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.

Winter Whites

The calendar says it's still winter and groundhog Phil has seen his shadow once again.  Winter has it's own beauty of rich neutral hues of a deep sleep.  The yard is alive with birds, squirrels and an occasional deer and bunny.  Time to prune the roses back.  

These are some tags from my reference photos I'm going to post on Etsy.  They work as tags, bookmarks or a garland for cubicle or home.

Spring Fever

After last week's arctic blast, I am so tired of cold and dark weather.  I'm ready for Spring and am so happy to see signs of a little more daylight on both ends of the day.  This little mixed media piece is my way of dreaming of spring.  It has a gouache underpainting with pastel pencils and soft pastel on top painted on hot-press watercolor paper.  Tulips always make me happy.

Staying Warm. Staying Focused.

B-r-r-r-r.  The Pacific Northwest is getting the big chill this year.  Fighting the urge to hibernate is at the top of my to-do list.  Remembering that spring is only a few weeks away helps.  With spring comes the Farmer's Market and the need for new card designs for my loyal patrons.  In between long winter naps, I've checked off a couple of winter to-do items:
I've combed through my painting idea piles and prioritized the card projects that strike me as ones that will resonate with more than just me.  
I've gotten my new-to-me Epson printer up and running to create archival prints.
I've completed several Christmas designs for next year, since I never seem to get them done in time for Christmas if I wait until the holiday season to start them. 

Well, time to go feed the squirrels and birds.

Love and Hate

I have a love-hate relationship with my computer when I use it to create artwork.  Sometimes I do it, but there's a teeny, tiny voice inside my head that says "You're cheating, you know."  Then why do I love seeing what fun new thing "Hal" comes up with using my artwork?  I'll have to think about that.

Out with the Old - In with the New

New Year's Eve - The clock ticks toward the end of another year.  I've always loved the process of making lists...not the doing of lists, but the making of lists.  I love to imagine how things would be if I actually did the things on those lists.  Need to work on that.  The first two bullet points are always the same....get out of debt and lose ____ pounds.  I need some sub-bullet points of how I plan to make those happen.  This year, point 3 is to start creating and posting archival prints on my Etsy site.  Sub-bullet is to paint new images weekly and re-list on Etsy at least daily.  I'm hopeful that this year I will be adding silk-screened products to the site.  You can visit my Etsy store by clicking on the Etsy grid on the right sidebar.

As I reflect on 2011, I'm so amazed at and thankful for the threads of friendship, family, and well being that make up my tapestry of life.  I wish you all the same for the new year.  

It's Almost Christmas

Well here it is...Christmas Eve.  Keeping my Christmas preparations very simple has been an interesting development for me.  This year I've spent more time appreciating the holiday embellishments displayed by others, i.e the office, the lights on houses, etc.  I'm going to try to carry that simplicity into the new year, although a flurry of artistic ideas have been percolating and I'm anxious to put them to paper.  Plans include a greater emphasis on my Etsy shop with more bird and animal paintings and completing several large-scale commissioned pieces.  Maybe this is just the calm before another artistic storm.  I hope your holiday has been filled with the things good memories are made of.  Merry Christmas to all.