Follow a mural!

Hello all! For the next three blogs I would like to take you through the transformation a little nursery just got! It is so cute! We decided on a modern and simplistic jungle theme. We were inspired by a picture on HGTV's website and followed it's lead. Today's picture shows the background treatments and and how I made animal stencils and got them placed on the wall! I had a blast with this room. I hope you enjoy it too. Now, back in the studio to continue on farm scene! Have a great day!

Until next time!

Action Shot!

Hello! I believe I am officially ready for winter to be over but I know we surely still have a bit of it to go! More snow decided to blanket the area last night... the day after a 60 degree beauty! What can you do?!!

Let's see, yesterday I was quite the sewer. I finished piecing my donation quilt. I call it my pink quilt because it is all pink and white. It is very pretty. I wasn't able to quilt yet because I had to soak the batting and it must air dry. While I waited for that, I chopped into those t-shirts and started getting them prepped for sewing. And finally, a wall hanging that had been ordered since November but we could never figure out exactly what we wanted, well we finally did and I got started on that one too! It is very bright and colorful and happy so I really wanted to get started on it!

So, I didn't get into the painting studio after all that. However, I have a picture in my file I thought would be fun to share of me working on Barn Scene. My husband was out with the camera the other day taking pictures of me painting. I sometimes call him, and don't laugh at the spelling, my "Poparatzi!" I hope I can get back into the painting studio today even just for a couple minutes. We'll see how it goes!

Until next time...

Follow a Farm, painting day 2

Good Morning! Thought I might check in this morning since I missed last night somehow! You know those eyelids start drooping and you just can't ignore them!! I call yesterday a modge podge of a day. I did a little bit of everything! The main project was a new quilt. I am actually working on two quilts at the moment. We finalized the design for the t-shirt quilt I was telling you about but I also worked on a quilt that will be donated for a fabulous cause, The James Stitching Sisters' 2008 "100 Quilts of Comfort." They provide quilts to breast cancer patients receiving treatment. I just could not pass up the chance to make a quilt for one of those ladies. My grandmother was a breast cancer survivor so I also get the chance to think about her while I'm sewing!

I also was able to sneak in some painting yesterday so I have a progress shot of Farm Scene. I got the buildings finished. They are just waiting for their green trees to surround them! Right now the trees are red. The red will help the green come alive when I am ready for that layer. Can't wait! Until next time...

Follow a Farm, painting day 1

Happy Sunday! Today was a bit more relaxed for me but somewhat productive none the less! Today was the reception for the "Art from the Heart" exhibit my new cows are in. They did get some great comments from the crowd. Once back from the reception I was able to sit back and do a bit of painting. After all of yesterdays activities, my body was screaming for a day of little movement! Above is the under painting for Farm Scene. Now that is what I call an ugly painting! We will have to remedy that in the near future! Have a great week upcoming! Until next time...

New Follow a Painting

Hello to you! Happy March! Wow, today turned out to be quite an interesting day! First thing this morning I joined my running buddies for a long run. A nice 8 miler. Then, I started painting a nursery. Another of my side talents is murals or fun rooms transformed by paint! This nursery is actually for a niece I am about to welcome in May! We are doing a jungle theme and today I got the background colors and the tree tops finished. Now I think I'm ready for bed!!

But before I go I wanted to post the picture that is inspiring my next painting. I'm going to work on this one while I wait patiently for the first layer of paint to dry on wet rose. This one for now is called farm scene. This photo was taken in southern Ohio where rolling hills, trees and farms are abundant and beautiful. This one caught my eye and I thought I'd give it a go on painting it.

Until next time!

Wet Rose Painting Day 5

I hope this note finds everyone well! Here it is, the completed under painting for wet rose. That is really pretty nice for the under coat. Usually I call my under paintings "ugly paintings" because the under coat does not make sense or even look nice. I've got a true picture of an ugly painting coming in the next couple days. I think we are going to follow more than one painting at the same time! I typically work on 4-8 paintings at the same time so that I can make sure the layers dry thoroughly, and I don't get tempted to paint the top layer too early. (That is bad!!) So, I have a farm scene started and it will be showing itself soon! Until next time...

Wet Rose Painting Day 4

Good Morning!
Wow, this seems a little weird to me. I have never blogged in the morning! However, I got some more painting done yesterday on wet rose so I thought I might go ahead and post the progress. I should be able to finish the under painting today. Then, I have a quilt and a mural to work on while it dries. More about that in a later blog!

Until next time...

Wet Rose Painting Day 3

Hello! Here is a quick post with the progress of wet rose. All of the petals are now in place. I just have to lay out the leaves and background. It's gotten all the up to 19 degrees... I think it's about warm enough to go for a run! More progress shots later tonight or tomorrow!

