A Little Bit Of Lichen....

I'm Liking It....

First of all, Dear Readers, I want to thank you all for your wonderful comments on my Christmas Card! It did take longer than usual to draw, and it was more complex and detailed than previous ones... and I wrestled with the precise perspective for a long time, but in the end I am happy that I finally drew my work room (formerly the Dining Room) in almost all of it's chaotic detail! I have fallen way behind on reading blogs and commenting and even answering your comments on this blog, but I needed to stay focused on the drawing! Now that Almost all the cards have been sent to their destinations, I can finally try to return to the mini making that I love so much. And because I am on a Mission to get the lilac shrubs finished.... they are the highest priority! You might recall that I was planning to add the finished blossoms to the shrub as I completed them, but then decided I really needed to finish the shrub stems completely before I added the delicate blossoms. I had achieved a bark texture that I was happy with, but there was another detail that I wanted to add before the stems could be declared finished.... and that was lichen! I have never known a Lilac shrub that did not have Lichen! In the above picture you can see the stems of my little lilac shrub.... (picture taken the day before the snow arrived) with the delicate lacy gray-green lichen growing on the bark.

Here is another closer view..... it grows even on the younger stems.

Here is some more..... 

it is a very delicate texture and soft color......

And I was having a hard time deciding how to make it in miniature!

I had decided that maybe I would try to paint some sawdust

 and clump it together in little patches....

when my eyes fell onto the package of 

landscaping supplies sent to me by Birgit....

(Thank you again, Birgit!!!)

And I wondered if I painted this material and clumped it together..... 

would it make a lichen-ish impression?

I mixed up a greenish gray color with my acrylic paints....

And smothered bits of the landscaping material in the paint.....

I "painted" it onto the plastic bag

 so it would be removable when dry... 

and let it dry thoroughly.

The I pulled apart little bits of the dried clumps..... 

and attached them to the lilac shrub stems....

Can you see it there?

 

How about now? Can you see the little clumps?

I have tried to add little bits in likely spots.... 

without overdoing it.....

It is supposed to be a subtle detail!

So far I am Liking how it looks!

And while I have been writing and

 sending out all those Christmas Cards, Dear Readers,

 I have also been sticking to my Blossom-a-week schedule!

Here is Blossom number Forty completed!

And in the Box with the others!

 

Soon, very soon now, 

I really will begin to attach all those blossoms... 

except I have thought of one or two other little details

 that might have to come first.

 

 

But for now, Dear Readers,

 I am adding little bits of Lichen...

And so far I am really Liking it!