Golden Branches

I really enjoyed making this piece.  My son and I were walking around the park looking for different things to inspire us in our art.  I found a few of these pieces of wood.  Wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate them at first.  After I started painting this background, I knew exactly it would be a perfect fit! Bead strips are added as branches.

To Varnish or Not to Varnish......

I don't mind varnishing, but I don't like it for most of my works.  I think that is changes the feeling I was going for.  Most of my work is dimensional.  It has depth and texture.  I add layers of fabric, fibers, findings to my works. This is hard to varnish without changing it in someway. I have paintings that I did many moons ago, before I knew about varnish.  Between all the movings and hangings, they still look great!  I varnish only on works that I know can withstand the process without changing what I was going for!!

http://www.si.edu/mci/english/learn_more/taking_care/painting_varnish.html