What's in a Name???

These 2 little paintings are my latest watercolors, each 5x7 and painted on 140 lb. watercolor paper. When this picture was taken, each was in a varying degree of incompleteness. Now we come to my problem...I can't, for the life of me, think of names for them! I thought it should have something to do with 2 sisters and I should name them accordingly. But I'm still drawing a blank. My initial thought, of course, was from Jane Austen's novel Sense & Sensibility (now really, is anyone who knows me at all surprised by this?) and I should use Marianne & Elinor, the names of the sisters in the novel. But these are not a part of my Jane Austen inspired series "Dreaming of Darcy", so that just won't do. Argh!

Tranquil Earth - "Sweet Abandon"...

There is nothing like the free spirit of a child. They will find utter joy in the most simple things. As adults, we often lose that spirit. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to let go and enjoy life like that again? In "Sweet Abandon", that spirit is well and truly alive! After all, what better image is there of a spirit letting go and experiencing freedom and joy than of a person falling back with utter abandon into a pile of autumn leaves?
This is an acrylic painting done on 16x20 stretched canvas. While I do not have prints available just yet, please feel free to e-mail me at christina@hoydendesigns.com if you're interested. Thank you!

Art Prints are Coming!

I just received my first giclee art print from one of my paintings today, and it is incredible! Very soon I'll be offering them up for sale on several of my most popular paintings. Please contact me at christina@hoydendesigns.com if you have a special painting you'd like to have a print of.
Thank you!

More Dreaming of Darcy Pendants!

I've just completed a new batch of my popular line of Dreaming of Darcy "cameos"! I'm in the process of posting them to my Etsy shop right now. If you'd like to special order one of my little ladies, perhaps on a custom colored or shaped pendant, or with specific hair/gown colors, please feel free to contact me at christina@hoydendesigns.com!

Hannah's Prayer

In the Old Testament's First Book of Samuel we find Hannah, who is barren. This breaks her heart, and she prays to God to give her a child. God grants her a son, who she names Samuel. This painting is based on that story; against a washed out background, Hannah's prayer takes wing in the form of beautifully colored butterflies, a symbol of God granting her most fervent wish.
Painted in watercolors, with a background much looser than I've done before, this painting is full of hope and peace. For women suffering from infertility, this painting lets them know to never give up hope or faith.

The Promise - Watercolor Painting

The Promise shows how faith can light even the most dreary and consuming darkness. In the form of a dove, it illuminates and gives hope.
I painted this 11x15 painting on 140 lb.watercolor paper, and then highlighted the dove in pure white acrylic paints to make it stand out even more. Please contact me at christina@hoydendesigns.com if you're interested in purchasing a print of this painting. Thank you!

"Grace"... Based on Faith, Born of Love...

"Grace" is the start of what I hope is a long line of faith-based paintings. She is done in delicate watercolors on 140lb. watercolor paper, a lovely angel flying with abandon to heaven. I tried to capture the utter joy she feels as she lets her wings lift her higher and higher in the clear blue sky.
This painting measures 11x15, and I'm hoping to offer prints of her in the future!

The Names of Dreaming of Darcy...

All of the Regency-era ladies in my Dreaming of Darcy painting series have the names of characters from Jane Austen's novels or life. Can you guess who each of the ladies are named after?:

Isabella - Isabella Thorpe (Northanger Abbey)
Mary - Mary Crawford (Mansfield Park)
Catherine - Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey)
Caroline - Caroline Bingley (Pride & Prejudcie)
Lucy - Lucy Steele (Sense & Sensibility)
Fanny - Fanny Price (Mansfield Park)
Eliza - Eliza Austen (cousin & sister-in-law to Jane Austen)

"Catherine" Joins the Dreaming of Darcy Series.

I managed to sneak in a small acrylic painting a short while ago, and here is the fruits of my labor... Catherine! I gave her a half-border of delicate glazed swirls over bolder blues and purples. She's wearing a gauzy white gown with pearls in her carefully curled hair. Perhaps she's getting ready for a lively country ball and is practicing the steps of a dance...all the while dreaming that Mr.Darcy is her partner!

Practicing With Pencils

Due to time constraints, I haven't been able to paint as I'd like to lately. All of those sad and lonely white canvases are mocking me at home, there's no doubt about that! And I need a quick outlet for the images that are daily crowding their way into my head. So here's what I've come up with: colored pencils! This way I can take my work with me and pull it out quickly anywhere. Here are the first few tries in this unfamiliar media.
The titles of these pieces are:
(top) "One Heart"
(middle left) "Dreaming of Darcy - Eliza"
(middle right) "For Rob"
(bottom) "Give Thanks"