More Greeting Cards

Note Card

5 X 7 Inktense and Pen

Happy Birthday

5 X 7 Inktense and Pen

Happy Birthday

5 X 7 Inktense and Pen

I like using Inktense because of it's stability when it is dry. It will not wash away if I go back into it with more pigment. It comes in pencils, sticks and a half pan set like watercolor. These cards were started with random design with the colors, when they dried I went in with pen and defined the shapes that I saw in them. Then I I added color in places where I thought it was needed, removed the tape that was masking the area for the stamp and added the stamp that I wanted on it. They are quick to do, and I do several at a time. I can keep them for my own use or sell them at a gallery where I have my work.

Watercolor and Pen

Two Greeting Cards

These are two greeting cards that I made with small paintings. The space for the stamp is masked out with tape before the painting is done. After the painting dries, the stamped words are added. I glued them to card stock that was cut he appropriate size. It's a fun project to do in an afternoon. Who doesn't love getting a hand painted card?

Keep On Keeping On!

Clap Your Hands

Collage 4 X 4

Oh, Beautiful

Collage 4 X 4

As you can see, I'm still working small. I started to do some collage along with my other media just to keep things interesting.

Oh Clap Your Hands is from Psalm 47, we used to sing it many years ago and it comes to mind when I want to focus on the awesomeness of God rather than the messed up world we live in. He is the ultimate authority, I'm learning to trust that truth.

Oh Beautiful was done for Independence Day, from the song, "America!" No matter what is going on today, this country is beautiful and has come through many struggles that I'm sure baffled the people of the times. With God's help we will come through this too. God will continue to "shed His grace" if we ask Him to. I truly believe that.  

In the meantime, I'm going to keep on, keeping on!

A New Life!

Let's Go Fly A Kite

ll X 14 Acrylic on canvas

Yes, I'm still alive and well! I have been painting and making collages but I have not been very good at taking pictures and putting them on my blog. 

This painting is for my new great-granddaughter who was born on July 7th. We are so happy to welcome Brynley Miller to the family. She's the most beautiful baby in the world, of course, and I can't wait to see her in person. The pandemic has caused disruption in all kinds of activities, hasn't it? Even meeting new family members.

I struggled with this painting because I was going from an idea and not from an actual picture. Then, is any artist completely happy with any of their paintings? Sometimes you just have to release it to the world with a sigh and stop questioning yourself!

The important thing was that it was painted with a lot of love. 

The rest of the time I have continued to work small since I have limited studio space. I finally got everything photographed and will try to post more often. 

Did you know that July is World Watercolor Month? Get out those watercolors and paint away!

Working Small

 Mini Tulip

 Mini Fresh as a Daisy

Mini Sunflower

When things seem overwhelming I find it's helpful to work small, uncomplicated paintings with a limited palette. Who needs to make design and color decisions right now? These all fit into a 5 X 7 mat. 

Flowers are fragile and beautiful, like life, and their lives are short. In Psalm 90:12 it says, "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." (NLT) The Psalmist goes on to pray that their days of joy would match their days of affliction. Can I ditto that, please? 

Jesus says in Matthew 6:30, "If God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you." That is something to remember as you see the spring flowers beginning to burst open. You and I are more valuable than flowers to God, and if He is caring for us we can be as peaceful as a field of sunflowers! 

My 600th Post!

New Every Morning

Mixed media on canvas board 16 X 20

This title is from the Bible in Lamentations 3: 23. 

The whole phrase is: 

"This I recall to my mind, 

Therefore I have hope.

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,

Because his compassions fail not,

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:21-23 NKJV

This piece to me is light and airy, like a fresh new morning. The sun is coming up and there's a light breeze, dispelling the last moments of night.  Every day is a new day for new attitudes and a renewed hope that things will get better. The writer of this book in the Old Testament was going through a very difficult time, probably harder that anything we are facing today. He encouraged himself and the reader that in God we have hope because he is faithful to be merciful and compassionate. 

The Good News

Butterflies Are Free

Best of Show

Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper

My painting won Best Of Show at the Pine Island Art Association Art Show and Sale of 2020. It was held in February before we had any inkling that so much craziness was ahead of us. I was surprised and pleased beyond words! 

Now that we're stuck inside maybe I'll be able to blog once again. Life gets in the way of so many things I think I will do. There are still the daily things that keep life and limb together.Since my husband has a heart condition I'm the designated shopper and cook which is the way it always has been, nothing new there. I just try to go less and unlike so many people out there, I try to buy only what I need. 

I'm finding it difficult to get motivated to paint but I'll post some of the things I've done since my last blog which was months ago. I did do a lot of painting in preparation of the shows that are held in the winter months. So, I have some things to draw on.

I would love some comments about how other artists are getting motivated to paint during this time. What do you do to keep your skills sharp and what inspires you?

Hang in there, fellow bloggers, this will end and we will be forever changed by it.