Fairy Lights - F is for Fairy

'Fairy Lights' 

5 x 7 watercolor on paper

$100 plus $7 US shipping/$15 International

“I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?”
― John Lennon

I saw this young woman at the zoo last year. And she wasn't wearing wings (not to say they weren't there. . . You just couldn't see them ;). I loved the swish of her dress, and the colors of her sun struck skin against her dark hair. But most of all what I loved was her gesture of holding her hand at her throat. I just so happened to catch her at the right moment and I've wondered ever since what it was that made her do that? Was it some news she had just heard, or maybe this was just one of those unconscious things she did when she heard something funny, or felt uncomfortable. 

In any case there was some magic about her that day it seemed. So I thought it only fitting to give her wings.  and a few will o' the wisps for companions. :) 

This is F in my alphabet series, for Fairy! Now it's time to go on to the next.

Last Minute Adjustments D is for Dancer -SOLD

'Last Minute Adjustments' 

5 x 7 watercolor on paper SOLD

The next one in my alphabet series, D is for Dancer. Last year me and several other local artists hired this ballet dancer to model for us. I did some quick charcoal sketches from life and took lots of photos to paint from later. And I am just finally getting around to painting them. All that detail in her tutu was a little intimidating, but I am really happy with how it turned out, even if it did take me forever. I thought as you grew older you were supposed to become more patient, instead of less??

This was my favorite pose from the bunch of photos I took. I love her graceful back and gesture. And of course, that full, colorful skirt. :) 

In other news. . . 

This is Fenrick*. I found him this weekend curled up in a corner of my watercolor box, whimpering about being lost. I don't know how he ended up there, or where he came from. . . or even what he is. He looks a little bit like a mix between a lemur, a sugar glider, and a. . . cute monster maybe?? 

In any case, in the short time since Fenrick has joined my family he has proven to be a very useful pet. He likes to sit on my shoulder while I paint, whispering encouragement, and suggesting paint colors. He's quite the little muse and takes his job as such very seriously. He only takes a break about every 30 seconds or so to scamper down  my arm and take a nibble of my cupcake before climbing back up to his post.  Which means that I eat less cupcake, but I'm willing to take that one for the team. It's worth it for all the inspiration this little guy is bringing me;) 

*Fenrick is made entirely of colored polymer clay with just a dab of white acrylic paint for his eyes. He's the result of this weekend's dragon day.
 

Believe - SOLD

'Believe'  sold

5 x 7 inches watercolor

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”  Roald Dahl

I was at the park the other day and saw this lovely little fairy dashing through the trees, almost too quickly for me to see. But not quite quick enough. :) Now here she is immortalized for all time as evidence that fairies exist. 

Mood: content

Listening to: The Raven Boys (audio book)

Reading: Apollyon by Jennifer Armentrout

Snacking on: chocolate animal crackers (yes they have sugar, but not that much, or so I tell myself ;)

Watching: Oblivion (last weekend while on a hot date with my husband)

Call It A Day

'Call It A Day' 

7 x 10 inches watercolor on paper

$150 plus $7 US shipping, or $15 International

Every Easter Sunday we go to my Mom and Dad's house and have a big egg hunt with me and my sister and our families. It is so much fun, my favorite part of the new year, and it never really feels like spring until we get to do that. 

My mom has lilac bushes surrounding her yard that are blooming, and there's always tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in every color imaginable all over. The cherry tree is full of fluffy white blossoms and there's always the sound of laughter and shrieking as the kids chase after butterflies, or the kids get chased by my husband. :) It sounds idyllic I know, but well, it kind of is. Just a perfect family day. My favorite kind of day. 

I started this painting last spring, but somehow lost interest in it after a while. Then the other day when I was looking for painting boards I found it again and decided to finish it. I had a lot of fun with that background and didn't want to cover it up too much (which I sometimes do then regret it later) so I just suggested the fence and grass here and there.

My favorite part is my sons colorful shoes. They are Lego shoes, and have little lego pieces on them. They were his first 'real' pair of shoes that he could actually walk in. He wore them until they were completely beat up he loved them so much. I still have them and will never part with them. :)

 

What Lies Ahead

'What Lies Ahead' 

10 x 14 inches

watercolor on paper

$300 plus $10 US shipping, or $20 International

Lately I am fascinated with the back view of a person. I like the mystery and the unknown of what they're doing and thinking. And I am in love with back lighting. My favorite kind of lighting I think. 

I wanted there to be that unknown quality with this painting, so I made the forest background more suggested than detailed (also because I don't like painting detailed backgrounds :). There was a point when I was working on this painting where I felt like I was never, ever, ever going to be finished painting that dress. It took many, many layers.

