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Allyn Howard

  • Paintings
  • KIDS
  • Surface Design
  • Florals
  • Occasions
  • Studio
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • My Shop
Bunny_gold_garden_Allyn_Howard

Painting on wood - what & why

March 21, 2016

I paint on several surfaces, including various boards, canvas, paper and my current favorite, wood. I thought this bunny was a perfect one to share, since Easter is on the way. I added some iridescent gold to a stain I made that helped bring out the grain. The shimmer is much nicer in person, but you get the idea.

Painted_pictures_Allyn_Howard

Not all wood is created equal. This was painted on MDO - Medium Density Overlay Panel, which is made of plywood then coated with weather-resistant resin. It's popular with sign painters. It took me a little time to get used to the smoothness of this surface, but I like it. I'm fortunate that I can occasionally take home wood from a TV show or commercial I may be working on. I paint built sets when I'm not working on commissions. If there happens to be extra wood and some free time, a nice carpenter will cut some of those pieces down to be put to good use :) 

CATS_Allyn_Howard
Doggone_dogs_Allyn_Howard
People_Allyn_Howard
Bunnies_garden_red_Allyn_Howard

And now back to the more traditional. I think what I'm most drawn to when painting on wood, is that it conjures up thoughts about craftsmanship and a handmade quality that appeals to me. I feel more comfortable using a limited palette on wood, something I wanted to do because I'm interested in making simplified scenes that maintain the charm of the material.

Goats_countryside_Allyn_Howard

I love the way paint will sometimes catch on a rough area, adding dimension, enhancing the painterly quality.

4_makes_home_Allyn_Howard

This piece, above, was painted on 4 separate wood panels and I decided to give each one a different background color wash. It's subtle, but different. Lately, I've been thinking about 'Home' what that means to people - comfort, family, a place in which you return, a memory or a place to build. 

Home_Allyn_Howard

Years ago, I dry mounted prints to wood panels. More on that some other time. When I stopped making those, there were some left over. These came in handy when I took Lilla Rogers' MATS Bootcamp last Spring and one of our assignments required that we create art on wood. I think that's when I 1st started to paint on it again and I'm so glad I did. This circle and the crabs, below were made during class.

Allyn_Howard_Boardwalk_bike-chase
Crabs_seashells_Allyn_Howard

Why am I thinking about my reasons for using wood more regularly? Funny you should ask. Uppercase Magazine is offering a chance to be included in it's 30th issue. You have 3 shots; One - share your experience about your creative heritage Two - share work that could be described as rustic or Three - share your products/projects made using, you got it, wood! Uppercase is a wonderful magazine and the opportunity to be in it is thrilling to me. It might be of interest to you, too. So, go take a look. The deadline is March 31st.

Girls_a-portrait_Allyn_Howard

Beep beep - Spring is upon us, Let's take a trip!

Beep_fox_in_fiat_Allyn_Howard

Here's a little peek at a process pic. Sometimes I paint directly into the wood grain with bright colors and in this one, the animals are part of the grain. 

wip_animals_abstrct_Allyn_Howard
Animals_abstract_Allyn_Howard

This portrait is one of my favorites. I've shared it here before, but this photo shows her right before I painted the shirt and polka dot background. I sometimes wish I'd left the grain in her blouse. Oh well, maybe next time. 

portrait_easel_wip_Allyn_Howard

I hope you've enjoyed seeing these paintings. Most of my work is currently painted on birch plywood and on maple panels by Art Boards.

bears_bandanas_Allyn_Howard

I often adjust work in photoshop, but I love having a finished piece, a stand alone object, in the end.

Plus, it feels great when someone purchases an original painting and gives it a nice home.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week :) xo, A

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Blipadee blog archives 4/09 - 6/15

"It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be." -  Paul Arden

A day in the life ... 

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Lena_Allyn_Howard_bird_pillow.jpg
my_floral_pouches_allyn_Howard.jpg
Smorgasburg_Allyn_Melissa_Yuko_Melissa.jpg
Tulips_La-Slowteria.jpg
under_the_sea_painting_process_allyn_howard.jpg
ballet barre UPT Shane me Mike Nirenberg_Allyn_Howard.jpg
2014 MZ bday din_Red_Hook.jpg
dad waves to me train_Allyn_Howard.jpg
mom k n me US Open_AllynHoward.jpg
chunk n Leslie 09.jpg
BW cat coffee_Allyn_Howard.jpg
mom n me boat_allyn_howard.jpg
owl packs suitcase sktch_allyn_howard.jpg
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piggy n bird sktch_allyn_howard.jpg
Lena_cat BW-pic_Allyn_Howard.jpg
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mom grndma Hs 66.png
marg n graham_Aug-2001.jpg
MH Margot Rosie_Breezy_Greenport LI.jpg
US Open 09.jpg
AH Bird Badge1A_AllynHoward.jpg
animals.jpg
doggy beach_bag_allyn_Howard.jpg
baby_bird_bag_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Samson n Zeus dogs_allyn_howard.jpg
fire boat Red hook wedding.jpg
Montauk_me_convertible_Allyn_howard.jpg
Montauk_baitntackle_a_howard.jpg
Dad_fish_sign_Va_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Montauk_boat_sunset_allyn_howard.jpg
Gennadi_hammock_Allyn_Howard.jpg
cuteset_Chiweenie_Allyn_howard.jpg
Frankies_BK_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Madeline_NYHS_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Biz_cards_postcards_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Lena_Cat_Allyn_Howard.jpg
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me_Paris_bridge_eiffel-tower_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Seine2_Paris_boat_Allyn_Howard.jpg
dogs_swim2-Seine_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Marg_getting-schooled_Paris_Allyn_Howard.jpg
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strappy_vintage_shoes_Paris_Allyn_Howard.jpg
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Paris_Marg_wine_Allyn_Howard.jpg
detail_yellow_bird_snow_Allyn_Howard.jpg
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MnO w-my_Halloween_toy_store_door_Allyn_Howard.jpg
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sweet_older_dog_Allyn_Howard.jpg
Toys_Paris_Flea_Allyn_Howard.jpg
allyn_howard ice cream.jpg
my_Winnie-the-Pooh_Allyn_Howard.jpg

Fresh Tweets

  • Allyn Howard
    Lena ate all the Valentine candy 🍬 #caturday #meowmeow https://t.co/j6FWNs95wF https://t.co/hGJ5ZFLoXB
    about 23 hours ago
  • Allyn Howard
    You made it! #tgif 🍸 #itsfriday #cocktailhour #animalconversations #allynhoward #charcoalsketch #hedgehog #crow… https://t.co/6GvEws86me
    about a day ago
  • Allyn Howard
    Carmines #fridayfact : sociable colorful birds that live in sub-equatorial Africa & primarily eat bees ✨ #birds… https://t.co/3rjleMmwai
    about a day ago
““It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh”

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