Spring is coming

Working on some new spring florals.  Warm January weather brings out the gardener in me.

Tiny Frog with Zinnia

Maybe it's because I usually root for the little guy, but this frog just ended up tiny next to the towering Zinnia.  It makes spring seem closer somehow.  Our 50-degree weather does a lot for the illusion as well. 

This painting was done in transparent watercolor on 140-pound Arches cold-press paper as well as some black and white acrylic for the background and frog highlights.  The fine lines on the leaves were made by gently scoring the first layer of paint, while it was still wet, with a blunt object (in this case, I used an embossing tool from my scrapbook supplies).  When the second transparent layer is placed, the pigment settles into the lines and creates nice skinny lines that I could probably never do as well with a paintbrush.  It's a cool trick.  I like cool tricks.

Summer's Swan Song

Here we are again. The calendar says we are on the edge of a new season. I always struggle with this particular seasonal change. I love fall, but I'm not a fan of winter. Well, I'll just have to make the best of it. New goals are waiting to be set. My new project, Art-Startz, is on the horizon. A new sewing and photography class and... of course... new paintings. Maybe I'll be so busy I won't notice it's 20 degrees outside.

Rags to Roses

I don't know if it's our balmy end of winter or if I'm just looking for a 3D tangent, but I've continued to have the urge to make these fabric roses... actually, they resemble gardenia more than roses. I've been knee deep in romantic fabrics and lace and have started a new Etsy store as a result. Soon my shop, Lace and Tulle (LaceandTulle on Etsy), will be filled with gardenia-like hair adornments and corsages, hopefully romantic wedding veils and ring pillows, all hand sewn and one of a kind. Where in the world do these ideas come from?