While I’m Waiting to Get Back to My Drawing Board

Hello and Merry Christmas..Happy Holidays…Happy New Year!!!

I had promised a post back that I would be working on my Mary and Laura Ingalls painting, when a creative block hit me along with “Christmas Overload” and I haven’t been at my desk for awhile. The painting is a little farther ahead than you see in the previous post, but it’s still sitting on my desk and I feel so bad it’s not finished. I will be back at it though in a day or so, as my Etsy Shop opens back up as well. Hopefully this means more fresh ideas and better paintings…it usually does! So…I’m hopeful.

Anyway, while I wait for that to happen, I will show you what I have worked on lately. I had taken a couple of my paintings and turned them into Christmas cards this year, and I did it all on Ribbet..which I love! It is a free online photo editing site which is simpler to use and learn than photoshop. I could never seem to find the time needed to learn all about photoshop, I just couldn’t get it down. Then I came across Ribbet and loved how easy it was to use and it had just enough editing techniques I would need for my work. I use the premium version now, which offers more, and I think its worth it for me.

Sooooo, while I was having my creative block, I figured I would just try playing around with paintings already created and change them up a bit with Ribbet and get back into creative mode while I was doing it…and it worked!

For example: I created this angel painting awhile back and wanted to add to this image to make it comforting to someone who lost someone dear to them. A special card they might be able to carry with them and feel better when they just read it or looked at it. Finding a nice, comforting text about angels, I personalized it by adding the loved one’s name and the date when they passed, then making the card small enough to keep it in a wallet or purse. A little prayer card of sorts. I had given a card like this to a friend who just recently lost someone close to her, and I believe it helped her. She messaged me and was very comforted by the image and the saying, so I was happy.

Then again, I also made a Christmas card out of the same Angel image, creating it for my religious friends and relatives, and this also worked out well.

There is a bird painting I have created which I also changed up by adding some extra snow effects to with text, which also became a Christmas card this year. Of course, it always helps adding a touch of glitter to the cards, too!

So, if you are an artist and are having a dry spell, just try playing around with images you have already created, change them up a bit and share to someone special. It gets the creative juices flowing again and makes people happy all at the same time. It’s a win win!

Hope you enjoyed this post and I will try and have that Laura and Mary Ingalls painting done soon! Stay Safe!

First New Angel Painting For The New Year

I did it! I actually finished one of my paintings in the first week of the new Year! It was so tough just to find time to close myself off in my studio and to do nothing by paint…but boy, did it feel good! Christmas is all put away now, and it’s back to concentrating on other things, painting being one.

I haven’t got a title for this one yet, but it was painted from a vintage black and white photo of a little girl. I colorized it in the colors I chose and made her a sweet angel. I like the way she came out, with a gentle, peaceful look on her face. I will have a title for this soon, and then place it on my Etsy shop.

I wish everyone the best of health and much happiness for the New Year! Enjoy and check back soon! Thank you. :))

beautiful angel

Sorry So Long, New Pastel Paintings Coming Your Way!

Hello, and I know it’s been awhile….a long while. I recently had new vinyl floors put in the whole house. We had to pack everything away and live in the kitchen for a week or so. When it was done, we put everything back in every room, and then I just could not get the creative flow back. I had to clean up after all the dust, and touch up all the paint that was ruined by removing a wall to wall carpet. But anyway, it is done and I have pictures to show you of the floors. I am so happy with them. I actually like my house now!

Anyway, I just had to put up the next few pictures I am working on. I just forced myself to sketch at least a few to get the creative part of me excited and in the flow again.

Here are the ones on the drawing board now. I love the way the angel I am painting is coming out. It is from a vintage black and white, and I am bringing her to life with color and adding other details as well. Then I have had great interest on the painting of John-Boy Walton on my Etsy shop, I decided I would try Mary- Ellen and Elizabeth. I can’t wait to finish those. There is also the Amish Barn Landscape I am going to try with “lots of color”! I have also sketched out an amish boy, but haven’t decided what to do with him yet! It’s all quite and adventure! Now let’s see if I can squeeze out these paintings between Thanksgiving and Christmas! I will keep you posted on updates, I promise. Until then….:))

My new vinyl flooring…I love!
MARY ELLEN WALTON
ELIZABETH WALTON
THE VINTAGE ANGEL
THE AMISH FARM LANDSCAPE
THE AMISH BOY

Another Angel With Dove Completed, Plus a Quick Acrylic Painting

As usual, it’s been awhile since I posted last, but I finally completed this beautiful angel painting. I really like the way she came out, and I loved painting this, as painting angels always bring me peace. The way the sun is beaming and the dove descending, so peaceful. I sometimes wonder if the peacefulness I feel as I paint something like this, if it makes the viewer feel the same way. I hope so. That’s the gift. Enjoy!

Also included here is a quick painting I attempted of a sunset over the ocean, sparkling water, reflections and all. I really enjoyed this and hope you like the way it came out. I think I’m addicted! There will be more!

Mark Twain Portrait and Another Angel Painting Started

It all started when I was watching Ken Burns documentary of Mark Twain. After seeing everything this man went through in his lifetime and with the character that he was, I just had to paint him!

This was painted from an old black and white photo, and I painted it in color as I thought the colors may have been, from his eyes to his suit. I really had to do an extensive search on his eye color!

If anything this would be a perfect print for someone with a library in their home or is a lover of books, and old authors.

I have also added the beginnings of another angel painting in the works. I hope you like what you see of her so far. Can’t wait to finish her!

Well, back to the drawing board, and if you haven’t seen it yet, try and watch the Ken Burn’s documentary on Mark Twain! You won’t regret it!

Mark Twain Pastel Portrait
Beginnings Of An Angel Painting

Beautiful Angel “Hope” Finally Completed!

I have finally completed an angel painting!

Done in soft pastels, this painting is a symbol of hope, love and goodness. I have loved painting angels as long as I can remember, but have not painted one in a very long time. I felt it was needed now…especially now. I got so totally engrossed in painting this one, that now I want to paint even more!

As a gift to someone, I believe she would be perfect in any place in the home or in a quiet corner that one would love to just escape to for solitude. I also think this would be perfect as a gift for those who have lost someone special to them.

Anyway, I hope you like her, and I hope to add many more to my collection of works. Take care!

Angel Painting In The Works

Here is the beginning of an angel painting in pastel that I am currently working on. I haven’t painted an angel in so long, I figured I would like to try painting some again. I really like the way this is turning out and I can’t wait to finish her, but I am being extra cautious and want to get everything just right! I’m using a lot of scrap paper!

Anyway, I can’t wait to share the finished piece. I will try to complete her after Easter. Please drop by again in a week or so as she should be completed by then! Crossing fingers!

Stay safe!

Angel In The Works