I started painting on glass last year as an experiment. I've been painting on paper and canvas all my life, so I just wanted to find a challenge. I painted animals as realistically as I could and found that the glass support gave the painted image an extra dimension. I loved it!
I follow my inspiration when choosing a subject - I love animals so they are my favorite thing to paint. I don't use any special colors, just acrylics and a light varnish. I discovered that this was the perfect combination for the glass item so that it could be used and then handwashed. This is functional art. Of all the kinds of animals, birds, and insects, my recurring motifs are hummingbirds, octopuses, and ravens.
My biggest challenge was painting wild animals on glass - like lions, elephants, and rhinos. I loved that they were for a charity auction for The Elephant Foundation so I was happy that my art could help a good cause. It wasn't easy to get a realistic image of these amazing animals but I relied on all the things I've learned over the years by practicing and experimenting with acrylic painting.
I love painting on glass instead of canvas because it gives a unique result and it can transform any object into an artwork that you can actually use. You can be drinking a nice glass of wine while admiring a beautiful painting in your hand.
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