Tempest

'Tempest'

8" x 10" watercolor on watercolor board

click here to bid

Lately I've been feeling just on the verge of an artistic block (don't even get me started on my writer's block which I've been suffering from for the last ten months. Argh. Double argh.). Which always makes me anxious. I don't know what's worse the actual artistic block, or the fear of an approaching block.

So, with the help of my Facebook buddies and the DPW weekly challenge (paint a sky), I decided to do something totally different that I've been wanting to do for a long time. A drippy, wet into wet, watercolor sky painting. And I did this with no drawing which is a first for me. :) I get a little panicky if I don't have an exact plan mapped out ahead of time. Which is great for accuracy, but at times feels a little stifling.

I'm really happy with how this painting turned out, and I feel so excited to paint again. I think I want to paint lots more skies from now on. It was so much fun.

Now my faithful blog family, what do you do when you start to feel blocked? Any advice?

Thanks for stopping by everyvbody, I hope you are all having a rockin' good Monday. :)

Hugs,

Crystal

listening to: Passion Pit 
watching: BBC's Sherlock (which is AWESOME)
reading: The Carrier of the Mark
snacking on: mini peppermint patties

Under Cover - sold

'Under Cover'

6" x 9" watercolor on paper

sold

I was so struck by this sweet baby's sparkling eyes and full lips. I also love the little spot of sunshine on her forehead and shoulder peeking out of the shade.

 

I used to think that the eyes were the most difficult part of a portrait, and now they are my favorite part. Discerning the variety of colors and values in skin tones is much harder in my opinion, let alone trying to paint it!

 

And here are a couple of shots of the crafts me and little Cook have been up to this week.

 

Black Halloween cats made with his handprints (found this idea on Pinterest) :)

 

I've decided to do preschool at home with him this year instead of sending him to a preschool. I want to treasure every single minute with him before he starts kindergarten next fall. So we spend a good part of every day trying to find something involving learning and fun. Yesterday we went on a leaf hunt. :) He was so proud of all the different kinds of leaves he found. It's days like that that make me realize, yet again, how lucky I am to be a stay at home mom and experience things like this with my kids every day.  

 

Some of our Halloween decorations the boys and I have been setting up everywhere. Most have been made by them over the years. :)

 

 

The kiddos are out of school the rest of the week for fall break so things may be quiet here on my end for a little while. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying this gorgeous fall weather while it lasts. Huzzah!

 

Reference photo by Gustavo Jeronimo, thank you!

Solemn 2 - sold

'Solemn 2' - sold

7" x 10"  watercolor on paper

 

This was a special request for one of my good collectors. This version is a little larger, and slightly different, mostly because of the nature of watercolor and the semi-impossibility of recreating those spontaneous effects in the background. But also because I think I've grown as an artist in the year since I painted the first 'Solemn.'

 

My palette isn't quite the same and I think my observational skills have gotten better too. This painting was kind of a challenge, but in the end I was really happy with how she turned out, especially her eyes. :) And my collector was happy with her too so that makes everything worth it.

 

Meanwhile, on the homefront, me and littlest Cook are getting ready to make caramel apples and cute Halloween crafts involving handprints and black cats. I'll try and save you an apple but I'm not promising anything. :)

 

Reference photo by the awesome Steve Evans, thank you!

Without a Care - sold

'Without a Care' - sold

6" x 6" watercolor on paper

When we went to the farm a few months ago I saw this little girl and only managed to get one shot of her, and it was this one. I loved the light in her hair and her messy little braids. She was so darling. I remember watching her mother gently try to smooth her flyaway hair several times and the little girl leaned into her touch every time. It was very sweet.

Sometimes I daydream about what it was like to be small and taken care of by my mother. To not have to worry about anything, knowing that I was safe, and loved. To be completely carefree and just focused on the moment. Now I think I need to call my mom and tell her I love her. :)

Carefree and happy are what I wanted to express in this painting, as part of the Daily Paintworks challenge for this week to express emotion. And I wanted to try and do that without a direct look into the face. I think her far away expression helps a lot.

Now I must get to work on some commissions that need attention. Play time is over, back to work!

All Things New

'All Things New'

5" x 7" watercolor on Ampersand Aquabord

$100 plus $7 US shipping

 

I've spent a lot of time lately going through my stash of photos and organizing them (Ha! no really, I'm trying), looking for that one image that shouts at me to paint. I found some of my youngest son when he was a baby, and then some I had taken of him just a few months ago and I was shocked to see the change in him. He is so grown up now (that's not him in the painting above just in case you're wondering). Makes me a little sad. He's my baby, my last, and it's hard to see him grow up so much right before my eyes, although the new changes are fun too of course.

