Cat's Cradle Portrait of Akiko Watanabe

"Her Cat's Cradle" 2.5x3.5 inches watercolor

This a deal that developed during the DSDF Portrait project. I have always admired Akiko Watanabe's work - it's nothing short of EXCELLENT. Her attention to details that is always done with such care and impeccable skills. Her love for animals is always manifested through each one of her creations. Here is her website http://www.akiko-watanabe.com/index.html and here is her blog http://artbyakiko.blogspot.com/ prepare to be knocked over :)


So I see Akiko as an angel, most especially cats. This is why I thought I'd paint her with wings. And a pair of hands with the cat's cradle string position to symbolize that cats find comfort with her. I tried with my limited knowledge of cat shapes to paint 15 cats on her shirt. This number symbolizes an important figure to her which I will let her own. It's a miniature piece of art, but it's the biggest hug I can send right now and made with love for dear Akiko xxx

Slideshow of my watercolors - artist, Jillian Crider

I've been busy.

I was not satisfied with my 'gallery' for art on my website, so spent hours putting a selection of my images up as slideshows. Each slideshow was assigned to a category - acrylics, etc.

This is my watercolor gallery. I hope you'll take a look and enjoy. It does contain a couple of images that haven't been seen before. I also have watercolors in other categories - miniatures and SFA 4x6 & 5x7. Also I do a lot of ACEOs as watercolors - these I have sorted into categories, too, and provided slideshows of selected works. However these are sorted by Subject/theme (animals, houses, etc.) Maybe if you have a little time on your hands, you might like to spend a little time to view. I hope your enjoy them.

CLICK TO VIEW SLIDESHOW OF SOME OF MY SELECTED WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS

Happy 2009!

~Jillian
http://www.JillianCrider.com

Lake Lanier Quackers" 2.5x3" watercolor painting

"Lake Lanier Quakers"

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR
MINIATURE FINE ART
SMALL FORMAT ART *SFA*
on watercolor paper.

2.5" x 3"
"There is a lot of detail and hours of work in this. I am a member of the Miniature Art Society of Florida and past member of other miniature societies. I did this for a special display of miniature art."

This work looks so lovely framed. I've got it listed on ebay, with just over a day to go.
VIEW HERE

~Jillian
http://www.JillianCrider.com

22

4 x 6 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2009.

This is a self portrait of myself at 22, painted for the EBSQ Self Portrait show and the WNW watercolour group self portrait challenge.

At 22 I was still a student, it was the dog end of the 80's and I had big hair and a big pout.

Hyacinthus

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.

Hyacinthus was a Spartan youth loved by both Apollo and Zephyrus. While playing discuss with Apollo, Zephyrus, the god of the west wind, jealous of Hyacithnus' preference for Apollo, blew the discus so it hit Hyacinthus in the head, killing him. Apollo used Hyacinthus' blood to create the hyacinth flower.

Lady Ice

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache, 2008.

The first painting of the new year! Inspired by the cold and icy weather we are having at the moment...

A spirit of winter,Lady Ice wanders the night, her ice jewelled dress and scarf leaving a sparkling frosty trail accross the land.

Life Study - Pam

Pam, Watercolor, 20 x 15

detail, Pam

Bella

To follow Mark.....here is a portrait of Bella. She belongs to the owner of the company my husband works for. Apparently she brings her to work and carries her around. She's awfully cute, don't you think?

8.5 x 11

Sadie

4 x 6 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2008.

This sweet little spaniel portrait was commissioned by my aunt Mary to give as a Christmas gift to her son and daughter-in-law.

Fuju Persimmons

Watercolor, 5 x 7
I'm always happy when I have home grown subjects. These were as delicious to eat as they were to paint!

St. Paul and St. Francis Over Valletta, Malta

21 x 29.5 cm, watercolour and gouache, 2008.

This is another commission for the Franciscan Friars of Malta to celebrate the Pauline year and the 800th Anniversary next year of the Franciscan order. It shows Saint Paul and Saint Francis over the capital city of Malta, Valletta. St Paul is in his standard red and green colours and carries his symbolic sword, while Francis is in the traditional Franciscan habit and is preaching to the birds.

