Penguin paintings in watercolor

After doing the fox circle paintings, I wanted to do something similar with penguins...



















I think these also came out pretty cute :)  I love baby penguins...they're all fluffy and awkward. Here are my sketches beforehand:

 Some detail:






















I think I prefer this look for the sky:

Yay penguins!

From my sketchbook: Spain & Italy trip 2013!

I spent the second half of March vacationing with friends in Spain and Italy. We rented a car and drove around Tuscany, then flew to Barcelona for a few days as well. I didn't sketch as heavily on some previous trips (mostly because it rained almost every day in Italy) but I got a couple of good ones in :)
 

 

Cortona, Italy

I sat in the Piazza della Repubblica on some steps to sketch, looking very much like a hobo.

 

Port Vell, Barcelona, Spain

Took advantage of a lovely sunny day to sit by the docks and draw.

 

Inspired by the earlier boats, I did this cute circles watercolor...would be nice for a little boy's room.

 

Montserrat, Spain

It was a bit chilly up there so I only had the patience (and warmth) for a quick pen sketch!

 

 

Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona, Spain

I wasn't exactly sure what an umbracle (shade house) was at first, but it made a nice place to sit!

 

 

And here's a circles watercolor inspired by the lovely Tuscan hills:

 

  Trip photos to match coming soon, I promise!

Even more tiny bird paintings

I made a little bird watercolor painting for my friend Amy for her baby shower (she's having a girl)...and it turned out so cute I made a few more similar ones. Which colors do you like better?

 

 

I really love painting these, they are so much fun. What other animals should I do?

 

materials: pencil, Prang semi-moist watercolors on Canson Montval Watercolor Block, Faber-Castell PITT artist pen (brush) in #177.

Ornament sketches

When I'm super bored and sitting on an airplane I love to make lists and brainstorm project ideas.

Here are some sketches I made a while back of potential ornaments to make.

So far from these I've only actually made the owl ornaments...

 

 

...but I'm sure I'll come back to these sketches later when I need a new project to start!  

More tiny bird paintings...and other stuff I'm doing...

While I was sick a few weeks ago, I worked on additional bird paintings because they were just so much fun! I've found these are actually easier if you work on multiples at the same time, so you don't get impatient while some sections are drying off.

These are great for kids or babies' rooms, baby shower gifts, or even for adults! My brother liked these two so much that I gave them to him to hang above his computer desk in the living room. I love how the pictures are small but still feel generous in scale, and like bright little painted treasures :)

 

I'm sure I'll be painting more of these in different color combinations too. I was thinking about trying a red bird on a yellow or pale blue background. I love doing them while semi-watching tv :) Last time while I was painting these, I believe I was watching the recent movie adaptation of Jane Eyre, old episodes of Gilmore Girls, and What Not to Wear.

Tonight I'm getting to work on my newest project: hoot owl Christmas tree ornaments! I made my prototype yesterday and it turned out awesome--I stuffed it with quilt batting so it is all puffy and round and perfect. So, more felt owl ornaments in 8000 color combinations forthcoming! Pictures soon, I promise...

And I'm thinking for tonight's sappy movie marathon, I'll be choosing from: Anne of Green Gables (the sequel), Howl's Moving Castle, IQ, Little Dorrit, and perhaps the final episode of my newest (yet sadly short-lived) guilty pleasure, Breaking Amish!

Materials for watercolor paintings above: pencil, Prang semi-moist watercolors on Strathmore Wet Media paper, Faber-Castell PITT artist pen (brush) in #177, IKEA SONDRUM  frame.

Bird paintings for babies

Several of my friends have just welcomed new babies so I've been busy working on paintings for their gifts! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

I just love how cute they turned out!

 

materials: pencil, Prang semi-moist watercolors on Strathmore Wet Media paper, Faber-Castell PITT artist pen (brush) in #177, IKEA RIBBA frame.

Mini elephant watercolor

I haven't posted in a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been making anything! I just got sort of wrapped up in the everyday chaos. Never fear, more crafty photos coming soon :)

Here's a sweet little elephant painting I made recently. Perfect for a baby's room!

 

Here's a closer look:

 

Isn't he the cutest elephant ever?

 

materials: pencil, Prang semi-moist watercolors on Canson Montval Watercolor Block (cold press), IKEA SONDRUM frame.

Decoupage frenzy! Baskets, plaques, and boxes

I spent most of the day yesterday working on additional decoupage projects. Here are the ones I finished!

Close ups of some of the pieces...

Small ship tins--I have about 100 of these cute little circle tins lying around so I thought I might as well decoupage a few.

Castle wall art--love the fairy tale look!
 

Ship wall art--I never get tired of this image.

The backs of the nesting ship boxes are painted with a palm tree on a beach.

I'm so excited to be using up a big chunk of my stash of wooden and other boxes, frames, trays, drawers, etc. More coming soon!

What else should I paint on these? Flowers, octopi, leaves, Sean Connery?

Ahoy! Pirate treasure maps!

The last few days I've been working on more of my little map paintings (I sell some of these at ArtSpring currently). This time I had some Ikea frames purchased in advance, so I made sure the maps were sized to fit.

Which one do you prefer? I am partial to the second one.

These are so cute for a kid's room. I often draw these maps for children I babysit/hang out with, and they really enjoy using them to create a story or game.

I love drawing the little castles, ships, forests, huts, mountains, etc...and of course I made sure to add in a whaley for good measure!

If you are interested in purchasing one of these treasure maps, please convo me, as I'm not sure if I will be posting them to my etsy shop or not.

Shiver me timbers!

Belated Happy Valentine's Day

Just a quick post this evening to wish everyone a great Valentine's Day!

Here's the wonderful valentine I got from my friend's daughters--don't you just love kids' drawings??!

So sweet!