Catching Up....

This post has been saved as a draft since last May. Originally I, very cleverly, entitled it "Lilacs". I love this picture of the lilacs from my yard so the photo stays, lol. Lilacs fill my house with a fragrance that always reminds me of sunny spring mornings that are filled with anticipation of a lovely day. Unfortunately they don't last long once cut, but their beauty is stunning.

What a year since these lilacs graced my dining room table, many happy days, many sad days. My family and I have had a most devastating loss of my husband last October, preceded by a very rough summer. So that is why I haven't been contributing to any posts here, it's been difficult to share anything creative since my mind has been shattered into many parts.

 

 

Having the seclusion of a very cold winter and a pandemic lock down has given me time to reflect, to remember the good and to release the bad. 

I have been in the loving embrace of my family and friends who have been my saving graces, each and every one contributing to helping me heal. For this I am eternally grateful, how did I get so blessed to have the family and friends that I have? 

 

 

Very slowly I am coming back to what gives me peace and calmness, working at my drawing table and easel. The canvas and boards have been prepped for months now, it's time to get busy!

Thank you for stopping by.

 

 

On My Drawing Table

Last year I did a tiny little watercolor and ink on a small square of wood.

I loved how this came out.

I started a larger one last week and there needs to be a series of these little butterflies.

The first layer of watercolor and white ink.

 

 

I then framed it in vintage dictionary pages.

 

 

All gets covered with a layer of beeswax and a gentle sprinkling of mica flakes.The pictures really aren't capturing the lovely sheen that the beeswax adds to it.

This one is currently listed in my Etsy Shop.

 

Art Prints and Springtime

This snowy cold winter is loathe to leave us here in the northeast. We awake to snow or frost on many days that should be warming the soil.

I haven't given up on spring, it's on the way, it has just been slowly awakening.

This little man had a wonderful time searching for eggs this Easter. With the 

spring comes his birthday, three already!

Many train rides to NYC for not so great reasons....but the marsh views are beginning to

perk up.

Most days I have been in production mode, there are quite a few steps to producing these art blocks. It's important to have the wood cut cleanly and straight and my husband does a wonderful job of this with his big table saw.
Sanding the edges and then covering with vintage paper is accomplished with the help of a very sweet dear friend.
I print on a Epson Artisan printer on a lovely satiny finished paper, then mount it on the wood block.

This batch of 5x5 Art Prints on Wood are heading to 

Arts Mid-Hudson's Dutchess Handmade Pop-up Shop

Starting April 27th until May 19th.

They are located at 696 Dutchess Turnpike, Suite E

Poughkeepsie, NY 12603

www.artsmidhudson.org

Hope to see you there!

On My Drawing Table

This time of year is somewhat a quiet time and I get to spend a lot of time at my drawing table. Working on new series for the coming year and just messing around with new techniques. 

Blue Moon is my latest series, each full moon of the year has a name given to it mostly by Indian Tribes who lived their lives closer to the demands of the seasons then we do now. 

The challenge I am giving myself is to work solely monochromatic in blue watercolors.

 January's full moon is known as the Wolf Moon.

 February's full moon is the Snow Moon.

 

This Year At the Fair!

 

I have had a whirlwind of a week! Actually The past three weeks have been so busy with preparation for this years Country Living Show in Rhinebeck, NY 

After all the creating (which is the fun part) comes all the packing. Boxes and boxes

stacked and ready.

I think that my booth looked really great this year. 

My husband assembled piping for me to

hold my walls up with. Since these spaces are very generous spaces, he was able

 to adapt to the correct size.

 

We are in the barns up on what they call livestock hill. They are very open

and airy. Filled with sawdust it is a very rustic look.

I met some very lovely people from all over the United States, Canada, England and some visitors from 

Australia! 

Friday and Saturday were beautiful but the heat came in on Sunday

and we all were melting. 

I felt so good to get home and put my feet up :)

I Am Having Too Much Fun Building Inventory!

 

 

Last year I started playing around with collage work. I used prints of my art that just weren't good enough on their own, but added in with vintage papers and embellishments, additional painting and some quotes from very clever people unique artwork is born.

 

Each one of these canvases are different works of art that

 

although seemingly mass produced,

 

are thoughtfully and delightfully created.

Bits of ephemera, fabric, prints of artwork all join together with acrylic paint.

Finished off with varnish and all set to hang!

Heart Lady Pincushions

 

I forgot to mention yesterday that the teacup mice are useful pincushions.

As are these lovely ladies.......

 

Each one is unique with a hand drawn face that surprisingly is different

on each one. She is a very helpful sewing companion or a willing

assistant on your dresser for pins and such.

 

Each one is also uniquely adorned with vintage buttons, ribbons and

other items.

I do hope that you will stop by my booth in Rhinebeck and visit!

On my drawing table: Author Portraits

I have wanted to do a series of author portraits.
Since I have a 'thing' for crows, blackbirds and ravens, the first portrait just had to be Poe!

The idea is to make them look sort of vintage, but with a playful, whimsical touch.

Shakespere was next, but he needs more work and I have a better idea now of what to do,
instead of the comedy/tradgedy masks.

And considering the time of year and following a customer suggestion, Washington Irving is being worked on right now.....

The finished product, printed on a vintage dictionary page. I will be listing on etsy sometime this week.

Santa and Snowman Paperclay Dolls

                                                                                  I know....... I know....... we haven't

had Halloween yet.........

But I have these guys made.....

and they are so sweet....

I am going to list them on ETSY this weekend.

The Studio Is Finished!!

It took me such a long time to finish this studio move, but now that I am all settled in down here I just love my new space.