painting: horse friends

Someone a long time ago told me I need to paint more horse friends, rather than single horses. I agreed that sounded like very good advice to follow. Sometimes I like an aspect about a single horse (usually the lighting, or something striking in the expression), but other times the feeling of friendship between two horses is what really carries the painting. This pair had me on the edge of my seat the whole way; it was so easy to mess up the colors making the shadow on the sorrel horse that I had to stop myself from second-guessing the process and just go on instinct. I think it worked.

Oil on stretched canvas, 18″x24″. Available in my Etsy shop. SOLD, thank you! I painted from a reference photo shared by Karen Broemmelsick.

painting: citrons and oranges

My intent was to make the colors really pop, bringing sunny highlight and cool shadow together in a burst of summer. There is an underpainting of metallic gold paint, which peeps through here and there. I purposely did not paint solidly, allowing the gold to work its magic.

11″x14″ oil on cradled wood board. Available in my Etsy shop. I painted from a reference photo shared by Gwen Arcana. 

mspt: crystal pincushion

Remember I mentioned I received a gift of the Missouri Star Quilt Company Advent calendar for Christmas? This pincushion is another project included in the daily presents.

I love the weight of the crystal, guaranteeing the pincushion won’t migrate around my table.

I looked at the company’s website to see if I could purchase additional supplies for this, but did not see it. I also looked for the bag handles included in a different project, and did not see them. I conclude these projects are special, and created just for the Advent calendar.

I wish I could buy additional supplies, because this would make a great gift. As it it, I’m keeping mine!

*mspt = make something pretty today

painting: sweet little chickadee

I just love painting little birds, it’s why I return to them again and again. Perfect art for summer, spring, winter, fall. There is no time their cheeriness does not bring it all together.

8″x10″ oil on cradled wood board. The pop of red from the berries makes this either a winter painting, or a summer painting. I’m inclined to think it captures the moodiness of winter, however. Available in my Etsy shop. SOLD thank you. I painted from a photo of the bird shared by Joanne Mallete.

mspt: nordic birdies

For Christmas, I received a Missouri Star Quilt Company Advent calendar. Every day for 25 days a small quilt-related present waited to be opened . Several projects were included, as well as supplies, tools, a book of crossword puzzles, playing cards with quilt designs on the reverse side, and more.

These sweet birdies were one of the projects.

Layered felt, with a little bit of embroidery. I found them addictive, and I can foresee designing my own patterns.

Each bird is double-sided. I think I am more partial to the white ones, but either one will hang up well with the January through February decorations.

I definitely will be digging through my felt bin and seeing what colors I already have. I am imagining Nordic ponies, rabbits, and maybe a frog. We will see!

*mspt = make something pretty today