3D Paintings
Living by this lake lately has been a real gift for pre-dried critters to enclose in my artwork. The more that I stay in Florida the more I see just how much wildlife is around here!
I can’t wait to get to the resin layering of my skull trio paintings!! I’m definitely going to be having fun with all these creepy crawlers…..
7.16.2020
Any of my fellow artists understand that when a client brings a piece of your work into their home it is a very meaningful transaction and a little piece of your heart goes with each piece you create.
So when another artist whom you love and respect so much decides to collect your work, feelings of gratitude and warmth abound, especially when you get sent a photo like this one of your work born on the ridges of the Ko’olau mountains on O’ahu, and now at home in the cozy woods of New Hampshire.
Seana is one of my fave muses and biggest supporters and becoming a closer friend every day. Check out her gorgeous self photography and one of my paintings of her, and then find Seana on Instagram @theillustratr and look at her beautiful artwork.
5.20.2020
Well this lil lady is getting pretty fancy! This first shot does not have any resin in it, it was the culmination of my brain storm last night. But this morning I poured the first layer… So exciting!!
It’s hard to see in the first photo, but Kenna actually has an entire row of real ladybugs marching in a line across her chest and shoulder. These, among more that I still have, are from my artist residency in Tennessee. We had the most adorable infestation of ladybugs. Apparently it’s a naturally occurring thing that ladybugs come inside wood houses during the winter and then when their natural life cycle ends, you’re pretty much left with piles of the cutest corpses ever.
Here’s a few of my dried specimens.. aren’t ferns so unbelievably perfect?!?! If you click to enlarge the one on the left, you can see the most glorious and delicate inner veins in each leaf.
I’ve been calling this painting ‘Shroom Season’ because of the funky fungus growing out of Kenna’s head, but since planning the plant additions, I’m thinking of changing it to ‘Primavera’ (the Italian word for ‘spring’) after this exceptionally rejuvenating and ethereal painting that I’ve been fortunate enough to visit twice in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy by one of my most favorite painters of all time, Sandro Botticelli.
What do you think?
I’m taking a vote on the name today (Monday) here, on my YouTube, and on my Instagram. Drop me a comment or chime in on one of my official polls on my Instagram Story or my YouTube Community tab to cast your vote. Thanks!
5.18.2020
This latest 3D oil painting features plenty of my favorite plant life media: ferns! There are four different kinds in this work collected during my hikes in O'ahu and while strolling around the grounds at my Artist Residency at the Highlands Art League in Florida. In order to use plants in my work I first press and dry them for at least a month, and I'm always delighted when they keep their color for so long.
The 'orange' part of the 'Orange Daggers' is a certain type of bird of paradise flower that I saw abundantly on da 'aina, however this one that I photographed and painted I actually found on top of a yard waste refuse pile while I was on a morning run. I love the way their super solid petals cup up to form teeny ecosystems of collected rainwater and delicate insects when found in their natural environments.
Last but certainly not least, there is one beautiful and stately French preying mantis surveying the scene. And how do I know this particular preying mantis is French? Well because he unfortunately expired in my apartment while I was staying in Argenton-Chateau for an intensive figure painting atelier in 2015. This lil guy was collected three years before I even began creating my 3D paintings! I'm not sure what I was thinking at the time, I must have just known a perfect specimen such as this would play into my art one day.
Yes! This piece is available for purchase here
3.7.2020
Now as you know folks, my works are a real time-consuming labor of love and with the whole ‘pouring resin’ ordeal I often complete a few base paintings in oil before building frames and creating the layers. What that can unfortunately mean though is that it can be months between me being able to post new finished works so today I just wanted to share two of my current works-in-progress today :)
I just finished up Kenna’s hand as well as the intricate shadow shapes cast over her chest. If you can tell the skin looks kind of weird around the shapes it’s because she is wearing a black lace top which I will be painting over the flesh tone once it is completely dry. I’ve also already painted some mushrooms on another piece of linen that will be 3D ensconced in the resin for a real cluster effect.
Plus she’s got a nose ring, glasses and rings on her fingers to add in too. I secretly love painting shiny metal!
I’m so happy with how this hand turned out with these crazy dagger-like shadows cascading down it. In a subsequent layer there will be a painted orange bird of Paradise flower being held which is casting those amazing shadows. I also finished my aerosol background using an actual fern leaf as a stencil and as a stamp. This piece will have many layers of real plant life within the ensuing clear acrylic resin layers as well as a few bug specimens I do believe.
