My Birdsong

The Start of Something New

Since Christmas, I have been keeping a watercolor journal. I have been stretching my paintbrush muscles getting ready for another holiday season. The unfinished painting of a leaf above was actually a photograph I took while on a walk after it had rained. The sun poked out briefly adding sparkle to the water droplets all around us. It was a magical moment, and I am eager to see if I can impart that feeling. Here is another journal page.


And speaking of magic, I will be teaching this summer at Artful Gathering, the online summer art workshops. I am finishing my class samples, which I will share here soon. I will be offering two classes, one of which will be Halloween themed. Watch for details soon and check out Artful Gathering.com.

Summer Time and the Studio Looks More Like Halloween

 

I am getting ready for two Halloween shows this fall:

Halloween and Vine
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013
Petaluma, CA
http://www.HalloweenandVine.com 

• • •

Spirits in Sanford
Friday night and Saturday, October 4 & 5
Sanford, FL
http://www.SpiritsinSanford.com 

• • •

In the meantime, we have had weddings to attend, summer dinner parties to enjoy and strolls on the beach amid sand castles. Plus, we are putting in our backyard, which is no easy task with all the sand we have here! The North Florida summer months are heating up and so are the afternoon thunderstorms, which make a great backdrop when I am painting a haunted house or creating a witch. I hope to see you at one of these shows! Enjoy your summer, it is passing by much too fast!

Color Keys to My World

Organizing is what you do before you do something,
so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.

~ A.A. Milne

There's nothing like being able to see what the paint looks like on the paper BEFORE you squeeze it out of the tube and paint with it! This is a great tip I discovered recently, and have now put it to use! Every tube of watercolor paint I own has been added to my personal color key. And I still have the browns and blacks to add!

Getting ready for lots of painting, so watch for some new pieces coming in the next few days! Hello to all my new Artful Gathering friends! Look forward to a wonderful summer with you during my online paper mache workshop, June 6 - July 17.

Happy May everyone!

 

Halloween and Vine in One Week!

I've been busy creating all sorts of Halloween delights for my debut at Halloween and Vine, Saturday, Sept. 24, in Petaluma, CA. I'm so excited and honored to be part of this outstanding show of Halloween artists! It's a week away, so grab some friends and make a date! Petaluma is a quaint town, with yummy places to eat and comfy hotels for your stay. Or make a day trip and hit the wine country on your way home. Get all the details on the show website. Can't wait!

 

 

Off and Running

 

I am in high production mode for my  upcoming Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art Show, Sept. 18, in Alamo, Ca and Glitterfest Fall, Oct. 2, in Santa Ana, Ca. But...I managed to paint an original Halloween watercolor postcard and list it on eBay. I was inspired by a vintage postcard with similar Halloween elves hurrying scurrying, and thought I'd put a different spin on the little creatures.

If you like my watercolors, I will have originals for sale at both shows and many of my prints. Please stop by to say hello! Happy Haunting...Iva

TRICK OR TREAT: My Entry for Illustration Friday

I've entered a little ATC I created several weeks ago and sold on eBay. Illustration Friday is a web contest for illustrators and artists. The theme for this week is Trick or Treat. Let me know what you think of my entry! I'm hoping to paint some more this weekend and get them listed soon. So keep an eye on my eBay Auctions

I'm also getting ready for Christmas and working on several ornaments and snowy scenes. I've got all sorts of vintage celluloid reindeer and tiny Santas strewn over my studio work table. Glitter is everywhere, including our dog, a German Shepherd named Winston. Some of these pieces will be coming with me to SilverBella, a paper arts event Nov. 8-10, in Omaha, I'm attending with my talented friend Colleen Moody of A Seasonal Mood. I'm participating in several swaps including an ornament swap with 12 other women, a charm swap with 15 other women and a flower pendant swap with 15 women (but thankfully I only have to make five). Yes, I have to make one of the same piece for all these women. But, it means I get a different one from each person swapping. I can't wait!