A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

Last night was the reception for the opening of a new exhibition -

T H E   D O O R S   O F   C E D A R B U R G

sponsored by the Cedarburg Art Museum.

The museum was just glowing and all decked out for Christmas.  What a fun night made even more fun when dear friends attended to show their support!

And . . .  one of my teacup portraits for a friend.   A few days ago I offered a free Tea Cup Tale watercolor to two of my blog followers.  Here is the first one,  all ready to send her way and based on her mother's china pattern, Aynsley's "Autumn Gold".  Now, on to the second tea cup.   

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

UPDATE!!! FREE TEACUP WATERCOLOR OFFER

Update! My teacup watercolor offer is now closed. I have two "takers" and since they came from different directions 
(one from Facebook and one from my blog) 

I'll be doing both of them.  However, if you REALLY want your own tea cup tale watercolor - the listing is still in my Etsy shop.  :-) 

Tomorrow is going to be a really cold day in Wisconsin - a high of 19° and windy.  A good day to stay inside and paint, and that is exactly what I plan to do.  

I'd like to paint another tea cup, but this time I'd like to paint someone else's (and tell someone else's story)!  In case you're not familiar with my tea cup tale watercolors, check it out by clicking the photo below.

I will need a photo of your special tea cup (I'm looking for a floral china tea cup here) and about a 

75-100 word story to go along with it.   But for now,  just let me know if you're interested.  We'll worry about the rest later.  Also, if you'd rather just have the tea cup painted and forget the story, that's okay too!

So, if you'd like a personalized piece like this - free of charge - please comment below.  Just tell me a bit about your tea cup and the story that goes along with it and I'll pick one to do.  My little gift to one of my readers!  Don't be shy!  Leave a comment!

(Also, tell me if you want your coffee black or with cream. ) 

:)

-Nan

ORIGINAL BOTANICALS CHRISTMAS SALE - 33% OFF!

C H R I S T M A S   I S   C O M I N G!

And every single one of my original botanicals is on sale - 33% off!   There is plenty of time to wrap them up and put them under your Christmas tree - a gift of original art for someone special!  Just click on any of the listings below to go directly to the sales page of my ETSY shop.  

CUSTOM PERSONALIZED GIFTS

Custom personalized items make great gifts also and take a little extra time to prepare.  From "Tea Cup Tales", to Home Portraits, to my ABC book (with original art, alphabet poetry, and a personalized grandparent portrait page), there is something for young and old. To receive them in time for Christmas, please click the items below.

Thanks for looking!

Nan

(Botanical 33% off sale runs until December 14th at midnight.)

TEA CUP TALES

In all my sorting and sifting of closets and cupboards, I came across my collection of tea cups from Great Aunt Pearl.  What a treasure and memory of such a fun lady who was full of personality.  Combine that with the online pen/ink/watercolor sketchbook course I'm in the middle of which is led by a lovely Australian woman whose love of a good cup of tea inspires her to paint many of the beautiful cups it's served in.  So I put together a listing in my shop that was inspired by this class.  A beautiful china  tea cup surrounded by meaningful text - in my case, a bit of the story of Aunt Pearl.

Do YOU have a special tea cup, piece of china, or vase etc. that tells a great story?  Send me your story (100 words or less), along with a photo of the item and I'll immortalize it in pen/ink/watercolor.

Such a unique tribute to a special person you want to remember in a really special way.  This also creates a memorable way to honor a loved one, or give it as a wedding gift featuring a watercolor of that chosen china/pottery pattern or special piece along with the little love story that led up to it.  You could even buy a new mug or teacup that would match the artwork and wrap them up together.  

You can order your own version and receive it in time for Christmas giving.

Click the photo below and check it out in my shop:

Thanks for looking!

Nan

AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER AND MORE PRACTICE

I just got news that I was accepted into a juried art organization.  Read more about this group below.

T H E   W I S C O N S I N   V I S U A L   A R T I S T S

Wisconsin Visual Artists (WVA) is a not-for-profit membership-based organization made up of visual artists working in a wide variety of media and also supporters of Wisconsin Art. WVA is the oldest art organization in Wisconsin. The purpose of the WVA is to promote, develop and encourage the creative visual arts in Wisconsin. WVA produces a quarterly magazine that features two Wisconsin artists in each issue. WVA sponsors the Wisconsin Artist Biennial, an exhibit open to all artist over 18 living in Wisconsin. This is a showcase of some of the best contemporary art in Wisconsin. WVA manages this website, where artist members and gallery/museum members may post their exhibits and events. WVA is one of the co-sponsors for the Wisconsin Visual Artist Lifetime Achievement Award. WVA has a growing endowment that will help to preserve our future. 