Painting from the Model

I love to paint the figure whenever I get the chance. My artist friend Kamillia organizes a model to come to her studio. About 6 other people can fit in the space to paint, and we all contribute to pay the model. 16 x 16

DSDF 15-16 Watercolor Boots Oscar Myers

"My Winter Thoughts" 5.5x8.5 watercolors

Sung to the tune of the Oscar Myers jingle:
"Oh I wish we had a California winter
'cuz Arkansas just gets too cold for me!
My feet get cold and only Ugg shoewear keep them warm,
And those datburn things just do not come for free!" *curtsy* :)

Painted as my challenge response to Karin Jurick's DSDF

Blonde Ambition

Watercolor on cold press 5 x 7

Early Winter Farm ~ Pennsylvania ~

Here's another landscape from me. Size is 5x7 inches.
Painted from memories of Pennsylvania.
Happy Winter, everyone!
Elaine

Misty Gorge

"Misty Columbia Gorge" - a Northwest site everyone should get a chance to see! I painted this in the Skamania Lodge - looking out the huge windows - a fire at my back.

No moment could be as warm and cozy!

This is an ACEO (2.5"x3.5") and is on it's way to Iraq, where my daughters friend has been for just over a month. It will be a reminder of home that he can carry in his wallet.

A little world - ACEO

This month's Theme Week of the ACEO E-bay group is "snowglobes"
I enjoyed so much painting this little mices and imagine them alive inside the globe.

About This Piece:
Watercolor on 140 lbs Canson Paper painted with Winsor & Newton artist's paint, black indian ink and white water base marker
-:¦:- »-(¯`v´¯)-» -:¦:- -:¦:- »-(¯`v´¯)-» -:¦:- -:¦:- »-(¯`v´¯)-» -:¦:-
What's a snowglobe if not a little world.

The fortunes of snowglobe isn't in the object itselfs it's in what you can see inside, a little world that makes you dream and brings your mind into a tale, a moment that keeps life and tousands snowflakes steal a wisheper.

Our little mices are still skating, as time goes by you shake the globe and can still say "Look it's snowing!!!"

Zephyrus ACEO

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolour and gouache , 2008.

Zephyrus was another of the Anemoi, the God of the gentle west wind, brother of Boreas. He was known as the messenger of spring. In one story, he and Apollo vied for the love of a handsome Spartan youth, Hyacinth. Hyacinth chose Apollo, which made Zephyrus mad with jealousy. He later found them playing with a discus, and blew a gust of wind that caused the discus to hit Hyacinth in the head and kill him. Apollo then created the hyacinth flower from his blood

FOUR O'CLOCKS

White "Four O'Clocks", the "Alba" variety. White flowers are always my favorites. I always envisioned a garden of all white flowers. Wouldn't that be amazing!

My watercolor blog: http://paintinginwatercolor.blogspot.com

White Roses

Seems like I can't stop painting flowers. I wonder if there's some deep psychological reason for that. They just make me feel comfortable. Anyway, this one is a white "John Kennedy" rose. In order to create the illusion of "white", I used so many colors - gamboge, transparent yellow, sap green, hooker's green, ultramarine blue, and burnt sienna.

My watercolor blog: http://paintinginwatercolor.blogspot.com

From Dragon to Sphinx

The Dragon is one of my old pieces, and I am redoing it as a Sphinx, applying composition principles I've learned recently, such as value patterns, balance, and pathway for the eye.
The Dragon is ink and watercolor, approximately 4.5 x 4.5 inches.
The Sphinx sketch is ink and watercolor about the same size. I plan to do an oil or acrylic painting of it.
You can read more about it in my blog, Thick Air Gallery.

Is this really for Santa?" - ACEO

Watercolor on Fabriano 140lbs paper painted with Winsor & Newton artist's paint.


In the house everybody's sleeping... waiting for the old nice man. The dark is enlighten only by a candle that shines in the night. A shadow comes through the living room and reaches the ligh attracted by the sweet fragrance of the gingerbread biscuits and coffee. Maybe a taste... but: "Is this really for Santa???"

Quilted Challenge in Watercolor Group

"Quilted Hat Lady". 4x6 on cp 140# paper. From a photo I took of my niece. I love to use a photo as a starting point, and then find a creative direction to take the painting in.

Saint Martin de Porres ACEO

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, 2008.

Born in 1579 in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son of a Spanish noble and a black former slave, Saint Martin de Porres is known for the work he did for the poor and sick during his life. He is the patron Saint of many things, incuding people of mixed race, Peru and public health. He is usually shown with a broom to symbolise that he saw no job as beneath him and the austerity of his life. He died in 1639 and was canonised in 1962.