1
Although I forgot to take a "before" picture, the pegboard was only supported by the two vertical strips. I ran some horizontal pieces so the board could be securely fastenened.
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2
Here it is on my easel, after a light sanding. The edges curl in, and it had a considerable amount of grease and other kitchen gunk on it.
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3
Now I start by painting in the sky. I use some free samples of paint that I'd gotten ages ago. I hope to use it up, so I won't have to pack it when I leave.
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4
I always associate kitchens with farm scenes, maybe that's because it's where most of our food supposedly comes from. I start roughing out the background. I used an old postcard to do the straight edges of the barn.
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5
Here's a closer look.
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6
Now I start to do the shading. Unfortunately, the postcard kept the paint that got on it from drying, due to the glossy surface. It smeared to other parts of the painting, so it's already darker than I'd planned.
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7
The BIG picture...
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8
I'm not a fan of red, but barns are typically that color, so I'll tint it once I get the sideboards roughed out.
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9
It's pretty plain to see that I've gone way too dark. I tried to lighten the near side, but that looks worse. I've also discovered that the paint isn't adhering to the original coat very well.
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10
You can see the large portion of the roof that chipped off from me holding a post card against it to give the clapboards their look.
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11
I took a damp sponge and easily wiped it off. If I can ever get this done, I'll have to put a topcoat over it to protect the work from getting removed when it's cleaned.
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12
I gave the board another, more aggressive sanding. I hope this makes a difference. I then resketched the barn on it. I hope I don't have to do this again.
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13
For some reason, all of my airbrushes are giving me aggravation today. None will allow me to "draw" tight lines, without globs of paint suddenly spattering out. I tried to freehand the fence but you can see the blotches on the tops.
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14
Trying to soldier on, I'm making more of a mess than I had hoped.
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15
Getting totally flustered, I drew and cut out a stencil of a rooster. With any luck, I'll be able to do this without ruining what I've already done. Once I started, as if by magic my guns started spraying correctly. Go figure...
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16
I was able to freehand in the feathers and markings on Mr. Rooster. I'm glad I made the stencil though, my hands now tend to tremble and my straight lines are about as straight as MacDonalds french fries.
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17
I put him on top of a post, then finished the fence and began laying out the background.
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18
For a while I felt like Bob Ross, painting dozens of 'Happy Trees' and their friends. I don't know what the problem with all of my airbrushes was, but things went 100% faster once they mysteriously began working properly again. My old stove had a finial on top and I never painted the spot behind it, so I hid that with a stump.
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19
I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...
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20
I'm calling this one 'DONE'. I'll let it dry overnight, and then give it a coat of rattle can clear in the morning.
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21
Here's a close up of stumpy.
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22
Now I've got it mounted, all it needs are the hooks.
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23
Voila! I know it was a true waste of time since I'm leaving, but I like the 'country kitchen' look it gives and wish I had the time to do it earlier.
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