This was the year for one customer to order ornaments for her kids and their spouses. The theme was from the country song “The House that Built Me” by Miranda Lambert. There is also a new house purchased last year in this mix.
I took this first round of orders in stages and it seemed to go faster. Mark up, blocking the layout, laying down the first layers, then finalizing.
Grandma has a mama raccoon who visits the feeders when she is raising her brood. It seemed appropriate that she should model for a first Christmas ornament!
Same house as in the previous post – different year, different niece, different angle. Still the same pleasure to paint!
I have broken out into a whole new phase of my ornament painting. Realistic nature!
Remember the Inktober drawing I did of a hummingbird? The photographer of the “model” for that image contacted me to commission an ornament. Something I had not contemplated before.
I had never painted a hummer in oils, and certainly not on a curved surface. I started it then panicked, “I can’t do this!”
However, I know my process pretty well by now and panic is part of it. So I broke state, went shopping, then came back and was in a much more steadied state to finish the first layer. I began to breathe again.
After a couple of days to let that dry to a tacky surface, I began shaping the next layers, pushing paint around and making tiny little touches. Finally, today I finished it and feel like I have had a tremendous breakthrough in my art. This will always have a special place in my heart. I plan to use this little Rufous Hummingbird to help me push through some watercolor practices in the next month. He is very inspiring.
Painting the love in peoples life – preserving memories for their tree.
I was looking at the magnified detail that can not be seen with the naked eye and it hit me that it is impressionistic.
I push paint around and create the impression of their pet. Often with a 000 sized brush and a cat’s whisker (the cats participate via donations throughout the year.)
Earlier this month was the grand opening for a new store in the small town of Hagerstown, Indiana, Every Day Is Christmas.
I had the privilege to work with the owner, Robin, in crafting the brand and logo.
This brand was such a delight to craft a logo for. The owner has a vision for her store that goes beyond offering Christmas gifts all year long. She is building a location where the community can come together, as well as welcome travelers from around the country as they visit small individual holiday stores.
In the back section is The Sidewalk Cafe and classes are being offered in the store where children and adults alike can come and make holiday crafts.
In addition, over the coming years, she will be adding one-of-a-kind local artist’s items. With those items, her vision is to tell the story behind the craft to bring a depth to the gift giving that sometimes gets lost in our harried era.
Christmas holds a special nostalgic place in my heart also, as you have seen by the ornaments and gifts I have made over the years. It was pure pleasure to craft a logo that embodies the joyful whimsy of Christmas, and yet is also classy and contemporary.
Congratulations to a wonderful new store spreading joy all year around!
To link to their Facebook page click: Every Day Is Christmas
Flexing My Wings 