Baby Name Canvas

I love painting anything – absolutely anything. But there’s nothing sweeter than painting something for a new baby. Last week I got 3 new commissions – all of them Disney based, so I was prepared to spend the weekend on them. However, we were invited to a baby shower on Saturday. I knew I’d eventually paint a Name Canvas for her, but thought I’d do it later and then ship it to her home in Atlanta.

At 10:00 Saturday morning, I thought, “Hm, I just wonder if I could get something done in a couple hours?” So I tabled my 3 commissions and kicked into high gear.

I wanted to make it a wall hanging, which is loose canvas with casings on top & bottom. Wall hangings are easier to store and I love adding decorative rods & finials. You can also hang them with cute ribbons, beads, or whatever! So first – a basecoated canvas.

Since Mommy has already chosen a name – London Rose – I chose a font I liked and printed it off. Then I found a piece of canvas that wasn’t huge, but just large enough. I tacked it on my workboard and basecoated it in a creamy ivory.

I checked her online registries for themes & colors but didn’t see her bedding. An espresso brown crib and loads of pink – that’s enough to get started. Plus the name – London Rose – just speaks to what to paint, doesn’t it?

I transferred the name with graphite paper.

I’m not quite sure why there were so many shadows on the canvas. Believe me, photography is not my strong suit. But you get the idea.

Really simple, isn’t it? Just filled in the name, added freehand brown scrolls and some little rosebuds & vines.

At this point I could’ve been done. But the more I looked at it, the more I knew it needed, well, something extra. So I got out my fine tip Sharpies and went to town.

Look at the lettering, the big rose and around the vines. See the loose brown markings? That’s the Sharpie. It just adds that extra definition I wanted. Especially on the rose. It turned blobs of pink & white into a blossomed rose.

Since I paint with acrylics, it dried really quick. So rolled it up, threw a pink bow on it and off to the shower.

Happy Mommy! I think pretty soon my entire family (and it’s a hah-uge one) will all have a piece of my art. Hey! I like that – Piece of my Art! May have to use that somewhere.

So what fun project did you do this weekend? Or are still working on?

Linking up to these great parties. It’s become my evening ‘thing’ – checking out everyone’s fun projects.

Making The World Cuter
Made It Monday

Sumo’s Sweet Stuff

Colleen