Thinking Christmas

It has been almost a month since my last post and I have been focused on making some quilled paper ornaments that I hope will sell at the Wynndel Christmas Craft Fair on Dec. 2. I have managed to do one mixed media piece with quilling and watercolour...

#1059 - Strutting his Stuff! 5 x 7 matted to 8 x 10

... but the rest? See for yourselves.

Rufous Hummingbird with glitter - 1/4" paper

Calliope Hummingbirds with glitter - 1/4" paper

Fantasy Hummingbirds - 1/4" paper

Gold Snowflakes with glitter and faux gems - 1/8" paper

Gold and White Snowflakes with glitter and faux gems - 1/8" paper

Mauve Angel with faux gem - 1/8" paper

My Rainbow of Angels - 1/8" paper

Christmas Traditions Ornaments - 1/4" paper

Well, I may not be painting but I am having FUN!!!

This, That and the Other

Instead of sketching in the evenings lately, for a change of pace I have been doing some more quilling and adding the finished pieces to cards.

Quilled Rooster Card

I find most quilling to be relaxing and often do it while watching TV. Sometimes though, I pick a subject that is a bit tougher to do and it needs more control and concentration.

Filigree Hummingbird Card

This little hummingbird and flower seemed to take forever to do as I could only do a bit at a time while I waited for the glue to dry.

I have also been spending time figuring out my display for the up-coming Trade Show at our local rec centre. I mostly want to promote my Watercolour Painting Parties and my 20th "Anniversary as an Artist" Clearance Sale but I hope to make my display inclusive of all my work - thus the figuring.

This year I will be offering some new scenes for the Painting Parties. I am going to add 'A Building in Fog' as well as the 'Vignettes' and the 'Little Guys' parties.

Little Guys selection - paint two 5 x 7 pieces

Vignettes selection - paint one 10 x 14 scene

I don't have most of the scenes for the 'Building in the Fog' series ready yet but here is a sample;

#550 - Abandoned 

These scenes will be 10 x 14 and participants also get a 16 x 20 mat and a clearbag to protect their paintings.

I do have 'other' things happening but I think this blog is long enough, so I will leave the rest for an 'other' day - lol.

I invite readers to 'follow' my blog and leave a comment - let me know how I'm doing!

Painting Day

Every once in a while my friend, Linda, drives the 2 hours from Nelson, BC to spend the day with me so we can paint together.

Linda in my studio

It is always a fascinating time because Linda likes trying new things and every time she visits I end up painting something I never would have painted on my own.

Today she brought a tutorial of a painting by Frank Webb - "Bill's Lumberyard" that she printed from the internet.

my painting

I have a few samples of Frank Webb's art in one of my painting books so I might try this style again just to see if I can.

Over the years, Painting Days with Linda have taken me in a number of different directions that I might not have traveled on my own.

Other Worldly

Sometimes we will use one of our painting books for ideas. For "Other Worldly" we looked at "Watercolor, Pour it on!" by Jan Fabian Wallake.

Master of the Farm

Sometimes we will use something from my files of reference material. I don't remember exactly what I used for this painting but I loved the rooster and hated the rest of the piece. I cut the rooster out and stuck it on another piece of paper and added a new background, creating a watercolor collage.

Wonder & Joy

Linda and I don't always paint the same subject. For "Wonder & Joy", I used a photo from a magazine and Linda painted a picture of a young boy from one of my art books. We both painted people which I would never have done without her suggestion.

Our Painting Days don't happen often because of the distance between us and the fact that we both have pretty busy lives. I don't remember how many we have had over the years but every one has given me new knowledge and ideas. Painting Days are a wonderful way to share and learn from a friend and I am so happy that Linda will take the time to come and share with me.

DAY 29 - Colorful Strokes

Today's painting is full of colorful strokes and every one is double or triple loaded!

Cock-a-doodle-do!

I drew the rooster on some practice paper because I didn't want to take the chance of damaging the rice paper with erasing, then I transferred it over. I decided to make some red transfer paper so I wouldn't have a dark outline showing through the yellow.

Once again the reference was in black and grey so I had to search my files for some pictures of these colorful birds. "Cock-a-doodle-do" is a 7 x 10 watercolor on Masa rice paper.

With only today and tomorrow left, if you haven't checked out the other art being posted I hope you will today at - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go and vote for your favorites  at -http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/. Remember that you can go back and vote on the days you missed!.