Fabric of My Life with Shelley Graham Turner: October 2016

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Hanging My Head in Shame: Nothing to Show for Myself!

I'm posting to say that I don't have a painting to post today!

I haven't finished. I am a PROFESSIONAL procrastinator so I put it off until the last day (Friday). BUT I woke up sick, with vertigo and I couldn't even make it out of bed until like 2pm. And then I had "work" I had to catch up. I am still catching up as I lost like 7 hours (yes, I start my day at 5am).

So, no painting to share. BUT, you can always check out past work via my YouTube channel. There's a load of COLOR there. I mean I ASSUME that's why you are here, right?! You love COLOR!

Oh yeah, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Saturday, October 22, 2016

It's Saturday - Time to Showoff! - October 22, 2016

It's #ShowOffSaturday over at one of my favorite Facebook groups, The Artist Entrepreneur hosted by the lovely Catherine Orer, Coach Extraordinaire.

Again this week I am sharing one of my paintings from my October series where I am celebrating autumn with abstracts - this is abstract 10.4

You can see my process in the photos below -

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

(1) I started with a 20" x 20" canvas and applied a base of black gesso. I then sketched an abstract design with chalk. (2) Using white acrylic I began my layers. I started with a round brush and painted small haphazard strokes. (3) For the next layer I mixed the paint with acrylic glaze.

(4) Next I added color. (5) Once it dried I began pulling off some of the top layer of paint off using alcohol and elbow grease. This created a distressed look.

Lastly I applied thin layers of translucent colors - Golden's Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Green Gold. Using baby wipes I removed some of this paint too. I worked some Paynes Gray on top to give it some more depth.

The final piece -

20 x 20 Acrylic on canvas

Donated to the

Rome Rescue Mission Fundraiser

Here are a few close ups photos which allow you to see the texture and layers of color.

Shhhh - if you've read this far, thank you! Your reward? Leave a comment below and be entered to win a set of note cards with close up images taken from this painting.Winner selected on October 28, 2016.

Congratulations to last week's winner, Kathy E.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

It's Saturday! Time to Showoff: October 15, 2016

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

(1) I started with a 20" x 20" canvas where I had applied a base of black gesso. I then sketched an abstract design with chalk. (2) Working with my chosen color palette of autumn hues I worked out a plan. (3) I began building my layers with stamped images and collaged sewing pattern tissue and torn pieces of newspaper.

Step 4

(4) Filling in base color. I used several products to build layers of color - acrylic paint, markers, gelatos and Neo-Color II crayons.

My most used tools on this painting - Acrylic glaze (used to add transparency to paints) and a scrubby paint brush (older brush that I cut down)

Steps 5 Step 6 Closeup

(5) I created a few flower outlines with my chalk. (6) Using my scrubby brush and acrylic paints mixed with the acrylic glaze I filled in the petals of the flowers, still allowing the bottom layers to come through.

After many, many hours of adding layers I have landed here.

20 x 20 Mixed Media on Canvas
FOR SALE - Inquire via email

Here are a few close ups (I love close ups, it's where you get to see all the yumminess!)

CA3.5X7

** Special Offer **

Get your own 5"x7" print of a close up image with

added quote by John Donne,

"No spring nor summer's

beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in

one Autumnal face."

send $5
via Paypal to
shelleygrahamturner@gmail.com

(state #CA3.5x7 in the note)

Suitable for framing. The watermark will not appear on your print. Other sizes and formats available. Offer expires 10/31/2016.

But I'm not sure it's finished. I may keep adding to it - after all, you can NEVER have too many layers.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Show Off Saturday with The Artist Entrepreneur Gang - October 8, 2016

Yeah it's Saturday! GOOD NEWS - I don't have any grandchildren visiting today so I can create ALL day and night!!

Besides that, it's #ShowOffSaturday over at one of my favorite Facebook groups, The Artist Entrepreneur hosted by the lovely Catherine Orer, Coach Extraordinaire.

Here's the artwork I am sharing today. It's part of a series I am working on for the month of October. I am celebrating autumn with abstracts - this is abstract 10.1 (real creative name, huh?!)

(Selected as Artist of the Month by the Rome Arts Association, it will be on display at the Rome-Jervis Library during the month of January 2017).

It's a mixed media on paper measuring 11x14 framed. It will be listed in my Etsy store soon (so much on my plate right now, but I HAVE to get to that! Next week I am training an new assistant, hoping that goes well and he will pick up the slack around here!---- any who....)

Here's the painting and also a few photos in a slideshow as well.

The slideshow begins with a page from a magazine which inspired my color choices. You see the beginning of the painting as well as some up close shots.

Hope you enjoyed the glimpse of my work...see you next #SHOWOFFSATURDAY!

~ Shelley

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Leaves & Trees - Mix It Monthly Challenge with Pia Rom

Each month artist Pia Rom of Germany hosts an art challenge. She calls it "Mix It Monthly Challenge". In September the theme was leaves and trees.

Pia suggested that we use texture in our work. I love leaves and I love texture. I really enjoying using my different art supplies to create layers of texture.

Here is a slideshow with few photos of my finished art piece - a 6x6 mixed media on canvas.