Sunflowers

Sunflowers were the theme for Inspiration Avenue this week.  Sunflowers are also my favorite flower. 

I did two sunflower artworks for this challenge.
First, I painted a sunflower on watercolor paper.  Then, I made a couple of photocopies of the sunflower I painted in order to use them again.  I made an art journal page first, which I wasn't entirely pleased with, which you can see here at this previous blog post.    So here is the canvas I came up with, which I like a bit better.  I used that photocopy of the sunflower, and layered it on top of another photocopy of one of my watercolor paintings, this one.   I added some acrylic paint and oil pastels to integrate the two together.  I used some of the cute red Japanese tape on the sides of the canvas.  I also used oil pastels on the border and then smeared them with baby wipes.  I love the soft effect.  I will make a little tutorial at some point to show you how fun and easy it is.

And since I love sunflowers so much I'm going to share with you some really fun pictures I have.

First, here are the sunflowers from my garden from last year:

You can see how ginormous these are.  They were so beautiful, but they shadowed the rest of the garden and we didn't get a lot of good vegetables that year.  So, we scaled back the sunflowers this year and put them in the back row instead of the front.  I haven't taken a picture of them yet.  And my hair is super red there!

Here are some photos from my school garden.  I do Student Council at school, and with the kindergartners we planted sunflower seeds.  Each of them also planted a few sunflower seeds in a flower pot to take home.  They decorated the pot in my art class.  Here are some of our beautiful flowers.

Also linked to Paint Party Friday , Out of the Journal, and the Butterfly Effect.

27 comments

Unknown said...

Your sun flowers are beautiful ;0) I love the journal page very much ;0) Dxx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I am CRAZY about your art. I look forward to seeing your tutorial on oil pastels and baby wipes. Love those sunflowers. They sure grew tall! And yes, planting them in the back of the rest of the plants was a wise move this year.

carol l mckenna said...

Love your painting and photos! I love sunflowers too! Like your art style ~
namaste, Carol Happy PPF (Share the Creative Journey)

EVA said...

Great sunflowers!

I hope I have time to visit my local sunflower patch and take a few photos and paint one this weekend.

Unknown said...

Hppy PPF Love your painting..sunflowers are such a happy flower...you have a happy style !
KAT Griffin

wednesday said...

I think your painting is just wonderful, perfectly captures the warmth and color of a summer garden.

Crystal said...

Wow your sunflowers are just beautiful! Painting and photo

peggy gatto said...

thanks for the morning sun show!
Love your painting!

Šolanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Wow! Those are huge sunflowers. :) Great painting, too. Sunflowers are my favorites, too. I just never got around to painting them. I guess I'm a little intimidated by them with Van Gogh painting them and all. :)

Kristin Dudish said...

This post makes me smile... So bright and cheerful! I've never tried oil pastels with baby wipes... I look forward to your tutorial :)

xo
Kristin

Unknown said...

LOVE your sunflower, its gorgeous!

Carol said...

Your Sunflowers are TOP NOTCH!!! It's my favorite flower too :)

Geckostone said...

Oh your painting is gorgeous, and I love how you took the pic of the sunflower with the sun shining through the petals!!!! Deb

Alexandra MacVean said...

Very, very lovely. I love all of the bright colours mixed into one piece. :)

Rosie Kaplan said...

ANYTHING with oil pastels wins my vote!

Jen @Sadie Inspired said...

I love sunflowers too! They are so bright and bold. Such pretty sunflowers...I really like the way you bordered the page too!

Terrie said...

I thoroughly enjoyed your sunflower experimentation! The journal page was lively and colorful and your painting turned out great!

Joni Nickrent said...

Love the sunflower page...was always my Mom's fave flower...brings back good memories! POP ART MINIS

Netty said...

Beautiful and joyous painting, so love your style. Great photos as well. Happy PPF, Annette x

Kim Collister Studio said...

Your sunflower canvas is beautiful. I love all the techniques and the end result is the Grand Prize! I am so envious of your sunflowers, I hope to have a beautiful sunflower umbrella like the one you pictured! :)

XO
Kim

Becca said...

Beautiful! I love sunflowers but have never tried to grow them. Your artwork is lovely and so inspiring!

artangel said...

I love the mix of media and vibrancy of your sunflower art (I really like your journal page too!)

And wow - your real life sunflowers are HUGE!!

Priti Lisa said...

I love this artwork! It's fun re-doing your own art into new projects, isn't it?
xo

Carola Bartz said...

Wonderful colors in your painting. It looks very happy and summer-carefree.

Heather Foust said...

Sunflowers are my favorites!!! Beautiful!!!

Pointy Pix said...

Your sunflowers are wonderful - both your painting and the real deal in your garden!

SHERI COOK said...

Lovely painting this week. I really LOVE the close up of the sunflower photograph with sun backlighting it. Beautiful shot! Happy PPF!