So even though midway through I felt like pulling my hair out, in the end once it was done I felt more like doing this:

Because it turned out exactly like I pictured it in my head.  Which pretty much never happens. So I'd call that a success right? ;)

Until tomorrow friends! Huzzah!!

Reference photo by Jessica of Faestock on DeviantART, thank you! 

A bigger work in progress

new watercolor work in progress

10" x 14" 

 reference photo by faestock on deviantArt

So. I felt like it was about time I did a bigger painting. There is just nothing like big splashy watercolor backgrounds. So much fun. The background and her hair are finished, just the rest of her figure needs work. When I started this painting I masked off the entire figure (after I had painted her hair) with a combination of frisket film (for the majority of her figure) and masking fluid to seal the edges. It looked like this: 

It ended up working really well. There's just that one spot on her arm that leaked, but that's a dark area anyway so it won't matter. Which is a good thing because I used a ton of pthalo blue in the background, which if you're an artist you know NEVER COMES OUT OF ANYTHING. I've ruined quite a few shirts by splashing pthalo around indiscriminately. 

I had originally planned to pour the background on this painting. But after giving that a try on another painting that I did for a fundraiser with my son's class, I decided not to. I really don't care for pouring. I think it gives the most beautiful and luminous results, but I don't have the patience for it. Maybe one day I'll give it a try again. 

Speaking of my son's class fundraiser I just remembered I never showed you guys the finished painting! Here it is, they did a really great job I think. :) 

The finished painting! I had three of the girls write the quote with a wax resist crayon and then each kid got to pour several cups of paint onto the painting. There were about 65-70 kids and each one of them got a chance to build up this painting. It was really cool. The stars are colored pencil drawn on once the painting dried. But the letters are entirely wax resist. It worked out pretty awesome I think. Considering all the paint that got poured onto it.

Until tomorrow friends! 

Listening to: The Dead Weather

Reading: old art magazines

Watching: my crazy dog hiding in the curtains

Snacking on: Cadbury mini eggs

She is such a good hider. :)

Sweet Baby Girl - sold

'Sweet Baby Girl' sold, private commission

8 x 10 inches watercolor on paper

And here's the finished painting. :) I fell in love with this little girl, she is so happy and smiley. There was such a variety of colors in her skin tones, reflecting from the little pool she's sitting in, which was very fun. And I've already heard from my client who is very happy with the painting. Which makes for a very happy artist. :))) 

I used three colors to paint her skin tones, permanent rose, cobalt blue, and hansa yellow light. That's all. You can do a lot with primary colors when painting skin. And my own personal opinion is that when you avoid using brown (like burnt umber) in skin tones the subject seems more alive. Even when I paint dark skin tones I never use brown. Although I do use burnt sienna, which is more of a rich orange and beautifully transparent, perfect for skin. I just didn't use it here.

Anyways. . . Babbled on enough I suppose. Thanks for taking a peek at my work and following along on the progress. :)

Huzzah for Monday being nearly over!!

Of Wizards, Life, and Love

'Wizard in Training'

10" x 14" watercolor on paper

not for sale

 

I hope you all are having a fun holiday! It's one of my favorite days of the year, and not just because of all the sugar and treats. ;) Those of you who have been hit by the storm have been in my prayers, I hope you are well, safe, and whole.

 

And in honor of this holiday full of magic, and witches, and wizards (including my very own darling wizard above), I feel the need to pay tribute to Harry Potter. (Yes, again.)

 

“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
"After all this time?"

"Always," said Snape.” 

 

 

Me too Alan, me too. :)

 

Me and the boys just finished reading the entire series and it was so fun to share that with them. And a little sad for it to be over. Reading this amazing series, my most favorite books ever, has convinced me that some of the best magic in this world is found with words, images, paper, and imagination. And that people, no matter how flawed, are good, and brave, and kind.

 

If you're a Harry Potter fan, through and through, then you must watch this video if you haven't seen it before. I got chills, and yes even shed a tear. There is good in this world. So much good, even amid trials and sorrows. Harry showed me that. :)

 

 

 

Have a Happy Halloween everyone! Hold your loved ones close and be thankful that you have them for one more day. :)

She Stood in the Storm - sold

'She Stood in the Storm'  sold

7" x 10" watercolor

"She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails." Elizabeth Edwards

Sometimes I feel like this. Alone on a cliff top just waiting for one more gust of wind to push me over the edge. That's when I pray, and then help comes, and I can adjust my sails and carry on.

"Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child."

