ChristmasPaintingExchange

Look what I got from my dear Artcolony friend Ellie Sethman from California. Each year we have a painting exchange and we draw names and keep it a secret until we all open them on Christmas Day (Well, we're supposed to wait...Kay Smith sorta jumped the gun this year!). I LOVE IT! Ellie is known for her kalidescope paintings and her miniature paintings...I love both her techniques and could never to either...especially the miniatures. This little gem is 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in size...and she sent it matted and framed. I'm such a lucky gal! There is no way I could ever accomplish the detail (and you all know I love detail) on this size of a painting. My photography skills aren't that great as this is crooked, but just wanted you to see this wonderful Christmas gift.

Christmas Cardinals

Thought I'd post my "probably finished" Christmas Cardinals. As usual, there will be some tweaks here and there to deal with after looking at this for a day or two. Just wanted to break some kind of record and post a WIP to the finished stage...I seem to be bad about not reposting when I'm finished. I have a new painting in the works that I'm anxious to get back to and it seems that I do better when I finish what's "on deck".

Christmas Cardinals

Yesterday at our art retreat, a friend brought in a little card with holly, snow and cardinals so I thought I'd put my twist on a little painting of the birds. Funny thing...when I paint small (as in 5x7) I revert back to my old wildlife pen and ink line drawing days and get really tight. Isn't it about par to fall back on old habits!! I'll draw some more holly and berries in here and there and decide on a background (probably some vague washes) and finish up the cardinals when the little painting tells me what to do. I've also painted some poinsettias for the season...just can't stay away from red!