Painting the hive

My recent bee hive painting began with a piece of canvas that I had painted in a range of warm colors using fluid acrylic paint. Then I used a stencil to paint a pattern of hexagons over it in warm yellows, oranges and ochres mixed with some white, also using fluid acrylic. Then the canvas sat around on a shelf for several months until I thought of something to do with it. To be honest, I thought it was kind of ugly.

But, that un-attachment can be a huge benefit when creating. Meaning; I had no expectations, or anything invested in the outcome, hence

complete FREEDOM to take risks!

I love a good creative challenge. It gives me the same satisfaction as figuring out puzzles. That trait is probably genetic, my dad was an engineer and LOVED puzzles!

The first thing I did to the canvas was collage some printed abaca paper images of bees on it, as well as a piece of printed coffee filter in the lower corner, and added some color to the images using acrylic paint markers.

I filled in all the honey comb hexagons with pattern using white, ivory, and pale yellow markers.

The other thing you’ll notice is the bottom left corner had a piece of canvas cut out that I had used for another project, so I decided to cut the canvas into an irregular shape that I could mount on another piece of painted canvas.

Using this painting as inspiration for a background, I painted a large piece of canvas with a very dark warm brown, almost black color.

Then I used red paint markers to draw the floral stems and leaves.

I used an ivory paint pen for the inner line on some of the foliage, and a custom mixed tan for other parts of the foliage, so it would have more visual depth. I also custom mixed a grayed aqua blue acrylic ink color for the flowers.

When the background was finished, I centered the hive on top, making sure to square up the vertical and horizontal lines of the hexagons to the canvas edges and taped it in place with painters tape.

Then stitched the edges of the hive canvas to the background using a zig zag stitch using a variegated red thread.

This is the finished, stitched painting.

Finally, I stretched the canvas over wood stretcher bars for hanging.

I’m so proud of my clean, tightly wrapped corners. 😁

Here’s the finished hive painting hanging on the wall. 24″ x 24″

If you’d like to learn more about my process and do a class with me, I’m teaching a 6 hour painting with acrylic paint markers workshop at Craft Napa next January.

Keep creating,

Judy

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I’d love to spark your creativity at one of these upcoming events:

2019

September 27, 28 River City Quilt Show, Sacramento, CA
Color Theory, and Painting Imagery with Textile Paints

October 31-November 2 International Quilt Festival, Houston
2-day Paint and Printapalooza, and Tea and Ephemera

2020

Craft Napa Jan 15-18, 2020!

February 2020: New Zealand! Christchurch, Napier, Palmerston North, Tauranga, Whatakane, New Plymouth, Ngarawhahia, and Whangerei

May 27-31 Woodland Ridge Retreat, Menomonie, WI
Tea & Ephemera and Painted Imagery

July Australia! More info TBA

August 11-13 Calico Cutters, West Chester, PA
Tsukineko Inks and Tea & Ephemera

October 18-24 Hudson Valley Quilt Retreat, Greenville, NY
Paint and Printapalooza

ABOUT JUDY
Judy is an artist, explorer, image wrangler, knowledge seeker, instructor, speaker, creative alchemist, and purveyor of inspiration, helping others channel creativity on a daily basis.