Butterflies

Sometimes I just don't have a clue what I'm going to paint when I sit down at my work table. But since the table sits in front of a north window overlooking my gardens, I often sit there and imagine what it will like when Spring finally arrives. A few days ago I thought of all the colorful butterflies that come to visit, and that's what inspired this miniature ACEO painting done with pen & ink and watercolor.
J. Elaine Hays (Lanie)
www.happywatercolors.com

Plein air roses

"My Roses" by Theresa Bayer. The dog next door was barking up a storm while I did some plein air. This was my second painting. The first one didn't make it.

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Roger Mortimer

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

An ACEO painting of Roger Mortimer, lover of Isabella, Queen of England. Born in 1287, he was married to Joan de Geneville in 1301. His father, Baron Wigmore died in 11304 and as he was underage the Kings favourite Piers Gaveston became his guardian, finally getting his full inheritance and title in 1306. Through his marriage he had gained estates in Wales and Ireland and he was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by Edward. By 1318 he had joined the opposition to Edward and the Despencers. He was imprisoned in the Tower after refusing to obey a summons but escaped to France in 1323. It was there he met Isabella and not long after they became lovers and joined forces to depose Edward. They landed back in England in 1326 and were generally supported. The Despencers were executed and Edward captured, imprisoned and forced to abdicate. Isabella and Edward's son was crowned Edward III but Isabella and Mortimer ruled as regents for the next three years. In 1328 Mortimer was made Earl of the March, one among many titles and estates he was granted while regent. His greed and ambition naturally caused resentment and jealousy. After ordering the execution of Edward II's younger brother in 1330, Edward III seized Isbella and Mortimer and took control. Mortimer was placed in the Tower and a month later hanged at Tyburn.

www.marksatchwill.com

"Colonial Garden" by Jillian Crider (artistjillian)

"Colonial Garden"
2.5x3.5" ACEO watercolor

To be listed 4.15pm PST (ebay time) today.

http://stores.ebay.com/Art-of-Jillian-Crider

Painting is better than the scan. *sigh*

~Jillian

Nubble Lighthouse Watercolor Commission

This was a watercolor commissioned by a couple who already own three of my paintings. This was to commemorate a holiday trip to Maine, USA last year. They say they want to go back again, as the coastline is stunning. Sounds like my sort of place, since seascapes and coastal scenes are a my favourite subject. More of them can be seen on my website www.artyman.co.uk

Glamourpuss

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

A painting of a blonde glamour girl - something non-historical for a change!

www.marksatchwill.com

Pink Rhodies

As I stated in my previous post, I just haven't been able to bring myself to paint any more winter scenes this week. So I'm looking ahead to Spring and all the beautiful blooms. This is an ACEO Watercolor 2.5 x 3.5 inches.
J. Elaine Hays (Lanie)
www.happywatercolors.com

My Turtledove

This is my entry for January's Nibblefest Art Contest. The theme was combine two animals or more. I wanted something happy to look at but I am not a surrealist which I sort of think this is, so i struggled a bit trying to determine how to execute it. And the result is a multi-layered watercolor which is kind of interesting to look at, eh?

Enjoy the Day

It's clear and sunny and dry here. A perfect day for winter in Oregon.

It's not nearly warm enough for windsurfing or any water sport but it's gorgeous!

I can see all the mountains (volcanoes) so I'm off to take a few photos. Hopefully the camera will capture a bit of what I can see.

Lee Pierce

Piers Gaveston

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

An ACEO portrait of Piers Gaveston, favourite of Edward II. Piers and Edward met when young men in 1300. Edwards father, King Edward I, soon came to disapprove of the close relationship and when asked by Edward to give land and title to Gaveston became furious and banished Gaveston to France. Soon after Edward I died and Piers was recalled. Though Edward II was married to Isabella in 1308, and Gaveston to Margaret De Clare, it is very likely the two men had a physical relationship. Certainly Edwards preference for Piers over Isabella came to cause resentment. It also caused resentment among the nobles who were shocked when Edward left Gaveston as regent while he travelled to France to marry Isabella, and Gaveston made many enemies among the nobility, notably Thomas Plantagenet, 2nd Earl of Lancaster. In 1312 he raised an army against Edward and Gaveston. Though Edward escaped south, Gaveston was eventually captured and taken to Warwick Castle, where Lancaster approved his execution. He was taken to Blacklow Hill, ran through with a sword and beheaded.

www.marksatchwill.com

Bouguereau and his romantic visions

"After Bouguereau's Psyche et L'Amour" ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches

This is a cropped version of my latest painting. You can visit my Ebay listings if you'd like to see the whole piece. I do enjoy Bouquereau's figurative paintings as he is so good about capturing a moment which is what I try to do with my art. He had an excellent command of the human proportions though I do suspect he did them a bit stylized as they all look so perfectly attractive.

