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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Painting a Spring Garden Sign and Giveaway

Welcome. I am so glad that you stopped by. My garden gate is always open for you to come in and sit and relax with a cup of tea. Today we are going to look for inspiration for a Spring Welcome garden sign that we can paint together. The weather has been beautiful in Southern California and it seems like everything in early bloom in my garden is pink.



Bentley, my Studio Assistant, is already in the garden looking for inspiration for us to paint.





I have several pots of pink Hydrangeas that are in full bloom. The blue and white Hydrangeas have lots of buds but are not quite in bloom.












The old fashion fragrant geranium has tiny pink blooms.



The pink Geraniums love the sun and are in bloom.






"The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing". Isaiah 55:12

Hydrangeas are very easy for beginners to paint. Let' pick a few blooms and put them in a basket and get started painting.



Notice how many different colors there are on the blooms.








Here is a close up of the basket so you can get an idea of how to paint it.





I like to paint on an 8X10 100% cotton canvas as it will hold up out side, however, you can paint on a wood board or piece of slate that you can purchase at Joann's, Michael's or any craft store. I use acrylic paints. You are welcome to copy my drawing - in the past I have used my computer to print out sample font for the lettering - you can also purchase a CD with various samples of font to use for your lettering.





Notice that I drew the horizontal weave of the basket - it is important when you paint it that you paint the weave as shown on the real basket of Hydrangeas. I like to paint in the darks first.







I used Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna and Raw Umber. If you do not have these colors, don't worry - just use a light and dark brown. After I paint in the darks I go back with the same colors and lighten them up with a little white or yellow to get the look of the weave of the basket.
Notice how I painted the flowers in a dark color first - I used Alizrin Crimson and will later add white when I paint the actual petals. Your can use red and go back and add a little white to get the light colors of the petals. I also used a yellow/green mixed with white on some of the petals to get the variation on the petals. Hydrangeas have lots of groups of petals on the main flower - most have 5 per group of petals. I mixed my Crimson with white and highlighted some of the petal groups. Then I painted a little yellow/green center on the highlighted petals. Also add a little yellow or light brown to you leaf to give the look of the veins on the leaf.





The last step is to add a little shadow under the basket, varnish with 3 coats of non-yellowing matt acrylic varnish and attach screw hooks on the back and add a little ribbon and ENJOY.







SPRING THANK YOU GIVEAWAY




Giveaway -$100. Pottery Barn Gift Card and Welcome Garden painting of your choice.



To enter, please leave me a comment and let me know which garden sign you would like to receive with your gift card. You do not have to have a blog to enter - simply leave your comment under Anonymous. As a special THANK YOU to the followers of my blog your name will be entered twice. Just let me know when you leave a comment if you are a follower. The winner will be announced on March 25th.







If pink does not work in your garden, you can pick the other Spring garden sign shown below.



Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people in Japan. There is power in united prayer. Jesus said: "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them." Matthew 18:20
Thank you for stopping by. I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate you visits, E-mails, comments and those who follow my blog. I read and cherish each and every comment and e-mail. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see me paint something special.



Have a lovely week. Blessings, Erin

31 comments:

D. Jean Quarles said...

Your garden is so very lovely. And that Bentley, what a bright assistant. Love your choice for your welcome sign - I'd love to win any one.

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Erin,
What a great giveaway!!! I am a follower and I love the daisy sign.

Anonymous said...

Love your signs....I ordered a
flower shop painting from you
in Feb. 2010. I wish I could
paint ... but that is not my
talent. Your work is so bright and uplifting. Either
sign would be great! I enjoy
reading your blog. J

Happy@Home said...

I always enjoy the opportunity to see your beautiful garden and appreciate your little assistant sharing it with us.
You have a way of making painting look almost easy. Maybe someday I will get brave enough to try it for myself.
This is a most generous and lovely getaway. I would be happy to have my name thrown in the hat. If I were lucky enough to win I would be thrilled to have either one of your paintings. I have just become a follower.

My Cozy Casita said...

Hi Erin, I love all your painting
thank you so much for you giveaway
I'd love to wind any one they are beautiful.
Blessing!!!!!
XO
Isora

Sonia said...

I love your paintings and your garden is so pretty! the colors are so happy and vibrant! What a blessing to live in So Cal where you can have flowers year round...I'm waiting anxiously for spring..my hydrangeas haven't started leafing out yet and they are my very favorites! If I were to win the giveaway I would love to hang the pink hydrangea sign in my garden! What a generous giveaway. I am a follwer!

Miss Bloomers

Donna said...

I'm so excited about your giveaway.
If I win, I'd like the pink sign. So cute and welcoming. :)
D

Janet said...

OMGoodness! What a wonderful giveaway! Both of your garden signs are equally beautiful, but I would have to choose the pink one! I am a follower and always look forward to your posts! Thanks for your inspiration!
Blessings,
Janet

Unknown said...

