Flying By The Seat Of My Pants

Happiness is . . . a vintage Fisher Price toy collection!
(Although for all you purists, this is the Playskool McDonald's)

I tend to like routine and plans but for a little over a year now I've had some life things get in the way. Nothing bad, just the way things go sometimes. I'm sure you all understand. And in the midst of tending to unexpected life events I decided I still must focus more on my art career and not let the momentum I've worked so hard to achieve, slow down. That means staying consistent . . . which can be really difficult when life gets in the way.

Part of that consistency includes marketing and consciously setting time aside to devote to just that, something I've never really done. (While I have a love affair with routine, I often have a tough time sticking to it). It takes loads of discipline, something I've always struggled with.

And part of my new marketing plan is a new instagram account: "Real Housewives of Fisher Price." (There really is a method to my madness, even though this seems completely random!) 

I've created a crazy cast of characters with storylines a la "Real Housewives" and have been posting little "episodes" for a couple of weeks, I hope you will check it out. I've also created a new Facebook page for the #RHOFP which you can access here. It's fun and challenging and different. But most of all, it takes time and while I try to stay disciplined and ahead of the game, somedays I still find myself flying by the seat of my pants! 

Another Day at the Office

"Another Day at the Office"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on aquabord)
$200

Click here to purchase.

By the time you read this post, I should have my Little People calendars in! I'm excited to see them. It's a little late, but at least it's still January.  (yikes) 

In the meantime, here is one of the paintings in the calendar. For busy flight attendants, a trip to a foreign destination is just "another day at the office."

Enjoy your day!

Little People Prints

Looking for some art for your baby or toddler's room?  Or maybe you're just a vintage Fisher Price fan like me.  I've recently uploaded these images onto my imagekind.com gallery.  You can access it through my website here.  At Imagekind you can choose your size and whether you want a stretched canvas print or one on paper.  They will even mat and frame for you!  

I'm hoping to upload some more images in the near future and am presently working on a new desk calendar for 2018 so stay tuned!

Taking Risks

"Watching the Red Sox"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)

I took a little detour from my Amsterdam paintings to work on a couple of gifts. While I haven't yet delivered them, I'm pretty sure the recipients don't follow me online, so I think I'm safe. And yes, that's a priest.  :)  Our dear Parish Pastor, Father Fitzgerald, has retired after 30+ years and we are all sad to see him go. He and his loyal sidekick, Sister Angela actually look a lot like these Fisher Price people -- Father and Sister are the cutest, most adorable little people I know . . . and one of the great teams in history. 

Anyway . . . I did a painting for each of them . . . this one is for Father. But there is a painting lesson in here that I wanted to share with you. Take a look at the version of this painting mid-way, below:

It's horrible! The reference image had the background darker, and in shadow, so that is what I aimed to paint. And if you are familiar with the Fisher Price toys of this era, the blue on the walls is a weird, almost dirty looking blue. Too often I succumb to being a slave to the photo -- something I am really striving to avoid these days . . . but alas, I was sucked in and my painting was lifeless and dirty looking.  There was no way I could continue it like this. I would either have to do something drastic or start over.  So I went "drastic" and decided to wash off the background. (This is one of the perks of aquabord.)

To the sink I went . . . and carefully holding the board under the running water, only where I wanted to "erase," I began to get rid of the majority of paint in the background. The Winsor blue is a staining pigment so I knew it wasn't all going to wash off, however, I wanted to leave a ghost image so I knew where to re-paint. 

Luckily, it worked like a charm and I could revise the background.  I brightened it up, making new decisions about what the painting needed as opposed to what the photo was showing me.  

So I validated two valuable lessons here (I say "validated" because deep down I know these things, I just don't always apply them):

1)  Let your painting speak to you . . . and be sure to listen. It will tell you where to go and what it needs.  Don't just paint your reference photo.

2)  Take a risk on a painting that isn't working. The worst that can happen is you start over . . . the best is that you salvage something that would never have worked in the first place.

Thanks for popping by.  Tomorrow I will share the painting I did for Sister Angela.  :)

It's Movie Night!

"Movie Night"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
SOLD

And here's number 4!  I hope that my clients like their new paintings.

Who's Jumping on that Bed?

"Jumping on the Bed"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
SOLD

Those crazy kids are at it again!  Jumping on the bed .... oooh they're naughty!  #3 in my series.  I'm so grateful for my clients!

It's In The Mail

"Mailing a Letter"
8" x 8"
(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
SOLD

The second of four in my commissioned family series.  Hope you are having a lovely week!

Late Night Progress

I'm really having fun painting all the bright colors on this commissioned series.  Have a great weekend and thank you for tuning into my blog!

Busy, Busy, Busy

This is going to be a short post as I have been busy working on commissions and am actually headed to bed.  Oh how good it will feel to crawl under the covers!  

These are some 8" x 8" cradled aquabord panels in various stages.  It's fun to to work on multiple paintings at once.

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Lots of Slow Progress

"The Budding Artist" - work-in-progress
12" x 12"
watercolor on cradled aquabord

I'm getting close with this one . . . looking to have her done this week. There are lots of nit-picky details left to add to the realism; I'll be playing with some values and making sure my star artist stands out against her busy background.

