Garden Gnome Update - The Painting Begins

Painting is underway! I'm basically working on the front first and then will progress to the back. The dark background will be put in last so that the color is consistent from front to back. He looks a bit like Santa Claus right now but he will have some gray in his beard and eyebrows and his hat won't be white so that will help. There are also playing cards that will be tucked into his beard. Those will probably be applied this week.

His eyes ended up being a little more brown than green but I like how they are looking so I'm leaving them a green-brown hazel. They also have gold flecks in them now. Quite pretty and his eyes really give him life. His face needs more paint. I started with a light shade of flesh, added a darker shade and will now even it out, adding highlights and shadows. (oh! and some color to his cheeks :O)

He is going to be so heartbroken when the gnome goes to his new home :o(

Most of the colors you see are just where I've laid in basic colors. There will be more depth and texture I just haven't started to add it yet.

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The caterpillar's 'shroom will have bright white spots. I added another layer of red to the cap and decided to paint over the spots instead of trying to paint around them.

The smoke will hopefully be even more pale. I will be covering all three colors with a layer of transparent silver so that it looks a little more mystical. (or should I say *mist*ical) It'll be against a dark background and the edges will be softened.

Note: the base of the gnome has become a parking lot for toy cars!

The caterpillar isn't finished yet but he is looking mighty dapper dressed in blue

That's all the progress from the past week. Now I must buckle down so that I can finish up the front this week and move to the back.

Oh! And I've neglected my Easter decorations this year so I must make up to the young one by making sure I don't neglect my easter cooking traditions. We have a lemon poppyseed pound cake lamb to make and decorate, eggs to dye and (hopefully, if I can pull it off) homemade poppyseed and nut rolls to make.

Oy! At least I did all my Easter grocery shopping yesterday
so all I have to pick up is asparagus for Easter Sunday dinner.

Have a great and productive week!

In the Garden

The primrose are really popping this week as are the hyacinth.
Just in time for Easter!

This photo really shows how well the poppy is doing!

Aesthetically speaking, the above photo isn't the prettiest but you can at least see the different shades of pink. They actually look much different in person, not all are actually pink, they just photograph that way. (In the big space was another smaller primrose but a rabbit came along and ate it before I took this photo.)

This primrose is a pretty pale pink

This primrose is a red violet color. Much more purple than it looks.

And this primrose is more of a fuchsia. It is much brighter than it photographs.

Yellow. The only color that photographs correctly.

These are so pretty. A lovely shade of blue violet, looks great with the primrose!

I was surprised to see my Labrador violets blooming. They are easy to overlook since they are so small but they are so sweet. I just love violets. I am also planting some sweet violets this year from seed.

My peony is not only coming back for its second year but it is thriving. It is planted in a large pot so I always get anxious that it will freeze out and fail to come back but it has sent up 3 shoots so far so I guess it's pretty happy. It should have stunning blossoms this year. It is called Buddha's Lotus Seat and it is suppose to have pink outer petals with pale golden center petals. So excited to see it in all it's glory!

In this messy clump of green, I have lilies sneaking up through a foxglove. I believe it is a black beauty lily but I'm not sure. Last year, the deer ate my lily before it was able to bloom(right after it set its buds). I'm hoping since it is now nestled in the foxglove it may have a better chance. I also ordered some Liquid Fence on the advice of an artist friend. I look forward to seeing how well it works. It would be a Godsend if I don't have to build a fence around my little garden bed. It is also suppose to keep rabbits out (yay!) I will keep you posted on results, it should be here this week so I should be able to see how effective it is pretty quickly.

This post is a little later than I planned it to be but I was having some issues with the laptop I upload all of my photos to. It refused to boot up. I found out that it was having issues because it was attached to the printer but since I had that scare, the thought that I wouldn't have my database of photos (art, family and other), made my husband back it up before we shut it down. Hopefully, it will continue to serve it's purpose until I can get a new one. Until then, at least I know I'll have all my photos saved to a safe place.

Garden Gnome Update - Sculpting is Finished, Let the Painting Begin! (Photo Heavy)

Finally the sculpting is finished! Here are the final photos of the entire gnome. There are some elements that can't be applied until the gnome is fully painted so you won't see those yet but for the most part this is it. I'm happy with how he has turned out and am currently covering the entire gnome in gesso so I can start painting.

Also, a development I shared on my Facebook page, I'm putting together a self-published book so that I can chronicle the entire process for my son. I know he is going to be traumatized when we have to say goodbye to Sir Gnome. I also bought him his own little plaster gnome that he can paint and put in his room (he thinks he has to sculpt on it so I think I broke the boy :o)

(in the gnome's beard will be tucked playing cards)

There will be three dimensional cards surrounding this scene with the playing cards. I can't even begin to show you how it will look because
I have to paint it then attach the cards.
Also, his bottle will be attached to his hand after the cards are all in place.

I decided to give the last remaining rose a little face. She will be very subtle.
but I do hope to give her long lashes.:o)

I shared the photos of my hands on the Hive but here they are after the final day of sculpting. Most of the clay has finally washed off and my thumbs don't hurt nearly as bad as they did but they still are dry. Ah! it's so hard being an artist :o)

Next week's update: the painting begins :o)