DRAWINGS, PHOTOS, AND WATERCOLORS FROM THE SKETCHBOOK

Just a sampling of some recent drawings and watercolors from my sketchbook.  This first drawing was done from a photo I took at the marina on Captiva Island yesterday.  Brown Pelicans are everywhere here - sleeping, airing out, and keeping their eyes peeled for a tasty treat.  Beautiful birds, they are full of personality.   I love the look on his face!

 Below, a sketchbook watercolor of one of the cottages here.  They are so brightly painted - hot pink, lime greens, turquoise - charming little cottages, every one.

I was hoping for a view of the manatees feeding near shore today.  We've seen them there before - but today, no luck.  Hence, a sketchbook drawing/watercolor of another one of my favorite subjects.

And some practice of different styles below - all for the sketchbook.

And last of all, three favorite photos from the last few days.

 The Brown Pelican, this one posed for my first drawing, watching my every move lest I should get too close.

 Morning fog in the marina with beautiful reflections from the pier and boat.

A Great Blue Heron keeping watch over the marina as the morning fog burns off.

"POURPRE TULIPES" - 20 x 20 inches on deep gallery wrapped canvas

Some purple flowers for Day 2 

of 

THIRTY PAINTINGS IN THIRTY DAYS.

"POURPRE TULIPES"

(acrylic on 20" x 20", 1 1/2" extra deep gallery wrapped canvas available here)

Winter has a beauty all its own.  The picket fence around our garden is wearing wide red ribbons for the holidays and the snow is  deep around the fence posts.  Only a few stems here and there suggest there was ever a garden under those drifts.  Here's to the tulip bulbs sleeping below, patiently storing up their energy for their spring performance!

30 PAINTING IN 30 DAYS

Once again, I'm participating in Leslie Saeta's 

30 PAINTING IN 30 DAYS

I thought about going with a theme this time, but that's too restricting.  So here goes.  Random as it may be . . . Day 1 of 30.

"Honcho"

Honcho- as in - HEAD HONCHO of the barnyard.  Doesn't look right, doesn't look left.  Just owns the place and knows it.  This oil painting is 6" x 6" on Ampersand Gessobord and arrives with a display easel.  Available at Daily Paintworks.

UPDATE FOR "AN OWL FOR CHRISTMAS"

Lately, my days have been filled with getting ready for Christmas, and getting my Christmas book ready!  While A is for the BIG OAK TREE, was a brightly colored, vibrant book, my goal with this book is something old-fashioned, simple, and quiet - all done in pen and ink.  No bright colors or other distractions from the age old  Christmas story - the story that is so powerful all on its own!

An Owl For Christmas is the story of a little boy and his dad who go in search of the Great Horned Owl on a cold, December night.  They venture down the wooded lane and, along the way, see many signs of a northern Christmas - lights blinking on their neighbors' snowy eaves, bundled up carolers singing sweetly, and snow-heavy pine branches.  As they observe all this, little Jack learns of the real meaning of Christmas!  

There are also a few pages at the end that give tips and suggestions on how a child can go on an owl hunt of their own, complete with a spot for recording their own owling adventures.

Here are a few teasers from my most recently finished pages.

While the book won't be ready for this Christmas, it will be in my Etsy shop early in the new year.  Following close behind, will be 

A Child's Nature Journal, where children can record their own observations from the great outdoors.

MORE FROM MY NEW BOOK, "AN OWL FOR CHRISTMAS"

It's been a snowy day in SE Wisconsin and perfect for working on illustrations for my new book,

AN OWL FOR CHRISTMAS.

While I did lots of drawing today for the book, the most time-consuming part of it all is getting everything placed on the word document so that it's in the proper format and ready to send to the printer.  After lots of drawing and computer time today, I'm about a fourth of the way done.

Much different from my bright and colorful ABC book, O is for the BIG OAK TREE, I want both the illustrations and the words in this book to be soft, and quiet, and old-fashioned.  I'm still not sure if I want to leave the illustrations as pen and ink, or do a light wash of watercolor.

Here's the cover and a page from today's work -

Add caption

O is for the BIG OAK TREE is sold out!  Thanks everyone! I'll be picking up the next printing this week, so you can still get one in time for Christmas!  They can be ordered here.

Thanks for checking in!

NEW BOOKS & CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT GILLYFLOWER COTTAGE

FOUR NEW PROJECTS are in the making and  
here is a sneak peek at TWO of them!

#1:  

AN OWL FOR CHRISTMAS

While it won't be ready for THIS Christmas, the story is already written and I'm in the process of sketching out the illustrations.  I'll be posting about all of that as I go along.  An Owl For Christmas will inspire owl hunts in YOUR children and will have the opportunity for your child to add to the book, journaling about their own "owling" experiences, plus a few other surprises.

