Graphite Sketch of the grands for Christmas

One of the things I did for my kids for Christmas was do graphite pencil sketches of my Grandchildren for them.  Each one was unique to each family. Hopefully they enjoy them :)

Northern Lights paintings in 4 x 6" size

Light and Ice....4" x 6" acrylic

Silent Night    4" x 6" acrylic

Getting these Northern Lights out of my system before Christmas and then I can move on to another subject and probably go back to smaller format.  I'm not sure that I like painting so large.....wierd eh!

These were posted earlier today on Ebay here

Spirit Wolf - 4" x 6" acrylic painting

Spirit Wolf 4" x 6" acrylic

Funny that is it bigger than I usually paint.  In fact I had trouble adjusting to the larger size :)....Anyway, I wanted to try the wolf silhoette, and wasn't sure I could do it an a smaller scale.  I make try an aceo size yet.  This one is listed as always on Ebay here

ACEO December theme week.....Christmas traditions

Theme week is Christmas Traditions.

The above painting is a 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic  aceo titled "Christmas Morning" and is my rendition of people going to church first thing in the morning.

 This painting is my rendition of the old fashioned tradition of Caroling.  We don't see it much these days.  We did used to have carolers come by when we lived in another town when my kids were small, but haven't seen it for quite a few years now.  A 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic titled "Caroling"

 This last one is my favourite, only because I rarely use coloured pencils.  They are really out of my comfort zone.  I used highlighted acrylics with this also, so it's more a mixed  media.  Titled "Deck the Halls"....2.5" x 3.5"

All 3 are listed on Ebay to qualify for this month's Theme Week competition.  You will find them listed on Ebay here

aceo - snowman/woman

  "The Missus"....2.5" x 3.5" acrylic

I liked the male version so much that I decided I would paint a "snowwoman" to go with him.  A slightly different mountain scene...they are like snowflakes..no two are alike :)   I listed her on Ebay this afternoon.  You will find her here

Guardian Angel - new work, experimental

Guardian Angel.  4" x 6" mixed media

She's actually a bit bigger than I usually do.  I was going to post this as a WIP, but they can get kind of boring so I just am posting the finished product.   I was just going to do a sketch, but then I decided to wash the whole thing in blue watered down  acrylic (I don't work in watercolour, but it probably would have been better here).  Not completely happy with the outcome,  I decided to outline some (but not all) with ink.  I then went over it again with graphite pencil.  I rarely paint faces so she has only half a face showing.  Anyway, this is my dabbling for the week.  On a whim I listed her on Ebay, and do have some watchers.  I didn't think anyone would be interested in 4 x 6.  You will find the listing here on Ebay

dollhouse miniatures original paintings

Northern Sunset 1.5" x 1.75" acrylic

 Winter Evening 1.5" x 1.75" acrylic

You can tell it's cold and gloomy here, as that's all I seem to be painting these days.  Nice cold winter scenes.  I am still painting with the dollhouse collectors in mind.  You will find these two listed on Ebay here

aceo - snowman - It must be a winter wonderland

 Snowman Mountain - 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic

All this talk of snow snow snow this week (plus below normal temperature) has turned my thoughts to the COLD!  So in keeping with the cold theme, I painted this snowman this afternoon.  He is listed on Ebay here

WIP continued. Still working on pencil sketch of the twins.

This is where I left off the other day.  I realized after looking at the photo, how much work I have left on it.

Started adding details and the background.  I'm not sure how to make the little strip of "lake" stand out more.  Or maybe it shouldn't stand out....I'll have to decide.  I also have to tone down some of my lines in their shirts etc.  I have a very heavy hand.  Something I have been working on, but forget every so often.

In Flanders Fields - Lest we forget

graphite sketch - WIP

It's been about 4 years since I painted these two....maybe more.  They are 13 now, so it's time for an updated painting for my daughter.  This is a work in progress.  I have lots more to do on it.

Very preliminary stage of the drawing.  Filling in here and there and just trying to get a feel for the piece.

Might have found my groove.  We'll see how it progresses.                   

Adding in some shadows and showing where the lights is coming from.  Not sure how to proceed with things like the shoe laces, but I'll worry about that later.

  I don't know...maybe the pictures are to small for you to see the progress.  When it's done, I'll post a slightly bigger pic.  I have two reference photos I'm using, but I wanted them both in the tree.  It's a big beautiful old old tree that sits on the beach.  Brayden is a lot taller than Owen, so I hope I have captured his long skinny legs......we'll see

Dollhouse collectors.....new miniature paintings today.

Smaller than my usual paintins.  Both these paintings are 1.5" x 2.0 inches.  I used to paint for doll collectors all the time.  I'm not sure why I moved away from it a couple of years ago.  I was looking through some old files today and remembered painting this size, and decided to give it another try.  You will find both of these paintings listed HERE on Ebay. 

