Next Step For "Houdini Three" Mouse Art ACEO

This afternoon I added the ink drawing to my latest miniature painting ACEO, "Houdini The Mouse Three". You can read more about little Houdini here and here.

Enjoy!!

Sunday Summed Up In One Picture

This is the first in a summer series (and guessing game) of graphically altered images; "Where In the World Is Little Bit?". I sometimes find it hard to put into words the joyous experience I have each time I get to spend time with my beloved horse Little Bit. In you comments, try to guess what my experience was like from the picture!

From one of my faithful followers Linda of Briar Rose Gate:

"I had imagined you could smell fresh air priarie flowers and crushed grasses as you both flew along, him drinking in the wind and you smiling, and your eyes streaming from the breeze of your gallop speed.Finally slowing down laughing and talking to him stroking his neck?" ~Lindax

Perfect! Thanks Linda. :)

Watch for more of "Where In the World Is Little Bit?" as our summer unfolds.

Enjoy!!

New Miniature Painting Begins "Houdini Three"

By request, I have begun a new painting of Houdini the mouse. Since Houdini One and Houdini Two both show our little mouse among the dandelions, we've decided to place this version of Houdini in dandelions woods as well. I wanted to show Houdini, although still a little frightened and timid, feeling ready to be on his own in his forest of grass and leaves.

Enjoy your summer day, (still rain and more rain here in New England, but you should see our dandelions)!

Squire Sullivan S. Squirrel Finished! Mini Art ACEO

"Squire Sullivan S. Squirrel"
ACEO (2.5 " by 3.5"), India Ink, Watercolor, Colored Pencil, and a touch of White Acrylic.

Benefits Animal Dreams Feline Rescue (in memory of Leslie Smallridge).

Sqiure Squirrel is finished! He is the noble and gentlemanly companion to Mrs. Lady Squirrel who you will find to the left and below.

For sale at a reduced price here on my blog (upper left) for a few days only!

You can see a full slide show WIP (Work In Progress) here.

Below is a photograph giving you a sense of my miniature painting's size, (this being "Mrs. Lady Squirrel").


Enjoy!!

Nearly Done With "Squire Squirrel" Miniature Art ACEO

On this dark rainy summer day, I am moving close to completion on "Squire Sullivan S. Squirrel".

I am sorry for the loss of two bright shinning stars in our world and I hope they find peace in heaven.

Swimming With The Squid!

I spent several hours today cleaning and updating my "Lenses" on Squidoo.

What's Squidoo? "Squidoo is the popular publishing platform and community that makes it easy for you to create "lenses" online. Lenses are pages, kind of like flyers or signposts or overview articles, that gather everything you know about your topic of interest--and snap it all into focus." ~From the How To Pages on Squidoo

So, here are my two lenses which needed a little buffing and polishing:


How I Make My Mini Art


My Mini Art

Enjoy!!

Little Further On "Squire Squirrel" Mini Art ACEO

Moved a bit further along on "Squire Squirrel" miniature painting (ACEO) this afternoon. Watching summer showers come and go between bursts of sunlight which light the woods a vivid lime green!

Here are the first steps of Squire Squirrel's slide show .

Have a great evening!

Next Few Steps For "Squire Squirrel" Miniature Painting

This morning I have begun to work in the pastel spring colors of the miniature painting's background and the soft gray in "Squire Squirrel's" jaunty Fedora.

Here are the first steps of Squire Squirrel's slide show .

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Promoting The Dealer

Close up of "Brown Sparrow"

Its an interesting new chapter for an artist when their original paintings begin to show up for sale by art dealers. The very first reaction is to be a little unsettled for some reason, but that emotion is quickly replaced with a feeling of flattery. An art dealer on eBay is selling one of my older miniature ACEO originals and I thought I would help her along by letting you know its up for sale. Here is the auction link: "Brown Sparrow"

I have always liked this little painting, even now after a few years and with a more critical eye. I like how the background has a velvety gray winter sky and the warm browns of little Sparrow's feathers are nice.

Enjoy!!

Very First Copy of My Childrens Book!!!

The yummy apple is for size comparison, the book measures 10" x 10".

I just received the "proof copy' of the childrens book we have been working on for over two years. For those of you who have had the joy of holding your published work for the first time can understand my jubilation! I am thrilled beyond words! The quality of print is outstanding...its a classy, charming, and colorful childrens book. I am so honored and proud to have illustrated this young lady's first book. Moonlight Memoirs will be on book shelves for $14.95 by this August and I will sell signed copies here from my blog. You can see all the illustrations here.

Enjoy!!

Initial Ink Drawing For New Miniature Painting

Thanks to all my Twitter friends for helping me decide what "Squire Squirrel" should be holding in his little hands!