                                                                                #2:

A CHILD'S NATURE JOURNAL

This will be an illustrated nature journal for children - a kind of companion book to An Owl For Christmas.  It will be a place to record ALL those childhood woodland discoveries to be remembered for generations to come, written in their own handwriting.  All this wrapped up in a spiral bound, child-sized notebook that can be held and filled while the exploration happens!  There are a couple surprises included with this one too!  I wish I had had one of these when my boys were little.  What a keepsake to look back on now that they're grown.

And, last but not least . . .

  With the Christmas season upon us, we're all busy trying to find that perfect gift for everyone on our list.  If you have a little one (age 0 to 7 years) on YOUR list this year, I have about 5 more copies of my ABC book still available in my Etsy shop.  You can click the box at the upper right of the blog to go directly to the book site on Etsy.

(I could order another printing if you find they're sold out when you log on, but let me know as soon as possible keeping in mind printing/shipping times.)

ORIGINAL ART NOTE CARDS, NEW ART, AND MORE

Christmas is coming and there are some new items in my Etsy shop, GILLYFLOWER COTTAGE.

Note cards have arrived and are sold in sets of six - great to give to the hostesses of your holiday parties!   Or frame one card and tie up the rest with a ribbon for a special gift.   These 4.5 x 6 inch folded note cards have been professionally printed with my original artwork.  They are blank on the inside and have a smaller version of the print on the back of the card.  The matching original painting is still available for some of the note cards at dailypaintworks.com.

 "LAZY DAY"

(Original painting SOLD)

 "FLANDERS POPPIES"

(Original 5.5 x 5.5 inch watercolor 

painting for sale at Daily Paintworks - $25)

 "POMEGRANATE, PEACH, AND PEAR"

(original 8 x 10 oil painting on gallery wrapped 

canvas for sale at Daily Paintworks - $50)

 "A WALK BEFORE DINNER"

(original oil painting not for sale)

"SANIBEL STOOP"

(original 12 x 12 inch oil painting for 

sale at Daily Paintworks - $115)

AND . . . 

For the little ones on your list, my ABC book is available

on Etsy for $14.99.   This sturdy children's book is vibrant, colorful, and filled with my original art and rhymes for children.

       Daily Paintworks payments are made through PayPal, a safe and reliable way to make online purchases.  

In my Etsy shop, Gillyflower Cottage, purchases can be made with either PayPal or credit card.

ARTIST'S JOURNAL WORKSHOP CHALLENGE

I recently joined the ARTISTS JOURNAL WORKSHOP group on Facebook.  Then, a few days ago I posted this photo of a little branch of crab apples from our tree in the garden. 

I asked fellow painters in the group if they would be interested in giving it a shot.  Then the plan would be to post all together today so we could see each other's work.  I was pleasantly surprised at how many were excited about it and agreed to give it a try.  My version is shown below - as they post their own versions - I'll check with them about adding their work to this blog post so you can see what they've done also.

And other interpretations from artists at the Artist's Journal Workshop . . .

Kate Abbe's crab apples - using watercolor pencils.  Beautiful, Kate!

Rosemary Connelly, of http://livecheapmakeart.com/, did this creative sketchbook watercolor of the crab apples!

 Susan Bronsak first did the apples in pen and ink.  Then she decided to finish it off with watercolor pencils.  SO nice - and so brave!!!

Here is Gerda van Hummel's version - so pretty!

Suvitha Ramaswamy did this beautiful watercolor of the crab apples.  Love the shadows!

Palma Rea's beautiful crab apple sketchbook page - love the shadows Palma!

Here are the crab apples painted by Marcea Flowers Clive.  Isn't this pretty?  Love the little leafy border too, Marcea!

Here is Marylou Geiger Stable's version of the crab apples.  It was a complicated little branch of apples and Marylou didn't shy away from any of it!  Beautiful Marylou!

Vivi Toscano just shared her crab apple painting!  

Wonderful, Vivi - thanks for taking part!

Jacqui Petersen - I love how loose it is Jacqui! 

I'm always feeling like I have to complete every edge - this is so nice!

Carol Holt's open book sketch - what a pretty composition!

Barbara Cox's painting - great shading - is this watercolor pencil?

 Barbara Cox's daughter painted the apples along with her!  I couldn't make this pic any bigger without losing all focus - sorry!

Jules Woolford crab apples - a beautiful value study next to the colored version!

Valerie Weller - love the quote!

I'm going to end this post here, but,
  Thank you so much for your participation everyone!