Father Christmas - aceo - acrylic

Father Christmas 2.5 x 3.5" aceo Acrylic

I don't paint many "holiday" paintings, but every year I do try to offer one or two.  Here is my first Christmas aceo for this year.  Inspired by all the old world Santa figurines that come out this time of year, I decided to paint Father Christmas.  As usual I have listed this card here  on Ebay.

Happy Hallow Scream!!!!!!!!!

Our Jack-o-lanterns we carved out......

Scarey skull is my husband's and the Frankenstein that looks like he's drunk is mine :)

Autumn Fun - Wordless Wednesday - Grandchildren!

Blog hop from Wordless Wednesday

Full Moon - aceo - acrylic Wolf painting

Full Moon - 2.5 x 3.5" acrylic painting

I don't know what the fascination for wolves is.  Their mysterious ways maybe.  The stories that surround them, but they seem to capture everyone's attention.  This one you are almost looking into his soul.  You will find this painting listed on Ebay here

Violinist Storm - aceo - acrylic paintings

Nature's Symphony #2  aceo 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic

I wanted to try my hand at this kind of painting again.  This time with a femail violinist and using predominately blue paint.  I am thinking of painting this in a larger format for myself so am experimenting with the smaller ones.  You will find this painting listed for sale on Ebay here



Wordless Wednesday -

  Canada Geese  - Fall migration south

Wordless (almost) Wednesday - The colour of Fall

Edible art - more jelly - Carrot Cake Jam

Carrot Cake Jam

Getting out the big guns now.  This is the last of my jelly making this fall (all 3 things LOL)  This is served over cream cheese with crackers.......It really does taste like carrot cake......awesome!!!!! Will be saving this for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Autumn's Bounty.....Happy Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Wordless Wednesday (click)

angels northernlights and the moon

Managed to get a little painting in today.  We went to a Moody Blues concert last night and one of the background scenes was a really great moon.  This sort of inspired by moon and angels.  These both are aceo size (2.5" x 3.5") and are listed on Ebay here

feather painting - practise

It's been a long time since I tackled any feather painting.  I came across an old feather painting of mine today (how can you tell I'm cleaning out the office/studio).  I could see why it was thrown in a box unfinished ...so I painted over it and this is what I ended up with.  There are separations on the feather, but they come that way  (not on the bird, but from the supplier) so there isn't much you can do about them.  I like painting on them, but have to think of a good way to ship before I offer them for sale :)

Wordless Wednesday - Saskatchewan Autumn

aceo winter sunset......

Winter Sunset 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic

Clearing out some older pieces.  This one was painted in 2008.  You will find it listed on Ebay here

tweaking painting - aceo - acrylic - Eagle

Balance of Power 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic

I have been tweaking this painting off an on forever!!!!!Today I finally got him to quit looking like a budgie!   There is all kinds of artwork out there with and Eagle and Earth.  I have a slightly different look to it.   My painting symbolizes the delicate balance of power in the universe....We don't have any, one mis-step and it's all over!  Scarey when you think about it...yet the world looks fairly safe where it is...if we don't screw it up!......You will find this piece listed on Ebay here

Bringing Water.....the last of the series aceo acrylic

Bringing Water - 2.5" x 3.5" acrylic

The last of these "water carrying" women I think.  Finished her this afternoon.  You will find this piece listed on Ebay here.

WIP - Finished - Women Series aceo acrylic

The Gathering  2.5 x 3.5" acrylic

I got a chance to finish this piece today.  I titled it The Gathering,  These women have to haul water every single day rain or shine.  A mundane chore made, but they make it a social event by meeting up with friends every day.  You will find this painting listed on Ebay here

edible Art - the making of perfect bite size bruschetta!

What goes into a perfect bruschetta for a tastey appetizer?????  Along with the usual tomatoes, olive oil, basil and balsamic vinegar, I decided to add goat cheese feta, garlic and.....stove top roasted red pepper....yum!!!!!  Pretty as a picture!

The finished product on sliced whole wheat bagette.....that was toasted on the oven.  Add a glass of wine...heavenly!

Now make a bunch.....put it them all in a party tray.......and we are ready for a BBQ!!!!!

Crafty Sue's Weekend Shadow Blog Party

These are my shadow Photos.  I'm not sure if we were supposed to do only one or not, but I did 3.  Each one is a little different.  The clown is my favourite.  Kind of Creepy isn't he?  He's actually an old music box of mine that my husband bought me years ago.  He was one of the few things that survived a house fire we had.  We found him in the rubble actually slowly playing his tune.  He is more in the "shadows" than being a shadow.  The other two are objects that I photographed with the shadow behind them.  You can see all the participants links at Crafty Sue's Blog

WIP - a new one.....aceo Women hauling water

A new miniature painting in progress.  I plan to do a couple more after this one.  I like the way the skirts flow and head scarves flow.  It makes such a mundane task look a little more appealing.

WIP - Women Hauling Water Finished Aceo

Bringing Water 2.5" x 3.5" aceo

Finished the painting this afternoon.  Listed on EBay here

Wordless Wednesday - Fog lifting -4°