Summer Breezin'

You could win this original watercolor ACEO!

The raffle is still on! For every print on my Imagekind gallery you purchase your name goes into a bowl. If you purchase a print between now and tomorrow, Midnight (central us time), you could win this original 2.5 x 3.5 painting titled "Summer Breeze".

Go to my Imagekind gallery now to see what's available. All sizes are included! If you buy three, your name goes into the bowl three times, and so forth. Don't miss out!

Go now!

Win an Original ACEO!

You could win this original watercolor aceo at the end of the month (she'll be painted by then of course)! It's raffle time!

Here are the "official" rules:
- Purchase any print of any size at my ImageKind Gallery

- For every print bought your name goes into the bowl and betters your chances

- At the end of the month a name is drawn

- The winner will be announced on this blog, facebook, and twitter.

- Winner will be notified by email, so be sure to include your email along with the purchase!

Drawing dates are as follows:
June 30th
July 30th
August 20th

You can watch the progression of this paintings development here on the blog as she turns from lines to life, and any other updates that come along. Be sure to follow the blog to make sure you don't miss anything. There are three months in summer, and three more seasons (including this one) to go in my series. Spring has been finished and passed. This one is "Summer Breeze". The next aceo will be listed one day after the drawing. I'll give you three guesses as to what it'll be. ;)

THANK YOU!

Today, with your help, $100 was donated to the Habitat for Humanity! THANK YOU! We helped families by giving to a foundation that builds homes. And now, we will help the other families out there that we share this planet with.

As I had said when I started the fundraiser for Habitat, I am motivated and driven to give to wherever the money is needed through my work and through your generosity. After the goal is reached for each, a new one will be presented. You have proved through your support that this is a very obtainable goal.

The next foundation is the World Wildlife Fund. One of my biggest passions is for animals. My mom was an activist for animal rights as I grew up, donating her time to the Animal Rescue League, and always having rescue animals in our home, many rescue animals. We raised money for our fellow neighbors, now let's raise money for the animals God asked us to take care of. How does the WWF rescue animals? By rescuing the land they live on.

Like Habitat, every sale of an original painting, no matter it's size, 10% of the total will go towards WWF. This time around I am also including commissioned work. Any original painting, requested or bought from Etsy will be a donation on your part.

I grew up with the WWF panda sticker on our front door, and I used to wear a sweater that had their logo. Now it's time to bring that full circle. Read more about the WWF and what they do at their site.

http://www.worldwildlife.org

My Process

"You Will Always Be" - A work in progress:


First I sketch on tracing paper the image. For this piece I chose two butterflies to reference from for the main and secondary butterflies. Once I'm finished, I scan and flip the image. This allows the viewer/client to see the rotation of the piece when it's finished. I always reverse my draws so they're ready for transfer.


Second I ink. I started using Microns sepia ink pens, but the 01 size just wasn't small enough...and finding out that they don't make it any smaller, I have actually gone old school and have now started to ink my pieces with a pen nib in sepia ink. Eh, not as fluid of lines, but man can I now get those tiny eyes inked in! I love the amount of control I have with the nibs instead of the microns.


Thirdly, I go into paint. Here are some of the first layers. I always try to get the background kind of figured out before anything else. Then I can't help it, gotta go to the main character(s). Especially this wee angel child. Too full of spirit not to add some tonal color!


Next sitting with painting. Bringing in more definition and explanation of what's really going on in the background and trying to fill up other white spaces (sun and moon). The butterflies are next!

Check back for more updates! I'm seriously posting them every day as I go! :D
-----

So it has been advised that I show the process of my painting with this piece. I have taken those words into account and decided to go ahead and post it. This piece has been on my mind for a long time with much anticipation to get to paint. I have finally been able to do that this week. I know I won't get finished, but I'm very pleased to see where it is going.

A few little birdies have also suggested that I start advertising this style of my work for children's books because of it's uniqueness. I might take them up on it. ;) I truly enjoy creating entire worlds in one piece by the feel, and playing with textures. Just like the piece "The Talisman".

Purity

"Purity" | Watercolor 2009

And...she's finished. :) I also decided to figure out how to do an embossed watermark on my work. So that's new too!

In other news, I finally got my Shoppe all finished and uploaded! I'm way stoked about it, lovin' how it looks, and looking forward to adding more items. I have like a bazillion cross stitch patterns that need to be placed up. Now if I could just get to painting more....;)



I have a new project, and here's the sketch for it, enjoy! I know I will.

Purity - WIP - paint

Here's an update on the piece "Purity". I think there are a few more hours to go, then she'll be done. Gotta build up that contrast. But so far I'm pretty satisfied with it.