JingleFest Art and Craft Faire!

In 9 days I'll be at the 'JingleFest Holiday Art and Craft Faire! I'm so very excited, and hope that if you're anywhere near San Jose, CA on November 20th that you'll stop by and visit me!

There will be 80 vendors, with something for everyone on your holiday list. If you do manage to come please be sure to stop by my table and say "hi!". I'll be right inside the entrance, one of the very first tables on the right.
I'll also be having a giveawy at my table. Anyone who signs up to be on my e-mail mailing list will be entered into a drawing to win this original mixed media piece:

She measures 8x10 and is on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper. I hope to see you there!

'Still' - Mixed Media Piece

The word "still" embodies all that is peaceful and quiet to me. That's why my newest mixed media piece is named that; I couldn't think of a better word for what this woman seems to be feeling.

'Still' measures 5x7 and was created using pencils and watercolors on 140 lb.cold-pressed watercolor paper.

Two New Alice Paintings

Once again Miss Alice has cauht my fancy and my imagination. Here are the two newest of my paintings inspired by Alice in Wonderland, and there are several more in my little sketchbook just waiting to be brought to life.
'Such a Long Way to Fall 2' 8x10 acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (currently for sale at EniThing boutique at Westgate Mall in San Jose, CA - see side bar to the right for a link to their website):



'Drink Me' 8x10 acrylics on canvas board (to be kept in my private collection for my illustration portfolio):

The Sweetest Thing mixed media painting

I'm still fiddling around with new methods of painting. Here's the latest, entitled 'The Sweetest Thing'. This is a 5x7 piece, done on 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper, with pencils and watercolors.

The Dreamer 3 - New Acrylic Painting

Here is a small 5x7 acrylic painting on canvas board I completed a short while ago. It seems I've been drawing and painting quite a few of these flowing haired ladies lately, and so have decided to create of series of them called The Dreamers. I have another on my desk nearly finished that I'll be sharing with you soon.

'Feel My Love' - Mixed Media Painting

While discussing a possible commission for a dear friend's daughter, I had a sudden image in my mind of working a pencil likeness over a music sheet. I wasn't sure if it would work, so I took an antique photo that touched me emotionally and began working. This is what I was able to come up with:

'Feel My Love' ~ 5x7 mixed media painting, utilizing acrylics, pencil and watercolors on an antique music sheet circa 1890, attached to a canvas board painted a deep purple and protected with a matte varnish.

Wearable Framed Paintings

I've been trying to come up with a new way of doing pendants, and after the last batch of Halloween goodies I was really and truly inspired with the pendant frames I'd found. But I didn't feel I'd get the detail I truly wanted by going with acrylics, so I switched to pencil and watercolors. And here are the results:
Before framing...





And framed and varnished:

I loved doing these, though I think I may need to get myself a good magnifying glass soon!

Happy (Early) Halloween, Dearies

I was asked by the wonderful woman at EniThing to do a display window for her store. Imagination churning, my thoughts turned to the upcoming Halloween holiday and I fairly threw myself into several new pieces for it.
I found these lovely pendant frames, and used 140 lb.watercolor paper inserted into them. Too much fun, and I love the new look. I can't wait to create more.




This paper mache witch's hat wat a "hoot" (pardon the bad pun) to paint:



This mysterious witch took on a life of her own. She's quite ready for trick or treating:



And here is the display itself. I added a small crow sculpture I made last year, as well as a lavendar wand created from the amazing smelling lavendar in my own yard. With mini hay bales, a spider-web stamped piece of muslin and halloween-y bunting, I'm quite pleased with it.

Teeny Tiny Houses

There is just something about teeny little houses that I absolutely love, which you may know if you've visited my blog and seen my tiny house pendants. When deciding to give paper a try as a base, I just couldn't help picking these as a subject matter. The smooth surface lends itself well here to the delicate lines of the windows. (The bottom piece is especially close to my heart; I'm an avid veggie gardener, and this image is a particular dream of mine)
'Five Little Houses' ~ 5x7 acrylics on paper



'House on the Hill" ~ 5x7 acrylics on paper

Alice and the Flowers - Triptych Painting

Here is a 3 panel painting I recently completed:

It was commissioned by a wonderful lady who loves all things Alice (she is a woman after my own heart! How could I resist?). Each panel is a gallery-wrapped canvas that measures 11x14, with antique music sheets circa 1890, and painted in acrylic paints. Here is each panel separately: