Squirrel brooch improv

Several months ago, I created a squirrel brooch, which I then neglected to photograph for quite some time.  Initially, I was planning to offer it by itself in my Etsy Shop, but after seeing it on my desk for so long, a new idea crossed my mind.  I wondered if it can serve more than one purpose.  So I decided to improvise an additional function for this brooch.  Tell me if I am crazy, but I am creating a simple painting that the squirrel can be pinned to when it is not being worn. That way, it can serve as both a piece of jewelry and home decor!

Soon after painting the background and the basic outline of the tree, I could not wait to test my theory.  While there was still a lot of painting to be done, I took the risk and made the cut in the canvas where I will attach the squirrel brooch.  It was so nerve-wrecking to cut through a painting I just made! But I already came up with a strategy for how to make sure that it stays put. 

Unlike most cases with my microscopy-inspired work, here I really feel like I don’t know what I am doing and have to let go of control and go with the flow.  I wanted to add texture in a few places with beads, but it is coming out to be kind of odd.  While in my usual works, I typically have everything planned out from the beginning, here I feel like I have to come up with solutions on the fly.  It’s pretty unnerving.  Now I am working on adding some texture to the leaves with paint and debating if it’s worth finishing the bead contours on the left side of each leaf.  

What do you think?

You may wonder how it is secured to the canvas. Check out the little simple mechanism I have devised in the back of the canvas:

Please email me at yzorina@gmail.com if you would like to call dibs on the final product.