Scrooge Nutcracker!

It looks like I have a Christmas Carol theme going!  Another wonderful and unique nutcracker - this one is Ebenezer Scrooge himself, complete with his walking stick, pocket watch and bag of money!  Who knew there were SO many fabulous nutcrackers out there in the world?  My eyes are opened, and the paint is flying!  Painting number 1436 in 1436 days :)

acrylic on panel, 5x7
purchase here

Santa and the Stick Pony

acrylic on canvas, 5x7
purchase here

I still remember the stick pony I had as a child! I remember the shiny coating over his black and white spots, and the glossy black reins - all atop a wooden stick akin to a broomstick!  I would run around with the wind in my hair, as if I were really riding that pony!  Tonight, I am painting this nostalgic scene with all those wonderful memories in mind.  Santa has brought ashiny new pony to set by the Christmas tree!  This painting makes 1425 in 1425 days :)

Leprechaun Nutcracker

Leprechaun Nutcracker
Acrylic on masonite, 5x7
purchase here

This wonderful little leprechaun nutcracker is loaded with goodies!  From the long pipe, lucky clover, and bag of gold to the sweet little red bird on the tree stump, this guy has character!  His face is full of expression, too!  These little figures are so fun to paint with their bold colors and charm - I’m so lucky to have been able to paint so many this Christmas season!  Painting number 1093 in 1093 days.

Santa Nutcracker!

Santa Nutcracker
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Look who’s out with his big bag of gifts for good little boys and girls!  Santa Nutcracker!  This adorable little nutcracker was shared with me by Candy Kultgen - and it is a “must paint” for Christmas Eve!  With a little extra time between wrapping presents and having family out for a friendly game of pitch, I snuck in a painting!  These nutcrackers have been so fun to paint - I hate to see the end of the season!  Now - back to family time!  Painting number 1087 in 1087 days.  :)

Santa and His Pack

Santa and His Pack
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Another late night to the easel - but oh, what a productive day!  Feeling more vintage today than yesterday, I am painting Santa in nostalgia.  The days are dwindling before my company arrives, and I am pouring far too much into every minute! Dad is still healthy, and each holiday is a gift to rejoice in.  With so many things to take care of, I am checking my list, and checking it twice, too!  I am back to acrylics today, but who knows where I'll be tomorrow.  I just hope I get to the easel earlier!  This time of year is SO CRAZY BUSY!  It is late, and my image is not very good on this post - but I will try to get a better one tomorrow.  Painting number 1070 in 1070 days :)

Santa and His Bag - miniature

Santa and his Bag
Acrylic on canvas, 5x5

Today was a day filled with family, a big pot of chili, and visiting.  It is wonderful to have my dad here - and healthy!!  What a gift this is!!  Now, most of the company is gone - and I return to the easel, painting a vintage Santa surveying his pack!  I started this painting by washing the canvas with a warm yellow acrylic.  Once dry, I then sketched out the scene with a pastel stick.  Using layers of color, I started thin in the sky and dropped in the blue from the top.  You can see the irregular spreading as the paint moved at will.  I'm enjoying the different color palette, and the whimsical nature of these "santas". I still have so much to do - and the time is simply vaporizing!  I'd better get back to work!  Painting number 722 in 722 days :)

Old World Santa - miniature

Old World Santa
Acrylic on canvas, 5x5

I started this vintage Santa painting with a watercolor wash - only with thinned down acrylic instead f watercolor.  You can see the movement of the paint over the canvas in the sky and hills.  Building up layers on the focal areas, I then mixed up the titanium white acrylic with the molding paste for the drifts of snow, beard, and fur trim of Santa's outfit.  When mixing these two mediums together, the texture is grainy, and the application with the knife feels different than the paste alone. What I like is that the paste already has the color I want, and I don't have to paint over it, often times missing the low areas with my brush.  Perhaps I'll change up the mix a bit next time....just to see what happens!  This painting makes 721 in 721 days in this busy Christmas season!

Walking Santa - miniature

Walking Santa - miniature
Acrylic on canvas, 5x5 gallery wrapped

Some new paints arrived in the mail today - and I simply could not wait to use them!  So, I sketched out a few Santas, and thought I would just start with acrylics and top off with the new oils.  As I worked, I like the feel and mood I was achieving with a very limited palette.  I actually grabbed the first yellow, red, blue and green that I put my hands on - and started painting!  The result is something out of my ordinary!  Instead of topping with oil, I mixed a little molding paste with white acrylic paint - and applied with my palette knife.  I painted four of these - all for my new oils - and I will not be using the oils on top of any of them!  Guess I'll have to start on a winter landscape to try out those paints!  Painting number 720 in 720 days :)

Tea for Santa

Tea for Santa
Oil on panel, 5x5
for "Tea Party for Tracy"

There is a fun website called Paint Party Friday, that I found last year where artists post their favorite work of the week.  Then, the artists hop from url to url seeing what everyone has been up to.  Super fun!  One of those artists has a wonderful sense of humor, is very talented, and known for the tea cups she paints.  She has kept up her painting and that humor through her breast cancer diagnosis and chemo.  Today, Paint Party Friday is hosting a tea party for Tracey Fletcher King, asking the artists to contribute a painting in the "tea cup" theme.  So, mine is Santa, taking a break from gift giving with a hot mug of tea.  Wishing Tracey all the best for Christmas and the New Year!!  Painting number 348 in as many days.