Spreading Seeds Of Peace

Sometimes you don't like a new song when you hear it for the first time on the radio, but over time as you listen to it again and again it seems to grow on you and it becomes your new favorite song.  I am sure you have had this experience before too.

Well this was my experience with this painting.  Initially after I did the acrylic pour and the painting was dry, I didn't like the result for some or other reason.  It felt hollow and meaningless and it needed something to give it meaning and tell a story.  I decided to hang it on my lounge wall anyway where I could see it every day, not that I looked at it all the time.  Every now and again in passing the painting my eye will catch sight of it.  Eventually this painting started to grow on me and I liked it more and more, but at the same time I knew that it needed something. That something that will tell a story or make a statement.  I didn't know what this something was, so I just left the painting hanging on the wall until such time that I knew what was lacking.  The painting will eventually 'tell' me what it needed to be completed.  So days and a couple of weeks passed by.  One day when I got up from the couch and my eyes caught sight of the painting a thought of someone blowing came to mind and then I knew what the painting needed. 

I played around with different ideas...one of a woman blowing something and the other image of a child blowing something.  A couple of days passed by and my mind and soul decided that it needed to be a child and the title of the painting came at the same time.  I sealed the acrylic pouring and proceeded to paint the child blowing the "Seeds Of Peace".

You might ask "Why did you decide on the child?"...Well to me children are all born innocent and they learn impatience, aggression, selfishness, no respect and all the other bad stuff from adults because we are their example.  My biggest desire would be peace on earth...peace between countries, peace between different races and people in general.  I personally believe that greed, selfishness, intolerance and not having respect for self and others are some of the main culprits responsible for war, fights and crime.

Initially the child in the photograph was wearing a camouflage hat and this to me was the exact opposite of my intention and meaning in the painting.  Camouflage clothing and gear to me means war and hunting.  I thus decided to change the colour of the hat to green, as green to me represents renewal, growth, nature, energy, harmony, freshness, safety, healing power.  Green is soothing, relaxing, youthful and it brings a sense of hope, self-control, compassion and harmony...all of these playing a role in achieving peace.

The child, whom is born innocent, is blowing the seeds of peace into the world.

"Spreading Seeds Of Peace" 

Mixed media

45 x 121 x 4cm gallery wrapped canvas.  

The Arty Table

Wishing you a happy, blessed and peaceful 2018. May the dreams you have been harboring become a reality and a great success.

I played with acrylic pouring in the beginning when I started painting in the year 2000, which I then sometimes combined with resin pouring. Wow, 18 years ago and the sound of that makes me sound  ancient 😁, however I am still 25 in my mind. spirit and heart with a great sense of  humor! My biggest commission at that time was a triptych (a painting made up out of 3 canvas panels  hanging together to form one painting).  Each panel was 100cm x 150cm and the overall size of the painting was 100cm x 150cm. Since then acrylic pouring has evolved with new and fun techniques. You can see some of my 2017 acrylic pouring paintings here.

We inherited a kitchen table and chairs from my parents-in-law just over a year ago and it was in need of a makeover.

Initially I considered a big Mandala design on the table top, however I left the table as is for the time being as I was still throwing ideas around in my mind.  In December however I decided that now is the time for that makeover and set my mind on doing an acrylic pour on the table top, yet keeping the chairs plain as the table top will be the focus.

I needed sufficient space to do the acrylic pouring on the table as it is round.  I also needed a dust free area as it takes a couple of days for the acrylic pour to dry.  We have 3 kitties and the area had to be non-accessible to them...even if it was just for a couple of days until the table top was dry otherwise I would have kitty paws all over the table top and everywhere else.  The best place I could think of was my studio even though it is very small, however I was able to fit it in...only just!

Here are some photographs of the table in my studio where I have painted the table top solid white.  

The limited space...and yes, an exercise ball in the background which I use as a chair...it's indeed very comfortable to sit on.

Four 1 liter cups filled with the different colours of paint.

The covered carpeted floor. after doing the acrylic pouring on the table top.

I sealed the base of the table in so that none of the paint could reach the newly painted table base.

I never wear gloves 😆

Now if this is what my hands looked like, just imagine the feet...I'd rather not post of photograph of the feet 😯

The final result

Some close-up photographs of the table top.

I am thrilled with the end result and I hope you enjoyed this post.  Your feedback is welcome and please do not hesitate to ask should you have any questions.