New Work

I haven't been blogging much, but I have been painting quite a bit lately (yay!) Here is some of my recent work -

 "A Summer Day on Lake Pepin" - Watercolor and PanPastel (9 by 12)

 "Butterfly in Spring" - Watercolor (8 by 10)

"Sunset Petals" - Watercolor (5 by 7)

 "Fly II" - Watercolor (5 by 7)

"Mr. Kitty" - Watercolor (5 by 7) (My first animal/pet in watercolor!)

Untitled - Watercolor and PanPastel (5 by 7)

Some of these paintings are available in my Etsy shop and the others are just practice. If you'd like to keep up with my work, please follow me on Instagram - @angelasexpressions

Hope you all had a great weekend! xoxo

Remembrance V

For the past five years I have been painting an American flag in honor of the anniversary of September 11th. This is appropriately called "Remembrance V," done in watercolor. I hope you will keep those affected by the tragedy in your thoughts and prayers today. 

New Painting!

If you can believe it, I just finished a new watercolor painting! It's called "Almost There." This is my first watercolor painting in over a year, which is completely ridiculous. School keeps me so busy that there isn't much time for anything else but I've been trying to paint for at least an hour a day. I also recently finished a new miniature watercolor. It was a fun challenge. :)

I've been posting quite a bit to my Instagram page (@angelasexpressions) if you want to see more. :) Hope you all are well!!

Burst of Beauty

"Burst of Beauty" 8 by 10, Original Watercolor Painting

"Burst of Beauty" is my latest watercolor painting. I had some help from a Facebook friend with the title and I think it's perfect (Thanks Chris!). I couldn't resist painting that bold, detailed center. I also loved the color of the flower even though I did change it a bit. 

I used two different types of masking fluid for the center of the flower and when I peeled it off I couldn't help but notice that one caused the paper to yellow while the other did not. I used a Masquepen for the outside and Incredible White Mask on the center. I experienced the exact same thing on the previous painting. I either never noticed that the Masquepen caused yellowing before, or it's only happening now because the bottle is just about empty. In any case I'm going to make a mental note and see what happens when I open a new bottle. 

This fun painting is available for purchase in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested. :)

Blooming White Rose

"Blooming White Rose" 8 by 10, Original Watercolor Painting

 

My latest watercolor painting is this beautiful white rose. I was drawn to the photo because of the contrast of the white flower and dark background, and shadows. I just loved everything about it, and I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

 

 It's available for purchase in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested.

 

Have a great weekend!

May Lily

"May Lily" 5 by 7, Original Watercolor Painting

 

I finally got a good scan of this painting. I used my new light tent and I think I like it. I did a comparison between the light tent and the scanner. For making reproduction prints, the light tent is definitely the best.

 

This painting is available for purchase in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested.

 

Next, I think I'm going to work on some larger paintings. Maybe 16 by 20? Should be fun! :)

 



New Painting

I recently moved my "studio" up to my sewing room and have been painting a bit.

 

 My new set up. It's not my favorite place to work because of the lack of natural light, but it will work.

 

This is the watercolor painting I've been working on the past couple days. I overworked it a bit but it still came out quite nice. I will take a proper photo soon. I ordered a light tent for photographing art so I'm anxious to receive it and give it a try. :)



Back in Bloom

"Back in Bloom" Original Watercolor, 5 by 7

 

If you can even believe it, I've finished a new watercolor painting! I started it about a week ago, and forgot to post a WIP photos. I thought I would ease back into painting slowly with a small piece (5 by 7) and with a subject that I'm comfortable with (flowers of course). I had so much fun working on this, even though I was slightly worried that it would be a disaster and that all my painting skills have gone out the window. I'm rather pleased with the way it turned out though. The pencil lines are a little dark though, and because of the fixative I used, I couldn't erase them. Oh well, now I know for next time. :)

 

This painting is available on Etsy if anyone is interested.

 

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Available Kitties

I'm not quite sure how it happened, especially with all my kitty collectors out there, but I still have 5 original kitties left.

 

"A Visitor"

"Bird Watching"

"Can You See Me?"

"Hiding Spot"

"In the Garden"

 

Each of these paintings are size 5 by 7 and are done in pastel, which means they will last a very long time (longer than an oil or watercolor). I hope someone can give these kitties a home! :)

 

Have a lovely weekend! God Bless!

Another Maggie

This is Maggie, a cute Yorkie I've been painting over the past week. This is actually the 2nd Maggie I've painted in a row. I painted her in pastel (sticks and pencils) on Ampersand Pastelbord.

 

This painting was a challenge for me because my wrist has been bothering me a lot. After the last 2 pet portraits I did I was experiencing a lot of pain. I fear that it's carpal tunnel. I've been trying to rest it as best I can, and have been wearing a support. Hopefully I can avoid any kind of surgery, but ultimately I'll do what I need to. I have to be able to paint! :)

 

I hope you all have a great week!

Perfectly Pink

"Perfectly Pink" - Original Watercolor Painting, 5 by 7

I just completed my first watercolor painting of the year! Isn't that terrible? :) Although, I have done a handful of pastel paintings. I've been working on this painting for a few days and I can't tell you how good it felt to be using my watercolors! I simply have to make more time for painting even if it means getting up earlier or staying up later (which I have been doing). Painting is my one true love and quilting has been just taking over around here (but I enjoy that too).