For me, that's big news, and I'm really excited to explore all this group has to offer in growing my art!

And, speaking of growing . . . in order to grow in anything, you need to practice.  So, I have attached some of my recent practice from the pages of my sketchbook.

I go through a lot of different phases.  When I start to feel a little saturated in one area, another one opens up, and all that change seems to keep things fresh for me.  Over the last week or so, I've been enjoying getting back to sketching practice using Guptill's, 

R E N D E R I N G   I N   P E N   A N D   I N K

TREE PRACTICE

As part of my preparation for the online class I'll start today (with Liz Steel), I'm getting used to using my fountain pen.  I'm loving the easy flow of ink with a fountain pen - it's totally different than using a PITT or Micron pen.

Here are a few more tree drawing exercises I'm working on.  Just a few more after this to wrap up my little series on . . .

T R E E   P R A C T I C E.

Thanks for looking!

Nan

A POSTCARD, UNFINISHED STUFF, AND A SALE

Going through a wooden supply box, I came across a couple of unfinished pieces.

First, when we went up north last summer, I took a pack of watercolor postcard blanks.  This is a watercolor of a great old barn in Eagle River, all filled out with address and message, but never sent!?  So, it'll go in the mail today!

Then, an unfinished barn from a picture I took while on one of our summer drives in the country.

And, last of all, a view of the old blacksmith's shop turned restaurant (The Anvil) taken from our table on the patio. 

And finally -

Accordian Watercolor Journals 

are 

on sale at 33% off.  

Click the photo below to check out my shop - buy one or a set of all four.

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

ACCORDIAN WATERCOLOR JOURNALS AND A CLEAN ART ROOM

It never fails.

When I really dig in, sorting and sifting in my art room, I get all inspired to spend more time in there.  

And, more time in my art room means new ideas.

Here are some photos of some small, accordion journals I just finished - perfect for watercolor painting or photos/captions from a special vacation or day trip.  On the cover of each journal I've done a little watercolor, and then it's all wrapped up with strong black twine and glass bead.

(click any of the photos below to go directly to my Etsy shop)

Thanks again for looking!

-Nan

LIKE IT OR NOT . . .

. . . winter is on our doorstep.  

The snow flurries were swirling today and the wind was whistling around the corners and rattling our windows.  It won't be long and we'll be watching the weather people demonstrate the making of the season's first snowball.  

So, to get in the mood, I did a little barn watercolor from a photo I had -

and then made it into a card for a really special person. 

And, more news:

My botanical calendars are ready!  I ordered a few to have on hand and I'm really happy with the results.  Click on the pic below to see them in my Etsy shop.

You can see a little video of the whole calendar on my Instagram account: nanburger.  I hope you'll check it out for yourself!

Thanks for looking.

-Nan

"BEGONIA" - GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS OR PRINT

Last spring I attended a workshop with Dreama Tolle Perry in Kentucky where we were given tips and tricks for painting in her impressionistic style.  She is a wonderful teacher and is extremely patient while doing whole group demos and walking around easel to easel to give advice.  It was so much fun to be able to take part in this workshop.

I came away with 3 paintings from that workshop.  I wasn't terribly happy with the first one, but "Begonias" and "Ruby's Yellow Barn" are two of my favorites and they can both be purchased as high quality, archival prints or wrapped, deep canvases.

To purchase either "Begonias" or "Ruby's Yellow Barn", just click the photo and you'll be taken directly to my Etsy shop.  Prints and canvases will be delivered directly from the printer, wrapped to perfection to ensure safe arrival.

Thanks for looking!

-Nan

"REST AWHILE" and "LAZY DAY" as PRINTS or GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS

Last fall I took part in a painting workshop on the east coast with artist, Leslie Saeta. This was a really fun workshop in a beautiful location, Sandbridge, Virginia.  We set up our easels both on the beach, and next to a farmer's vegetable stand.  Painting en plein air was a first for me, and pretty nerve wracking at first.  I'm just not used to having anyone looking over my shoulder while I'm painting.  But, since we spent a good 6 hours each day painting outdoors for all to see, I got over my nervousness fairly quickly.  It helped that there were about 14 of us and we were all learning the same technique.

Leslie's technique, which is palette knife painting, shows the subject in high texture.  Two of the paintings I did in that style are:

"REST AWHILE"

and

"LAZY DAY"

The originals of these paintings sold right away, but now I am offering high quality, archival quality prints and gallery wrapped canvases in my Etsy shop.  

If you're interested in checking them out just click the photos below.

 "Lazy Day"              and               "Rest Awhile"

Both are available as prints, or wrapped canvases. (8 x 8 in., 11 x 11 in., or 16 x 16 in.)

Thanks for looking!

-Nan