Sunset on the Beach

I spent one evening on the beach watching the sunset. The colors were really incredible. I took probably 4 or 5 dozen photos trying out the various settings on my camera that I never use.

One of the settings uses a long exposure -- which I didn't know. I clicked the shutter, it opened, and didn't close. Thinking there was something wrong with the camera, I started shaking it. Then the shutter closed and I realized what had happened. Doofus.

My first reaction was to delete the photo. Instead, I thought it might be interesting to leave the shutter open, and shake the camera side-to-side (intentionally) just enough to blur the details. I got a bunch of photos with really luscious sunset colors in horizontal bands. Very abstract, very soft. They'd make great paintings.

This ACEO is based on that evening. I painted it the next day from memory of that great sunset. Painting on location is something new for me. I'm insecure about doing it yet but am working on it.

It's watercolor on woven paper which gives it that great texture.

Read about the supplies I took along.

The Beach at Puerto Vallarta

Here's a quick ACEO of the beach in Puerto Vallarta. I spent a few days there earlier this month -- fantastic, lovely, warm (not snowing), relaxing. All the wonderful things I'd heard about it were true.

Breaking out of my comfort zone, I did some quick watercolor sketching on the trip. I admire people who do that, but never have myself. Really had to force myself to get over the nerves and do it, but it was fun. I'm glad I did.

This little card is watercolor on rice paper, which gives it that great texture.

I took along some new Bienfang watercolor brushes, which are hollow pens loaded with watercolor paint and a brush tip. One of the pens holds clear water. Squeeze the pen a little and the paint flows to the bristles. Just cap them when done. No cleanup, no mess, no spills. Very handy.

Security made me put them in my checked luggage during the flight, which worried me a little, but they arrived safely to PV. One of them leaked a little during the flight home, so I had a bit of cleanup to do, but better at the end of the trip than the beginning. Good thing I had them in a zip bag.

I hope to do more sketching in the days to come.

Red Snowflakes

Here's another in the Snowflake series. These are made of Christmas wrapping paper. The background is acrylics and colored pencils. I like that they're red/blue/green instead of white. The whole things feels warm instead of wintry cold, almost like one of those freak snowfalls in the spring snow when the sun is shining.

Blue Moon

Acrylics and gold paint on card stock.

Buy it here.

Nautilus

A reference to the marine creature, not the fitness equipment. What's difficult to see in the photo is the pearlized paint used for the white spots - it has a peach-colored cast - that mimics the interior of a shell.

Buy it here.

Heart of Gold

Buy it here.

Halloween Nightmare

Well, this one's a little different than my usual. But with the change of seasons, I'm in a Halloween mood. Enjoy. And sleep well.

Buy it here.

Clothesline Art Show Results

The Hudson Society of Artists' Clothesline Art Show was a big success -- moving the event from the green to the Middle School was brilliant. It brought much more visibility, traffic, and buyers -- and let's face it: comfort. It was so nice to been in a cool place rather than outdoors in the heat.

I sold two: Sunflares and Cortland Apples.

Clothesline Art Show, June 14-16

Visit the Clothesline Art Show in Hudson this weekend and pick up a couple of my ACEOs for your collection!

The show is sponsored by the Hudson Society of Artists, and will be held at the Hudson Middle School at 77 N. Oviatt St.

Members of the Hudson Society of Artists (including me) will have a large variety of artworks for sale, all originals, and all unframed.

The show runs noon - 5 PM, Thursday - Saturday.

Spring Wing

This one bears a resemblence to "On the Wing" from January 4. I find something fascinating in the vaguely butterfly shape and find myself using it occasionally. Part of my personal hieroglyphics, I suppose.

Buy it here.

Lavender Posy

It's been spring around here for the past few days, and I've been taking advantage of it by painting some posies. This one is rather cheerful, don't you think?

Buy it here.

"F"

I'd posted the A, B, C, and d earlier. For the life of me, I can't come up with an E that I like (and I've done several). I like this F so I'm skipping the E for now. Although it's hard to see in this photo, the F is lavender. Against the other colors, it's quite pretty.

To see the A, B, Cs, look for the post on February 25.

Buy it here.

Spring Flower

And, since I'm on a spring theme, here's another in that vein. This one looks like it's being tossed around in the breezes we had today.

Buy it here.

Sun Flares

Not that I was actually thinking about sun flares when I was making this card. While most of my images are close ups of small things, this one has a sense of depth and space that I usually don't tackle.

SOLD

Window to Spring

I just LOVE the colors in this! Reminds me of all the early spring flowers and sunshine and tiny green buds... Can't get enough of it.

Acrylics on rice paper on cardstock.

Buy it here.

SOLD

Stripes? Help, I need a title

OK, I had a blast making this card today! The photo doesn't show it well, but the background is made up of vertical strips of rice paper. The colors are acrylic. I really like the balance of the vertical papers and the horizontal stripes and the diagonal colors. Despite that, I'm stumped for a title. Any suggestions?

The yellows and greens and lavenders mean that it's starting to become Spring around here...

Buy it here.

SOLD

The A, B, Cs

These are watersoluble crayons on black matboard. I was going for a chalk-on-the-blackboard effect, reminiscent of coloring on the board during school. Nothing subtle, but a lot of fun.

"A" has sold. Buy the others here.

Vase of Roses

Ah, here we go again. All this cold snowy weather is making me wish for spring -- and what's more spring-like than a vase of roses? Especially with Valentine's Day coming up quickly.

