Painting with Sharpies

My first art experiments this year were inspired by a few videos I saw on YouTube. (Thank you, Algorithm, for tempting me).

Using Sharpie permanent markers, draw a design on a background of choice, then distort the design with rubbing alcohol. The result is a tie-dye effect.

I gathered my tools, all of which were in my stash, er, retirement supply stores:

Clean white 4" tile

Sharpie markers in a variety of colors

Cotton swabs

Rubbing alcohol

Using scribbled lines, I created my design. Up to this point, I was happy with my process.

Next, using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, I placed droplets in the white spaces between the scribbles to allow the Sharpie to bleed. I was rather pleased with the results. 

So I grabbed the can of spray adhesive I had on hand and gave it a light coating.

and immediately moaned (or cussed. I'm not sure which). Apparently this spray has an alcohol base. My design immediately bled more than I'd intended. 

I tried using more Sharpie and alcohol dabs to fix it. No go. 

So I next tried coating the "revised" painting with Gloss Mod Podge applied with a disposable foam brush.

This time I'm positive I cussed.

The foam brush scratched the image, leaving this:

Ugh! I thought I was done with this experiment. I threw the tile away and went downstairs to calm down with a jigsaw puzzle (Hint, hint: more puzzles to come).

But the next day I thought I'd try something else. I have some canvas-covered boards on hand. So while waiting for a video call to start, I scribbled a similar design on the canvas with Sharpies. I used the same colors I'd used on the tile.

Then, instead of dabbing the painting with cotton swabs, I used an eye dropper to let the alcohol drip onto the canvas without the dropper tip touching the canvas. That worked well.

After the painting dried, I touched up the heart a bit and added a few more drops of alcohol. This way the heart shape is very distinct with the bleeding happening behind the shape.

I tucked my completed Sharpie painting into a frame I had on hand.

I don't know that I'll keep this version, either. But it was fun to try both surfaces to see how the Sharpie and alcohol reacted. I like the look of the tile better, but the colors are fragile on that slick surface. The canvas version, even without a sealant, feels like it will last longer.

Later I did a bit of research and learned that Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel Sealant might be a better coating to use on the tile because it won't distort the finished painting. One could also experiment with the original formulation of Mod Podge. It's supposed to work well, too. But I don't recommend applying it with a foam brush. I'd use a soft paintbrush that I won't mind throwing away afterwards. Mod Podge is a glue. It's really hard to clean out of brushes.

I'm not going to try again right now. I don't feel like spending $15 on a sealant I won't use often.

Here's one of the videos I watched to learn the process:

Berry Sweet

by guest blogger, my daughter, Jodie Delsere

Sometimes, when Abby goes down for her nap, Mimi and I take on a project. Often this looks like some household to-do that can’t get to-done with a toddler underfoot. But today we needed a boost, so we painted some rocks.

I planted four new strawberry plants this year. I eagerly watered and watched as the first bloom turned into a fruit. And just when it turned perfectly ripe… a squirrel took a big chunk out of it. So Mimi offered her stash of rocks and paints to make strawberry look-a-likes that deter all manner of scavengers so I can keep more fruit for my morning parfait.

Mimi and I always find ways to add a little extra magic to our time together. You’ll note evidence of delicious chocolate milkshakes, plus “Baby TV” in the background. (Our favorite programming is watching my daughter snoozing through her baby monitor.)

As we painted we noted some of the ways we do the same project differently. Some lines narrower, others bolder. Some seeds clustered, others more sparse. But when grouped together, they all look like family. Go figure.

Sometimes craft supplies take Mimi to a time and place. She informed me that this can of spray seal was purchased when she lived in an apartment in Coeur d’Alene before I was born. It’s seen many hundreds of beautiful projects pass through her studio.



Time to place the strawberries in their patch. I’m particularly fond of this upside-down one.

They’re all in place! The birds and squirrels and bugs don’t know what they’re in for.



As always, Mimi and I find a way to make our time together berry, berry sweet.

Sailing

 ♫  If the wind is right you can sail away and find tranquility ...  ♫

I found this painted rock under a magnolia tree at Ruff Park yesterday. 

... many magnolia photos to come.

p.s. This makes me itch to paint rocks again!

New Year Cards

Since activities around Christmas fill up the days before the 25th, Dale and I have moved to sending New Year Cards instead of Christmas cards. This year it was a joint venture.

Dale did the math, then made the template the way I envisioned it. We printed it on heavy cardstock.

Then I got busy painting, using a video tutorial I found on Facebook. 

Following the video, I painted ...

and painted. I used three shades of green, red, some gold, and a silver/grey mix. The painting is done with Q-Tip cotton swabs. I ended up making 20 cards.

While I was painting and signing the back of the cards, Dale wrote the poem.

I addressed the envelopes, he helped with the licking of the envelopes (mmmm ... tasty!), adding the return address label I designed, and adhering the Christmas postage stamps.

What a team!

Simple Pleasures #11 - Watermelon

On my morning walk through the neighborhood, I found this rock painted like a slice of watermelon under a tree by the side of a road.

Thank you, dear painter/hider. Your kindness gave me a smile.

Simple Pleasures #5 - Watching My Strawberries Grow

I've wanted a strawberry pot for as long as I can remember. Now I have five barrels full of strawberry plants. They're even bearing fruit.  

