Of moths, flowers...and art slashing

Sometimes, I get done with a painting and it just doesn't seem right....doesn't seem to fit with a frame, doesn't have the right balance....I have one or two paintings like that.  This painting of purple flowers in a vase was actually a demo painting that I used to teach a class, it was framed and was in a show a while back, but I just couldn't seem to like it, much less love it.

So, it's been sitting around, collection dust, looking useless and abandoned and yesterday, I had a moment of art slashing (yes, it comes upon me to cut up my art into smaller pieces) and I cut the whole  thing in half, added some moths and butterflies....and voila!  I loved it!

Here's the first painting....the one I didn't like initially....kind of bland, eh?

I think the balance if off....plus, there's a lot of white background space going on.....

Here's after the slasher (that's me!) hit it and the moths descended upon it....

I was happy with the results.  I matted both pieces and I think it'll look really trendy framed as a set.  

The moths were an idea that I got from the Watercolor Artist magazine that I thought I'd try.  They are REALLY fun, so if you're into watercolor, you should try them.  

First, sketch out the moth shape.....then wet the whole moth with clean water.

Start dropping in, or touching in colors, starting with the moth's body first.  Do NOT mix on the page, but allow the water to move the pigment as much as you can.

After you've dropped in all of the desired colors, just lightly touch in darker pigment onto the very edges of the wings (the brown, for example) here and there.  (I particularly like Payne's Gray and Van Dyke Brown)  (Winsor & Newton brand)

It's a really quick and easy thing to paint and would look lovely on a greeting card or something like that.  A butterfly or dragonfly shape would look cute, too.

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See?  I think it's a HUGE improvement and these might even sell, if I'm lucky....lol

I hope everyone is having a lovely start to their Christmas season!  Feel free too email me with any art questions that you might have.  

Cady@ArtByCady.com