SAND PAINTINGS
8" x 10" Sand and acrylic paint.
Portrait of Rusty, 16” x 20”
This is my first pet portrait done in sand. I’ve done many in colored pencil and pastel, but when asked to do this portrait by an Etsy client, I was not sure how it would turn out without relying on a lot of paint. Almost the entire portrait is composed of sand, with just a small amount of acrylic paint around the eyes and nose, and the lightest highlights. I was surprised at how much detail was possible with sand alone.
I developed some new techniques while working on this portrait. It is larger than any of my other portraits, which was a challenge. Sand only comes in specific colors, and not too many natural colors are available; most are brightly colored. I mixed sands to achieve various shadows and highlights.
The portrait was given as a gift to the owners. The purple "aura" was done to match another pet portrait that they had previously. The client was very pleased with the outcome, and I received a very nice thank you from Rusty’s owners.
Pig sand painting, 5-5/8" x 5-5/8," acrylic paint on sand.
Tiger Sand Painting, 8" x 10"
This item is another one of my pieces that encompasses several things that I do in my studio! The tiger artwork is a sand painting. It
is created almost entirely of sand, using different colors of sand to add some dimension to the painting. A small amount of acrylic paint was used to define the face of the tiger.
The frame is a cardboard frame covered with my own kozo and corn husk paper. The decorations are made of blue handmade recycled paper and my own pure corn husk paper. The frame could be hung on the wall with a saw-tooth hanger, or set on a table.
Southwestern Shadow Box
Sand Painting, 8" x 10"
This is a very unique item! The frame is a shadow box with about 1" between the glass and the mountain landscape mounted on the back, which is painted with sand and acrylic paint. The cactus is three dimensional, cut out of mat board and coated in sand, then details painted in acrylic paint, much like some Nature Loft Art Christmas ornaments are made. The cactus flowers are made of handmade, recycled pink paper. The rose-like flowers were formed from paper petals, each one tipped in red acrylic paint. Finally, the artwork is framed with a Nature Loft Art sand mat. It has a little bit of everything!
Southwestern Medical Symbol
Sand Painting, 8 x 10"
This painting is based on the medical symbol featuring the winged staff with two snakes winding around it.
Portions of the painting have raised areas of sand, creating a dimensional effect. It is framed in a sand painted mat.
CHRISTMAS CARD ILLUSTRATIONS
This card illustration pictures our new puppy at the time. She was an adorable Husky Mix. The card was created as a limited edition.
Inside: Our new friend bears a holly wreath, symbolic of friendship.
May you find love and loyalty with old friends and new, and never ending happiness the whole year through!
DRAWINGS
Walnut Framed Wolf Print with Sand Mat
5 x 7"
This is a print of one of my original colored pencil drawings. It is matted with one of my sand mats. This mat has no paint. The effect is created entirely with sand.
Indian Arrowhead Print with Sand Mat
16 x 20"
This is a print that was made from my own original colored pencil illustration. It is a surreal desert landscape of mountains and cacti. The inspiration for this was a painting by Rene Magritte called "The Castle of the Pyrenees". It has a huge rock with a castle fortress on the top floating over a dark ocean. In my drawing, I have an American Indian arrowhead rising above the landscape. The chiseled stone arrowhead reminded me of some of the old black and white photos I've seen of elderly Native American men with deep wrinkles chiseled in their faces. The artwork is framed with one of my sand mats and a rustic wooden frame.