This painting is available in my Etsy shop if anyone is interested. Meanwhile.. I'm still working on that painting challenge. I will post about that in a couple days! :)



Sphinx - Custom Pet Portrait

"Sphinx" - Custom Pet Portrait

I've been working on this pet portrait for the past few days and it's finally complete. I have to say that I'm very pleased with the way that it turned out. I was a bit more loose with the cat than I would normally be. I applied the pastel to the face and then blended it. I really liked the effect that I achieved in doing that. I think the cat looks more soft than other portraits that I've done.

"Sphinx" is a surprise birthday gift and I hope the recipient is pleased. :)

Have a great day!

Dance Of Shadows

"Dance of Shadows" 8 by 10, Pastel Painting

Available Here

If you're thinking that this scene looks familiar, you would be correct. I painted it about 3 years ago in watercolor. In fact it was one of the first watercolor paintings I ever did, and it now hangs in my kitchen. Well, I had been wanting to try the scene in pastel so I finally did. It was great fun to do, and a lot more work in pastel, that's for sure. But the color pay off was worth it.

Scanning this painting certainly did not do it justice. The painting is so much prettier in person. I'm quite happy with it and it's available for purchase on Etsy.

I hope you have a nice night!

Contentment

"Contentment" 5 by 7, Pastel Painting

I took a little break from quilting to paint yesterday. I finished up this little painting today. My final painting of 2011! I've never painted a pug before and it was fun. He's just so cute. It's also been about a month or so since I last painted and I felt very rusty. One of my goals for the new year is to better balance quilting and painting. Improving my painting skills is very important to me and I need to make it a bigger priority.

This painting will be available at the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery this next week.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year! Thanks for all your kind words of support and encouragement this year!

Thomas Kinkade Reproduction in Pastel

Thomas Kinkade Reproduction, 9 by 12, Pastel

Been wondering what the "challenging painting" I've been working on was? Well, here it is. I attempted the unthinkable, recreating a Thomas Kinkade in pastel. Thomas Kinkade is one of my very favorite artists. I have his calendar hanging in my kitchen and I kept admiring this particular painting. Then I got the crazy idea to give it a try in pastel. Obviously I wasn't able to do it justice, but I think it turned out fairly decently.

My intentions were to see if a Thomas Kinkade type of style was achievable in pastel. I have to say I think it would be a lot easier in oil, but with some practice and developed techniques I think it just might be possible with pastel.

This piece was so much fun, I just love all that detail. I was disappointed when I went to photograph the painting because the colors appeared so dull. I tried to fix it in photoshop and it helped a bit. The colors are so much prettier in person.

I hope you are having a great week!

Surrender

"Surrender" 5 1/2 by 5 1/2, Watercolor

Available Here

Here is a look at today's watercolor. There was just something so sweet about this white rose against that dark background. I really enjoyed this piece. I'm not quite sure why, but I just love all those fussy little details.

This little watercolor was completed on 140lb watercolor paper and completed with artist's quality winsor and newton paints.

I'm already planning my next pastel painting, but it's so crazy I'm not even going to say what it is just in case it doesn't turn out. :)

Have a nice afternoon!

Among Lily Pads

"Among Lily Pads" 8 by 10, Pastel Painting

Available Here

SOLD

It's finished! Like I mentioned in my previous post, I felt a bit rusty with this painting considering it has been a couple months since I used my pastels. But it's amazing how quickly it comes back. I also think it's good to take a break once in a while. I've come back from this time off with renewed creativity and fresh ideas.

This painting was completed on pastelbord and I used all CarbOthello pastel pencils. For now this painting is for sale on Etsy, but I might end up taking it to the gallery in a few weeks.

Have a lovely afternoon! :)

Water Lily - Work In Progress

I'm working on a new pastel painting. The main subject is a water lily, but I haven't settled on a name yet. It's been months since I've painted in pastel and I'll admit, I'm a bit rusty! But after painting for a couple hours I started to settle back into my groove. I'm pleased with the way it's progressing.

So far I've only used pastel pencils and the surface is pastelbord. It's an 8 by 10, which is a bit bigger than I would normally work. I've only had a handful of pieces as big as 8 by 10 and my Grandma just purchased 2 of them. I need to start working a bit bigger, so this is a start.

I hope to have this finished in the next couple of days. :)

Tulip in White

"Tulip in White" 5 by 7, Watercolor Painting

Available Here SOLD

I actually completed a new painting! It's been 2 months, I can't even believe it. If I hadn't gotten married I would say that going 2 months without painting is unacceptable. :) At least I had a good reason.

Anyway, I'll admit I felt a little rusty with this piece, but I enjoyed it. Getting the shade of those shadows was a challenge. I also used a piece of 140lb watercolor paper that had been stretched on a piece of gatorboard for several weeks and I had some issues with it. I used Winsor & Newton paints on this piece and the size is 5 x 7.

If anyone is interested, this painting is available in my Etsy shop for $50 plus free shipping.

It's good to be back! I've missed you all! :)

Multicolor Rose

"Multicolor Rose" 5 by 7, Watercolor Painting

I thought I would try something a little different today. I've never painted a flower like this, without some kind of background. I have to say I really like it. The simple white background adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the painting. And the flower just jumps out. I had a lot of fun mixing colors too.

This little watercolor will join a few others (Twin Roses and Cosmos) at the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery. I've got about 4 new paintings to take and get hung there. Nothing like bright florals for Spring. :)

I hope you have a great day!