 

Then I found these photos I took of my darling nephew over the summer. He was about a year and a half old, and he had that look of wonder at everything he saw around him. And his beautiful brown eyes are what called me to paint him. I have a few other shots of him I will be painting too. He was such a great little model. :)

 

Now about this aquabord. I've been wanting to paint with my techniques in watercolor on a surface that won't need framing behind glass, and also bigger. I envision a certain wall in my home with three 24" x 24" portraits of my boys, on cradled aquabord with out glass or frames. So, here I am trying aquabord again.

 

And I liked it a lot better this time. I think I'm getting the hang of how this stuff works. And the best part is that the finished painting still feels like 'me'. Where as when I paint with acrylics or oils it feels like I'm trying somebody else's clothes on that don't fit quite right. I enjoy oils and acrylics for a change of pace, but they don't feel like me. At least, not yet. Maybe one day I'll feel differently.

 

One tip I found useful for using aquabord is to use a very wet brush with mostly water and not a lot of pigment, and gradually build up color that way. Which actually is how I paint with watercolor on paper too. :)

 

Until Thrusday! Huzzah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hidden in Plain - sold

'Hidden In Plain Sight'

5.5" x 7" watercolor on paper 

SOLD

Last year I had this idea that I was going to paint a big series of myself (because I'm a cheap model, I work for free) in a bunch of different masks. I was so excited. And then I started painting my first one. It was a close up of just my eyes and the mask. After that first one my excitement kind of. . . left.

It is wicked hard to paint yourself. It feels like the worst kind of narcissism to think that I am important enough to be painted, by my own hand no less. It feels like getting dressed up to go to the prom when you're actually just going grocery shopping, and you're a thirty year old woman who is just way too old to be getting dressed up for the prom.

I couldn't shake that feeling. I don't like looking at myself for a long time. So my project got set aside. Until now.

Because it's Halloween time (Almost! Chocolate, sugar, zombies, ZOMBIES!!!) and I love Halloween. :)

It also helped that I was wearing a mask so I could pretend that it wasn't actually my face I was painting, but some random blonde woman. He, he. :)

And now I shall end this entirely too awkward blog post, in this entirely too awkward way of telling you I'm going to end this blog post.

I think I need some chocolate. . . Huzzah!!

Inquisitive - sold

'Inquisitive' - sold

6" x 6" watercolor on paper

 

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitter steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree you still believe it to be a beautiful place." -Kurt Vonnegut

 

This statement is never more true than with children. No matter what their life is like they still believe the world to be a beautiful place.

 

Reference photo by Steve Evans, thank you!

Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust - sold

'Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust'  sold

6" x 7" colored pencil on paper

Well I finally did it. I managed to capture a fairy just long enough to draw her portrait. :) She was pretty happy with it, happy enough to leave me with my own personal stash of pixie dust that should last until my retirement. Pretty sweet deal for a simple portrait don't you think? ;)

 

I believe in fairies. :))) *clap clap* Do you?

 

"Tink was not all bad: or rather, she was all bad just now, but, on the other hand, sometimes she was all good. Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. They are, however, allowed to change, only it must be a complete change."  J.M. Barrie

 

Huzzah :)

Photo reference by the awesome Katlinn Lewis, thank you!

Grace

'Grace'

6.5" x 6" watercolor on paper

$100 plus $7 US shipping or $15 Int.

 

I can't decide if it's the wavy curls on the side of her face (that reminds me of old world beauty), or her slightly shy smile, or just the warmth and acceptance in her eyes. But there's something about this woman that makes me think she would be a great friend to have on your side.

 

With some paintings I find it much easier to express the feeling I'm after than others. I have no idea why this is. I really wanted to focus on this woman's eyes, and the feeling of grace and peace she seemed to give. I don't know, there is something kind of unexplainable with her that really struck me. Something I couldn't seem to put into words, so I tried (all week long while agonizing working on this one painting) to put it into paint and let you guys decide what it is you feel instead of me spelling it out for you.

 

Hopefully that worked. :)

 

But if not, onward to the next!

 

Reference photo by Lina Leans, thank you!

Of portrait drawings and pirates. . . savvy?

