3D Paintings
Huzzah huzzah! My ‘Skull Reliquary II’ 3D oil painting I created just this last October is currently at a special invite-only art show at the d’Art Center in Norfolk, VA. The same venue where I won the second place award last year.
Here’s a lil vid I made of packing and shipping it off. Cheers to getting my artwork in front of more eyes!!
2.23.2023
…yet? …ever? … that made me decide to change how I approach my 3D oil painting technique??
I wasn’t really sure how to finish that title because ‘yet’ would imply that I am expecting to do worse in the future, whereas ‘ever’ would imply that I am brazen enough to think that I will never have resin issues in the future.
The last line is probably more accurate, but not so catchy as a post title.
Anyhoo, as you can surmise, disaster did in fact befall the Nest in the form of completely ruining the most ambitious painting I have ever created. It’s something I should have known had the potential of happening, but since it never had I figured it was less of a gamble than it truly was. Woe is me for sure…
I completed this epic painting I am calling ‘The Secret Garden’ and gave it ample time to cure (as much or more than others in the past) but did not varnish it (as I never do, expecting the resin to protect it enough) and proceeded to begin pouring the resin as usual after affixing the base layer leaves and real earrings.
Checking on the first layer of resin poured, everything was positively hunky dory for hours. No color change or noticeable chemical heating or reaction with all the bubbles coming out nicely. I set it up with a protective cover and eventually went to bed for the night.
You know that feeling you get on Christmas morning as a little kid? Well imagine if you legitimately woke up to nothing but coal. That’s about how I felt when checking on this the following morning. Like allllllll of the wind had gotten taken out of my sails. Uggggghhhhh
Notice how it didn’t even happen everywhere - the tummy stayed the correct color!
Essentially what happened was the titanium white I used in the skintones somehow reacted with the chemical in the resin turning my lovely shadow-splashed figure into a Marge Simpson lookalike. I wanted to achieve a sun kissed look - not a goldenrod yellow disaster!
I say ‘somehow’ because I honestly don’t know why it happened since I have literally painted with this exact tube of white paint and then layered resin over it using not just this same brand, but these actual bottles of resin, with absolutely fantastic results and no hint of any issue to come. So frusterating and weird at the same time!
As far as the resin lumps/striations noticeable in the first pic, those were caused by me because I couldn’t bear to look at her when I first discovered what happened 😭 I leaned the painting up against a Rubbermaid container facing the wall before the resin fully cured causing gravity to drag down the layer a bit.
So after 30+ hours spent painting this extremely complicated piece, it is officially and completely ruined. C’est la vie.
But you know what they say, it’s not about how hard you fall, it’s whether you get back on the horse.
Well I’ve got two words for that notion: saddle up.
The new base drawing and aerosol background next to the ruined resin piece.
After a few months of grieving (and just being ultra busy) I have started to repaint. And wouldn’t you know it, but it’s even better than before?!
The first one is not bad, just a lil more textured and the mouth is less believable. It’s almost like I got a practice round - or at least that’s what I’m telling myself to ease the pain.
Much softer blends and more detail to the lips - plus a shadow on the neck for hair to overlap (which I forgot to add in the first one).
As far as how I will be treating my mixed media paintings in the future, that’s for another blog post. I’ve been doing some research and will need to do a bit of experimenting as well. I know I want to keep the 3D element to my art, but I need to re-evaluate if resin (or perhaps incorporating varnish) is the best way for me to do so going forward.
I’m even adding in more shadow details (because I like driving myself slightly crazy 😜)
It’s been a soul-testing journey, but my outlook is optimistic! Wish me luck, I’ll post about my new artmaking decisions when the time is right!
2.16.2023
Hooray hooray! I was finally able to finish this large oil and resin portrait! My first ever 3D portrait of a male subject! And he’s got the most insect adornments of anyone I’ve painted so far!
This model is actually a Charleston/hometown friend of mine from way back in my middle school days of mixed tapes and Airwalks, Chris, who I’ve been lucky enough to have a super deep connection with still to this day.
I love the look of wonderment and possibility captured in his face. Knowing Chris as an intellect and thoughtful person, I really wanted to bring that personality trait to the forefront of this piece in an infectious way. I want the viewer to get lost in thought with Chris’ still dynamism as he almost seems to be pondering a clear future right in front of us.
This piece is a nice large size of 14 x 18” and includes a real butterfly, a bee, a lizard, a leaf bug, a wasp, a cicada and two water bug exoskeletons, and a few reproduction butterflies along with a flurry of gold leaf and pink pinwheels the tree outside my apartment shed last fall. Add in a few dried ferns and the painted-on mushrooms and Chris really is pretty well splendidly nature-iffic!
I know most of us are used to painting and drawing the lovely ladies most of the time, but today I’m happy to show that guys can be just as inspiring too! I know I certainly plan to paint more!
4.5.2022
Oh my goodness! Now you know I'mma Bird who loves to oil paint sooo much, but even my patience has its limits! There were so many challenges, obstacles, and learning curves to creating this work of art that I almost though it might not actually happen!
Luckily, a few people and some serendipitous events magically aligned to allow me to make a truly captivating work of art that I honestly can't wait to show off in person. Time to get to work on making that happen next!
