Palm Siren Progress...

I’m so excited I can’t wait to share my (almost) finished oil painting of this Palm Princess.. or maybe Palm Siren.. or maybe Zebra Princess… I still don’t know what I want to call her yet.

My last few paintings have been named in some way after Mother Earth, but there’s something a little more intense and a little less nurture-y about this shadow splashed wahine.

And don’t even get me started on figuring out how to do shadow-striped hair! Wowza - that took just as much willpower as it did brainpower!

She’s not finished quite yet, I still have to add in the resin of course… but she’s almost there! Sooo exciting!!

Stay tuned to my YouTube channel because her grand debut is coming out this Sunday!

Thank you to @greatcreatorvision for the collab reference image!

10.13.2021

Skull Trio Progress Shots

You may have seen the live skull painting demo I did on YouTube a few weeks ago (if not it’s now listed as a ‘Real Time Skull Painting Demo’ in two parts), but that lively lil guy is actually just the first of three skulls I’m painting and will eventually layer with resin and some creepy crawlers or other found objects.

One of my favorite things about this process has been exploring all of the different earth toned hues that can actually be found in bones… far more than the basic grayscale one usually associates with bones. I’ve delighted in using a lot of sap green and a light pink-ish mauve color that has really brought these three skulls to life (ha! see what I did there??).

Enjoy these work-in-progress shots today and if you like checking out my painting process regularly, make sure to find me on Instagram where I’m constantly sharing paintings and drawings as they are created.

7.1.2020

Real Time Skull Painting Demo

Enjoy this real time painting demo of a skull today. I am using oil paints on a homemade linen-faced painting block. It's great practice to draw and paint the human skull because it helps break down the structure and components of a face for portrait drawing that you normally wouldn't see.

Here's Part 2 of the live painting Skull demo: [It’s also a great place to jump right in just before I do major work on the facial structure]

Materials:

Any supplies purchased through my special links help to support this channel. Thank you!!

Oil Paints:

Titanium White: https://bit.ly/2Uqiugo

Naples Yellow: https://bit.ly/2UKShbB

King’s Blue Light: https://bit.ly/3denDhW

Napthol Red: https://bit.ly/2WO7DP7

Raw Umber: https://bit.ly/2xrsAF5

Payne's Grey: https://bit.ly/3arumV1

Odorless Mineral Spirits: https://bit.ly/2vhDrA1 \

Brushes:

Da Vinci Trio Brushes (size 1 round, 4 bright, 4 filbert): https://bit.ly/312TCiO

Da Vinci Size 2 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/3diLEEK

Da Vinci Size 2 Filbert Brush: https://bit.ly/2NdkwMv

Da Vinci Size 0/2 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/2CqUxiK

If you’re curious how I made this linen painting panel, check out this older vid that details my process.

And make sure you’re subscribed to my channel because I have two other skull paintings coming out in timelapse video style!

6.20.2020

Sneaky Peek at Works in Progress

Now as you know folks, my works are a real time-consuming labor of love and with the whole ‘pouring resin’ ordeal I often complete a few base paintings in oil before building frames and creating the layers. What that can unfortunately mean though is that it can be months between me being able to post new finished works so today I just wanted to share two of my current works-in-progress today :)

I just finished up Kenna’s hand as well as the intricate shadow shapes cast over her chest. If you can tell the skin looks kind of weird around the shapes it’s because she is wearing a black lace top which I will be painting over the flesh tone once it is completely dry. I’ve also already painted some mushrooms on another piece of linen that will be 3D ensconced in the resin for a real cluster effect.

Plus she’s got a nose ring, glasses and rings on her fingers to add in too. I secretly love painting shiny metal!

I’m so happy with how this hand turned out with these crazy dagger-like shadows cascading down it. In a subsequent layer there will be a painted orange bird of Paradise flower being held which is casting those amazing shadows. I also finished my aerosol background using an actual fern leaf as a stencil and as a stamp. This piece will have many layers of real plant life within the ensuing clear acrylic resin layers as well as a few bug specimens I do believe.

So exciting to watch my crazy notions come to life!!