I love your paintings.
very cheery. The pink basket would look wonderful in my garden.
What an amazing giveaway. Thank you. 8>)
I am also a follower.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I love your painting style! I would love to be entered in this wonderful giveaway. I love the second welcome sign. I am a follower...
Hugs,
Penny

Anonymous said...

Greetings from N.C. I have been a follower of your blog for several months. I love your home,garden and paintings. Would like to be entered in your giveaway and I like the mixed flower sign. D

THE VERANDA HOUSE said...

HI DEAR ERIN YOUR INPIRATIONS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL BENTLY GETS TO ENJOY THEM FIRST.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TUTORIAL.IS SO NICE OF YOU TO TEACH US YOR ART,I AM SO HAPPY FOR THE SING THAT YOU PAINT FOR ME.I HAVE TO PUT SOME COLOR IN MY FRONT PORCH,MY GERANIUMS ARE NOT IN BLOOM ,OR ANY OF MY ROSES THE CRAB APPLE TREE IS FULL OF WHITE BLOOMS...THANK YOU FOR SHARING .IM HAVING SOME TEA IN YOUR GARDEN I FOUND THE DOOR OPEN..BLESSINGS TO YOU AND BENTLY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Kelli said...

I love your painting. I have the bike welcome one and am always getting comments on it. Thanks for the great giveaway. I love them both
Kelli S.

Faythe said...

since I am going to try my hand at the pink one..LOL..thank you for your help..I would like to win the second one...and now I am off to see if I can figure out how to be a follower..

Faythe said...

And now I am a follower..YEAH

Janice said...

Hello! Thank you for the instructions to paint a sign like yours. I'm a beginner painter and I find I feel inspired with your step-by-step instructions! I am a follower and I would be honored to receive either painting if I were to win this drawing. Blessings to you! *Bentley is sooooo cute!

Maaike said...

Lovely garden, flowers and pictures! And the paintings are wonderful, well done matching in the garden!
Have a lovely Wednesday,
love Maaike

Rhondi said...

Hi Erin I LOVE ALL your garden signs and every time I look at mine I think of you. If I win I'd like the one with the tree pots. I'm a follower too!
Hugs, Rhondi

Unknown said...

I love all of your work. I would love to have any of these to put in my garden! I am also a follower of your blog.

CHERI said...

Just found your blog...beautiful! I've always wished I could paint and although you make it look easy I don't think I would ever be successful! Love both signs and either would fit right in but the second one would be my pick. In fact, just yesterday I was working in my little memory garden (in memory of my deceased daughter) and thinking I needed some type of sign. Now isn't that a coincidence? Thanks so much for the opportunity to win. Now I'm off to check out the rest of your blog:)

CHERI said...

Oops...forgot to tell you I just signed up to follow your blog:) And that Bentley is just too danged cute!

CHERI said...

I just found your beautiful blog and left a really nice comment, only to realize it didn't post. So here goes again....I have always wanted to be able to paint and although you make it look easy I don't think I'd ever be successful! I love both of your Welcome signs but the 2nd one would be my choice. In fact just yesterday I was working in my little memory garden (in memory of my deceased daughter) and I thought I needed some type of sign for it. Now isn't that a coincidence? Thanks so much for the opportunity to win. Now I'm off to check out the rest of your blog:)

Anonymous said...

I love the hydrangas since I have one in my garden that started as a small one from Home Depo as a table setting for my daughter in law to be when we had a shower for her. I would love to win any thing of yours. Bentley should be in the movies - his pose s great.

Leslie Peaire

bj said...

Hi, Erin...thanks so much for coming by to see me. I love it when you do.

Your garden and flowers are magnificent. So very pretty. We just don't get these kind of blooms out here in hot, windy West Texas. :)

Mr. Bentley is looking mighty fit and handsome. He is one of my favorite dogs. I know we would be friends. :)

This is such an awesome and generous giveaway, I just can't believe it.
I would love to be entered in your giveaway and I have been a happy follower for a long time.:)
If I am blessed to win, I would LOVE the daisy painting.
hugs, bj

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

Your garden is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
I love the pink geranium garden picture!

Smiles,
Dolly

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

I follow you and Bentley!!!

Dolly

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Dear Erin,

I need Bentley to help me! I love ALL the signs so any choice is a great one.

Sending thoughts of spring sunshine (we need it)

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

sandra said...

Oh please sign me up, I LOVE YOUR PAINTINGS and your beautiful garden! I would be happy to receive either picture and I absolutely love Pottery barn! HAPPY SPRING!

Kathi said...

Oh how I love your blog. All your flowers are so beautiful. I love the hydrangea signs as they are one of most favorite flowers. I so hope I win the gift card and your lovely sign.

Kathi said...

I love your blog. All your flowers are so beautiful. If I won I would love the hydrangea sign as they are one of my most favorite flowers. Needless to say, I love everything Pottery Barn! And may I add that Bentley is a wonderful studio assistant!

Vicki Boster said...

Erin- the welcome garden signs are gorgeous! I sure am sorry I missed this wonderful contest!

I love the basket of hydrangeas!
Vicki