Five Perfectly Painted Picture Frames

 Here is a quick project I did awhile ago, which I had neglected to share here. You know how it is, you intend to do a thing, but then you procrastinate until you've either forgotten it entirely, or it's too embarrassing to mention. Well, I'll let you choose which you think it is. Suffice to say, I am determined to get this blogged, so onward and upwards. 

 

Now this project has been stewing for years, I will readily admit. Because it all started with a pack of greeting cards given to me by my daughter, when she was in college, 20 odd years ago. I know, what you're thinking. When a person dawdles on something this long, it may be best to just toss it like moldy cheese. Well I couldn't bring myself to do that, because I've adored these cards since the day she gave them to me. They are from an artist whose art inspired me in my own endeavors, and tho he has since passed away, I shall be forever in his debt for it. My first excuse for not framing them up sooner, is that life got in the way. But later when I  just wanted some nice little 5"x7" rustic wood frames to frame them with, I was stumped, because I couldn't find anything I liked. This is my attempt to remedy the problem.

 

In actuality I must give the credit where credit it due. It was my son who found these sweet rustic all wood frames online for a reasonable price. I had framed up some other cards with these, of the exact same size, of another artist I really admire. However these while rustic, were not the right color for what I wanted. I hit upon the idea, I'm not the first, that a good wash of acrylic paint might just do the trick?! This was a right choice, as you will soon see. In the pictures above you can see that I have taken the backs off to facilitate cleaning the frames and proceeding to the painting. 

I thought I would start with a simple white washing for my first attempt and was delighted with the results. I will not bore you here with pictures of my paintbrush, water container, and paints. I'm pretty sure any old watered down acrylic paints will do. I found, if I thought a color was not to my liking I just wiped some off before it dried. It worked like a charm. These cards were made from paintings by James Christensen, and are full of wit and whimsy.  ...Maybe that poor fellow became an angel after sniffing and eating rotten fish?! It has certainly not helped his pallor. It does make you pause and think, what on earth is he doing?! I think he is sleep flying! Which is just how I feel sometimes after a bad nights sleep.

 

Continuing on, I became bolder as I went, and decided like James to just go all out. I picked out a color from the picture that I liked and mixed my colors to match. I also rubbed off paint with a paper napkin, before it was completely dry, to give a more weathered affect. It was great having the original old gray on the frames, it saved me a lot of work. ...I do love this lady and her, "Owl of wisdom." They are all in the same boat, tho I don't know about that fish?! Maybe he jumped into the shot at the last second?

Here the first two are, put up on the wall in my room, so I can see them every time I wake in the morning. They are well suited to their spot on the wall,  as they keep the, "Guardian of the Forest", picture, also by James Christensen, company. The big picture was also a gift from my daughter, and I have always loved it. He is a forest ranger of the first water, and blends so well he is hard to see. But I see him standing there beside the tree trunk, bold as Crosesus!

 

This next frame was a bit fiddlier. I wanted it to reflect several of the colors in the picture, especially the yellow and the grey blue, so it took a bit of putting paint on and wiping it off to get the color layers I wanted. I just love how this frame turned out. ...If that ladies boat full of misfits doesn't reflect how your life has had its moments, count yourself truly blessed. They all seem calm, but why do I get the feeling they are going to bolt at any minute?! Maybe it's the fish hat? We all know what fish does after three days! Once again they seem to all be stuck in the same boat, and are just trying to make the best of it. 

I have once again gone for blue, but this shade is not the exact same shade as the first blue, but even bolder. I felt the fairy on the fish was a bit diminutive and needed a good contrast to liven him up. Of course he may be a shy fellow who just wants to blend, but is forced into bold acts now, because of the silly frame? He may not thank me for blowing his cover? If so I do apologize, it was not my intention! I quite like it myself.

 

A frame of red to match this fellow. ...If the last fellow was blue, this fellow is bold rustic red, like an old barn given over to age. He seems not aware, this old fisherman, that his pole is inadequate and his lure so old it has spawned a moth. His overbearing presence fills his castle, but he seems not to care at all. Judging from his expression fishing has not gone well in ages, but he refuses to give it up, against all logic. His company doesn't seem pleased with their prospects either. If the cat could talk, the things it would say! It is not a spiteful minx, it is just fed to the teeth with moth and butterfly bones for dinner. It wonders like the rest, how long it is going to be trapped upon this spot?! 

Here the three are, up above my bathroom door. Just in the spot where I needed to put them. I think these pictures are hilarious, and am so grateful to my daughter for getting them for me. They have cheered me up no end over the years, and to have them finally hanging on my walls, where I can always see them, is truly delightful.

I hope you have enjoyed this little project. It was fairly simple and so satisfying. I wish I had thought of it sooner. Better late than never I suppose, but hopefully it won't take 25 years to get some of my other projects in waiting done.

I hope you have a God blessed day!