Columbia City Celebration

Come see us at the Columbia City Celebration on September 15th: Booth #1.
Cards, prints, coloring books, cups galore including the new rabbit designs and dog themed goodies. If you want something held for you, let me know.

New cards:
5" x 7"
Blank inside

Inside:

An impromptu "Hoppy Birthday" card

I went to the store to buy a card for an upcoming birthday. As I went through them I kept thinking either the designs were awful or the saying they printed inside was not the sentiment I would want to send or both. The little voice inside my head whispered "make your own". I'd like to make it a pop up card but I need to send it out so it arrives in time. Basically I don't have time to properly engineer it to be a pop up so I'm going to settle for a stand up card. It's not what I painted this image for but why not? 

Isn't this fun?

I'm experimenting with how much to feature in the cut out portion.  I've decided the best version is one that has most of the head included (not pictured).  This is just one of the versions.  I'm loving the reactions this series evokes when folks see it for the first time.  

A gaggle of giggles.

Third and last bunny finished on this particular panel. There is still more to come for this project but I have to work on something else first. You know, when the real world comes knocking kind of thing. 😊 As the famous saying goes, "I'll be back."  Rather, we'll be back.  

An interesting challenge

I know exactly how I would execute this drawing in colored pencil but today's exercise is for the purpose of learning the technique for capturing fur in watercolor. I think the reason I'm really enjoying doing these is because I love working with my rabbits so painting them is a joy.  

The Color of Summer

"The Color of Summer"

Watercolor

11" x 20"

There are two more inches on each side. I know how big my scanner is and I knew it wouldn't fit but I am recycling a mat and frame hence a size that doesn't fit on my scanner. But that's ok - you get the idea. Totally worth doing because it's a black mat and frame so you can imagine how well the darks pop.

Lavender Valley

I signed up to participate in the Lavender Festival PaintOut months ago... long before this flare up of sciatica so I'm doing my best to work around my physical issues.  Fortunately we have weeks to work, not just days.  

As I began working on this I kept looking at the mountain. Wow.  I had to keep reminding myself the focus was supposed to be the lavender but who could resist this view?  Once I got the basics sketched on my paper I sat there wondering how in the world does one paint the delicate lavender in a convincing manner.  It didn't help the sun was moving the shadows as I worked. I decided the point was to make a reasonable facsimile of what I saw. I had no idea purple and green play so well together.  

#lavender, #LavenderValley, #HoodRiver, #MtHood, #LavenderFestival

Lake Oswego Plein Air Show

The Lake Oswego Paint Out folks graciously allowed me to show in the show. You'll notice almost half is missing from the original drawing I posted. That's a compromise I had to make to have something ready in time to hang in the show thanks to the nagging sciatica I was experiencing. Understandably I can't be part of the competition because I had to work outside the allotted time frame for the event. This was the best I could do under the circumstances. Even still I am grateful to have gotten this far on the piece and still be in the show.

The show will be up through August 3rd. Stop by to check it out: 510 1st Street, Lake Oswego.

PS - Apparently realism is not in vogue these days. I am the only one who worked in this style.