fabulicious ;)
xoxo Sioux
Posted by: Sioux | October 20, 2012 at 12:28 PM
Wow!!!! The colors , texture, everything makes me feel excited!!! Thanks for sharing and hope you will give a class on this one. Would love to make this (a bit smaller) Lise
Posted by: Lise Pederson | October 20, 2012 at 12:53 PM
What a beautiful painting! Thanks for sharing your process...and loving the typography!! xo Evie
Posted by: Artful Scrapbooking | October 20, 2012 at 01:31 PM
Great job Donna, so true. A completed canvas is such a great feeling. Love your work as always <3
Posted by: CroppinSpree | October 20, 2012 at 02:51 PM
Wow this is breathtaking! Love your work. This would look beautiful in my house :)
Thank you for showing us step by step.
You are inspiring!
Thank you
Posted by: Caleen Beatty | October 20, 2012 at 02:53 PM
Gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Rose D., Frenchtown, NJ | October 20, 2012 at 06:25 PM
BEAUTIFUL !!!
Posted by: Tina | October 20, 2012 at 08:47 PM
ARTGASM ALERT!!!
Donna, you have reached new heights of artistic awesomeness! The dreamy layers, the delicious texture, and the eruption of bold colors! Wow!!! :) Amazing stuff.
P.S. Can you share the significance of the numbers?
Posted by: Heidi P. | October 20, 2012 at 10:41 PM
it is stunning donna. i really love the rainbow coloured background. x
Posted by: Clare | October 21, 2012 at 05:02 AM
A happy piece that is going to make someone happy every day when passing it.... :-)
Posted by: Cindy aka Scrapcollectr | October 21, 2012 at 10:46 AM
OMG!! This has to be my fav work done by you! I love the trees! What a perfect example of your amazing talent!!!
Posted by: Kathy Layton | October 21, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Oh wow, I love it! I absolutely love the colors. And it's huge! :) I wish I had your talent.
Posted by: Queenspaperpalace.blogspot.com | October 21, 2012 at 12:48 PM
It's beautiful! I can't believe your floor is so clean! i make the biggest mess around me. Also, is there significance in the numbers that you chose?
Posted by: Kathy Adams | October 21, 2012 at 01:00 PM
Beautiful painting! What brand of paints do you use? The colors are so vibrant!
Posted by: Marcia | October 21, 2012 at 01:08 PM
Fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!! Totally love this!!!
Posted by: Wanda Hentges | October 21, 2012 at 06:35 PM
so stunning. I love how you sat and looked at it for several days. And what you added just made it so original and unique.
Posted by: Jessica | October 21, 2012 at 08:39 PM
Absolutely Beautiful! Loved seeing the steps in painting it! Thanks!
Posted by: Tuttlediana47 | October 21, 2012 at 09:00 PM
This is fabulous! Love the bright, happy colors. Your final touches are just right :)
Posted by: Beverly S | October 21, 2012 at 11:10 PM
It's stunning!! I am dying to learn how to blend and mix colors the way you do! So beautiful...OMD, Oh My Drool!
Posted by: Dawn Jones | October 22, 2012 at 10:16 AM
This is AMAZING! I love everything about it. GORGEOUS!!!
Posted by: Angie | October 22, 2012 at 10:33 AM
I was grabbed by the visual power and colors in your piece. Beautifully done.
Posted by: Katrina F. | October 24, 2012 at 07:55 AM
what a beautiful piece! europe is good for you!
Posted by: Sue | October 26, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Beautiful! It's fun to see your process.
Posted by: K-Sue | October 31, 2012 at 06:51 AM
This is fantastic! A true inspiration!
Posted by: Penny B. | November 01, 2012 at 02:50 PM
Donna this caught my eye on Pinterest. I love the vibrant colors! I started looking around your blog as well, and noticed your walls in your studio with the blue walls and bright orange flowers...I am so in love with them; so very pretty! whenever my chidlren move out and I get a space of my own, I am certainly going to keep that visual in mind... it feels so cheerful. Also, what type of paint do you use on your canvas?
Posted by: Nina | February 25, 2013 at 04:21 PM
ALSO... have you ever been to Indianapolis, Indiana?
Posted by: Nina | February 25, 2013 at 04:23 PM