Hummingbird Garden

Dabbling in Watercolors today to create this bright dance of the hummingbird's flight =)


For Sale at Etsy

Paint Party Friday - ACEO Playing Card Deck

So much going on this week, I almost forgot about PPF entirely!...but so glad I made it =)

This parrot painting is one of my recent works. I have submitted the image for a project in one of my eBay groups, Art Cards, Editions and Originals...or better known as the ACEO group. The group has been creating ACEO-sized (2.5x3.5in)playing card decks the last few years using the art of group members. These parrots will be on the 2 of Diamonds in the 2011 deck. I'm so excited to be a part of this fun project, and can't wait to see the finished deck with everyone's great art!

I have 5 Eclectus parrots. This painting is done from a picture of Cherry and Junior.

Eclectus parrots are famous for being sexually dimorphic, which means that the male and female are different colors. Most parrot species do not have this trait. That's your lesson on parrots for today, LOL!

The painting was done in Acrylics on Susan Scheewe 185# watercolor paper, and it measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I don't think I'll be putting this original up for sale. It is too near and dear to my heart =)

Happy PPF!! I'm swamped, but will try to visit as many as I can this week ;)
Kathryn

Auction for Our Troops

"Night Owl" ACEO
I have donated this original acrylic painting to the Treatboxes for Troops auction, which begins on March 31st. (You can preview the items now)

My friend Lisa has set up a Facebook page and auctions to raise money for shipping Treatboxes to our troops. Please check out the many wonderful and varied items in the auction and bid generously =) Thanks so much!

Baby Easter Bunny

Okay, I finally got around to painting the pink Easter egg for my hubby, LOL! I couldn't resist adding a sweet lil bunny =)

For Sale at Etsy

Paint Party Friday!

See Details at my ACEO Gallery






My free artist's soul loves to create spontaneously. Often when I have art that I "have to do", the soul feels a bit thwarted, lol! My new cure for this is to paint on the piece that has to be specific, and stop when I feel my focus drifting. Then, I immediately pick up an ACEO blank and a new color...and go to town =) Which means that I just take the brush and paint and let it fly. Sometimes, I bring up a photo on my computer monitor for a loose reference. But, its best when I work from my mind and heart. I'm finding this method to be a good way to get art done AND satisfy my creative drives. I really always want to be flying free with my creativity, but that hasn't put food on the table.....YET ;)

So, this owl is a spontaneous painting. Yesterday, I worked on my art for the ACEO playing card deck that I am contributing to (a project of eBay's ACEO group). Then I put it aside, and I knew I really wanted to paint an owl in blue and white. The eyes are always the most important part of a portrait, and these came out effortlessly...and fabulous. I love this little guy, and hope you do too! =)

**This is my post for the New! Paint Party Friday blog party. Please come join the fun and see all the great weekly posts of other artists....just click the button link below. Thanks so much, Kathryn

Celebrate Oz ~ Ruby Slippers Winner!

Congratulations to Quilts Sew Shabby =) She is the winner of the sweet little "Ruby Slippers" ACEO! Yay!!

Thanks again to Linda at Olde Baggs n Stuft Shirts and to all of you for helping to celebrate the magic of the Wizard of Oz =) Watch for my next fun giveaway! Kathryn

Celebrate Oz Party and Giveaway

Welcome to the party!

Its time to share how the Wizard of Oz has delighted, amazed, changed and inspired us!! Whether you remember your first time seeing it or you remember certain beloved parts or images of the story...or just how it makes you feel, you are in the right place =)

Let me start by introducing one of the paintings Oz has inspired from me. This original acrylic ACEO is my door prize that you can enter to win. Just leave a comment at the end of this post, on March 19 or 20th, and you will be entered to win. I will announce the winner on March 21st....and here it is....

"Ruby Slippers"

So, what is it about this movie? Its everything really...it has imagination, and heart and love of home and the ones who matter...a great adventure with good friends...a fabulous dream...a good feeling inside.

It begins like any ordinary day in the life of any ordinary girl with hopes, dreams, challenges, and her struggle for identity. Then, disaster strikes and takes us on a wild ride, mixing reality and fantasy.

Early on, Dorothy's sweetest companion Toto is taken from her, but didn't we all cheer when Toto made his escape ? =)

A life-threatening tornado whips the farmhouse up and away! When the dust settles, Dorothy opens the door to a brand new world that none of us could have expected..Wow!

Munchkins venture out from their hiding places....

A beautiful, fairy-like lady appears from the sky! Glinda the Good Witch is my favorite part of this movie =) To me, she represents the guardian angel that is there for each of us...pure goodness...always standing by, always loving us and helping us.

Of course, the struggle of good and evil is also present in this strange land. We are reminded of that when the Ruby Slippers are revealed!

Dorothy wants nothing to do with the Wicked Witch, but she does want to find her way home. Glinda places the Ruby Slippers on Dorothy's feet, giving her protection from the Wicked Witch. She tells Dorothy to go to the Wizard of Oz in Emerald City for help, and the munchkins send her down the Yellow Brick Road. Along the way, she meets a Scarecrow, TinMan and Cowardly Lion....

When the Scarecrow dances he flops and wobbles. The TinMan needs oiling...and the Cowardly Lion pretends to be fierce!

The Wicked Witch tries everything she can to stop them...including a Sleepy Poppy Field. But Glinda makes it snow, and awakens Dorothy, Toto and the Lion. Finally, they all reach the Door to Emerald City =)

But the Wizard wants the Wicked Witch's broomstick and the new friends have to deal with flying monkey guards. In all of this struggle, the Scarecrow lights afire and the Wicked Witch melts in the water that saves the Scarecrow!.....

They bring the Witch's broomstick to the Wizard, but the Wizard is not all he appears to be. He is a man with a balloon, but the balloon takes off to Kansas without Dorothy.

Luckily, Glinda knows best =) She tells Dorothy to close her eyes and wish with all of her might. Three clicks of her heels and "There's no place like home"....and Dorothy opens her eyes to the world she knows. Her family and friends are so happy to have her back, and she is SO HAPPY to see them!!!

And weren't we all so happy for her!? Yay =)
Well, all of this has made me want to watch the movie again, LOL!
But before I do that, let me share with you the painting of Glinda that I'm currently working on. This is my favorite image from the movie, and I think its coming along nicely =)

Its been wonderful sharing the love of this wonderful story with all of you. Just remember......

There's no place like home =)
luvkat