gg's functional art

Sunday, August 3, 2014

The creation of “RED” ~ the woodpecker art project to bring HOPE.

For a long time, I’ve collected colorful photos of birds. My husband and I have shared a mutual interest in birds and photography since we first met. However over the years, we’ve experienced such busy, complicated lives since our son was born … like so many other interest, ‘birds watching and photography hobbies’ have fallen to the way side.

I have often longed to paint a collection of exotic birds … since I have so many friends and ‘art customers’ who are avid bird watchers as well as bird art collectors.

So as “HOPE” would have it, a few weeks ago, an image of a red-head headed woodpecker caught my attention from a Facebook post on a website name: “We Love Birds”.

For some reason, (perhaps God’s plan), I clicked on the little woodpecker icon and looked at that person’s photos. I saw dozens of beautiful images of all sorts of birds. My curiosity got the best of me and like so many other aspects of life… (some call me a bloodhound) … I needed to know more about the photographer behind these beautiful images.

I texted the person and requested permission to view her images and learned the photographer’s name was Annette. Upon a brief conversation, I learned we had several common interests. Additionally, I also learned that due to horrific car accident, my new photographer friend was suffering horrible pain, was bed ridden and these exquisite bird images were made from her bedroom window! Just as my art is my therapy to deal with my own personal challenges, Annette’s bird photography was helping her deal with life full of suffering.

Over the past few weeks, I have learned a lot about my new Facebook friend, which inspired me even more to find the time to paint from one of her photos.

To make a long story short … this little bird painting titled: “RED brings HOPE” became more than a therapeutic painting project.

This painting became the symbol for “HOPE” …

Hope that Annette will find the medical attention she needs to relieve her of the chronic pain she is enduring. Hope that she finds a place that helps know that others do care and love her just the way she is. Hope for a future. Hope for healing.

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all.”

~ Emily Dickinson

Below are pics of my bird painting process from the beginning to the end. I alway say, "my art connects me to others" and little RED certainly did.

RED in process.

RED is painted on a 12" x 12" by 1.5" deep canvas.

My paint palette for RED.

© 20145 GG'S FUNCTIONAL ART ~ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

“RED brings HOPE"

© 2014 GG'S FUNCTIONAL ART ~ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Pixels version of RED.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

"Birds of a Feather Flock Together" - Tropical Bird Art

Well it's time I put other projects on hold to update my websites and my art blog. Marketing needs to be higher on my priority list! Yes, it's been a while since I made time to upload photos of new artwork. Like many other artists, I would rather create than ‘market’ … but if people don’t know about it, they aren’t going to buy it. Right?

This is one my most recent creations. I call him ‘Mr. Chartreuse’.

Last year, my hubby and I worked off and on for a year updating our dated 80’s den to a more modern color scheme and décor with various shades of chartreuse and black leather/wood. (That’s another blog posting for another time.) This summer, we’ve transitioned the chartreuse or lime green color out to the deck.

To brighten the brick wall, I decided to paint an extra large toucan to go alone with my other tropical bird decor. ‘Mr. Chartreuse’, was created with acrylic paint on canvas, but sealed with several coats of Liquitex oil sealant.

This protects my work from dust or from fading. I gave up working with oils years ago and a oil sealant to acrylics gives it that ‘oil finish’ without all the negative aspects of working in oils; such as the expense, long drying time, mess, odor, etc.

This is an old birdhouse that had been abandoned in the basement for years. Instead of selling it at a yard sale, I decided to paint and decoupage it with bright altered papers with tropical birds. It now fits in nicely with my bright green and burnt orange furniture.

Last year, during one of my summer art exhibits, I painted several tropical birds on 'functional art' coasters. I have sold several, plus their prints for a year now ~ but have decided to keep a few for a serving tray.

For over 5 years, I have created coaster art for custom gifts and area art venues. Many have purchased these unique 4”x4” hand-painted tiles, to add to their coffee tables or serving trays.

