Fearless Friday, Heartbeat
This painting was commissioned by a special friend, {who also keeps my hair magically blonde} for her new space in an upscale French themed salon
She wanted an abstract that was sophisticated, yet pretty, interesting, but not too busy…
Something to remind her to keep calm and carry on…
We looked at a lot of paintings together so I could get a sense of what she liked and wanted color wise
She loved neutrals with gold leaf, pinks and a touch of black for drama
a dark gray underpainting with gray gesso
Adding white with bold strokes with a large brush and letting the drips, well, drip!
Different thicknesses of paint provide interest and texture
I use large jars of economical paint for big paintings, only using my pricey tube acrylics for finishing
For this painting I used acrylic paint from Devine Color collection at Target
I used a palette knife to apply thicker tube acrylic
Again letting the thinner Devine Color paint drip and run
Adding gold leaf can be tricky, you don’t have very much control, it’s best to just let it do it’s own thing
I use Mod Podge to apply the gold leaf, brushing it over the area I want gold leaf, then carefully brushing a sealing coat over it once it’s in place
Touches of black were added at the end, signifying a heartbeat on a medical monitor
Here it is hanging in the salon
Naturally, I had to see how it would look on Society6 items
Heartbeat is vertical like the original painting and this iPhone case below
Stay Cool is the horizontal version, like this tote bag below
So, stay cool, feel your heartbeat and Be Fearless!
Juicy Details
You can find “Heartbeat” and my friend Ricki at Angel Hair in Crestline Village, Birmingham Alabama
Heartbeat is available for sale at my Society6 Shop as an art print, framed or unframed, a canvas and lots of other accessories
Gold Leaf is available in art stores and craft departments and on amazon.com
🎨 🎨 🎨 🎨 🎨 ❤️
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Celebrate and Decorate, Rustic and Refined,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cooking and Crafting with J&J, The Scoop, A Stroll Thru Life
Tickle My Tastebuds, The Blended Blog Full Plate Thursday Share it One More Time
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Absolutely stunnnnning Jenna! Thanks for sharing the steps!
Looks great. You should get many other commissions from her customers!
Thanks Bonnie, as a matter of fact I am working on another one now 🙂 >
Jenna, I absolutely love the abstract and I know it adds a perfect touch to the salon. Everything transfers beautifully to the different products that are being offered! You are so gifted!
Thanks Pam, it was fun to do, and I was secretly hoping she wouldn’t like it so I could keep it myself, 😂 >
That is truly wonderful, you are so talented.
Thank you Caro
How absolutely beautiful! I’m sure your friend was thrilled with her painting. I enjoyed seeing the steps involved, interesting how it all comes together. Sure looks lovely on your Society6 items.
Enjoy your weekend………..
Thanks Emily! >
Oh, my, I LOVE this painting. You are so talented, Jenna. I keep looking at your tote bags at Society6, and every time I pick one out, you come out with another striking pattern and I’m even more confused over which one to buy! Bravo to you for all your creativity and the gift of making the world a prettier place. Rosie
Thank you Rosie, I was very happy with the way this painting turned out. I’m afraid I’m my own best customer on Society6, 😂 I have several new designs just created yesterday, Running Roses and Burst of Color. I’ll be posting about them probably next week. Your sweet words are much appreciated! >
Brava, Jenna! Abstracts are so hard (that’s why I won’t paint them). Mine always end up looking like mud, but I really like the pink, black and gold leaf on this one. You rock!
Thanks RJ! Yes, they are much harder than they look…
Jenna, what beautiful color! Love it!
I love learning from your step by step tutorials Jenna. Beautiful painting. I quite like it horizontal too. When you say a “sealing coat” for the gold leaf, is that another coat of mod podge? Do you just cover the gold leaf area? I use adhesive made for gold leafing on my oils. I don’t do a sealing coat. I spray it on my palette paper and use a brush to control where it goes then leaf on top of it. It is hard to control. Heading to Minneapolis this week to study with an abstract encaustic artist. Check out his work. http://www.jamesedwardscherbarth.com/home
Thanks Johanne, I brush a little Mod Podge over the gold leaf once it’s in place and then I clear coat the entire canvas with varnish once everything has thoroughly dried. I experimented with Mod Podge as an adhesive because I didn’t have the special gold leaf adhesive, and it works for me. Thanks for the link, very interesting-Enjoy your workshop, I hope you will post about it and show some of your work! >
I know your friend and salon owner must be thrilled to have a “Jenna-original” to own and hang! Love the gold leaf accents!
Beautiful!
Jenna, it is lovely and that’s from someone who usually doesn’t like abstract. But in this case, you nailed it.
Thanks Sandy!
I really enjoy seeing your process for paintings. This piece is so fun! 🙂
Thanks Kim, it was fun to paint! >
This is so pretty! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
This is just stunning! Pinned! Mimi xxx
I’m so very fond of your beautiful painting. I love the textures you used and of course the colors. The gold really sets it off. It feels like spring — lovely and light, elegant yet not intimidating. Absolutely marvelous!
Thank you Jeanie, it was hard to part with I wanted to keep it for myself!
Jenna
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I could see these on napkins, tablecloths and runners.
Oh wow, that’s an idea…
Jenna
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This is a great idea. Painting heals the soul. Thank you for sharing.
yes it does, thanks Victoria!