Mini Paintings (ACEO)

Just finished a few of these little miniature paintings to add to my Etsy shop that I'm planning on opening this weekend.

They're called ACEO's which stand for Art Card Originals and Editions.  Only 2.5 x 3.5 inches, they allow for people to easily collect original artworks from various artists at a reasonable price.

Yes, I've painted Psychedelic Turtle again, haha - he's become a favorite.  Along with Funky Butterfly, Pink Octopussy, Contemplative Owl and Mr. Bug.  

I'll be adding a link to my shop on the sidebar when it opens.  

These are watercolors and India Ink on heavy watercolor paper.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Summer Solstice, also known as Litha is about giving thanks and honoring all the abundance the suns rays give to all living things on our beautiful planet.  

Well, something like that.  There's a lot I could say about it, but it would take paragraphs and you probably already have a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about...

I've put in some symbols of the Summer Solstice with the sunflowers, daisies and honeysuckles reaching toward the sun.

I stuck a red salamander down in the right corner, which is a fire elemental. You may not have recognized it - kind of looks like a tiny dinosaur, haha.

Oak leaves tied in her hair symbolize strength.  She's drinking mead made from honey and those are bees on her chalice, just in case anyone wondered about that.

Reds, yellows and oranges are the colors of the season - when everything is growing and blooming and producing at their peak.

I honor every day by being grateful and lighting a candle when I meditate.  But for the solstice, I light a big honkin' tray full of candles - since I can't have a bonfire...I hope you are having a lovely Midsummer and celebrate in your own way!    

And to my friends in the southern hemisphere, may you enjoy the winter!  

Bloop, Bloop!

Just a quick little ink and watercolor of one of my favorite subjects - tropical fish.

I think this reminds me of batik fabric, which I love and have been meaning to give making some a try one of these days.

Or maybe I'll try some tie dye first in a Japanese inspired Shibori style.  

So many art forms, so many things to try....can't decide which to do first!  

This is a postcard size painting on heavy watercolor paper.

Psychedelic Turtle and other Pastels

Usually when I watch TV, I'm glued to the screen watching whatever it is that is capturing my attention.  For instance, Eva Greens performances on Penny Dreadful...delightful!

But sometimes I have to be doing something else along with watching, and it's usually drawing or crafting or something along those lines.

Recently I messed around with some pastels.  These are not oil pastels, but ones that are less messy.  I'm not a big fan of pastels, as they feel like one of those big, chunky sidewalk chalks in my hand. And I do like the oil ones better, but I'm not sure where I stuck them, so I'll have to do some hunting I think.  But it's always good to work with different mediums once in awhile.

Anyway, I just drew some things that were on my mind at the time.  Funny how I was drawing the jellyfish and the word jellyfish came up on the TV and when I mentioned that to my husband he said he had just came across the word jellyfish on his phone. Synchronicity?