How to Make Easy Block Print Bookmarks.

Wood cut block prints are very exciting to do. You take a long time carving out an image and don't really know what it will look like until you ink it and press the paper on. It is very gratifying to see a project turn out and to have others like it.

I made some book marks for friends at church to give out as gifts. I know bookmarks are a thing of the past but I am still holding on. I decided to not use a wood or linoleum block but to use self adhesive foam since I was in a big hurry.  I cut the foam into the shape of the words from the Bible that I chose and then stuck them in mirror to a piece of acrylic.

I knew the black ink and white of the paper would be too stark so I stained some papers in pastel washes of red, violet, blue, and green. Then cut them into shape leaving a little overage for final trimming. It was a lot of work.

I inked my "foam letter block" and pressed the papers onto the print. It turned out as expected, I was very pleased. After printing about twenty I cut them to size and laminated the prints onto a lightweight paper so a white border would show and the lamination would hold to the boarder, this kept the print in place and gave it protection.  For lamination I just used a strip of boxing tape; it is clear and heavy, but you have to be careful since it has static and the pieces want to move into it before you are ready.

 The final project had the verse on one side and the reference on the other. I used a hole punch and tied tassels on them.

The gifts were well received.

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(c) Adron

Mini Treasure Boxes Art Project

My wife asked me to paint some little boxes for her to use as give away gifts and thank yous for a seminar that she was giving. I worked on them for some time and posted an earlier update. Now they are done and delivered.

A project for my wife is always a special privilege for me since I love to do things for her and there is so little I can give her since I am only a poor artist.

These little boxes were painted first in gesso and then given a coat of butter nut white. After they dried I painted little decorations on each. One is covered with roses one with some vines and hearts and the largest one is painted with sunflowers. All are done in acrylic.

I could have done these in the quick "One Stroke" method but I am too much a representational artist to use the easy technique. I used a traditional painting approach and just took a long time. I had to build up layers of color with the acrylic. I prefer to paint in oil or watercolor but found that the acrylic had properties similar to both traditional mediums.

I was very happy with the results and hope they contributed to the success of the seminar my wife was giving.

Adron

Treasure Box Update, One of Three Finished

Mini Treasure Box

This little treasure box measures about two by three by two and a half. It is cardboard and painted over with acrylic paint. It is very cute.

I would rather be painting a landscape or an ocean scene but when my wonderful wife wants something I drop all else and give it my all. This is one of three little treasure boxes I am decorating with a stylized art for her to give away at a seminar she is giving this weekend.

I had to hold back from decorating every line and corner but sometimes less is more and if I didn't draw the line somewhere I would never get the other two painted.

I do not do these types of projects often and when I do there is always a problem finding the right supplies since the paints are languishing in a drawer somewhere and usually drying out.  I did not have the choices in colors I would have liked but it worked out OK.

Decorated Jewelry Box With Black Eyed Susans

This is a little project for my niece Katie. It was a wood jewelry box with a wood finish. My wife painted it over in an antique white acrylic paint and asked me to embellish it with some black eyed susans. I used acrylic paint and combined some of the "One stroke" technique with a more traditional style to do the flowers and the ribbons.

Katie's Jewelry Box decorated by Adron

The drawers were painted in a canary yellow acrylic paint, which was also used for the first part of the yellow daisies like flowers. 

Right Details of Flowers 

Left details of Flowers

I painted the green leaves first and then painted the flowers above them. The yellow paint was very pale on the white background and I would not have even tried it except that the box had to be white for our niece. I used a little green and alternating colors of orange and red to add contrast so the flowers would  stand out.

Black Eyed Susans painted on box

Black Eyed Susans on jewelry box

I used a sponge to paint by dabbing the blue back ground so that I had a soft edge to the blue. After sponging the blue in I had to give a little smoothing out of the center with a very soft brush.

It just seemed that the little area on the back needed a little something. I thought we had enough flowers everywhere so I did a medallion of a K for Katie to personalize the jewelry box.

a medallion of a K for Katie 

This is not the kind of painting I normally do but it is enjoyable to do a project outside my normal comfort zone it stretches you mentally and gives an opportunity to experiment with techniques that you might not get to try out. 

I felt honored to do this little project for my niece.

I would consider a project like this just contact me for a price quote. 

(c) Adron

____________________________

Thank you for visiting my blog. 
I hope you enjoy my art. 
If you want to see more just choose from the labels or the favorites in the sidebar. 
Adron


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Painted Props for an Event.

Here are two "Pirate Treasure Chest" I painted for a little girl's birthday party. The mom gave me two Styrofoam coolers to paint.  I spent many hours on these. I primed them with off white latex paint. Over the primer I used fan brushes, liner brushes and others to make the wood grain.  I made handles out of rope and hinges out of cardboard. On top I painted images of two famous ships using acrylic paint. on the sides I painted other images of sea legends.  The front of one has a light house and the front of the other has two dolphins leaping out of the water.

Normally I would charge $20.00 an hour for a project like this for a stage production or social event.

I think I over did the projects a little bit.Everyone who saw them were overwhelmed.

It is ashamed to do so much work for something that will only be used for one day and then discarded. That is the give and take of painting props and sets for theater and events. There is no shame in doing your best job no matter how big or how little the project is.

If you have an event and need some prop painted get in touch.