Hot Red Boots Girl

Here's a fun collage painting I just created. I used acrylic paints for the skirt. I used the method of blowing through a straw to get the thinned acrylic paints to spread out in "inkblot" fashion. The boots are created with watercolor paper I painted. I created the foliage by using the "netting" that my oranges came in. And lastly, I used a paper punch to create the border. There is some pen & ink work on the boots as well as the fence.

Hope you enjoy!

All for now,
Tricia

Tiptoe through the tulips

This one turned out fun. After I painted it, I created some more details with pen & ink. The bottom flower is a little wonky looking, but the top tulips looks pretty good! I'll take what I can get! Mostly, I just hope I am improving! I know I won't paint "masterpieces" for quite some time, I'm sure. But as long as I continue to learn and grow, I'm happy!

All for now,
Tricia

Tufted Titmouse

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Okay, so here's two pictures of a little bird I painted. The first is, of course, a scan of the not-yet-completed painting and the second is the finished piece. I worked in some pen & ink detail on the branch he's sitting on.

I'm working on a couple of other paintings right now and will try to share soon!

We're having a nice vacation. Hannah's really enjoyed being home and reading and just spending time with all of us together. I decided to just chill this year and so I didn't send out any (gasp!) Christmas cards this year. But I've always been one to correspond throughout the year and so I'm not too worried about it. Besides, I try to send out Valentine's cards or something, to let people know we're thinking of them. I figure everyone appreciates a little note right about then, once the hustle and bustle of Christmas has passed.

All for now,
Tricia

Watercolor portrait of Hannah, age 8

Okay, so the photograph is obviously the inspiration for my portrait. The next picture is a sketch I made of it, and the last one is where I am so far in the painting. I don't know if I'll finish tonight, but I'll probably work a little more on it.

Not too bad for my very first portrait. I'm trying to not be hard on myself, looking at the flaws, but to just enjoy the progress I've made in the last few months.

Can't recall if I mentioned we went to a wonderful Christmas program last weekend, at a local church. They had a choir, orchestra and vocalists perform. It was a dreary night to be out, but oh, the music was simply lovely!

All for now,
Tricia

Bluebird of happiness

I thought I'd share this little bluebird I painted. I found the image in a Birds & Bloom magazine and did NOT trace, people. So proud! :) ha! Now, he has his faults, he's not perfect, but I like him anyway. I know my dad will like him, Mr. Birdlover! I worked some pen & ink into his feathers as well, and even some special pigment powder into the blue to make it pop.

John and I had a funny conversation about him. I told him I thought the bird's beak looked like the carrot on a snowman. John said, "Well, now that's all I'm gonna think when I look at him!" ha!

I haven't been posting much lately, mostly because I'm in the "taking classes" and learning mode, which has been great. And I'll try to post more about our family soon. We had a good Thanksgiving. I was sick, unfortunately, but still felt like we had a nice time since John wasn't having to work so much and Hannah was out of school. Good family time!

All for now,
Tricia

Getting there

Here are a couple of drawings I did recently. I "drew" inspiration from a Victorian magazine. The bird cage is a little wonky, but I figure I can improve with time. I'm still practicing my drawing skills, and I love that book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.