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This is a 16″x20″ acrylic and lace self-portrait on canvas.

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to sit in our front yard, in the creeping time, and watch the many bees buzzing to and fro.  After the more somber “Talitha Cumi” I wanted to do something a little more whimsical and light hearted so I sketched out the idea, and eventually got to work putting it on canvas.

I have wanted to try working other media into my paintings, and had bought some lace scraps from etsy.  I cut them and fitted them together so that they would make serve as a backdrop of greenery behind me.  Getting the edges to work around the foreground was a bit challenging, but I got there.  I sponged layers of various shades of green and ochre yellow, which, with the varying textures of the different pieces of lace, really lends itself to imagining leaves and vines.

For some of my curls, my eyeshadow, my nails, and the bees’ bodies, I used some metallic shades of paint.  Overall I’m really pleased – especially with my rocks. Rocks always make me nervous, but I think these turned out well.

Project Images

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