In between my hectic schedule preparing for my next trip to Japan, I’m still happily managing to paint a bit. Decided to spread my “tasks” by spending a few hours here and there everyday: With a packing list at hand, I’m slowly filling up my suitcase in stages, doing my daily household chores, going out and also getting creative to wind down. Besides, Mother’s Day is coming up, and I can’t possibly skip a painting dedicated to this special day for my late Mama, can I? It’s been a while since doing a mixed media type piece, which I have been working on it for a few days. So great to be back to it!
The Background
On a A3-size Canson’s Watercolor paper (300gsm), I firstly scribbled Happy Mother’s Day both in English and in my native language, Japanese. Jaxon’s oil pastels were used for this. Then some color blocks with some acrylic ink in antelope brown, yellow and pearlescent blue, by Daler & Rowney and Sennelier. A few collage patches of blue wrapping tissue and flowery wrapping paper were also introduced. The middle was purposely left without any collage paper as that’s where the faces will be painted on. Looking promising so far!
Start Painting Mama and Me
Before I set about painting us, I firstly added a layer of white gesso for the faces for the opacity. Then filled them in once dry with Titan Buff and Quinacridone Azo Nickel Gold. Dresses were painted in Brilliant Pink by ARA, and the hair firstly with Caran d’Ache Neocolor II watersoluble pastels then a bit of Antelope Brown and Payne’s Grey. In fact, I worked back and forth between subjects and background. Golden Fluid Acrylics in Green Gold, Cobalt Teal and Cobalt Turquoise, along with Titan Buff, were selected for the background, with Hansa Yellow Light for the sun. As I liked the incidental pair of hearts from the oil pastel layer below, I enhanced them further by filling them in with ARA’s Fluorescent Red. And now, how about introducing some texture?
Some Texture
After having drawn the eyes with charcoal pencil, I traced the lines with some Black Stickles glitter glue. Sun rays were then added with Sennelier’s 3D Liner in fluorescent yellow. For enhancement, I introduced some Copper in our hair with Amsterdam Acrylic Relief Pen. My mother’s string of pearls was then dotted on with Nuvo Drops, whilst I tapped in a bit of white Stickles glitter glue on my collar. Finally doodled in some flowers with white Molotow acrylic pen to fill in the empty spaces. And now!
So much fun preparing this painting! And great to come back to some mixed media art intuitively using layers, something I haven’t done in a while due to my busy schedule. As I now discovered, working on it for a few days is also a way to let your creative thoughts evolve over time. I am further very happy I could do something thoughtful for my late mother by creating something kawaii, a memory of my happy childhood with her. I know she will love it. Happy Mother’s Day, dear Mama in Heaven, enjoy your special day!
My Kawaii Quarter 