That bow!

I recently finished painting a resin dog for the town of Lancaster, SC! It was fun to do but not without challenges. “Rosey” was heavy and bulky and the acrylics were balky..so to speak! They required several finessed coats on the slick surface. As the deadline approached, so went the dedication.. the hours..and the angst! I had a blood vessel burst in my eye…not serious, but adding drama…such is the stuff of life! I drove “Rosey” to her new home right on time and no sooner. I felt like a proud new mother, as I dropped off my little bundle of joy! Here is my point! “Rosey” did not magically appear last week! She took a lot of prayer, planning, painting, and purrrzzz! Art is not created in a vacuum! It is a skill that takes much dedication and effort, often years of honing that skill..taking lessons, teaching lessons..one step and prayer at a time! I have not arrived! But, as the bible says, “I press on to the mark!” God has given me the ability to see; the desire to learn how to draw and paint; the dedication to press on; and, the Holy Spirit to guide my steps! For this I am so grateful! That bow?! I’ve been asked how the bow looks so 3 dimensional! Lots of folks have thought it is a real bow around Rosey’s neck! Included here is an illustration of the bow in progress…one side flat and the other side showing how highlights and shadows can bring a flat surface to life! Voila! No magic! To paint or draw realistically, you must record the lights and darks as you see them! To train your eye to see this “play” of light dancing across a surface is the key! Posey counted the hours that went into making Rosey…but she’ll never tell! Purzzzzzzzzzz everyone!