Enjoy!!

New Miniature Painting Begins

And then refined a bit to include the rule of thirds...




This is the very rough "Thumb Nail" of my next painting and will be a companion piece to "Mrs. Lady Squirrel" I like to rough out my ideas for my miniature paintings and also get a sense of the composition. Because even if a painting is fantastic or "right on the money" with realistic detail, if the composition is off, then the entire piece will be unexciting.

To all you dads out there...Happy Fathers Day!!
Enjoy!!

Equine Euphoria

"My Little Bit"

I press my face into his rough blond mane and breathe in his sweet horse smell.

When I take his soft muzzle into my hands, I look into those liquid brown eyes and see his soulful wisdom within.

Running my hand down his slick back I feel the powerful muscles beneath.

Then I climb into the saddle and we move down the trail.

Soothed by Little Bit's strong-rhythmic step, I fill my heart with the rich velvet green of our woods...

Now I am riding high with equine euphoria!

Enjoy!!

Finished! Mrs. Lady Squirrel Miniature Painting ACEO

Almost.....



....and finished!



"Mrs Lady Squirrel"
ACEO (2.5 " by 3.5"), India Ink, Colored Pencil, and a touch of White Acrylic.

Benefits Animal Dreams Feline Rescue (in memory of Leslie Smallridge).

I am extremely happy with this little piece for a few reasons, first that technically "Mrs. Lady Squirrel" was a success, but also that she represents a direction I am trying to head toward in my work. I am working toward a style which is both representational (a arty term for realistic) and fanciful. I want my viewers to really believe that they have encountered a magical world where little red squirrels where denim sunbonnets and smile knowingly about their secrets.

For sale at a reduced price here on my blog (upper left) for a few days only!

You can see a full slide show WIP (Work In Progress) here.

Below is a photograph giving you a sense of my miniature painting's size.


Enjoy!!

Nearly Done With New Miniature Painting - ACEO "Mrs. Lady Squirrel"

On this rainy (and I mean rainy) "June Gloom" kind of day, I snuggled in with the pets and worked on my newest original small art piece (ACEO). "Mrs. Lady Squirrel" is coming too life on my drawing board as I add layer after layer of colored pencil for her soft summer coat.

Hope the sun is shining where you are!

"Lady Squirrel" Gets Her Sunhat! ACEO Miniature Art

"Mrs. Lady Squirrel" gets her sun hat this afternoon, just as the New England sun slips behind yet more rain clouds. I worked layers of colored pencil over a light watercolor and ink under painting. I think she looks quite glam in her denim hat!

Have a fine evening and Enjoy!!

Further Along On "Mrs. Lady Squirrel" ACEO Mini Painting

I worked in a little watercolor to "Mrs. Lady Squirrel's" hat and background this morning. The next step is to begin layering on colored pencil for her fur and refining the details.

Enjoy!!

Houdini The Mouse Debuts On Cute Art Gifts

Buy Houdini The Mouse Ceramic Tile
Here

Today I designed several art gifts featuring my painting of Houdini The Mouse. You can read about little Houdini here, and see the step by step of this little painting (ACEO) here.

(Click on any image below to find that art gift)

Houdini Jewelry Box


Houdini Sticker



Houdini Refrigerator Magnet



Houdini Framed Tile

Enjoy!!

Home Sweet Home And A little More Work On New ACEO

Well, I made it home from across the continent in one piece! I spent last week in California caring for my elderly mom and flew in to Massachusetts late Saturday night. I am always touched by the small acquaintances one makes on all day plane travels. You have the opportunity to learn a bit about the person next to you (if you choose to, that is) and sometimes this can be a little treasure in your day. The stand out moment for my return trip was meeting a five month old Savannah (the same name as my daughter) whom I got to hold for a bit, giving her harried mom a break. What a pleasure it was to feel that soft little body, see those bright blue eyes, and smell that sweet baby smell for a few moments.

I also had such compassion for the staff and pilots on all the flights. Tired travelers faced with delays tend to be so harsh and quick to blame. I made an extra effort to sincerely thank the stewards and pilots as we boarded and de-boarded each flight.

Now I have had a day to unpack, regroup, refresh, and begin again on my latest miniature painting ACEO "Mrs Lady Squirrel". I inked in the little work of art with my technical pen. For those of you who use technical pens, you can appreciate the joy of a fresh new nib. I use a Rapidiograph pen with the smallest nib made. Because its so small and delicate, I can usually only get about a year out of the nib before it fails. So this afternoon, I filled me new replacement pen and enjoyed the smooth consistent mark of a working pen!

Enjoy!!