Here is my lovely ‘Siren of the Palms’. She measures 15x15” and I could not be more thrilled with how each and every layer turned out. I’m thinking I’ll probably do a limited edition print run before the holidays…
Want to learn all about oil painting? Check out my Complete Guide to Oil Painting playlist on YouTube or as a totally free course on Skillshare:
Here are a few vids on my Layered Resin Art techniques:
A huge Thank You to my collaborator @greatcreatorvision
10.17.21
Welcome to my world of 3Dimensional Figurative Oil Paintings featuring real dried ferns, found objects, and tiny mummified specimens ensconced in layers of clear acrylic resin. I use these intricate shadow-box scenes to highlight the natural beauty of culturally diverse models from all over the world.
Using everyday people as my art models has become an important part of my artistic practice for a number of reasons. Most importantly because I think in this world of unrealistic traditional beauty standards, racism, colorism, body shaming and the like, we as artists should be highlighting the natural beauty all around us, rather than reinforcing outdated, noninclusive, idealistic faces and figures.
I truly find the features and expressions of regular people to be more interesting, have more depth, and tell more stories than generic, manufactured, “aesthetically beautiful” faces of made-up characters. I find that there is so much more personality coming out of my artwork when my subjects are, in fact, real persons.
Another wonderful aspect of discovering and appreciating everyday beauty is that I now have no shortage of models. Friends are elated to pose for me, and I almost always get the most wonderful thank you notes after completing a painting of a friend, usually saying something like, ‘I’ve never felt so beautiful! I’m so honored/humbled/thrilled to be featured in a work of art!’ which honestly brings me more joy than words can say. I genuinely love showing people how truly special and magical they are just as themselves.
I believe that the message of inclusion and body positivity for all the unique men and women of this modern world is an important stepping stone for self-acceptance and love, which is the message I hope viewers of my paintings will choose to take home. From many interactions I’ve experienced over the years, I’ve noticed that once a self-love is achieved it spirals outward forming into social acceptance and a universal love which radiates from such empowered folks into an ever expanding cycle of each of us bringing up the other. Simply put, loved people are loving.
My works celebrate the natural and perfect imperfectness of all of us in hopes to be a catalyst for a world which exchanges love exponentially.
6.20.2021
I'm so excited to share my latest 3D oil, mixed media, and resin painting with you! I've been working on 'The Dreaming Witch' for months now and was finally able to ensconce her lovely ferns, petals, and gold leaf flakes in resin just last week.
This is an oil painting on linen with an aerosol background. I used dried ferns and other plants I collected in Hawai'i and Florida, as well as a cruelty-free reproduction moth, with gold leaf flakes scattered about.
I'll have this painting available as a limited edition print with hand embellished gold leaf accents in my Shop for a short time. You can grab yours here.
These prints will only be available as a pre-order for a limited time, and each one will be hand embellished with gold leaf. Grab on today!
3.21.2021
I’m thrilled to share my latest 3D oil painting, ‘Lady Earth’ with you! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve completed an oil painting and it feels soo good!
I feel like so many of my paintings have a Mother Earth/Gaia feel to them so I’m constantly seeking out new ways to express this reoccurring theme. Ninsar is the name of the ancient Sumerian goddess of plants, which translates into English as ‘Lady Earth’… the perfect ceremonial name for my latest muse.
My amazing subject is a force to be reckoned with, yet quiet and serene in her own way, similar to the balance of love and wrath of Mother Earth. She is one who will provide and protect, but will also remind you that you are essentially helpless before her.
Even though this piece is small in stature, she is a monumental presence that will fill any space.
Thank you to my Muse, Toy, for being exactly who you are. @they_call_me_toy
2.14.21
Yay folks my highly anticipated Skull Trio is complete, and not only that, but I’m going to use them to teach you how to paint a skull with acrylic or oil paint too! First we’ll draw a skull from a royalty free image I found to share with you, and then I’ll take you step-by-step through the skull painting process, from materials to paint mixes, to how to enrich our human skull painting from the reference image using an array of natural toned paint that will really breathe life into our skulls!
The abbreviated version that includes the resin pouring process is here on my YouTube, and at the bottom you can find a link to the extended Skillshare version that is almost an hour long and goes into way more specific technical detail.
You have two options to join! Find me on Skillshare or get access on my website for only $4
Real Time Skull Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9XSNCjh8Y4
How to Create a Shadowbox Frame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU
How to Create Resin Layer Art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM
How to Make a Painting Panel + Transfer a Drawing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XozulwC3fM
8.30.2020
Living by this lake lately has been a real gift for pre-dried critters to enclose in my artwork. The more that I stay in Florida the more I see just how much wildlife is around here!
I can’t wait to get to the resin layering of my skull trio paintings!! I’m definitely going to be having fun with all these creepy crawlers…..
7.16.2020
Any of my fellow artists understand that when a client brings a piece of your work into their home it is a very meaningful transaction and a little piece of your heart goes with each piece you create.
So when another artist whom you love and respect so much decides to collect your work, feelings of gratitude and warmth abound, especially when you get sent a photo like this one of your work born on the ridges of the Ko’olau mountains on O’ahu, and now at home in the cozy woods of New Hampshire.
Seana is one of my fave muses and biggest supporters and becoming a closer friend every day. Check out her gorgeous self photography and one of my paintings of her, and then find Seana on Instagram @theillustratr and look at her beautiful artwork.
5.20.2020
