For the past few weeks I have been planning and executing the design for my new banner artwork, which you should now see displayed on the site.* I always knew that the painting on the old site would be a temporary image as, although I am very proud of the work, it doesn’t really relate to what the blog is about. So, when I knew I would be changing to a self-hosted site, I started thinking about the kind of image and text I wanted to represent me and the blog.
I was also very keen that I should design and paint the banner myself. Firstly, because I can’t afford to employ a designer – but mainly because I really enjoy painting and an image created by me would be more personal too. Here is a little summary of my process and the thoughts behind the final image.
I wanted a simple image and colour scheme with a white background. At first I experimented with images to represent each of my children but I couldn’t find an idea that I was happy with and I found everything I tried seemed to be too cluttered. In the end I chose an image of a mother and child but tried to keep the child fairly gender neutral. My daughter has a very cute curl as her hair is growing but my son had a similar kink when he was a similar age – so I intended the child to represent both of them. I also think the age of the child is quite flexible – he or she could be a baby still but similarly they could be an older pre-school child.
I must admit, the image of the mother is a bit of an idealised version of me. I have a lot of hair and usually keep it very long but that is about where the similarity ends! Once I had decidided on the image I wanted and researched some ideas by looking at similar styles of figures, I was ready to start drawing and painting.
I knew I would be using acrylic paints – my favourite paint to work with is watercolour but I wanted something bolder than that, and I find oils less versatile due to drying times. Here are some images of the stages of the work:
Note: Old formula bottles make excellent paint pots once you no longer need them!
For the text, I simply took a cross section of the colours in the painting. I wanted to keep the colours to a minimum, but still create something where the colour was striking, so I chose a palette of blues, greens and teals. From the beginning, I knew I wanted the colours to ‘bleed’ into one another on my design. This is another reason why acrylics were my choice – they can generate very bold colour while still blending and bleeding between colours.
And so here it is, the final piece:
Let me know what you think!
It looks beautiful, you’re very talented to have created that yourself
great artwork. reminds me of space and those fantastic hubble images showing far away galaxies. kind of perfect for the image of a mother and child looking at each other and the vast amounts of love you feel gazing at your little miracle creation. x
Thank you 😊
It’s lovely! Go mummy!
It’s a lovely banner and even made more special, because you made it yourself 🙂 I do hope you have plans of also putting it in a frame and hanging it in your home? x
Its beautiful and quite ethereal – you are very talented!! #bigpinklink
Thanks so much! 😊
I love the colours and how they all blend together. A very striking banner.
#AnythingGoes
Thanks so much 😊
Oh wow, I really really love it! It looks like a silk painting the way it bleeds. You’re so talented, you could absolutely sell these. I loved drawing mine. It’s nice to know you made it yourself isn’t it? Thanks for linking up with us! #bigpinklink
Thank you! ☺
great job! My banner is self-made also, but I think yours is a lot prettier!
Stunning banner, I wish I was half as talented as you, I wouldn’t even know where to start! #bigpinklink x
Thank you 😊
That’s really impressive, I could never do anything like that. Looks really great! #bigpinklink
Well done – it’s beautiful and lovely to have something so personal! I really need to work on my own header. #bigpinklink
This is so lovely! I saw it on instagram and wished I had artistic ability like this! you are totally right about the colours though, I had no idea it was acrylic that was able to create that effect!!
Loving the new header image hun, and the new look blog too 🙂 I can’t believe you painted that yourself, I don’t know how you find the time to do it all. Claire x #KCACOLS
I absolutely love your design I can’t believe you did it yourself you are so talented! I love the colours too xx
Thank you! 😊
Its lovely you are very talented, and until I read this post I had no idea you had done it yourself. I had seen it on Instagram and thought it looked just as beautiful there. Its great to be able to truly make your blog your own. Love it x
Thank you 😊
what a fabulous talent and well done! It’s great to improve our blogs one step at a time and lovely to share how we do it! Well done. The art is fab!
Angela from Daysinbed.com
Thanks so much 😊
I think you have done such an amazing job designing the banner I am so jealous as I wish I was that creative too.
This is so gorgeous! I love the new look and I think it is amazing that you were able to create this by hand, by yourself. Its so creative and so unique, you should be very pleased with it 🙂 Emily #KCACOLS
Thanks so much ☺
Okay, I might not be able to see it, but the fact that you’ve created and painted your own piece for your blog is pretty amazing! I wish I had talent like yours, even when I could see I failed at anything to do with art! 🙈 Xxx
It’s a mother, sidw profile, holding a child in her arms. She has lots of hair with curls flicked out the back. The child is small ish with a single similar curl at the back of the head. It’s like a silhouette though, as instead of realistic colours, it is made up of blues, teals and navy, some almost black. The only white parts are the mother’s face and the child’s arm. The rest is all just a silhouette of the colours bleeding into one another. Thanks so much for your kind words 😊
The banner is absolutely beautiful. You’re a very talented artist! I love the colours in it, and it’s unique. You see quite a lot of blog headers that are very similar, but this one really stands out. #anythinggoes
Thanks so much 🙂
Wow, I seen this on your Twitter but had no idea you designed it yourself. I think it looks amazing x
It’s gorgeous! Very striking and memorable, a real asset to your blog. I’m stunned and impressed that you were able to create this yourself, I’d love to be so artistic. Maybe a future vocational line for you???
Oh this is amazing! I wish I had the time to get back to my artistic hobbies. I use to spend all my time as a teen drawing and writing poetry. Now I barely have time to pee and eat.
Incredible! You are such an amazing artist, lovely. Love the banner and your new blog 🙂 #kcacols
Wow, you are a very talented artist, I love the new banner! I think it means more that you have deigned it and made it yourself, I wish I had the ability to do that!
What a fun and lovely idea. I like the new banner a lot. Great work. 🙂
That’s stunning! So beautiful!
I love it & the story behind how you created it – you’re very talented! I love the colours and texture to the colours – so beautiful! #anythinggoes
I think it’s simply gorgeous and love all the thought you put into it. I recently redesigned my blog (before Christmas) and spend a lot of energy on creating the right mood and feel. I think yours is perfect and love that it is hand painted in these digital times #KCACOLS
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
This is brilliant – you are so talented! There’s something so satisfying about designing things like this yourself and being able to publish them for everyone to see. It’s another demonstration of you abilities #KCACOLS
I love it and I think it has really captured the essence of what your blog is. You are a very talented lady!! I wish I could design something like that for my blog 🙂 #KCACOLS
It looks amazing! You’re so talented 🙂
Laura xx
#KCACOLS
This is amazing!! You are so talented!! The whole process was amazing to watch. I love the colours and the mum with the baby in arms is just adorable .Well done!! You have done an amazing job!! I love it!! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS, 🙂 x