Poinsettias!

Poinsettias!

Oh the colors of Christmas are upon us!  When poinsettias start lining the shelves at one of my favorite nurseries, I start thinking about decorating again!  I still have 5 poinsettias from last year - so I didn't bring another one home, but I did add 4 new plants to my tropical collection!  With 15 minutes left before meeting the others, I started this miniature ink and watercolor on 3x3 cotton paper. Fast and loose, quick marks and dashes of paint brought this scene to life - with a minute to spare!  Even a tiny painting can capture the essence of the place!  Painting number 2869 in 2869 days. 

Poinsettias and Pines ATC

The Family Tree Nursery is a magical place to paint!  There are paintings at every turn - and the poinsettias were irresistible!  So many varieties and so little time to paint!  The format is very small at 2.5x3.5, and I am really enjoying working so tiny!  The days are full of family and fun, and so many Christmas activities!  This little ATC is heading to Mexico, where the days are warm and balmy!  Painting number 1800 in 1800 days!

Poinsettias for Sale

Oh this day went totally off the rails!  Out of bed early to get a jump start on the staircase (which we are completely redoing in oak), I find the freezer side of our refrigerate dripping.  NEVER a good sign.  Our day of progress on the stairs turned into running all over town in search of the prefect fridge.  AND THE CLEANING involved with switching units!!  It's enough to make a grown woman cry.  Toss in replacing the garbage disposal, too, and you have a sneak peak into my own little nightmare before Christmas!  Most things are back in place as I drop into bed, while visions of thawing meat dance in my head.  It makes me shudder even now.  Painting number 1793 in 1793 days.  This one has been a doozy.

Party Poinsettias

Party Poinsettias
Mixed media - watercolor, textured rice paper applique, 9x6
purchase here

I am experimenting again!  As an artist, I think it is invaluable to be involved in as many local art leagues as possible.  In today's meeting at Tri-County Art League, we had a program on applying textured rice paper to a floral watercolor painting.  I painted this in the morning before my work-out, so it would be dry before going to the meeting.  I then chose a few kinds of textured rice papers to tear little pieces off of.  I set them onto my painting, where I thought they would look best.  These little pieces are then applied with thinned down Elmer's school glue and an old paint brush.  This is a bit messy, as rice paper tends to get starchy when wet.  Only apply glue lightly to the back side of the rice paper, so the front side will still accept watercolor.  It will not, if the glue is too heavy.  When the glue dries, this paper can also be painted.  These special rice papers are super thin and delicate - available at cheapjoes.com.  Our local art stores no longer carry it.  This extra layer adds so much depth to the painting, and these can be layered as well.  I just can't wait to play with these papers!  So much can be learned from fellow artists - just one more reason to be involved in local leagues!  Painting number 689 in 689 days :)