Father Christmas on the Path

 

With pen and ink I capture Santa on his rounds.  Diamine's Nostalgia is a lovely warm shade from Day 10 of their Inkvent Calendar.  I've penned one of our chickens in, as she follows Santa down the path.  The presents are all set under the tree, stockings are hung, as I listen to the sweet notes of Michael strumming on his guitar.  It's so nice having him home for Christmas Eve. I've missed this boy's guitar playing before bed each night. Painting number 4740 in 4740 days. 

Santa and Beans Mini

 

Blush is such a lovely ink to render Santa cuddling our hen, Beans! Santa likes his chicken cuddling time as much as we do!  This ink took a lot of coats to get this dark, and is rather light on the first layer.  Beans is a Black Star chicken, with a sparky, sweet personality.  Smart and quick to the treats, she's always aware of where the goodies are.  She has lovely red orange feathering from head and neck that turns a shiny black with blues and greens in the light.  I'll need to paint her in oils one day, too do her coloring justice.  Painting number 4735 in 4735 days. 

Santa in the Woods with Chickens

 

What a cool ink to use for this miniature Santa and chicken scene, and I'm using a matching glass dip pen for the rendering!  Door #11 of the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is a keeper!  The ink does not get darker with heavy application, but the color and chroma are lovely and frosty.  I look forward to using this for winter landscapes. Painting number 4732 in 4732 days.  

Santa Chicken Mini Green

 

What a lovely green ink I opened behind door nine 9 - Bittersweet! Crisp and clean, I've captured Santa deep in conversion with one of my girls!  I've never painted Santa in green ink before, but I think I like it! There does not seem to be much chroma variance in this ink, but the color is so fresh. I don't understand the name, though.  In my neck of the woods, bittersweet is a burnt orange color.  The foliage is not even close to this color, either, lol.  Painting number 4730 in 4730 days. 

Talking to Santa

Santa is spending lots of time with my hens - and they are having quite a conversation while I sketch!  Dream Catcher is day 8's super cool ink surprise- and a chromatic turquoise blue that gets red in heavy areas.  This ink could have so many cool applications - I sure hope they offer this one in a large size soon!  Painting number 4728 in 4728 days. 

Santa at the Christmas Tree

 

It's a Merry Christmas Eve to capture Santa at the tree - as I finish all those last details with a mug of hot tea!  I'm sending out love and light to all tonight, as preparations wrap up.  On such a night, memories flood back from past Christmas eves, when we waited for all the kids to be asleep before setting out all the presents. Santa would come in the night to fill stockings and to leave something special for each girl and boy.  I loved the days when the house was full and big hugs were just around the corner.  When the family all gathers here tomorrow, we will be a large bunch indeed, and it will be another Christmas of cherished memories together.  Painting number 5048 in 5048 days. 

Santa Painting the Nutcracker

I love the vintage feel of black and white whether in ink, graphite or paint. I've been using many mediums lately, bouncing from one to another daily!  I've picked up acrylics for this one as I also work on a commission at the same time.  Santa is hard at work these last days before Christmas, and i love capturing it all in paint!  Merry Christmas Eve Eve!  Painting number 5047 in 5047 days. 

Tinsel Santa

 It's so fun to sneak in a quick Santa painting with pen and ink!  This is Surprise Murder Mystery Birthday Party day for our oldest daughter, and we've all been busy with preparations.  The glass dip pen and a little water are perfect to move this ink as I work.  There's always enough time for a miniature painting - even on a day like this!  Painting number 5038 in 5038 days. 

Tinsel Santa

Oh what fun it is to paint Santa with glass pen and ink, and a little water for gradation! This Tinsel red ink is another from my Inkvent calendar - a rich, bold red shimmer ink that sparkles in the light!  It sure stirs up the magic of Christmas with each drop!  I have a collection of glass dip pens, and don't remember where this one came from - but it's tip is lovely and it holds plenty of ink for script. Can't wait to try all of Diamine's Inkvent Calendar inks, as I'm just a wee bit behind this year!  Painting number  4000 in 4000 days!  Could this be true?  I'll need to check my numbers because I've been at it for nearly 11 years daily, now! 

Window Santa at Crown Center

I LOVE spending time shopping AND painting at Crown Center during the holidays!  The window scene at Occasions is a little slice of Christmas heaven - so, of course, I HAD to paint it!  With ink I sketched the scene, and then took my watercolors to it.  As I worked, the lovely voices of a children's choir wafted up from the main entrance.  Christmas magic is in the air here at Crown Center!  Painting number 4124 in 4124 days. 

