busy little village

Busy in Town
It's the start of the "season"! Whether you're a tourist or townie your plate is full.

Two New Listings

Two new listings at my new Zazzle store. Image comes from one of my original watercolor aceo paintings from my poppy series I did over a year ago. Background is transparent and says "poppy's li'l girl". The text is fully customizable so you can change it if you 'd like. Take a look at it here:

Poppy's Li'l Girl Infant Onesies & Toddler/Kids Shirts

Fun Cool New Stuff

It took me a while, but I'm on Zazzle now. My user name is Tracee_Murphy. I don't have much yet since I'm just getting started, but my plan is to add a few items daily.

I also updated my website today Check it out--Artwork by Tracee Murphy

Join me at Tracee Murphy Watercolors on Facebook! It's a great way to stay current with new listings of orignal paintings and prints.

Hope to see you there!

Flaming Parrot Tulip

8.5 x 8.5 inches, watercolor, 2010.

A painting of another variety of tulip from my garden, these bright and beautiful Flaming Parrot tulips are just gorgeous.

Big Moon Rising...

Moon Rising
Looking for a "little" fun and a change led me to this painting. The moon isn't really that close, it's just an illusion.

Little Flower Pots

Just felt like painting some little pots today. Must be Spring. :-)
Both are ACEO

Carnaval de Nice Tulip

8.5 x 8.5 inches, watercolor, 2010.

Another variety of tulip from my garden.

Our Garden

8 x 11 inches, watercolor, 2010.

This month's WNW challenge was to paint "plein aire" - out in the open. I went and sat out in my garden, as it was a lovely warm spring morning. This really was a challenge for me, and really took me out of my comfort zone. It took me a while to get going and I ended up with a painting in a much looser style than I usually work in.

Big Red Tulip

8.5 x 8.5 inches, watercolor, 2010.

The tulips in the garden have been gorgeous this year. This is an example of one, soaking up the sun.

Mad Tea Party

"Mad Tea Party" Watercolor on medium weight hot press watercolor paper. Size 8.5 x 11 inches.

This is a sample piece from my illustration portfolio. Taken from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, it portrays the Mad Tea Party, hosted by the Mad Hatter. The March Hare and the sleeping Dormouse are also at the table. In the distance is the White Rabbit. This is a companion piece to my watercolor "Alice does the Math for Humpty." You can see that it is the same Alice character in both paintings.

Available on EBAY

Alice Does the Math for Humpty

"Alice Does the Math for Humpty" Original Watercolor on 8x10 inch medium weight hot press watercolor paper. Click on image to see enlarged

I did this painting as a sample for an illustration portfolio. It is a scene from "Through the Looking-Glass" by Lewis Carroll, in which Alice encounters Humpty Dumpty. Here is a quote from the book:

`You don't know what you're talking about!' cried Humpty Dumpty. `How many days are there in a year?'

`Three hundred and sixty-five,' said Alice.

`And how many birthdays have you?'

`One.'

`And if you take one from three hundred and sixty-five what remains?'

`Three hundred and sixty-four, of course.'

Humpty Dumpty looked doubtful. `I'd rather see that done on paper,' he said.

There are a lot of fun little things in the painting: a dragonfly, a rabbit, also Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee in the background. The column on Humpty's wall has a relief sculpture of the Cheshire Cat.

Available on eBay!

"Ridin' the Rails" Miniature watercolor.

Just did this one today:
1.35 x 3.25"
"Ridin' the Rails"
So it's about 1/2 the size of an ACEO.
Transparent watercolor. As usual, the scan does not do it justice.

~Jillian

Backlit Wild Rose

I haven't participated in this blog in forever, but after I had listed it on my own blog and saw my other here, I wanted to say hello. I've never much time for "me time" being a full time working mother who is raising a two boys on my own during the week, a tball coach for my boys, taxi driver to and fro karate and art lessons for the boys, and with an ailing mother who lives too far away for me to take good enough care, it's hard to get here enough. Anyway, it seems that all I do is complain about "not having enough time" But as it is a special weekend, a weekend of Our Savior, I wanted to say to all of you here on this blog, that I have missed you and that I am wishing you all a blessed Easter holiday, and may you have the joy and love of all in your hearts and minds, today and allways, even when I'm not around I wish this for you. Pls. know that I frequent as often as I can and don't get to comment as much as I'd like, but do know that I highly admire all your works of wonderful art and am delighted to be a part of you here!

God Bless and Happy Easter and Spring!
Lori

Sheila Dressup

Sheila Dressup, Watercolor, 16 x 16

Here is a recently finished watercolor that is currently hanging at the Spezzano Gallery (see my blog for exhibit details)

Enchanted Forest - Pinecone Challenge

I too, took the WNW challenge this month to paint pine cones. This was quite an unusual experience for me as I am in one of the worst ME/CFS relapses I have ever experienced.

It is 12"x16" transparent watercolor on Arches cold press.

You can visit my blog to read the details of how this painting was created.

I have found it wonderful to see each members pine cone creations. What a great challenge!

~Melanie

Pinecone

6 x 6 inches, watercolor, 2010.

This month's WNW Challenge was to paint a pinecone...voila!
Thank you to Lee for the reference!

Amaryllis

8 x 9 inches, watercolor, 2010.

A beautiful red amaryllis flower. I look forward to this plant flowering every year, like an old friend coming to visit.

Watercolor Wet and Wild Challenge - Pinecone

What a challenge for me...Whoa!!!....what a lesson! Lost in the maze of the form and using monochromatic brown, my most unfavorite color. In the end, I'm happy with it. Now what to do with it??

Jelly Babies and the Strawberry Star Tree

7.5 x 9 inches, watercolor, 2010.

Another of my confectionary still life paintings, this time featuring jelly babies, cola bottles, strawberry jellies and star sweets.

Jelly Jumble

10 x 8 inches, watercolor, 2010.

Another of my confectionary still life paintings, this time jelly shapes jumbled up together.

Chocolate Choices

11 x 6.5 inches, watercolor, 2010.

An assortment of chocolates, dark, milk and white - which would you choose?

SUNFLOWERS AND CHERRIES

This was the result of a monthly challenge in our watercolor group, WNW. It was the first time I'd ever painted cherries, and I LOVED it. So much fun! The sunflowers gave me the opportunity to add some very complimentary greens.

Please visit my watercolor blog at http://paintinginwatercolor.blogspot.com

Spring IS coming!

  “Coral Daffodil” ACEO

© Melanie Pruitt 2010

I completed this new ORIGINAL watercolor ACEO (2.5”x3.5”) today. I’m enjoying the beginning signs of spring here in the NW – but so many of my dear friends across the country are still snow bound!

So this is for all of you! May Spring touch you soon!

You can find this ACEO in my Etsy shop (pay with PayPal) or in my 1000Markets shop.

Walnut Whip Waltz

9.5 x 6.5 inches, watercolour, 2010.

I used to love walnut whips as a child - they were a favourite of my Mum's too. I hadn't had one for years and when deciding what chocolate to paint suddenly thought of them. I wasn't even sure they still made them. They do, but not like they used to. The chocolate case is now moulded rather than piped and the creamy inside is more sickly than I remember. The walnuts used to form the lid of the chocolate pot but now they are stuck on the top. So, a bit of a disappointment. Still, they made a good subject, looking like like chocolate daleks!