Edelweiss

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR
ACEO size 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Painted on ARCHES 140 lbs watercolor paper

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

I spend most of my week-end in the Alps mountain which are
not far from the place where I live.
The season now don’t allows long plen-air sessions,
but Sunday it was warm outside with a beautiful sun
and I could just quickly paint this lovely frozen edelweiss
remained (I wonder how) flowered.

Loredana

Edward II

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



An ACEO portrait of Edward II. Born in 1284 he became King after the death of his father Edward I in 1307. Though married to Isabella of France in 1308, and having four children with her, he bestowed more attention on male favourites, firstly Piers Gaveston and later Hugh Despenser. These relationships caused outrage not only because homosexuality was considered a heinous sin, but also because these men were low born and Edward bestowed lands, title and riches on them over his Lords and Nobles. Edward was also a weak ruler, and the favourites wielded power. This caused great resentment, not only among the nobles but also from Isabella. Gaveston was murdered in 1312. By 1320 Hugh Despencer had replaced him. Isabella was sent to France in 1525 and while there plotted with her then lover Roger Mortimer to invade England and depose Edward. In 1326 they did this, Despencer was executed and Edward captured and imprisoned. He was forced to abdicate in favour of his son Edward III. While imprisoned at Berkeley Castle Edward was supposedly murdered on the orders of Isabella and Mortimer in 1327. However it is also believed that Edward actually escaped and lived as a hermit in Italy until 1338.

www.marksatchwill.com

WAITING IN THE SHADOW

ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR

ACEO size 2.5 x 3.5 inches

Painted on ARCHES 140 lbs watercolor paper

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

This is a baby ballet dancer waiting for her turn in dance’s rehearsal, the hours are long and sometimes boring, so she spend her time looking at the other girls
trying and trying their dance step… until her teacher calls and :
“Oh, it’s apt to me!”

Loredana

I invite you to visit my ebay ME page to know something about me and see some of my auctions here

Isabella, She-Wolf of France, Queen Of England

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

An ACEO portrait of Isabella, the wife of Edward II of England. The daughter of the French King Philip IV, Isabella was married to Edward in 1308, aged twelve. Edward was initially a popular King, but it soon became apprarent that he had "favourites", men who became his constant companions and on whom he relied and bestowed favours and riches, first Piers Gaveston and later Hugh le Despenser. Even so, Edward and Isbella produced four children , the first in 1312. However, she returned to France in 1325 having had enough of the situation and she became lovers with Roger Mortimer. Together they planned to return to England and defeat Edward. They landed in England in 1326, captured and executed Depenser and forced Edward to abdicate in favour of his son, Edward III, with Isabella and Mortimer ruling as regents. Edward II was imprisoned and was supposedly murdered on the orders of Isabella but it is now thought quite possible he actually escaped to the continent and lived as a hermit. In 1330, when Edward III reached 18 he staged a coup and deposed Isabella and Mortimer, having Mortimer executed. Isabella was retired to Castle Rising and lived out a long life, eventually being allowed to visit court and dying in 1358, aged 66.

www.marksatchwill.com

Dreaming of warmer weather

As I sat here trying to decide what to paint this morning, I just couldn't bring myself to paint any more snow scenes. So I imagined a pleasant country day where I could walk in the fields without hat, gloves, scarf, and layers of clothing to keep warm. It was an nice break from a cold January day. ACEO Watercolor.

J. Elaine Hays
www.happywatercolors.com

Glacier Lily

A break in the weather - it's only cold, no rain! A tiny Glacier Lily pokes up through the mass of ferns. A welcome sign that Spring isn't so far off.

This is another ACEO on Arches 140# paper. 2.5 x 3.5 inches full of life.

Lee Pierce

Daily Watercolor: Birdhouse House

I'm busy painting pen & wash (watercolor & ink) ACEOs 2.5x3.5"
This will be listed later today. Not long after I started doing ACEOs I did quite a few houses which were very popular, as well as some commissions.
I think I'll spend the day doing some and listing. I did this one last night.
I used to sketch houses for real estate companies, and did over 9,000 - and still love doing them!



Visit my ebay store to see all my listings: http://stores.ebay.com/Art-of-Jillian-Crider

Thank you for looking.
~Jillian
(artistjillian)