Acrylic on canvas
36"x48"
Gold and silver leaf on details.

Thank you so much for choosing my paintings for your home and sharing these pictures with me.

This is a fun acrylic :o))
Background was painted with a palette knife mixing paint and gel, 4 different reds layered.
I did some drawings of monarch butterflies and blocked them out with gesso, After drawing where the lines should be the black paint mixed with clear tar gel was added with a teaspoon.  After black paint dried each butterfly was painted individually and covered with self leveling gel.
I decided to varnish the background with satin to take away the high gloss glare so only the butterflies have a high gloss finish.
It is fun, minimalist and bright!

Acrylic painting on canvas. Step by step painting of lionesses.  
This painting was based on a photograph taken by my friend Michelle Ludwig in Kenia. The picture itself has a great composition so it just needed a little more light.  I decided to open more spaces between the leaves without disturbing the concept of the lions surrounded by green. 
This is not the usual way lion paintings look so I was very excited to do it.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

This is how I learnt to stretch a canvas, a print or any painting, I hope it is helpful for you.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me!

When stretching a canvas in the "gallery wrap" style (staples in the back) we need to make sure we have enough fabric to wrap around the borders.
Start by doing the longest sides, set around 5 staples at the center of the stretcher, then stretch the opposite side and set another 5 staples ( across from the first ones), then proceed to do the smaller sides of the stretcher by stretching and stapling right at the center.
Keep stapling side by side around 5 to 6 staples at a time and always doing the opposite side next until you reach the corners.
Fold the corner like an envelope and staple to keep it flat. Make sure both corners on one side are turned facing the same way.
*For better presentation when canvas is stretched, trim extra fabric and cover staples with white duct tape.

In this painting I tried to put together five pictures of the same model. I posterized the photos a little with photoshop to give them an edge.  The background was done with fluid acrylics by allowing them to flow. Once the background had dried I worked the dresses with a very nice 6"wide brush. For the dresses  I mixed paint with a little gesso for more consistency and for a matte look. The black paint in the dresses is GOLDEN micaceous iron oxide, its is a very nice metallic dark grey that adds luminosity to the artwork.
When the painting was finished the red background was varnished with high gloss and the figures were varnished matte to give them more contrast.  I was very happy with the result!  :o))

In this painting I will try to merge the impressionistic contemporary feel with a drawing of a beautiful girl that gratefully posed for me.... I will use a colour shaper, it's a great flexible rubber spatula with a flat top that is great for blending and making edges.. I love this tool :o))
No brush needed, my challenge is to stay away from detail.