Decorative Painting Books....

It has been a few years since I bought some of these books...the latest ones being the book from Zahir "Decorasi Seni Lukis & Decoupage".. he mailed 2 autograph books to me since I couldn't wait to get them next July. Zahir is an old friend from the Amcorp Mall Saturday Craft Bazaar.. It has been more than 7 years ago... The book by Nora, Aniza & Zaitun "Decorative Painting"was also mailed by sifu Nora and autographed. I am so proud to have these 2 books by our local crafters/authors..Hope one day..maybe I can come out with one of mine..he..he... Before that the only reputable craft book available was Aneka Kraf Tangan by Aishah Kamarudin... There were many crafts lessons given in the local magazines but none was compiled fully.. partial compilation was found done by Karangkraf..I have that too... You see...I am that bit crazy about books...

The other books that I have are Donna Dewberry @ One Stroke Method, Priscilla Hauser "Roses", Ros Singleton "Roses", Ros Stallcup "Grans Series", Tera Leigh "The Complete Book of Decorative Painting", plus various Northlight books. I also have about 3 or so DVD's... so with these and abt 4 classes with sifu Nora.. I manage my learning. I wish..that I have more moments irrespective of available time to improve my skills in decorative painting.....

But...thru all these..one of my designs was appreciated and done for somebody's customer who also do decorative painting. This is my a-ha moment when I was told about it...

Brushes For Decorative Painting... Daler-Rowney, Plaid, Langnickel, Loew-Cornell..

These are the brushes that I am currently using whenever I am painting.. I find that the brushes perform differently...within same type and brand and to different type and brand. Some have been used more by way of feeling that the results are better.

I got the Daler Rowney from Art Friend at The Gardens - MidValley. While Loew-Cornell from Craft Haven and also a painter who has a stall at Subang Parade every Sat and Sunday.. oops.. sorry..I forgot your name..

Plaid & Langnickel brushes I bought it from Zamil & Jarir in Al-Khobar..

I find that the holding of the Daler-Rowny brushes is more at ease for my hands and my way of cleaning the brushes seems the hairs holds better to a sharp point as compared to the other ones...I feel that due to the hairs are softer..I can shape my roses better..this is only what I feel....I do have favorite from the other types. For now..I am painting my roses using the Daler Rowney...Daisies using the Loew Cornell...while the rest will come in as and when needed.

I use separate brushes for base-coating, varnishes and rough surfaces.... as the experts has advised us to do......

Now..I am still in the adventure of figuring out further..brushes & strokes, brushes&cleaning, brushes&types..and of course life & costs...

Roses & Hydrangeas...In Progress...

Nothing is finished!!! Am still thinking to add some final touches before varnishing them.....

Hydrangeas...

This is half-way done at the moment.... need some touch ups....

Painting On Different Surfaces..Leather & Plastic

This is actually a leather box cover...what I found was that..I had to paint really fast on this surface as the paints seems to absorb into it. Finally...this was achieved..I tried using a 3/4 inch brush to paint and found that i dont have control at all...it was a mess and I touch some area up with a smaller brush... Since the cover was drak brown brown almost black..I had a hard time getting the colors for the leaves to come out..aside from the paint absorbs into the surface. next step will be..how to varnish this..Only the painted areas??

This is my bathroom bin..it looks so grey and dull..so I tried painting it this morning..Hmm..I use a sea sponge to put the different greens..bits of white and yellow..all over the cover..Dried it using a hair dryer..Next I painted the purple small flowers..I was thinking either hydrangeas.. lilacs..etc... I was painting it in the powder room so movement was limited....

But..I am please that it turns out better than I expected....after its done than I was in the kitchen cooking lunch...

Practise..Practise..& To be Reworked Some...

This one has been reworked with a bloom to replace the leave&smudge ribbon a sbotton pic..

Actually...this has been reworked by adding some leaves and petals.. need to learn to use patterns...so that more consistent..now just eye-balling and some chalks points...

This need rewirk on right side..but maybe repaint if I couldn't figure how to do it..he..he..

While clearing my garage up..to make space..just incase wanna do makan2..so far takde ilham datang lagi....There were some pieces already gessoed b4 summer..so do some basecoating..hair-dryer helps tremendously to speed up drying..and I practise again my roses.. still haven't moved to other flowers...Available items to be painted also limited..unless I want to move on to paint some of my wooden cabinets or quilt hanger....Not sure coz'I haven't get the skill to transfer patterns and follow them accordingly.... What I can say at the moment..most of my stuffs were painted without transferring patterns..I just use a chalk pencil and sort of sketch the placements....Shortcuts coz' I am pretty impatient to see how it is.... Since my aim is to practise the skills..I haven't really put things up for sale yet... If anybody just by chance like them and want to have it..than I will sell...if not it stays in my garage corner.. i am hoping with enough painted stuffs..I might joined some of the craft sale or mall-day etc... But for the time being.. I am in no rush... I still need to do some for my own..... he..he..

.

Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Fitri...

Selamat Hari Raya Eidul Fitri to all..... Will be going back for a week to Msia tonite. See you all soon with more created and creative stuffs.

Maaf Zahir & Bathin..