Mixed Media Sunflower Paintings

[PerfectlyBohemian]

I decided to start Christmas crafting pretty quickly after returning from my honeymoon, and I have already knocked out two sets of two mixed media sunflower collages/paintings. I've never really done a mixed media piece, but I didn't really want to devote a lot of time to painting details, so I thought this was a fun option. The backgrounds of four canvases were covered with paper that I took from a 1947 photography magazine that was given to me a few years ago. The petals and the centers of the flowers were cut from book rescued from being trashed, and the stems and leaves are newspaper. I used acrylic paints, water color paints, pigment inks, sharpies, and an ink pen. Everything except the stenciled white shapes were free handed.

[HSG]

Absolutely beautiful! Sunflowers are so happy and warm, and your paintings capture that.

[SunnyDawn]

Gorgeous, I love them!

[Homerof2]

I love sunflowers and those are beautiful!  I'd be proud to have them hanging on my wall.

[Yogifarmgirl]

I really wish I was a better fine artist! I love sunflowers, they are my favorite and the mixed media approach you used was beautiful!

[MissingWillow]

They came out great!

[SunflowerSmiles]

I LOVE these! Love all the textures and stuff goin on in them. Sunflowers are my absolute favorites. They're really beautiful!!

[PerfectlyBohemian]

Thanks, everyone It is good to be back on Craftster after a couple months of hiatus, and I was excited to finally work on something that wasn't a wedding craft

They were actually really simple to do. I wasn't very detailed on the painting. It was mostly just smudging various appropriate colors on cut out pieces and then gluing it on. I used some techniques that a friend of mine is always trying out (like scraping paint around with a credit card).

I definitely need to learn how to use Modpodge better though. There were lots of lumps, but I don't think the gift receivers will notice

[alteredmommy]

These are great!  Love all the texture and the colours, especially the smudgy painted details  

Modpodge can be pretty difficult to get bump free, if you plan on doing more mixed media you might want to try out Gel Medium which can be easier to get smooth adhesion with.  A brayer also helps to flatten your bits down and stick them on good.

[PerfectlyBohemian]

These are great!  Love all the texture and the colours, especially the smudgy painted details  

Modpodge can be pretty difficult to get bump free, if you plan on doing more mixed media you might want to try out Gel Medium which can be easier to get smooth adhesion with.  A brayer also helps to flatten your bits down and stick them on good.

 Thanks for the advice! I will definitely consider this option in the future. I'm already brainstorming on who else I can make these kind of gifts for. My mom and mom-in-law both really liked getting these for Christmas