He is there for us. Always. So. . . Rage on storm. Rage on.


Reference photo by Tracy76stock on deviantart, thank you!

Always - sold

'Always'

6" x 10" watercolor on Arches watercolor board

sold

With this painting I really wanted to emphasize mood more than anything else. I loved the body language between this couple, and the light of the sunset shining through those bare spaces where their bodies don't connect.

This is one of my favorite paintings I've done in a long time, probably mostly because of the subject matter. I am and always will be a complete sap and hopeless romantic. So this "smitten" series is perfect for me. :)

And something you might find interesting (because I thought it was interesting) is that I only used four colors to complete this painting. It gives it a very strong harmony I think.

I'm still working on display photos. What do you think of these?

Special thanks to Kelsey's Love Fusion for the use of her reference photo!

Considering - sold

'Considering' sold

6" x 9.5" watercolor

Earlier this summer we took our boys to the beach for the day. And since we live in Utah, without you know, an ocean or anything, we had to go to a lake. We live really close to the Great Salt Lake, which is not exactly the kind of lake you want to go swimming around in, but is really fun to visit and explore the beaches. 

In this area the water was really shallow, just a couple of inches over the sand, plenty of room for wading and doing other fun kid things. Like squishing your toes in the sand, or collecting little tiny shells, or smooth as glass rocks.

My youngest son was torn between wanting to stay close to me, and wanting to follow his brothers out further into the water. Especially after he had decided to be brave and clomp way out right into that lake when we very first arrived, only to have his sandals sink into the wet sand and get stuck.

He did not like that. Not. At. All. :)

Eventually, after much persuading from Dad, he decided to follow his brothers after all and explore out a little farther with them. But not until after much considering on his part!

Huzzah for being brave little Cook boy!!

This painting is my answer to mine and Carrie's (Carrie Waller click on her name to see her water painting) painting challenge which was, water. :)  

The Sunny Spot (WIP)

"The Sunny Spot" - work in progress

8" x 10" watercolor on Aquabord

Sometimes I reach a point with my art where I'm not exactly sure what direction to take. I have a hundred ideas roaming around in my head, drawings completed, and watercolor paper stretched and ready to paint on, and yet. . . I can't really seem to find my way to express what I'm striving to. To capture the image with my hand that's so vivid in my head.

When that happens I press forward. I keep making finished drawings that are waiting to be painted, I pick up halfway finished works that I set aside months ago hoping to feel a spark to get them finished this time, I look through photos for that one perfect image that's calling me to paint. I do this knowing that eventually I'll find what it is I'm looking for, and I'll be able to paint without inhibitions or fears once again. 

It's not really a block. . . But it's close to it. That's where I am now. And that's why there's a sudden rush of work in progress pieces on my blog. :)

This piece is close to being finished, I just need to strengthen the colors and fine tune the details. I plan to leave the background white because I really like the shape of his little seated figure in that spot of sun. 

There's just nothing like painting sun kissed baby skin. It's the best thing ever. :))

Until Thursday my friends! 

Whispers and Trust SOLD

Whispers and Trust

6" x 6" watercolor

click here to buy now SOLD

$65 plus $7 US shipping or $15 International

"She craved a presence beside her, solid. Fingertips light at the nape of her neck and a voice meeting hers in the dark. Someone who would wait with an umbrella to walk her home in the rain, and smile like sunshine when he saw her coming. Who would dance with her on her balcony, keep his promises and know her secrets, and make a tiny world wherever he was, with just her and his arms and his whisper and her trust.”   
Laini Taylor, from her novel 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone'

Be it known loud and clear that I have an irrepressible romantic heart. And when I saw this young couple I simply could not resist painting them. This is the second painting in my newly decided upon series of romantic artwork called 'Smitten' depicting young love in all its glory. 

Click here to see the first one.

See you next week everyone! Huzzah!

Of things with wheels, little dogs, and green slime

'Keep Up' SOLD

6" x 9" watercolor

I sometimes think that I am more like the little dog in this painting than the woman. Trying my best to keep up with my ears flapping in the wind. Well. . . maybe not the ears flapping, but you get it right?

I've been sitting here staring at the computer for nearly an hour (in between packing lunches and kissing loved ones goodbye for the day) trying to come up with something clever, motivational, or funny to write about and I just. . . got nothing.

This could be because of all the angst I felt yesterday while painting. I kept going back and forth between loving the painting I was working on and hating it. I even hid it in the closet at one point.

Oh yes, I really did.

It made me think of the Wizard Howl, from Howl's Moving Castle, who has a complete meltdown and turns himself into green slime when Sophie rearranges his potion bottles in his bathroom causing him to accidentally change his hair color.