Santa Inked

Looks like Santa is bringing me a fountain pen - lol!  As much as I love trying new inks, I also love getting back to my favorite Raven Black ink in a favorite, reliable TWSBI Eco fountain pen.  After using glass dip pens most of the month, I really love having ink flow smoothly from the nib - with no dipping!  It is very relaxing to settle in with pen and paper, and create.  Its like an art meditation in the midst of Christmas craziness.  So much fun!  Painting number 3261 in 3261 days. 

Santa Portrait Inked

Diamine's Black Ivy ink is behind today's door on my Inkvent Calendar - and bleeds a lovely green and blue when wet.  The line work is pretty dark, and I expected it to be blacker, which would be lovely for a vintage Santa face.  This color would be very nice for a grove of cedars, though, and perhaps I should let down a heavy patch to see what it can do.  My husband has been off this week - and I am not getting nearly as much done in any day.  I sure hope I can finish a few more things before Christmas - time is growing short!  Painting number 3260 in 3260 days. 

Santa Nutcracker in Metal

After an almost 3 year absence, I return to metal work tonight with this Santa Nutcracker!  I had only started finding my own way with the medium when my dad became sick, and real life intervened.  It has lately been on my mind, the feel of the metal and the burnishing tools, even images I would love to try in the medium, and so I have answered the call.  Art is like this for me, reaching out, calling, whispering, images unfolding in my mind as if I'm actually working them, and I feel restless until I get to them.  It is as if they are living things, waiting to be nurtured into life.  I borrowed a nutcracker from my son's dresser and went to work, first scratching in the composition, then pushing and pulling the metal from both sides until the image emerges.  It is so very satisfying to work the metal again - I wish I didn't need to sleep so I could work on through the night!  Artwork number 3237 in 3237 days. 

Santa Goat!

sold

How could I possibly resist a sweet little goat in a Santa hat?  With so much personality, this little darling was a joy  to  paint!  With each goat I paint, I gain a better understanding of the shapes  and planes that form them.  I use sketchy little lines with an India ink pen for my initial marks, and then follow with my watercolor half pans.  I am getting so much milage out of these Watercolor Confection sets by Prima, it is really quite remarkable!  I wonder if their latest color set is out?  Christmas is coming, after all!  Painting number 2533 in 2533 days. 

Santa Wreath

SOLD

Oh my, what a day!  Exhausting would only touch the surface of this day!  After the end of the second loading day on the moving vans, we have scrubbed this very large house top to bottom.  Now, a take a minute for a cheerful Santa wreath painting time - and a little sanity break, too!  Really looking forward to calmer days ahead.....in the holiday season....... what am I thinking?  Lol! Painting number 2519 in 2519 days!

Santa Seated

These last few days before Christmas have me looking to Santa for inspiration.  I've not taken ink and watercolor to him before, so now it's the time!  I take my brown black ink out for a vintage feel, and start my line work.  Once I have the composition, I use a wet brush to establish a few values.  Next comes the watercolor, followed by a little more ink.  I haven't used pencil before ink in many years, but I did when I first started with ink.  Ink seemed so permanent - I was scared to jump in with no guide lines marked.  Once I just "sketched" with my ink, the pressure was off.  Sketchy lines aren't perfect lines, they have far more character.  I guess you could say I've gotten a little sketchy with the years!  Painting number 2157 in 2157 days.

purchase here

Studio Santa

This day took me to the Crossroads Art District, Crown Center, and many other stops before landing home.  A crazy day of jump starts and flat tire fun, I am seeking sanity with my pen and ink tonight!  Pampering myself, I choose my favorite TWSBI and the fancy Caroube de Chypre anniversary ink from J. Herbin.  Look how red it turns when heavily applied with water added!  It has such a shimmer in with all that gold!  Just a little treat to turn all my tomorrows to golden days of sunshine and roses!  Seriously, enough with that other stuff!!  Painting number 1795 in 1795 days.

Santa in Red

LOVE this special J. Herbin anniversary ink!  It starts a rich chocolate brown that washes to deep red.  The gold in the ink flows liberally with stroke and brush.  The result is a drawing that shimmers with gold in the light!  Spectacular!  This color is Caroube de Chypre, and I may just have to try the others, too, while supplies last!  Oh, and I used one of my favorite pens - TWSBI Eco.  It is SO smooth - the ink flows effortlessly from the nib!   At the top of my list with my other TWSBI!  Painting number 1791 in 1791 days.

Santa with Nutcracker

I painted this Santa while he greeted little darlings at the GotArt Gallery in Lee's Summit a couple weekends ago.   This Santa was so wonderfully dressed right down to his elaborate boots - and I have yet to capture all of him!  I plan to do a few in color, if I can find the time!  I am squeezing in this posting between batches of cookies!!  Painting number 1439 in 1439 days :)

acrylic on panel, 5x7
purchase here

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