“It takes a very long time to become young.”
― Pablo Picasso
This Timeout for Art project was simple and easy! The design, inspired by a pre-Columbian artifact, was painted on a pillow to bridge the painting on the wall (below) with the fabrics on the sofa and chair.

Inspired by an artifact that was used to make repeat designs, this painting now lives in a guest house. The pillow on the chair all but screamed, ‘Please paint me!’

Sellos were most likely used for rolling designs on textiles and/or skin. (Collection/Museo Bahia de Caraquez)
Using acrylic paints, I blocked in the main areas of color, let them dry, then added subtle shadows to make it more three dimentional. The darkest colors were added last.
Do you think the funny little “Jama Coaque” person will make a cheerful addition to the room?
Z
What a great idea! And I love these sweet faces!
fun! thanks! btg followed your comment and mentioned a ‘twilight zone’ kind of feeling – at the right moment!
amiga! your timeout for art page loaded, and wow, it’s beautiful! you are so amazingly talented and so modest! each image had its own soul, and each shone with inner beauty – part of the model and part of your own spirit.
put your feet up, you’ve earned a break to inhale deeply and savor the moment! you did – and are doing – well!
Lisa, thank you! I so admire all of your wonderful work, this means so much coming from you!
Thank you for this post. I love your work.
Senior Pastor/Equipping the Saints
Philip 3:10, “That I May Know Him”
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thank you! i’m glad you enjoyed it and like my work! z
Z, it depends on the room and your mood. If you look at them a certain way, I feel like a Twilight Zone episode, where I am being watched. Yet, if you put them in fun surroundings, they could be little play icons. Maybe I am just having a weird day. BTG
ja! you are spot on! the jama coaque culture produced some really strange art. many of the pieces look as if they were modeled after space beings. at some point i’ll have to post some of the most unusual images and icons.
the people who live in the jama coaque culture area all love the icons, and the ‘big-headed space men’ are one of those reproduced often by artists and artisans…. only in monochromatic color!
thanks for your feedback, and it might be fun to wonder late at night if those beings are watching you!!! it would not be fun to someone who has a panic disorder…
z
Maybe the Mayans and Incans took their science from space aliens…..and the legend is passed down. Where is Rod Serling when you need him?
love the pillow ! I should have a time out for art project for next week, then we’ll be headed for the states to visit our large family. The twins arrived last night , so that brings our grandkids up to 26. Though there was a bit of a twist, the boy and girl turned out to be two girls. So back to drawing board for one last painting.
hugs and love
how fun! so girl number two is surely destined to be a tomboy…. hmmm, i think it’s still politically correct to use that word? i am proud to call myself a tomboy.. she will at least be a child of nature!
glad you like the pillow. it was fun, yet painting on unprimed canvas took more time when firming up those bleeding edges!
you’ve been on my mind a lot as you approach the magic hour! everyone must be thrilled that you’re returning! be prepared to share the same stories/answer the same questions many times – unless someone has a gathering so you can address many things once and then have one-on-one’s with all!
love
z
Ah, Z you little aliens are brilliant! Love the eyes! 🙂
He’s so colorful. I love color. He would look adorable in the room.
Nicely done …!!!
So cute! Did you put a protective coating on the pillow? What did you use? Can you wash it? I’d like to paint some cloth for a lamp, so I’m curious how you protected it so it can be washed.
plain ‘ole acrylic paints! i buy quarts of favorite colors and mix them like artist’s paints. they work for t-shirts, sheets (beautiful) and they get softer and nicer with each washing! greens hold up well.. yellows and fuschias fade if exposed to strong sunlight. you can scrub acrylics pretty well – think about how your jeans forever bear the brands of house-painting tasks! that paint never washes out unless you wash it before it’s dried!
Awesome. Thanks so much. I’m going to paint a canvas cover for my floor lamp. This will be easy!
have fun! untreated canvas will ‘bleed’ on the edges. sometimes i paint the borders (or argue with them) and then filling in the areas is easier.
whatever you do will be lovely, i am sure!!!
yes, the pillow will make a nice addition to any room – and it was screaming to be painted. lol 🙂
“Paint me! Paint me! NOW!!!!!!” Thanks for the smile!
I think I had that little guy in a class once!! Delightful!
He looks a bit like the “zemi” that we have in parts of the Caribbean from that same era… Cute!
oh wow! thanks for that info. i guess those space aliens visited many areas of our planet, and the artists of that time captured their likeness!
The pillow was definitely waiting for some colour and a funny little person, who actually looks in need of a hug.
thanks.. yes, i suppose he’s a long way from his home planet and is a bit lost! or could that be a she?
Could be a she…but that raises an interesting question. Is it usually the male or the female of the species that embarks on adventures or travels to unknown worlds?
jajaja.. that gave me a great laugh! most of my male friends tell me that i have more balls than they do to travel alone and settle into areas where i don’t know a soul!
Indeed!
Fantastic and oh Yes from TX!
Not only do I think that the pillow will make a cheerful addition, but I think the smile after your signature will as well!
i’m not surprsed that you caught that smile! on smaller whimsical paintings, i often sign small whimsical paintings with a z and a smiley face! z
Funny. I AM surprised I noticed. 🙂
i laughed!