Green Slime. That's me when I feel like the painting I'm currently working on is not working.

Having spent all my life being an artist I have yet to figure out how to not be overcome with feelings of "I am the worst artist who has ever lived. Period. The End." (or as I shall call all such times henceforth: Green Slime) whenever I paint something that is less than what I think it should be.

Even though, now, in the light of day, I know that one bad painting does not a bad artist make.

But today is a new day, a new chance to paint something extraordinary, and slam the door on any and all Green Slime-like feelings.

Huzzah!! 

Until Thursday friends. :)

The Golden Age SOLD

The Golden Age SOLD

16" x 20" watercolor

Here's the Christmas commission I talked about in an earlier post but couldn't show you until now. I hope you all had a great holiday! We did. :) Although, I'm still trying to figure out how many miles I need to run in order to work off all the Christmas candy I ate. Probably more than I want to know. 

Every time I worked on this painting, I couldn't help but think of those few, brief times in my own boys life where they seemed to be getting along perfectly. No arguments, no teasing, or fighting. That was truly a golden age. And one that was over far too quickly.

Because now, this is what I hear, all too often:

Kid A, Kid B, or sometimes even my littlest, three year old Kid C: "Mo-ooom (see how the syllables of my name have been drawn out in a supremely offended tone, this adds emphasis to the victim's case) he's looking at me."

Me: "Oh really? That's nice babe." (Sometimes if I'm very lucky, this indifferent response is enough to subdue the situation)

Kid A, B, or C: "But, Mo-ooom, he's LOOKING at me!" (clearly this is not one of those times)

Me: *sigh* "Well, have you asked him if he needs anything?" (After my first failed attempt at indifference I have now resorted to peaceful problem solving. Because surely he wouldn't be LOOKING at his brother without just cause now would he?)

Kid A, B, or C: "No!" (this is said with little arms folded over little boy chests with a huff. Hmph!!)

Me: *double sigh* "Well, maybe you could give that a try." 

Kid A, B, or C: *shakes head emphatically* "Nope, Mom, I won't."

Me: "And why not?" (this is where my patience is starting to grow rather thin. I count to ten)

Kid A, B, or C: "Because he's still LOOKING at me!"

Me: *brief pause so I can count to 100* I press my fingers to the bridge of my nose and close my eyes, then I say, "Darling, unless he's looking at you with laser beams shooting out of his eyes I really don't see the problem."

Kid A, B, or C: Gives me a look that says a deep injustice has been wrought upon him and all his mother can say is that there's not a problem unless laser beams are involved! Then with blue eyes glinting, he asks me, "Mom, when does Dad get home?"

Because apparently Moms just don't understand the problems of brothers LOOKING at each other. Go figure.  

*This painting helped me work on one of my unspoken goals I've had for this year: work on expressing emotion in my paintings without relying on facial expressions.

Since we couldn't see the faces of these two darlings I had to focus on other things in order to get a message across. Mainly, gesture, and movement. I personally, find paintings of people where we can't see the faces to be deeply moving, if the gesture of the figures is convincing. (Karin Jurick for instance is a MASTER of this. I could stare at her paintings of people studying paintings for hours. Literally.)

I'm hoping I was able to pull that off here. My new collector seemed very happy with it. :) I'm hoping his wife was too, since it was a gift for her.

See you next week everyone and Happy New Year!! :))) Huzzah!!

Newly Smitten SOLD

Newly Smitten

6" x 6" watercolor

click here to bid SOLD

About a month ago, when I took my kids to the park one afternoon, I spotted this teenage couple. There was something so compelling about the way they had their bodies angled towards each other, knees and hands just slightly touching. And the light! Huzzah! It was gorgeous!

This is also my interpretation of "Something I'm Thankful For." A new painting challenge that me and Carrie Waller started together. It was my turn for the challenge idea and I set the rule that it couldn't be a portrait of a family member, and it couldn't be something (an object or something like that) we had painted before, because I wanted it to literally be a challenge.

Warning: the remainder of this post borders on epic amounts of sappiness. 

So, here's why I picked this image as something I'm thankful for: because it reminds me of what it felt like to fall in love with my husband. And how thankful I am that he's in my life and that we're still in love. When I took the time to really think about something I was thankful for that I could paint my thoughts kept coming back to my husband. He is my life. I would not be who I am today without him. My life would be drastically different if we had not met. And I am so thankful that we did. :)

To see Carrie's entry clcik here

Have a great rest of the week everyone. See you on Tuesday. :)