'Kat'

graphite portrait study

not available

 

Earlier this year I got to work with this beautiful model. I have lots and lots of paintings planned. :) So many that I kind of get overwhelmed at all the choices in front of me you know? But that's a good problem to have I think. Don't you?

 

I really enjoy drawing faces with glasses or earings because they act as sort of a built-in grid. And they're fun too.

 

In other news, did you know a very important holiday is coming up? That's right. It's one of my favorites. National Talk Like A Pirate Day. :) On Sunday Sept. 16. To help you land lubbers prepare for this important day I'm providing this very helpful tutorial on pirate speak:

 

 

If you have young kids you've probably heard it a time or two. :)

And Talk Like a Pirate Day just wouldn't be complete without some sort of a tribute to the best pirate ever. THE Captain Jack Sparrow:



Heh heh. Best Pirate ever. :))

See you next week everyone! Savvy love? ;)

Juicies

'Juicies'

4" x 6" watercolor on paper

$50 plus $7 US shipping or $15 Int.

 

Sometimes I just feel like painting a still life. Not very often, but sometimes. :)

 

My sons love these little Clementines that come into the stores around Christmas time. I think it's partly because they are yummy but also because they are little and cute. My now four year old boy insists on eating them because he can peel them himself. :)

 

And I just want to say thank you, so much, for all of you who visit this blog, whether you comment or not (but if you do take the time to comment here's an extra *hug* for you). Your support and kindness means so much to me. More than I can say. I try to reply to comments or questions but it may take me a while if I get behind (which, if I'm being honest, is pretty much all the time).

 

Just want you all to know how much I appreciate you. Every single one of you. :) Have a great day everyone!

Generations - sold

'Generations'

6.5" x 10" watercolor on paper

sold

A few weeks ago me and my mom took my three boys to a historical farm. There were people in authentic clothes, with authentic tools and wagons and animals all over the place. The kids rode ponies, tried old fashioned horehound candy (blegh!), rode a train and panned for gold (their favorite) It was so fun. :)

 

And I do have to add that if I am ever in a situation where panning for gold skills would come in handy I think I could make a killing. Not to brag or anything, but I was pret-ty awesome. ;)

 

My favorite part was, of course, the horses. There were these massive, beautiful draft horses, and this one brand new little foal. He was only a few days old and he was completely darling. I was tempted to carry him home.

 

My mom reached out a hand when he wobbled over to the fence to greet us, and he stood so still just waiting for her touch. He leaned in to her hand and flicked his little wispy tail, then slowly closed his long-lashed eyes. 

 

I loved the contrast of my sweet, and gentle, mother's older hand on this brand new babies velvet soft face. :)

 

How bout a Huzzah for that? Huzzah!

Savvy - sold

'Savvy' sold

5" x 5" watercolor on paper

I love painting children's faces. I love the sparkle in their eyes and their perceptive expressions. Something I never tire of. :)

And thank you so much for all the well wishes for my son, he is doing much better now and is back in school. :)

Photo reference by the awesome Steve Evans, thank you!

Sir Barrington - sold

'Sir Barrington' sold

61/2" x 8" watercolor

private commission

 

I absolutely fell in love with this big beautiful horse. He is so powerful, and just gorgeous! He is a beautiful example of a Gypsy horse stallion owned by Sue Niesen of Gypsy Lane Horses.

 

I'm working on incorporating more emotive (?? for lack of a better word) backgrounds in  my paintings that really complement the subject. I don't want to get into super detailed backgrounds at this point (or. . . ever if I'm being honest) but I want the background to contribute to the feeling I want to convey with each painting. At least, that's how I hope it's coming across!

 

In other news, I am at home with a sick boy today. There is much juice drinking and Lego building going on here. Only been in school a week and already he's sick! It's nothing serious, just a cold that then lead to an ear infection which always makes me paranoid since my son has unilateral hearing (he only has hearing in one of his ears, he was born with it).

 

So every time he gets sick I usually run him to the doctor, just to make sure all is well with his ears. And wouldn't you know it, when I took him in today the doctor said he had an ear infection! Just as I suspected. Mothers know all I tell ya. :)

 

While waiting for his prescription to be filled at the pharmacy we stopped at a local bakery and got these cute owl cookies. Because everyone knows when you're a kid and you're sick your mother should spoil you. Right? Right. ;)

 

 

 

Have a great week everyone! Huzzah!