Chiefs Mouse

 

This little guy is cheering the Chiefs on towards that Threepeat!  GO CHIEFS!  I do love playing in the ink, and these little mice images just seem to march along in my mind!  So, when this one popped in today, I picked up a favorite fountain pen to get sketchy!  This handmade, dyed cotton paper is thin, soft and absorbent, which means I need to use a light touch on the nib, holding back in the water. To easily this paper can tear and pill, so careful is the key with this one. I love the vintage feel of black ink on this paper, even if my subject is quite contemporary!  Hoping for a win tonight as we cheer on our hometown boys! Painting number 5179 in 5179 days. 

Jack-o-lantern Mouse

 

It's fun to sketch this little trick-or-treater with a favorite TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pen and ink!  In this small pen I keep De Atrementis archive ink, which does not move with water.  I use it for the initial sketch lines before I start to fill in with more ink and watercolor.  This pen has an extra fine nib, one of the few that do, and it in perfect for early sketch lines.  I do need to be careful not to tear this thin handmade paper with that extra fine nib. Every sketch is an exploration of both ink and paper!  Painting number 5174 in 5174 days. 

Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Who can resist the Nutcracker and the Mouse King?  I certainly can't!   They are among my very favorites of all nutcrackers - and I am painting them tonight.  The grandsons just left and it is now quiet around here - well, as quiet as it can be with the football game on, and a perfect time for painting.  I was able to prime 8 more masonite panels (which are my favorite) and this one was dry enough to paint on.   I am using one of my new Princeton polytip flat brushes on this - and I really like the way I can use it aggressively, and it holds up.  It may just be a new standard for my acrylic brush set.  Painting number 1417 in 1417 days :)

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Clara's Nutcracker Hero & the Mouse King

Clara's Nutcracker Hero & the Mouse King
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
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Thanks to Candy Kultgen, I have even more wonderful nutcrackers to paint from!  Settling on this wonderful pair from the Nutcracker Suite, I am laying paint just as the last of our guests have left.  We celebrated our first Christmas with Tiffany's family early, as they are leaving for Scotland on Wednesday.  The boys were super excited - and had a blast opening up all of their presents, spending the rest of the day trying them all out!  I bet they will sleep tonight, and probably be pretty tired in school tomorrow with their last two days!  It is so much fun to see all of the wonderful variations in these nutcrackers!  Painting them like I have the last couple of weeks has really opened my eyes to them - and all of their character and charm!  Painting number 1083 in 1083 days!

Mouse King and the Boys

Mouse King and the Boys
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
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This Mouse King is special - he has wonderful, silky gray fur around his face and ears!  His fancy gilded cape and bejeweled crown are spectacular!  On either side, are the boys - one a baseball player and the other a football player.  A couple of all American nutcrackers here, complete with baseball, bat, football and face mask!  As Christmas nears, the house is slowly getting back to order.  Living room is painted,  the historic woodwork is up on three of the four windows, and furniture is returning to their places. Anyone who knows me, knows how hard it is for me to have things out of order.  It is hard to focus on anything, as every little thing out of place "screams" at me as I see it.  So, I am looking towards the light at the end of the tunnel.....and I see peace on the horizon!  Painting number 1081 in 1081 days :)

Nutcrackers Royal

Nutcrackers Royal
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
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With a small painting class today, I was able to paint during class for the first time!  Getting a jump on my daily painting was SO refreshing, as it seems that I never get to my easel before 10:30pm these busy days.  Working again from the fabulous photos my school friend sent me, today I have chosen a royal theme (and no, not as in our Kansas City Royals baseball team, but in actual royalty).  These kings both had velvet capes and golden crowns - and wonderful accent pieces!   And, the best part is that I am finished painting and posting before 8:00pm!  So, now it is time to get back to work!  Painting number 1077 in 1077 days.