And if you like progress shots make sure you’re tuning into my Instagram posts + Stories @caleighbirdart because I’m constantly sharing peeks from behind my easel:)

2.12.2020

3D Oil Painting Demo :: Fern Tummy

Well the name pretty much says it all with this new cute lil piece. At only 4x3 inches I believe this may be the smallest oil painting I’ve ever created, and certainly the smallest 3D one for sure!

I incorporated some of my favorite ferns I see on all my Hawai’i hikes. fractal ferns. They are especially sturdy and they seem to hold some color fairly well even after being dried for a few months. I can’t wait to use fern more in the future for these works. There are so many varieties and are some of my fave plants for sure!

Here’s my tutorial on frame-making:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU

And here’s all you need to know about pouring resin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM&t=415s

9.27.2019

Oil Painting Demo :: Sweet Nectar

I've got a new 3D oil painting demo starring one enticing flower-laden breast and a couple of real bees ensconced in resin!

If you saw my 'How to Make Layered Resin Art' tutorial (right here) you may remember this piece from the demo on what NOT to do - ha! Well I have completely repainted and re-resined this piece successfully and am thrilled to share it with you today.

Hope you enjoy watching me make "Sweet Nectar' as much as I enjoyed creating it! I'm in love with the flower-shadow concept so don't be surprised when you see it again:)

5.17.2019

New 3D Oil Painting :: Dip In the Abyss

Just a wild ride of a 3D painting for you today. Definitely a bit more free than my usual works but I had a blast experimenting:)

Nothing on this piece was really planned, I just kind of went for it with each layer of resin. What do you think? Is it fun and mysterious or too busy to focus?

I'd love your opinion in the comments!

3.15.2019

New Painting :: 'Heartbeat'

'The Sun, the Moon, and the Heartbeat In Between’ takes up a space somewhere in between real and imaginary… sleepiness and wakefulness… lightness and darkness…

Straddling the warmth of the sun and the cool of the moon in a deep state of bliss actually describes my close friend Emsy in a perfectly poetic way. She is the meditator and the adventurer, the muse and the artist, the old soul and the young spirit, the calm and the excitement.

Using the acrylic resin allowed me to bring the found Luna Moth and the doily held with her elevated left hand into the third dimension. not to mention the shining night sky magically illuminated by the sun’s rays.

oil on Belgian linen panel with mixed media in acrylic resin; framed, 12x15 inches, 2019

Take the 3D tour:

3.6.2109

3D Oil Painting Timelapse :: The Sun, the Moon, and the Heartbeat In Between

Today I'm bringing you a 3D oil painting timelapse demo of my latest painting, 'The Sun, the Moon, and the Heartbeat In Between.' This has been one of my largest resin layer paintings to date at 12x15 inches and I have really enjoyed incorporating the found Luna Moth and the doily held with her elevated left hand into the third dimension.

You can see the artwork up close and even grab a signed print of this piece here:

Here are the other tutorials I mention:

Skin Tone Painting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfVn2X2NpN8&t=368s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVQIncWs6eY&t=217s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe1-bPUg6Qo

Improve Your Drawing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N2fZphjt1I&t=16s

Painting Dreadlocks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKUVLeCLmFw

Pouring Resin Layers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM&t=415s

2.14.2109

'Pinch Me' Oil Painting Demo + Tips

Another 3D oil painting coming atcha! Creating 'Pinch Me' was so much fun! Watching each layer rise with the addition of the bulbs gave this hand painting such a dreamlike and multi- dimensional feel, not to mention the initial sunlight dappling on the form.

Painting unusual shadow shapes can definitely play with your eyes and mind a little bit, but trusting your initial drawing and your source image will help you stay on track when attempting such an odd task :)

Hope you learn a lot from the accompanying tips + techniques! Here are the other videos I mention:

Painting Caucasian Skin Tone:

https://youtu.be/XfVn2X2NpN8

Painting Melanin Rich Skin Tones:

https://youtu.be/rVQIncWs6eY

Making Painting Panels:

https://youtu.be/0XozulwC3fM

Making Shallow Shadowbox Frames (perfect for resin pouring!)

https://youtu.be/XJcIFE__tlU

::

originally published January 10, 2019