Coaster and trivet reprints of my tropical birds can be purchased here: http://www.cafepress.com/+parrot2300_framed_tile,1181361109

My 'Birds of a Feather Collection' can be purchased here in various sizes of high quality prints or on super sized canvas at:

Fine Art of America: http://gg-burns.artistwebsites.com/art/all/birds+of+a+feather/all

CAFÉ Press: http://www.cafepress.com/profile/ggsfunctionalart

Zazzle:http://www.zazzle.com/ggsfunctionalart

This past week, I was excited to learn that one of my 'humming bird' paintings was featured on the home page of CAFÉ Press.

For that reason, I'm adding my tropical bird collection as well as a few of my hummers from recent years. Enjoy, gg

See more here: http://www.cafepress.com/dd/77436511

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Making a Heirloom Mirror with Vintage Jewelry

Over the years, I have acquired old jewelry and watch pieces from my

Mother and Grandmother. Many of these items were broken or if earrings,

only one remained.

I had also saved several pieces from my childhood days

that always brought back memories and I had often

thought about adding them to a collage or something

to hang on the wall.

Recently an artist friend told me about a wonderful new product

called Apoxie Sculpt, that would be easier to work with instead of gluing

tiny pieces to a wooden frame.

I ordered a 1 lb set from aves studio, which shipped in 2 containers.

There are several videos online demonstrating how to mix the 2 parts,

drying time, etc. However, is was really

very simple - especially if you have ever worked with sculpty clay.

For my project, I first found a framed mirror.

I actually purchased this one at a yard sale for $3.00.
The price for the clay was around $16 plus shipping.

I tape off mirror with painters tape and painted the frame black.
Then I layered my broken jewelry items around the frame,
thinking ahead how to best arrange them.

Once you have mixed up the 2 parts of Apoxie using rubber gloves,

position it on your frame and push the jewelry items into the clay.

I also added small vintage buttons and tiny beads around each brooch, pendant, etc.

The drying time for each section is about 3 hours.

I worked on this over a period of several days, allowing each section

to completely dry before adding more.

You can purchase Apoxie® Sculpt here.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

A Tribute to the life of our Min Pin!

Once upon a time, an ordinary couple were searching
for a puppy for their son. Their son has recently
been hospitalized and the entire family was very sad.

When the couple decided they wanted to purchase a
breed called ‘miniature pinscher’ they visited a breeder.
While looking over the litter, the Mom asked,
“do they already have personalities?”
The breeder said, oh yes, the one your husband is
holding is called ‘Satan’ because he is so difficult!
However, the little one in your lap is nicknamed
‘sleepy’ because he is so good and loves to sleep.

Well, the decision to purchase the ‘sleepy puppy’
was made immediately.

Purchase this print here:

http://gg-burns.artistwebsites.com/featured/baby-min-pin-in-the-phlox-gg-burns.html

The couple brought their tiny puppy home. On the way,
the puppy didn’t want to be held, so the Mom put him
down in the floor of the car. The little puppy began to
rock back and forth – as if he was trying to balance himself.
And that was how ‘Rocky’ earned his name.

Purchase this print here:
http://gg-burns.artistwebsites.com/featured/min-pin-you-are-loved-gg-burns.html

What the couple didn’t know was little Rocky was about
to steal their hearts. He not only became their son’s
therapy dog … but he became their therapy. Rocky
gave more love than any dog could. He slept with the
couple each night; he went on long walks each day with
the Mom and played games with the tired Dad each evening.

Rocky’s job was to protect the household.

If anyone came into the house uninvited,

Rocky chased him or her away – including cats,
birds, squirrels – you name it. One day he even chased a
burglar out of the house while the son was home alone.

Rocky was a hero.

When Rocky was older, he almost died from a
reaction to his yearly vaccines. But the vet gave
him medicine and brought him back to life.

Each day, Rocky would wag his little stub and talk
to his family with his eyes. He was always happy
and gave unconditional love, even when his
family was tired, stressed or cranky.

Rocky loved to sit in the sun, on his 'leopard print'
pillow and greet all the neighbors walking by on
the sidewalk. He was the king of his domain.

He only tolerated the family cat, who was
always sitting in the shadows.