Have a great day!

30 Day Challenge - Painting #29

"Pass The Popcorn"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Day 29 -- one more painting to go in Leslie Saeta's 30 Day Painting Challenge.  This one is part of a series of 3 theatre paintings that have been commissioned.  They are planning to be displayed near my client's home theatre.  How cute is that?  

I apologize for the quality of these photos - I'm hoping to get a new computer and scanner in the near future, hopefully though, you get the idea of each painting.  You see, my camera went on the blink and I've been using my husband's -- which is actually a very nice camera, but I don't know how to use it properly.  I've also been finishing these up after dark and rushing the photography, not taking the time to do it properly.  Anyway -- that's my story . . . luckily though, I've been able to get high res images of them for my records, but that's been after posting. I have to say, I think they look much better in person and am excited to put what's left of them out on display during my Open Studio next weekend.

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #27

"Two Popcorns, Two Sodas"
5" x 5"
watercolor on paper
SOLD

I keep wanting to throw in a "Please" at the end of this title, but am afraid it would be too long.  However I just don't want anyone thinking these Fisher Price people don't have manners!

This piece is not exactly authentic Fisher Price, but it was oh so much fun.  A collector suggested to me that a concession stand would make a delightful painting and could round out a little vignette of 3 theatre themed paintings that they would like to purchase.  So I drew up what would be the concession stand "decal" - stuck it on the wall of one of the Village shops, threw in a couple of movie-goers and voila!  I hope they like it . . . and you as well.  It was a lot of fun to do.  

Thank you for viewing my work

30 Day Challenge -- Painting #25

"Chatting At Work"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

Day 25 -- it's getting close!!  I have the remaining paintings all plotted out.  Four are in the works already of which 3 happen to be commissioned.  I've been lucky and have sold 10 of these paintings through Daily Paintworks -- you can see one of the packages below, all ready for shipping (a photo taken a few days ago.)  I am very grateful for my collectors -- thank you!

I'm also posting a photo of some of the collection all together.  Thank you for viewing my work and have a lovely day!

all ready for shipping

21 paintings

30 Day Challenge - Painting #23

"Got Milk"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.


I don't think there was really ever a milkman in the Fisher Price Village, but I thought I'd make one using the mail truck.  I think this works.  I must say, it was nice having a milkman, ours was Mr. Banas . . . I wish they were still around.

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #22

"Annie"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper
NFS

My friend, neighbor and favorite mail lady is retiring on Monday . . . so this, my 22nd painting of the 30 day painting challenge is for her --  Congratulations, Annie!!  We love you.  :)

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #21

"No Jumping On The Bed!"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

I think we all remember hearing those words from time to time when we were kids.  Another late night for me, but this one felt good.  I'm hoping to get back to my better routine tomorrow.  Thank you for taking a look.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #20

"I Got You Babe"
5" x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

Ok -- so this one is a bit wacky, but hopefully it will make you smile, perhaps even chuckle a little bit.   I've had this idea floating around for a while -- 1970's Fisher Price + vintage pop culture = Sonny & Cher in Fisher Price style.  Why not, eh?  Fisher Price did Sesame St.  I still think it's funny, and I like the idea, I just didn't take my time prepping for it, so the execution is a bit lacking I think.  And once again, I started painting late in the day.  Oh boy.  For all you authentic FP fans, don't worry, I've got plenty of regular paintings planned, I just had to get this one out of my system.  And isn't that what this challenge is about -- trying new things?  Anyway, thank you for viewing my work.  Oh ya, this is #20. And the beat goes on . . . 

30 Day Challenge - Painting #19

"Fill It Up . . . Hi-Test"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

"Hi-test" . . . now there's a word you don't hear anymore.  And look at the poor grump -- he must already know about the parking ticket . . . or he's just mad that the nozzle is coming out of his head.  Either way . . . he's none too pleased and I can't say as though I blame him, poor fellah.

Day 19 of the Challenge . . . we're getting down to the wire.  And oh so many Fisher Price ideas still floating around in this nutty little head of mine.  I may have to continue this series even after the challenge has ended.  After taking a little break though, of course.

Thank you for viewing my work.

30 Day Challenge - Painting #18

"The Parking Ticket"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

Apparently parking in front of a hydrant isn't such a good idea . . . especially one that's set right in front of the Police Station.  I guess even Fisher Price people have to obey the laws.  I wonder if this car belongs to "The Grump" -- that could explain a lot.  :)

Sorry for the lousy image -- again, it's late at night.  I didn't get a chance to start this painting until very late tonight.  But I was determined to stay on track.  I just hope I can get some painting done early in the day tomorrow, so I won't be burning the midnight oil again.

Anyway -- thanks for dropping by.  And now I'm going to bed!

30 Day Challenge - Painting #17

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
5"x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

It may be cold outside, but this little lady is keeping warm by her cozy fireplace.  Now if only she could get some insulated glass . . . or something at all, in her windows to protect her against the elements and keep the heat in.  Have a lovely day.  I finished this one early today -- yippee!  Thank you for stopping by.