Christmas gifts

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Completion of a 25 year commitment

I have 28 nieces and nephews. I began handcrafting baby gifts for them when the first one arrived, not dreaming there would be 27 more! They received hand painted rocking horses, tables and chairs, quilts etc.

This year I was determined to finish these out. I had 3 more (and then an older niece commissioned one when she saw these) to do to finish my final commitment. I got the bright idea of painting their grandma’s beloved farm on ornaments. Hindsight – life could have been so much simpler… but, that is water under the bridge. I can now say, it is completed! Much as I loved making meaningful gifts for them all these years, I am happy to have lived to complete the task.

The top one is oil on a porcelain bisque and the 3 below are oil on wood. As one niece said, then there was no way she would break it in years to come.

First Round of Ornaments
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First Round of Ornaments

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.

A Hummingbird Bulb
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A Hummingbird Bulb

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I have broken out into a whole new phase of my ornament painting. Realistic nature!

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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!”

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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.

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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.

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That Time of Year

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.

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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.)