These are colored pencil and watercolor on paper. Much cheaper than the ones at the florist!

Buy them here.

SOLD

ACEO Magazine is here!

The first isue of "ACEO Magazine" arrived today and is it gorgeous! A really classy publication!

I am delighted that my ACEO, Stonewash, is included on page 3. What an honor!

Here's a picture of page 3. For details about the magazine and to subscribe, visit www.aceomagazine.com.

Tulips

On the coldest day of the winter, I needed a little springtime. These tulips were too pretty to pass up. They're colored pencil and watercolor on cardstock.

Buy them here.

Lovebirds

Well, this is a little out of my ordinary! I belong to a group on eBay called "ATC & ACEO Enthusiasts". Each week, they have a challenge to do an ACEO on a particular theme. The challenges always sound like fun (last week's was cosmetics -- how did I miss that?!). So, I jump in whenever I can.

This week's theme is lovebirds. How cute! Brace yourselves; you might see more of them this week. To see what everyone is doing, go to eBay and search for "ACEO Lovebirds".

Buy mine on eBay.

SOLD

Kindness of the Heart

And the hearts continue.... A little play on words for you. I liked the idea of little hearts swirling around kindness.

Kindness of the Heart.

SOLD

Enjoy

Here's the latest addition to my popular Inspiration series. When the pace gets too hectic, a gentle reminder to slow down and enjoy the journey is just what we need. The colors in this are really vibrant, making it a joy to look at.

Colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, on high-quality heavy Rives BFK paper.

Believe in Love

Here's one for the hopeless romantic in all of us. You know who you are.

Buy it here.

SOLD

SING

Here's a joyous expression of the need to break into song.

Watercolor on high-quality acid-free 100% cotton paper.

SOLD

Cortland Apples

Here's a quick sketch of some Cortland Apples for you. They're my favorites lately -- juicy, crisp, flavorful. The apples are colored pencil. The background is acrylic on matboard.

SOLD

Come Away With Me

Come away with me to where we can be free. A romantic little ACEO, perfect for your Valentine.

This card is acrylic, oil pastel, colored pencil on acid-free matboard. Buy it here.

SOLD

Pink and Yellow

I'm sorry, but I seriously can't explain this one. It has been coming up in my sketchbook for at least a month -- maybe two -- and I just had to do it. I don't know what it represents, but there's something about that combination of pink and yellow with a dark form in the middle that has been on my mind.

There. Now it's on paper. Maybe I can move onto something else.

Enjoy.

Rice Paper Snowflakes

The photo does not do justice to this ACEO! The snowflakes are made from the most beautiful rice paper -- thin, translucent, full of shimmery threads that enhance the idea of snow. The effect is beautiful and subtle.

The background is acrylic and watercolor on another sheet of rice paper. The whole ensemble is mounted on cardstock for stability.


Buy it here.

Sunny Snowflake

I have to tell you, I love this little card. The colors, the snowflake, the whole thing. It reminds me of a stained glass window in the sunshine. Or one of those perfect winter days when it's snowing like crazy despite a sunny blue sky. Buy it here.

Hearts Afloat

Look out now or those hearts will get away from you! I couldn't resist this cute idea -- hearts as balloons, floating free. The card is acrylic, wax, permanent ink, and colored pencil on matboard. Wouldn't it be a great -- and original -- Valentine's gift? Buy it here.
SOLD

Garden of Hearts

3/9/07 Note: "Garden of Hearts" is one of 4 finalists in the Spring Contest at ACEO Magazine! Check it out!

Here's a whimsical garden of Valentine's hearts -- charming, isn't it? The image is made using colored pencil and watercolor on handmade paper, all mounted on cardstock. Talk about a great Valentine's Day gift for your sweetie. Buy it here.

SOLD

Blue Snowflake

Ah, a beautiful snowflake! It is cut out of paper, just like we used to do when we were kids. The background is a collage of handmade paper mounted on cardstock, painted with acrylics.

Why snowflakes? The weather wasn't cooperating at Christmas -- it was warm and dry -- so I cut snowflakes out of paper and hung them around the house to give us a White Christmas anyway. Afterwards, the snowflakes were just the right size to make into ACEOs.

I've posted other snowflakes here and on my web site at http://www.lifeneedsart.com/ATCpics.html .

Interested? Buy it here.
SOLD

On the Wing

This fanciful little creature flew into my head and onto the paper last night. It looks a little like a butterfly to me, or maybe a lily. Either way, it's charming.
This is watercolor and ink on high-quality acid-free paper.

Fields of Green

Much of my inspiration comes from nature -- how light plays on flowers, how breezes ripple through leaves, even how sun sparkles on snow. I delight in those things, and trying to represent them on paper is a satisfying challenge. Have you seen how a breeze plays with tall grass? That's the idea behind this card. Buy it here.

Happy New Year

I couldn't resist doing a quick little sketch on January 1! I'd just gotten some new ink pens and some new ACEO blanks and had to take them for a spin. Very nice!

The champagne wasn't bad, either.

Buy it here. The ACEO, that is!

ACEO of the Day Blog!

After much deliberation, I have decided to set a New Year's Resolution for 2007 of making an ACEO every day and posting them here. I have been making ACEOs for the past year and really love them. This challenge will give me a chance to polish up my drawing and painting skills and commit deeply to my art.