The Countdown Begins!

"Wandering Pointsettas" on a package

Two new Christmas designs are up for sale on my Spoonflower store site -- they make great holiday gift wrap, so check them out.  The prints are also available as fabric.

"Christmas Wreaths Stripe"

I'm busy cleaning and decorating for my first Holiday Open Studio next weekend.  Let the countdown begin!

Thankful for Gus

"Swim Gus, Swim!"
6" x 6"
(framed watercolor on aquabord)

I completed this painting for my brother and sister-in-law for their anniversary.  Gus is their beagle and this was his first swim in the ocean.  He was looking totally petrified but happily his terror was short-lived and he soon got comfortable.  Now he loves the water!  

I thought this would make a very cute painting and was happy I was able to capture the look of uncertainty in his eyes. He's a delightful little guy and I enjoyed snuggling with him on the couch yesterday after Thanksgiving dinner.  

Gus in his frame.

Hope you all had wonderful day with family, friends and food!

More Type . . . Sigh

work-in-progress
12" x 12"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

I'm still messing with this one.  That crazy little white type is driving me nuts!  I also still have some tweaking to do on some of the larger type.  I do love the colors of these cartons though, don't you!? So much fun to paint.

Have a great weekend!

Cracker Jacks

"Aye-Aye"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

This old "Cracker Jack" box is a commissioned piece, however I chose to do two paintings from it and let the client choose which one she likes best.  I'll let you know which one she prefers. Which one do you like best?

 "Cracker Jack"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

I'm still messing around with some of the type on the painting above.  I want to tweak "Cracker Jack" just a bit. I love typography but it can be very difficult for me.  

Have a great day!

Prints That Look Like Originals

framed print of "Cape Cod Roses"
$65
click here to purchase

Hi all!  As you've probably noticed, I've been painting more and more on aquabord.  I love the surface for painting but I also love the fact that the paintings do not need to be framed under glass.  I spray them (and sometimes brush on an additional finish) and they are well protected.  I especially love that there is no fuss with cutting mats or dealing with glass.  (Of course be aware that most watercolor societies will not accept paintings that have been varnished.  That doesn't bother me as I'm not looking to enter shows these days.)

paintings on paper, mounted on cradled board and varnished

I researched how to avoid the glass barrier with original paintings on watercolor paper and found that I could mount them on board and seal them in the same way I do my aquabord.  (I watched this video by watercolorist, Annie Strack). I used this method when I finished my pencil paintings - mounting them on cradled board and sealing them with Krylon UV-Resistant spray and Liquitex Gloss Varnish.

                               

Then I got to thinking . . . "why can't I do this with my giclees?"  So I experimented a little and I must say I am very pleased with my results.  

So first I spray mount the giclee onto acid free foamcore using Krylon's Acid-Free Spray Adhesive and let it dry.  (it's best to spray the back of the print AND the foamcore to ensure a tight bond)

Then I spray the UV-Resistant clear coat followed by a couple coats of brushed-on varnish like I do with my aquabord paintings.  After everything has set for a day or so I frame it.  When all is said and done, it's pretty tough to determine whether the framed piece is a print or an original.  Of course because of the foamcore, it's a much lighter piece of artwork - you could always use board instead, but I like to have different price points for my pieces and the foamcore keeps the costs to a minimum.

I hope you find this post useful in your artistic endeavors!  Happy Experimenting!

Keep on Painting

my watercolor notebook - coca-cola notes

I often record notes and color information in a notebook so that I can refer back to them when I paint. It's really helpful and I encourage my students to do the same. Truth be told, I probably should do it more than I do.  

And below is a detail of my latest painting.

detail

A Productive Week

It's been a pretty productive week in the studio, although maybe not for blogging.  Oops.  My Open Studio (Dec. 3rd and 4th) postcards have been labeled and are ready for the mail as well as other prep work for that weekend.  I've also begun some new paintings while finishing a couple others, however one of those paintings is a secret so you're going to have to sit tight until I can share it with you.  

work in progress
12" x 12"
watercolor on cradled aquabord

Have a great weekend!  I'm headed out to dinner with some dear old friends!

A Closer Look

work-in-progress
12" x 12"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

Here's a closer look at my latest Ben & Jerry's painting.