No, this is not the title to an old hippy folk song, LOL, this is a description to one of my latest functional art creations. I’m trying the idea of making some small affordable original art to list in my shops. When I was trying to come up with ideas for this I came across these small blank canvas pin back buttons made by Gypsy Goods. I thought, wow, this is a way someone could “wear” original artwork like jewelry! I asked if she had some watercolor canvas buttons because what was for sale was an all purpose canvas, which I wasn’t sure would work for water media paints, like my watercolor pencils. Gypsy Goods was gracious enough to send me a sample to try out. I tried painting on the all purpose and the paint just didn’t work out, the canvas didn’t “set” the paint.
So after a few discussions she made some watercolor canvas buttons for me. I ordered a set in the 1.5” diameter and a few larger 2.25” diameter pinbacks. So next was then coming up with the tiny paintings. I have to say, it was quite challenging painting on such a small surface, but the canvas worked beautifully with my watercolor pencils. I could finish each button in about an hour, from drawing stage, transferring to canvas and then painting. After drying for at least 24 hours, I then applied a protectant spray, and they were finished!
The subject of two of the pinback paintings is my cute little alabaster Navajo carved horse fetish I have. The actual carved horse is just a little bigger than the painting on the pinback. The mule painting was a bit of a challenge, really trying to get the size of the ear and face proportioned on such a small canvas. But I’m happy with the result!
I have them all for sale in my Artfire and Etsy shops, at $4 each plus shipping. I definitely have plans to do more of these, perhaps for magnets and actual buttons. I have lots of ideas to incorporate these canvas buttons as jewelry pieces, or key chains, etc. So many ideas and not enough time…..!
