Atlered Paintbrush

Hello Everybody!

I am so excited to share my project with you all today!  There are two parts to how this project materialized.  So get comfortable while I tell you my story! ;)

I follow Finnibair on Instagram.  They create the most beautiful projects.  Somewhere along the way I saw them alter a paintbrush.  If you look up altered paintbrush on Pinterest-a myriad of ideas will fill your screen.  So the next time I was at the Dollar Tree, I bought a paintbrush.  

Fast forward a couple of months and the said paintbrush has not been touched.  So as Ash Wednesday was coming closer my church was talking about members bringing in projects that they create over Lent.  Things like canvases, or if you sew/knit, or whatever artsy or crafty thing you have.  

So my paintbrush idea came back into my head.  I looked up Pinterest and Finnibair looking for ideas.  I got out my pastel color paints and although I was tired (lol) I was able to create.  Which is quite the feat sometimes.  

Thank you for reading my story.  Here is my Jesus inspired paintbrush...

This is how it started...

I covered it in gesso.  Even the bristles were painted with gesso.

Then I got out different findings.  I had tried a different set of wings and then remembered these.  They were a goodwill find. :)

I hot glued the wings and the lace.  I put modeling paste on the metal part.  Once it was smooth enough (which was not an easy task for me lol) I wrote in it.  

What is nice is the first time I didn't like the way it looked.  As a matter of fact I kept trying to write Blessed but it didn't fit.  Then the 2nd time I wrote Jesus-I loved it. 

Yay!  It's not perfectly centered.  But that is ok.  This was the first time writing in modeling paste.  (Some where I saw canvases made this way.)  I am always happy when I can incorporate a new technique. :)

So here is the placement of my found items.  The stars and butterfly and heart are wood.  The flowers are Prima paper flowers.  And the key and Believe are metal pieces.  Believe is Tim Holtz but I don't know the origin of the key.  I also used one of Tim Holtz's small dots stencils and modeling paste on the handle.  I also glued micros beads in the bristles to give more texture.

Here are the paints that I used to paint over all of the findings and lace.  I used the silver paint for Jesus.  The Art Anthology paint has little bits of sparkle.  The teal Art Anthology is called Pixie and the purple one is Wisteria.  I love these two colors together.  I wasn't expecting to use picked raspberries (the bright pink) but it really worked out on accenting the found pieces.

Here is a close up of the handle and flowers.  

Here is the whole paint brush again.  

Here is a different angle on the paintbrush.  You can see the sparkles in the wings as well.  :)

I would like to enter my Jesus Paintbrush into the following challenges:

Use Your Stuff:  #300 Twinkle Twinkle-use something sparkly: The wings are sparkly and the purple and teal paint have little sparkles.

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge: Photo inspiration: Love.  I believe Jesus is love and there is also a heart. :)

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...be the light :)