“The Road Less Traveled”, Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"The Road Less Traveled"

The finished piece!

I've been wanting to create an elephant in mixed media for quite a while.  I have been admiring Tracy Verdugo's work and I love the elephants that she creates, so that was the inspiration for this piece.  I am actually fortunate enough to be attending one of her workshops in only 7 more days!  I am beyond excited and cannot wait!

This is how it started.  I gessoed a piece of 20 X 20 cradle board.  Then I added texture with molding paste and stencils.  I also added some molding paste to the elephant's trunk and head.  I had some textured paper that I love and decided to add some of that to her ears.  I then gessoed over the molding paste and the paper on her ears.

Here you can see I started adding some paint.  I used Golden's Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Burnt Orange.  I'm all about the Turquoise lately, so I threw that in too.

Now for the scary part...starting on the elephant.  I had her sketched out and I started adding some paint.  I mixed Paynes Gray, White, and Anthraquinone Blue, and a little of the Turquoise to get a blue-gray color.  I wanted her to tie in with my background.  It needed more darks, so I added some Van Dyke Brown.

Here I started adding some of the Van Dyke Brown to the textured area in the middle.  I didn't want it to be one solid brown color, so I added some water to fade out some of the brown tones in the middle of the texture.

This part of the piece had me stumped for days and days.  I could not figure out what color to do the bottom of this piece.  It had such nice, nice texture from using the stencil and I didn't want to mess it up.  Finally, I gave in and told myself "who cares if I mess it up, I'm just doing what I like".  So, there again, I used Turquoise and smudged in some of the Anthraquinone Blue.

I had some gorgeous, gorgeous paper that tied into the colors behind my little elephant.  I tore out a border and added it directly under the brown textured border for a pop of color and to tie in with my background.

I also felt like the bottom of this needed to be distressed and not so "in your face" with the blues.  I took some alcohol ink and some of the Van Dyke brown and punched it in under the paper border.  Then I hit it with a spray bottle of water to make it run into the blue.  Fun!!  

So just when I think I'm done, done, my husband, who is an Engineer by the way, takes a look at her.  He points out that her head is too much of a globe shape and that her tusk was going in the wrong direction.  As much as I hate to admit it, he was totally right.  Had to make some slight changes, but here she is.  She is all finished and I LOVE HER!  The only thing left to do is finish her off with resin.

I titled this piece "The Road Less Traveled" because that's how I want to live my life.  I never want to be afraid to take risks and take chances...sort of what I did with this piece.  It can be scary for sure, but let go and see where it takes you. You may totally surprise yourself!

This piece is still available...fresh off the easel.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or if you are interested in giving her a home!  I would love to hear from you!

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

www.donnamartinfineart.com

https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart

"Truly, Madly, Deeply... Love", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Truly, Madly, Deeply...Love"

For some reason, I've been on this kick to create "Heart" work!  Maybe it's because I have a son who was born on Valentine's Day and he's been on my mind lately, which is a good thing.  So, this is the latest big endeavor.  I found this frame with the tin attached, at a summer market. It appears to be an old ceiling tile that they stapled to the inside of the frame.  It was the ideal inspiration, as I love combining old things and new artwork.  I knew this would be perfect for what I was thinking about creating with the hearts.  I created a piece of art (heart) for each individual tile.  They are respectively titled "truly", "madly", "deeply", and "love".  The pieces were constructed on 1.5" deep cradle board and attached to the tile.  They are coated with a glossy resin, which makes the colors "pop".  On the bottom of each piece, I added an antique chandelier crystal...well, because I just love some bling and it seemed like that was just what this piece needed.

This piece is available.  In total, the piece measures 29 X 29.  I tried to "shore up" the old frame so that it wasn't so rickety and now it hangs nicely.  It is truly a one-of-a-kind, unique piece of art.

For questions or comments, or if you are interested in purchasing, please send me an email at:

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

donnamartinfineart.com

"Breakthrough", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Breakthrough"

 

Well, once again it's a New Year and rather than settling on resolutions, I'm trying to pick a word.  This is my first painting of the New Year and the "word", at least for this piece, was "Breakthrough". 

This is a small mixed media piece, 6 X 12, 1.5 deep, constructed on cradle board.  It was layered and painted, using sheet music and various papers.  These photos show the piece before it was resined.  It is now coated with with a glassy resin finish, so there is no need for framing. 

This little "Breakthrough" is available.  Feel free to send me an email with any questions or comments.

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

donnamartinfineart.com

"Trio of Aspen", original mixed media triptych by Colorado artist, Donna L. Martin

Trio of Aspen

 

Detail

 

Closeups of leaf detail

 

 

This triptych was a commission.  I had to really think about these pieces.  The husband prefers traditional pieces of art and his wife likes more contemporary artwork.  I was tying to figure out how to "marry" the two styles.  It took so much time to complete!  These were done on 12 X 36, 2" deep cradle board.  The pieces are comprised of molding paste, crackle paste, paper, paint, burlap, tulle, and bronze nail heads.

 

For questions or comments, please feel free to email me at:

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

 

www.donnamartinfineart.com

 

"Moonlit Winter Aspens", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

Moonlit Winter Aspens

 

 

This is a little mixed media piece I did depicting aspen trees on a snowy winter night.  This piece sat around for about 10 months before I finally decided what to do with the background!  It was done on MDF board with molding paste and crackle paste for texture.  It was completed with acrylic paint.  The original is sold, but commissions are welcome.

For questions or comments, please feel free to email me at: 
saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

www.donnamartinfineart.com

“Enjoy the Journey”, by Colorado Mixed Media Artist Donna L. Martin

"Enjoy The Journey"

 

 

This is the newest piece, fresh off the easel.  I just lost my Aunt, who fought a courageous battle against cancer.  The painting that I had planned when I started this piece "disappeared" - so much for best laid plans.  This painting just poured out on to the board and practically painted itself.  My Aunt was a beautiful soul and I believe she "enjoyed every step of the journey".  She will be missed every day.

 

 

This painting is 10 X 10 X 1.5.  It is made with vibrant colors of paint, antique maps, and is heavily textured.  It is currently available.  Please feel free to email me with questions, comments, or if you are interested in purchasing.

 

 

saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com

 

See more of my work at:  donnamartinfineart.com

 

Follow me on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/donnamartinfineart

“She Decided to be Brave”, Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

She Decided to be Brave

   

This brave girl was finished today.  It was a result of being brave and letting some walls down, letting people have a "glimpse".

She was made with paint, colored pencils, twine, and a glass heart.

 

You can read more about the story behind her on my blog, http://donnamartinfineart.blogspot.com/2014/10/she-decided-to-be-brave.html 

 

She is available. She measures 8 X 8 X 1.5 and she comes ready to hang. If you have questions, comments, or are interested in purchasing, please feel free to send me an email at:  saltlightwatercolors@yahoo.com.

www.donnamartinfineart.com