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Friday, December 2, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Before and After...a chair and table
Occasionally, I go a bit nutty and decide that either a free chair or a thrift shop table can be rescued in time for an event I will be hosting.
Well, I managed to do so on time (3 days!) and with rather good results. With directions I found here, I updated both in time for use at a bridal shower.
Chair before:
Chair after:
Table before and during:
Table after:
Originally, I had wanted to put the damask design on the top of the table, but with it's surface being hard glass like stuff, I had to settle for the bottom. I think I am pleased with it that way because it allows me to layer doilies on top. There will be a third one, but I am still crocheting it.
The stickers came from Joann Fabric in their wall sticker area. I just cut them here and there to get the desired look.
Well, I managed to do so on time (3 days!) and with rather good results. With directions I found here, I updated both in time for use at a bridal shower.
Chair before:
Chair after:
Table before and during:
Table after:
Originally, I had wanted to put the damask design on the top of the table, but with it's surface being hard glass like stuff, I had to settle for the bottom. I think I am pleased with it that way because it allows me to layer doilies on top. There will be a third one, but I am still crocheting it.
The stickers came from Joann Fabric in their wall sticker area. I just cut them here and there to get the desired look.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Waterlillies and a Fairy — Finished illustration
I suppose there comes a time when you have to let go and say....it's done. Since this is on my only larger sized pre-stretched watercolor paper stack I needed to get it off the board so I could start something new.
And just in time for me to have gotten my new Epson printer.
And just in time for me to have gotten my new Epson printer.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Visiting the Lake District—England
Image taken by me from Wray Castle of Windermere Lake
It is easy to see why the Lake District in England has been so inspirational for artists and poets through the ages. The hills and valleys accented by large sweeping clouds floating across blue skies cast a light and shade in dramatic splendor.
My main goal of visiting the Lake District was to see original illustrations by Beatrix Potter. Unlike most tourists, Hill Top would have been a bonus to see, but secondary to visiting the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead.
Beatrix Potter stayed here in 1882.
The original illustrations were stunning. Ms. Potter's subtly in painting and drawing can only be seen in the original form. Reproductions do not do her justice. I was impressed by her use of stippling and delicate line work. Some of the inking was dark brown and some black. The line work seemed to support the immediate focal point of the illustration rather then to cover all her pencils.
In a glass case at the beginning of the gallery housed in her husband's offices, we had the pleasure of seeing her watercolor palette set and an aborted illustration for The Fairy Caravan. This shows that she completed her sketch and then preceded to ink the drawing. You can see a slight smudge central in the illustration which is most likely the piece was aborted. The final un-smudged illustration was also represented in the exhibition.
At the end of examining and trying to commit to memory Ms. Potters original work, I purchased a beautiful and comprehensive book on her life and work. The main reason I jumped on the book was two notes on her colors and the mixing of them found inside an old wooden watercolor set of hers. It also had notes on palettes she recommended for beginning artists.
Below I have taken a few of her notes on greens and attempted to recreate them based on her notes for Wildflowers and Roses.
Some of the colors in her pallet I did not have exact, but I did have modern versions and I used some google-foo to find out more about them. Emerald Green for example was highly poisonous in that time. It was a color popular in the regency period and was used for wallpaper. Very hazardous I would say what with being made with arsenic. I am not sure what companies use now to make Emerald green but some still do.
My replacements are on the right
Emerald Green = Old Holland Scheveningen Green
Gamboge = Old Holland Gamboge Lake
Colbalt = Schmincke Colbalt
Prussian Blue = Old Holland Blue Deep
For Burnt Sienna and Indian Yellow I used Schmincke watercolors.
All in all it was an excellent trip that will most likely have a strong impact on anything I produce in the future. I would like to give C.E. a huge thanks for the opportunity and all the work she did on researching trains and the underground. And a huge thanks to my husband for encouraging me to go.
View on the other side of Wordsworth's gardens.
View from Rydal Mount.
My main goal of visiting the Lake District was to see original illustrations by Beatrix Potter. Unlike most tourists, Hill Top would have been a bonus to see, but secondary to visiting the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead.
Beatrix Potter stayed here in 1882.
The original illustrations were stunning. Ms. Potter's subtly in painting and drawing can only be seen in the original form. Reproductions do not do her justice. I was impressed by her use of stippling and delicate line work. Some of the inking was dark brown and some black. The line work seemed to support the immediate focal point of the illustration rather then to cover all her pencils.
In a glass case at the beginning of the gallery housed in her husband's offices, we had the pleasure of seeing her watercolor palette set and an aborted illustration for The Fairy Caravan. This shows that she completed her sketch and then preceded to ink the drawing. You can see a slight smudge central in the illustration which is most likely the piece was aborted. The final un-smudged illustration was also represented in the exhibition.
At the end of examining and trying to commit to memory Ms. Potters original work, I purchased a beautiful and comprehensive book on her life and work. The main reason I jumped on the book was two notes on her colors and the mixing of them found inside an old wooden watercolor set of hers. It also had notes on palettes she recommended for beginning artists.
Below I have taken a few of her notes on greens and attempted to recreate them based on her notes for Wildflowers and Roses.
Some of the colors in her pallet I did not have exact, but I did have modern versions and I used some google-foo to find out more about them. Emerald Green for example was highly poisonous in that time. It was a color popular in the regency period and was used for wallpaper. Very hazardous I would say what with being made with arsenic. I am not sure what companies use now to make Emerald green but some still do.
My replacements are on the right
Emerald Green = Old Holland Scheveningen Green
Gamboge = Old Holland Gamboge Lake
Colbalt = Schmincke Colbalt
Prussian Blue = Old Holland Blue Deep
For Burnt Sienna and Indian Yellow I used Schmincke watercolors.
All in all it was an excellent trip that will most likely have a strong impact on anything I produce in the future. I would like to give C.E. a huge thanks for the opportunity and all the work she did on researching trains and the underground. And a huge thanks to my husband for encouraging me to go.
View on the other side of Wordsworth's gardens.
View from Rydal Mount.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Cleaned up sketch
This afternoon I transferred the sketch to the watercolor paper and cleaned her up a bit. Shortly I am going to start some inking...though chances are I am going to look at her again with fresh eyes in the morning.
I don't know what I am going to title it yet. Possibly "The Secret Garden."
I am open to suggestions.
One down....What am I going to do with you?
So I believe I have figured this one out.
The lower branch of the willow tree will need to be moved up or removed entirely. But here we have a fairy with her shoes off and in her right hand, stepping upon lily pads in an enclosed garden full of irises.
The lower branch of the willow tree will need to be moved up or removed entirely. But here we have a fairy with her shoes off and in her right hand, stepping upon lily pads in an enclosed garden full of irises.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
She did not have the heart...
to move him.
Hmm...unbelievably productive day.
1. Finish illustration.
2. Plant a dog wood and clean up flower bed under picture window, place field and flagstones.
3. Update blog and etsy store banners.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Whatever am I going to do with you?
I had been thinking about this one for weeks. The Moleskine was lost until just a moment ago.
This one has potential, but what exactly am I going to surround her in?
And then this one...nicely executed, but what is she doing?
This one has potential, but what exactly am I going to surround her in?
And then this one...nicely executed, but what is she doing?Sunday, February 20, 2011
Once upon a time...
Her mother said she would have to kiss a lot frogs before she met her Prince.
But this was more literal then she thought.
This years Valentine.
And submitted for Illustration Friday Topic, Midsummer's Night.
There is always a fairy party that night.
And submitted for Illustration Friday Topic, Midsummer's Night.
There is always a fairy party that night.
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