Workshop Santa Nutcracker

These Santa nutcrackers are among my very favorite - and they are SO much fun to paint!   This fabulous one in his workshop attire, complete with toys, apron, hammer and nail, has been shared with me from a private collection.  What fun!  I love the way his colors work together and pop on the panel!  For those lively red highlights, I use cad orange over the top of those masses, and I pull green light permanent over for that rich jewel green.  It's all about pushing and pulling those colors!  This painting makes 1438 in 1438 days as we close in on Christmas!

acrylic on panel, 5x7
purchase here

Santa and Dolly

This year, I am painting a series of vintage Santa scenes on small, gallery wrapped canvases.  Some are sepia, and some are in black and white.  In this one, Santa is looking at Dolly with an expression of wonder, and Dolly is looking right back!  The magic of Christmas is in the air and I'm channeling that feeling into each one of these nostalgic paintings.   Painting number 1432 in 1432 days  :)

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Blue Troll

Blue Troll
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5

I’ve been so busy lately, that I have strayed from my “nostalgic toy” theme!  I have found myself just painting or drawing whatever popped into my head!  Well, after delivering my artwork today for the upcoming show, I hope to be able to relax my schedule a little and start chipping away at those goals.  Wanting to paint something joyful - I landed on a blue haired troll for my subject!  These little darlings always make me happy, bringing to mind so many hours of childhood play.  I even had a few of these which were necklaces - and of course, they made wonderful little troll babies!   This painting makes number 1115 in 1115 days, and the 22nd day of the 30 Day Painting Challenge.  :)

Golden Hair Troll

Golden Hair Troll
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5

I am painting another of my beloved childhood trolls today - this one with golden hair!  Their cheerful faces, wild hair and super cute bodies were always so adorable!  I wonder if I was the only one who wondered why these little trolls only have four fingers on each hand?  Even as I paint, the same question comes back to me....why only four fingers?  That is just not right.  Can you tell I am a perfectionist?  Not just a borderline perfectionist, but a dyed in the wool, hard core perfectionist - and I think I must have been born that way!  Another thing I loved about these trolls?  I could never control their wild and crazy hair any more than I could my own - so here, we are kindred spirits! Another Monday, so very late at my easel, and this painting makes 1105 in 1105 days, Day 12 of the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.  And now to bed!!!

Raggedy Ann

Raggedy Ann
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Tonight finds me painting another of my favorite childhood toys - Raggedy Ann!  I pulled this little darling down from a shelf, and set her up to paint (while watching the Chiefs game)!  I remember dressing her - and seeing her little red heart with the “I love you” in the center.  I had to lift her dress just to see it again!  My oldest daughter also played with her, so her dress has now been “bedazzled” with jewels around neckline and sleeves, but I omitted that little addition in the name of nostalgia!  This painting makes number 1103 in 1103 days, and Day 10 of the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.  :)

Santa & the Jester

Santa & the Jester
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

I love the sound of rain hitting the roof!  It is especially good when I have finished most of my chores for the day, and I can pick up my brushes and paint!  This season finds me drawn to capturing Santa in nostalgic scenes, and doing so in black and white!  On this one, I have used mars black and titanium white, with the tiniest bit of red oxide to warm the tone.  This lovely nutcracker was another supplied to me by Candy - and this is only the second time I have painted one in black and white!  This jester had so many colors of equal value that it made the painting of him more difficult.  I needed to push lighter and darker to give him form.  He does have such wonderful colors....I think I will have to do him in color, too - before the season is gone and I move onto snowy landscapes!! Painting number 1089 in 1089 days - now back to family time!