Peacock Week: Aluminum Cuff

I love this Aluminum Peacock Cuff by dirtystory!


This is peacock in a way that I've never seen before! It's so chic and modern. I love cuffs - if you didn't notice 'Bangle Week' last week lol. The colour and pattern of the traditional feather is there, with the smooth lines and sophisticated feel that the aluminum gives. It's such a fun piece!

Peacock Week: Feather Earrings

These Peacock Feather Earrings, by katinkapinka, are perfect to start "Peacock Week" with.


These chic earrings capture the full beauty of a peacock's feather's without any added details to distract you. Sometimes less is more, and these earrings are living, bold and beautiful evidence of this.

Bangle Week: Silver Cuff Butterfly Bracelet

This whimsical Silver Cuff Butterfly Bracelet is a one of a kind piece by PoPkO.


This bangle has real butterfly wing incorporated into it. Don't worry - these butterfly components are from a butterfly conservation where these lovelies life out a long and happy life! A very trendy and earthy piece, perfect for all nature and city lovers!

Bangle Week: Sapling

Sometimes when you wear very neutral or plain clothes, you need a bold piece. That's what 'Sapling' by thearthistorian is.

Once again in a refreshing lime colour, this is the perfect statement piece for summer. It's big and chunky design will make any outfit fun and spontaneous. It is handpainted, so as thearthistorian states, it the "painting that travels".

Bangle Week: A is for...

The "A is for..." bangle by kapcity is perfect for me, but depending on your name, you might need to request a different letter ;o)


This is the perfect bangle for any crafter / artisan or lovers of these. The collage portion gives it a wonderful handmade feel. I really love the personal touch of having my (our your) first letter on and item I'm wearing. Kapcity also states in her listings that she is completely happy to make this lovely item in a letter that best suits your 'bangle-wearing-needs' :o)

My Crackle Paint Experiment

A couple weeks ago, I got intrigued by a product: "Golden's Crackle Paste." I tend to be a curious artist, so I just had to try it out. When reading up on the product - nothing was stressed more then unpredictability of the product. So many things affect the results: what you mix with it, temperature, humidity and more. But that's alright, because it was an experiment! This is what I got:

Resurrection - Acrylic on Masonite board, 9 x 12"

This piece, Resurrection, is about bringing new life to what was otherwise considered dead. That there is always hope, even when you think things are over. It displays the natural power of water in our world, and how important it is.


Ok - so I worked on Masonite board. I read that this product might warp your support - so Masonite was a safe support. I gesso-ed it, and prepped it as normal. I didn't mix colour with the paste, but since I read about it sometimes being fragile, I added some gel medium. I think this is why it only cracked a little bit. Next time I will just try the paste and hope that it doesn't fall apart. But, the gel medium also let me build it up abit, and not have the entire portion cracked - so it turned out for the best! I only coated a little less than half of the support - I wanted a smooth upper portion. I let the medium harden and cure for a couple days before painting over it.

I used paint mixed with glazing medium to achieve the colour - varying the consistency as needed. After, I coated the entire piece with a highly glossy protective coat - I love highly textured glossy pieces hehe.

This piece is not yet listed for sale, but it is available if you're interested just contact me: angievanden@gmail.com I will post once I have it listed somewhere if it doesn't go before then :o)

Bangle Week: Lime

This bangle, Lime, by azurine looks as delicious as candy!
Now, I may be a bit biased, but green is my favorite color; although this bangle can be purchased in a variety of colors. The color is fun and the polka dot design is completely playful. I really like the way the bangle clasps shut and the metal portion - it's quite sleek. Each one of these bangles are completely unique in their own nature, since the white motif is hand painted!

As an added bonus, azurine is a fellow Canadian! :o)

It's been busy in the studio

I've been busy painting this past week in the studio. I have been working on a few commissions from my Etsy shop and some from my Artfire shop. As well, I've been working on a commissioned ocean-scene painting - a little different from my normal style.

A Custom Family Tree - Gets yours

A Custom painting based on this painting

Studio shot of the ocean painting in progress - lots to do still, but it's a fun painting! (Click to make bigger :o)

One thing for sure: despite being so busy, I've been able to just paint away every day - life doesn't get better than that! :o)

Formal Dress Week: Canary Dress

Hollystalder's Canary Dress would have to be my absolute favourite of the week! Always save the best for last!.


I could definitely see myself in the flirty, colourful dress. The layers would sway with every movement, and would look very sexy. I've been drawn to the beautiful yellow dresses lately, as I'm sure you may have noticed. The length of this gown is perfect - good for serious-formal affairs as well as fun-formal affairs.

This dress is sexy and summer, with a dash of sass, mixed in a blender, and poured out in a martini glass just in time for summer!

Formal Dress Week: Signature Bias Pin-tuck Dress

This elegant Signature Bias Pin-tuck Dress in red silk charmeuse, by prizysebastian, demonstrates that sometimes less is more.

This sophisticated red gown is very chic and romantic. The fluttery sleeves add a touch of movement and flirtiness to the dress. I just imagine that the material of this dress would feel so soft and wonderful against your skin. The rich red colour is simply a classic - everyone needs a cute red dress as much as a black dress in their closets.

Pocket Mirrors are Now Available!