Until next time...

Wet Rose Painting Day 2

Good Morning! I suppose it is good morning as it is now past midnight and into the next day. However, I have not made it to bed yet so my mind is still on Wednesday!! I got a little excited about the progress of wet rose so I just kept going! I would say it is about half way under painted now. I call this layer the under painting because at the moment I am not concerned about minor details or major details for that matter. I just want to get a feel for the shapes, the layout, where some of the darks and lights will go. I will paint another layer on top of this one that will be more explicit and more dramatic.

As a side note but not too far off the beaten path, I received some exciting news in the mail today. I have been accepted into some top notch arts festivals this season in the Chicago area. I am quite amazed and absolutely thrilled! This is going to be a great festival season! Once things are squared away, I should have a full list of my shows this year on my website. I'll of course let you know when that is updated! As we would say on the running trail... Wooo Hoooooo!

Until next time...

Wet Rose Painting Day 1

Happy Tuesday! I had another full day! I was custom framer, quilt designer and painter today! I've started a new memory quilt that includes t-shirts this time. T-shirt quilts are fun because they look so comfortable and quite full of memories from edge to edge! I also took a little time out to get lost in the center of my new rose painting. Here is the progress shot from today. I chose this picture so you could also see the colors I mixed on my pallet. Until next time...

Busy day

Hello!

I have a couple things to comment on this blog. First, take a look, it's the first step to painting Wet Rose. I now have it all mapped out with the petals and droplets just where I want them. I planned the painting on a small scale, in this case, I went straight from the photo. Often times I want to follow my own path and just use the photo as reference every now and again. This time, I am so pleased with my photo that I will probably stick rather close to it. Using a black and white copy of my design, I project the design onto the 36 x 36" canvas. I lay in important lines and now I'm ready to lay in some blocks of color. I'm hoping to get to that tomorrow.

Secondly, I went to help in the take in process at The High Road Gallery where my new cows were headed. It is a beautiful gallery. It is an older house converted into a gallery so it is very homey. My cows are over a fire place and look quite nice there! I have to go back and get a picture. I was trying desperately to get one green color to dry in time, so I missed any picture taking opportunities! But they made it there without getting paint on anyone! I also entered "When I Grow Up" of my field and tree paintings. My paintings are amongst a group of artists work from the Worthington Area Art League. It's going to be a very nice show!

Until next time...

Brand new "Follow a Painting"

Hello!

It's Sunday and I think I am ready to start a new "Follow a Painting." This one will be called Wet Rose until it is finished and titled. Today you are looking at the photo that inspired this painting. It is a picture I took of a rose in my father's garden. I think this is his favorite color and one of his pride and joys! I caught it on a day after it had just rained. That day, I was just snapping shots because it was so beautiful but now it's saying that I must paint it and paint it big!! This painting will be 36 x 36 inches. Can you imagine how fabulous those water droplets will be that large! I can't wait! This will take at least a couple layers of paint so come back and check on it's progress!!

And how are those cows you ask? Well, they are FINISHED!!! At the moment they are too wet to photograph but when they are ready, I will snap a shot for you to see! They turned out so sweet! They are headed to a gallery tomorrow so I'd better get the fan on it to speed dry!

Until next time...

About those cows...

Hello! I had a request to see progress of the cows I've been talking about. Coincidently, I was shuffling through some photos my husband took and I found this really fun picture of me painting a cow. That is probably the only progress shot I have of this painting but I should be able to show a finished picture soon. On another note, I got a call today with an invitation to go see orchids at a local conservatory. How wonderful was that! I now have some really, really interesting flower images to paint. Let's get these cows done, I have posies to paint! Until next time!

Close to Finished

Good Afternoon!
Fantastic News! I believe White Rose is arguably finished. I am only contemplating playing with the background just a little before I officially call it finished! This painting is on the subtle side color wise for me but I love it! It is strong and quiet at the same time. That idea will be reflected in my title I think. Here's an idea... how about an online title party? Do you have a good title for this piece? If so, let me know and I'll consider it when I title! Now, I HAVE to work on my cows! They are due in a gallery soon and I've about waited till a comfortable last minute to get the details on the grass and cows. Until next time...

Follow a Paitning - Take 3

Hello to all! Hope you had a great day. I went out in the frozen tundra tonight to see the eclipse of the moon and that was pretty cool. Somehow, I've missed all the lunar eclipses in my life time so far. Anyway, moon watching and shivering aside, I actually got a bit of painting done today. Here is the latest progress shot of "White Rose." That is it's generic title for now. I was actually listening to some music while I painted and a title sparked from that. Now, I cannot remember what that spark was! For now, it is time to head to bed. My goal tonight was to get there before midnight. Hmmm... gotta go! Until next time...