And if you like progress shots make sure you’re tuning into my Instagram posts + Stories @caleighbirdart because I’m constantly sharing peeks from behind my easel:)
2.12.2020
Alrighty now I’m sure you remember this 3D painting from a few months ago from my ‘How to Paint Sheer Lace’ and ‘How to Paint Gold Jewelry That Really Shines’ videos (if not, check ‘em out!), but since I never posted the whole process I figured folks might be interested, especially since there is a tattoo featured on my subject which can be a real challenge to paint!
Seana McCarthy, my muse in this work, is a lovely and unique artist living in New Hampshire. She discovered my work on Instagram probably around a year or so ago and reached out to tell me how she connected with a certain painting in a deep way. Our conversation was so meaningful that as soon as I checked out her page and saw here contemplative, quiet and deep self portrait photography I knew we needed to do a collaboration. Lucky for me, Seana agreed to take a series of new portraits utilizing some dramatic shadow play I love so much, and let me take pick of the litter to paint from before sharing any online.
We are both body-positive artists trying to help foster a world where realistic beauty standards and adoration for each other’s natural selves is celebrated and cherished. It’s been amazing to befriend someone so far away and be able to see eye-to-eye on an artistic venture right from the start. I look forward to meeting one day in person as vanlife brings me around!
This will be the last video created in my Hawai’i studio (kinda bittersweet) so enjoy that little space one more time. I’m actually already moved out of there and am looking forward to picking things back up on the mainland. Cheers to new adventures!!
11.23.2019
Welcome to my latest 3D oil painting, 'Delicate' featuring one seriously creepy scene. The figure and white plumeria flowers are painted in oil, with an aerosol background. The bugs are actually shed cicada exoskeletons (whoa!) and the faux orange flowers spilling down the front made this a super fun piece to create.
How to mix caucasian flesh tones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfVn2X2NpN8
My vid on making these frames:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU
How to layer acrylic resin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM&t=415s
And if you need help photographing your resin work, check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OHu47Ezguw&t=182s
10.25.2019
Well the name pretty much says it all with this new cute lil piece. At only 4x3 inches I believe this may be the smallest oil painting I’ve ever created, and certainly the smallest 3D one for sure!
I incorporated some of my favorite ferns I see on all my Hawai’i hikes. fractal ferns. They are especially sturdy and they seem to hold some color fairly well even after being dried for a few months. I can’t wait to use fern more in the future for these works. There are so many varieties and are some of my fave plants for sure!
Here’s my tutorial on frame-making:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU
And here’s all you need to know about pouring resin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM&t=415s
9.27.2019
Welcome to my latest 3 Dimensional oil and mixed media resin layer painting (whew! try saying that three times fast!). I've been working on 'Flower' for a few months and I definitely learned some new things while working on her.
This oil on linen on wood panel painting includes gold leaf Calla Lilies with aerosol on the background and amazing plants I found in the PNW earlier this year. It was really exciting building this piece up and with the success of the incorporated plant life I can't wait to discover more wild things to ensconce in future works!
Here are the other videos I reference:
3 Ways to Blend Oil Paint
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx3k7cE1fFY&t=280s
How to Use Gold Leaf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csm4_BXxw10&t=774s
Simple Framing Technique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU
How to Make Layered Resin Art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM&t=415s
8.24.2019
Aloha and welcome to my third happy Hawai’i studio tour! I have recently moved into a new spot and finally have my lil Nest set up just the way I like it so I am excited to invite you in today!
I live in the super lush and peaceful back of the Palolo Valley here on O’ahu and I literally just listen to birds singing outside my studio window all day. My home and work/creative space are one in the same so I have figured out a number of ways to stay organized and productive. I hope you like how I have my lil space all set up:)
If you haven’t seen my last studio tour (of the bungalow I refer to in this current vid) here’s the quickie tour of that space as well as my detailed art setup and living area - including my outdoor bathroom! Those are some of my most popular videos and really offer a fun view into my life as a Hawai’i based artist.
Ergonomic Studio Habits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2-AFpNG41M
Sock Monster Release Update Here:
https://www.caleighbirdart.com/sock-monster-release
So fortunate to be able to build such a personal original art collection! What a way to remember the fantastic artists I’ve met here on island (since we’ve become friends through attending the figure session when I’m not modeling too).
How excited was this girl when she first received this portrait in the mail all the way from Scotland a couple years ago?!
Nicola @nicolpops and I did a portrait trade in our own styles back in 2017 and it’s one of my most treasured possessions to this day :)
Thanks for joining me today! Make sure to jump on my Birds of a Feather list to hear all about the personal ups n downs in the Nest I don’t share anywhere else:):):)
7.12.2019
