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"

Tranquil Earth Series reawakens with "Serenity"

My painting series entitled "Tranquil Earth", where I explore the beauty of the natural world and our connection to it, has been reawakened with "Serenity". Against a highly textured background of purples, whites, browns and yellows is a woman in a calming grey dress. She stands beneath a skeletal, pale tree, done in a soft white glaze, to show the slumbering depths of winter while the tree rests and waits for the promise of spring.
unfortunately this large painting (measuring 16"x20") is not for sale. However, I will be offering up prints of it shortly. If you are interested and would like to reserve a print, please contact me at christina@hoydendesigns.com.

Christmas deadlines!!!

****HOLIDAY DEADLINES!****
Please order by December 15th for U.S. shipping and December 8th for International shipping to get your package in time for Christmas! Any custom orders please contact me by December 1st. Thank you!