Angel Paintings for the Christmas Holidays

For many years, I have crafted an angel painting to use as the image for our Christmas card. The tradition actually started when our oldest daughters were small, about three and six. I created a woodcut block of them as angels. Over the years, I have used that woodcut many times as a demonstration piece in art classes for ways to make art prints.

In more recent times, my angel paintings have been pastels, watercolors, or acrylics, sometimes on paper, other times on canvas. The watercolors are softer and more subdued paintings. The acrylics are quite vibrant. All of them are far different from the prints I created from that earkt woodblock.

Each year, I like my latest painting best of all. This year is no exception. Last year's canvas was quite abstract. This year, my painting is a little of both realistic and abstract. The acrylic painting began with a buildup of gesso that I textured using a variety of methods and materials. I then used Golden Fluid Acrylics to create the finished painting on a square 24" x 24" gallery-wrapped canvas that I titled "Angel at the Window".

Is she looking in or looking out? What do you think?

"Angel at the Window" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Merry Christmas