Thursday, May 16, 2013

fun things lately...



My Spoonflower fabric arrived in record time. It is so gratifying to be able to keep a painting I made and sell it too. This was done using the image of the painting in a mirror repeat creating a kaleidoscope effect.
Pillows coming soon.

"Wet words" 24 x 30 oil on canvas by Kerry Steele
I have been working on a large commission but there are times with any painting that I need to put it aside for drying or to refocus. I often use those times to paint other things. "Wet words" is one of those.
 I started this a few days ago using a new glazing medium to spread the yellow on the canvas. It seemed to nearly paint itself and I loved the effect. While it made one layer go on nicely it made it nearly impossible to put on another color without it all blending together. I was a little frustrated. Yesterday, I picked up some Liquin impasto. It is a gel that you mix with the oil color to allow fairly quick drying texture to your painting and it stretches the paint. I was able to do some knife painting over the glaze with it and parts of the glaze had dried enough for brush work. The two products are new to my work and have counterparts for acrylic painting that I have used but they behave so very differently.


In other news, I am no longer married to a butcher. *gasp*
Its still the same old guy but he changed stores and departments and is now bringing home all manner of unusual produce.
Last night we had fiddleheads. They are baby ferns and I had eaten them pickled before but never fresh.
I sauteed them with olive oil, butter, salt, and garlic for about 5 minutes. I took them off the heat and tossed in a about a tablespoon of minced fresh thyme and basil. We topped them with a bit of parmesan.


Totally yummy!

10 comments:

Vel Criste said...

Good morning Kerry! Never tried these greens before, looks yummy - initially I thought though since your were talking about paint, I thought somehow the greens were the paint! hahaha! Anyway, love,love that new fabric, would love it seen on the settee you were eyeing on ;-) Your new painting too is coming along beautifully!

Kathleen said...

LOVE the fabric!!! It is gorgeous! You are so talented in so many ways!! Wow. My mind is brewing with ways to use it. Can you imagine window treatments, outdoor chairs, pillows. Aahhh. Love:)

Unknown said...

Love this new painting and fiddleheads? Youre kidding me. What do they taste like? Hope he loves his new location! tell him hi!
xo Nancy
Powellbrowerhome.com

Raina Cox said...

Love love love the fabric. Is it upholstery weight or better for pillows?

Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt said...

Your fabric is beautiful! I cant wait to see it as a pillow...I have never tried those green things before...but If you say there yummy I will have to try them....

Linda {Calling it Home} said...

Kerry, that fabric is incredible. I can't believe how much it feels like your painting. Not sure about the fiddleheads.

Kim said...

Ah Kerry, we just sauteed up some fiddleheads last weekend! I swear you can only find them about 5 days and then they are GONE!! Love them! And as for your fabric ... completely awesome!! xo

Windlost said...

Hi, I grew up next to a river where fiddleheads grew in abundance and poked up out if the riparian soil in early May. My mom canned and bagged them so we ate them year round. I love them fresh most! We cannot find them often out west but I'm going home (east) in June and mom said today she has lots and is freezing some for me!! Yum!!!

Sounds like kitchen fun at your house! We love to cook and eat. As my butt suggests. Veggies are safe at least. Haha. Maybe not with butter and Parmesan. :)

Xo Terri

Karena said...

Kerry adore the new fabric from your art! I have used the Liquin Impasto as well and love it!The glazing mediums are also an artists edge for getting a look you want!

Come with me on my adventure in France.
life, possibilities, grace
a beautiful dream...

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

The Pink Pagoda said...

Wow, Kerry the new fabric is fantastic! And the new painting! LOVE!! This is a look I'm crazy for . It sounds like you're really doing so many different things now with paints. So interesting!