 

Plus, my painted strawberry rocks still make me smile every day when I water the plants.

Strawberry Season

Oh, look! A basketful of strawberries

So juicy and sweet -- like rock candy

Or, like rocks anyway.

I saw a video that claims that if you paint rocks to look like strawberries, then set them among your strawberry plants, the animals will be fooled by the "ripe" strawberries, find out they're no good, and leave your ripening strawberries alone. 

I don't know if it will actually work, but it was fun to spend time in my Studio painting rocks again.

I put them out in my strawberry patch this morning. There's a few scattered on the ground.

Others are hidden among the plants

beneath the growing berries.

Cute, aren't they!

I didn't get many strawberries last year, and some were bug-eaten by the time they were ripe. I've already eaten two fresh berries this year. My plants survived last winter's ice storm and sent out runners so that I could plant a 5th barrel. So far, they're looking lush and the harvest is promising.

Back at It

Prepping rocks with a base coat this morning. This is the first batch. I plan to base coat with black next time.

I'm not exactly sure when I'll paint them with designs or what my theme will be this time. I do have quite a number of tutorials saved up that I might try out. Time to do some imagining and dreaming.

For now, I'll get the rocks and paint prepared. That way I can jump in when the bug bites again.

Painted Rocks

When our granddaughters visited from Idaho last weekend, we made the most of a rainy day by painting some rocks. I've been wanting to try a technique using fingernail polish.

I filled a shallow dish with water, then dripped some fingernail polish on top. We learned that the thinner the polish, the better this technique works. The fingernail polish mostly rests on the surface of the water. Then you swirl the paint around to help get a marbled effect, and gently dip the rock face into the polish/water.

I should have tried this out before adding little ones to the mix, but we were winging it. There was a ... mishap. But their mom helped with the cleanup.

I forgot to take photos of their rocks. But I finished mine up this morning:

I received a big bag of mostly-used fingernail polish from our local Buy Nothing group which I've had for over a year. Using those supplies means that this is another step in my 24 Goals in 2024. Nice.

I had such a good time giving out painted rocks with the Halloween treats last year that I plan to make more rocks through the year and save them up for the trick-or-treaters.

Kindness Rock

On one of my recent 3-mile walks I got a gift for my effort. I found this Kindness Rock along the sidewalk on the edge of the wetlands.

What a great message - care of Scarlett O'Hara, bless her heart.

It was placed by a student from Willamette High School.

Finding this painted rock has me in the mood to paint some more of my own.

New Season, Renewed Goals

Today marks the (unofficial) end of Summer 2023. The last day of the "Summer of P."

Today? Purple:  Glory - Lit from Within

I nearly tripped over this vibrant purple morning glory while on today's walk. Vines from the morning glory seeds I planted this summer are beginning to grow up the new trellises. It will be a while before we get any flowers. I'm looking forward to watching them bloom.

It's been a successful summer for this thought experiment: 

• Patio: our biggest change. We put up an awning, added a rug beneath it, and found a couple outdoor lounges. We rest in Adirondack chairs every morning while watching the five whirligigs shaped like hot air balloons spin. We've added a lovely hanging crystal (a gift from Jodie) that spreads rainbows throughout the back yard as the sun sets. We bought the trellises and planted the seeds. I started a strawberry garden and we got about a dozen berries this year! We have a series of planters that have added architectural detail and are awaiting some plants to go in them. We're about to install some steps at the gate. Adjacent to the patio, we got new trim on all the windows of the house, new rain gutters, and installed a new roof! 
  
  
• Parks: I visited six local parks since June. 
  
  
• Picnics: We had one!
  
  
• Past: We never made it to a museum. Instead, I revised my goal and shared many of my favorite photos from the past. I've been busy with my huge photo organization project, so I was reminded of lots of joyful moments from our past.
  
  
• Purple: It's interesting how much of this color I noticed when I purposely became attuned to it. Of course for me, it was mostly in flowers. There's so much beauty to give attention to -- especially close up.
  
  

"September is the new January," a phrase meaning there are new beginnings as the seasons change, a new school year begins, new goals and aims can be set. For me, I'll put renewed energy into my 23 in 2023 goals:

• Visit more parks. With one more park visit, I'll have visited 23 for the year.
  
  
• Put continued effort into my photo organization project. But I'll also pick up more of my books written by expert photographers and learn about their history and techniques.
  
  
• Paint some rocks.
  
  
• Update our Will and Trust
  
  
• Complete three more projects that have been languishing for years. That will bring me to my goal of 12 for the year. (Wouldn't it be something if I could complete a total of 23 languishing craft projects instead? But that goal may be a step too far).
  
  
• More geocaching!!!
  
  
• Spend more time with my friend Karen.
  
  

I better stop now. I'm wearing myself out simply thinking about this many goals. For me, it's a comfort to have them enumerated.

Watercolor Heart Cards - 7

These are the final four Watercolor Heart cards I made. I'm so pleased with this series.

#25

#26

#27

#28

I believe what I'm most proud of is that I've actually reached out to friends and USED most of them.

Watercolor Heart Cards - 6

Coming down the stretch ... more colorful Watercolor Heart cards

#21

This is my personal favorite

#22

#23

#24