Pocket mirrors are now available in both my Etsy and Artfire shops! I was so excited about getting this lovelies, and now I can share them with you :o) They come in six designs: Poppies, Cherry Blossoms, Circle of Friends, Red Balloon, Retro Falling and Crimson Flourishes. Get them quick, since there are limited quantities of all of them!

Formal Dress Week: Lemon Drop Dress

This Lemon Drop Dress by sarahseven looks as delicious as the candy itself!


I'm especially draw to the sheerness of the fabric, and of the little bit of lace poking out at the bottom and at the top as the bow. This is not stero-typical formal gown. It's sort of indie meets formal meets princess meets sunshine. The chiffon fabric is a gorgeous shade of yellow. It's not too bright, but it's not so dull that it's not playful anymore.

Working hard

Just a shot of my studio from this weekend. It was a wet and rainy weekend - but that gave me plenty of time to work on that commission for a fellow Etsian :) (It's almost done now!).

That's my rose plant on the left - it's doing great considering it doesn't have full sun as much as it should; or ever. My window is huge and looks out onto undeveloped land - full of trees, it's quite nice and inspiring :)

Formal Dress Week: Satin Bubble Dress

This satin bubble dress by decadentdesignz is for the fashion-driven, adventurous diva.


The hard candy pink satin of this dress adds a complete feminine touch to this edgy dress. The unique design captures the eye, and anyone wearing this piece will have all eyes on them. The modest neckline beautifully balances the daring hemline at the bottom. This fun gown is perfect for an upbeat formal event.

New Art Supplies!!

I got some new art supplies in today! I ordered them from Currys.com - a great supplier if you're Canadian (then you don't have to pay high shipping / customs)...I ordered Thursday I think, and I already have them!


I got some paint colors that I was running low on - or already out of; and then some new ones. By the way, prices were more then half of Micheal's in most cases! I also got some Masonite boards - a cheap way to experiment new techniques on :)

I was using Van Gogh watercolors - but I don't' like their caps so much (they just get mucked up too easily, and then the tubes dry out :( - so I've switched to Windsor & Newton Cotman watercolors; a switch I'm very happy with. It's an eventual switch - since I'm not going to just throw out the other paint.

The other two tubes are acrylic. I work with both Golden and Liquitex paints. It's a matter of both the colour palettes offered by them, and the paint texture that I sometimes want. I can't bring myself to only work with one - so I use both :)

What I'm most excited about though is the crackle paint. It's supposed to give your painting a cracked texture - and I've already have some 'experiment' swatches going. It's emphasized, even by the company, that this product is very unpredictable - so I'm going to want to play with it a lot before I use it seriously on a piece. Nonetheless, I'm still overly excited about it hehe.

Wow this was quite long! I guess I wasn't joking when I said I was excited! hehe

Formal Dress Week: Grey Formal Gown

This grey formal gown by connie4u is fairy tale without the excess, unnecessary heavy poof.


This dark grey cocktail gown has stunning beading / lace detail on the form-fitting bodice of the gown. The feathering of material at the bottom adds a bit of playfulness, while the length keeps this dress sexy and chic. This statement piece lets you conform to the formality required while remaining in a league all of your own.

Sale Time!

It's a beautiful weekend - the sun is shining, and it just makes me want to give everyone a little love!

My Etsy store is participating in the "Yart Sale" - I am offering free shipping to all orders in North America (US / Canada), and international shipping is discounted accordingly :)

My entire Artfire store is 20% off this weekend!


Both of these sales will end Sunday night / early Monday morning. :) Now back to painting for me... :)

Night Cityscape

I've been working on this night cityscape for almost two years now I think. It's an oil painting for my older brother, so there wasn't no real rush on it I suppose: but it still needs to get done lol. So I thought I'd share the progress pictures that I had taken all the while, the last being what I had painted a couple nights ago.



And finally, where it is now. Sooo close to being done, yet so far away!

Sketching Starfish

I've had an unusual attracting to ocean fauna and flora lately.

I think it has a little part to do that I was watching the Planet Earth series, and the ocean / water ones were my favorite. It might also have a little to do with a commission I'm doing for a friend, where she wants an ocean-like theme, so I'm constantly looking at pictures, another sketch seen here.

I'm not a sketcher, I'm more a painter - so a lot of my sketches, once the 'general idea' has been made, go unfinished. Blushes. It's nothing against sketching, I'm just more in tune with a paint brush :)

Autumn In The Petite Forest Original Painting

Autumn in the Petite Forest

The rich colors of fall paint the forest and make it into a stunning spectacle.

I know that no one wants to think about fall with summer on our doorstep, but I just couldn't resist the vibrant colours - and fall is a seeming title for the colour combination. I'll try to think "summer thoughts" from now on hehe. The original painting is available on Etsy.

Leaf and Acorn Botany

Leaf and Acorn Botany - Watercolor

I have a new painting available in my shop. As many know, I really enjoy experimenting and trying new techniques alongside my more traditional styles.

Leaf and Acorn Botany (Detail)

This has been a piece that has been in the making for awhile, ever since I got my hands on a book of botanical art. It's a lot more modern then most botanical pieces, but I had wanted to incorporate a lot of the color that I usually use. It is really just a coincidence that this painting shares the same white outlining as my latest River Rocks painting utilizes.

I guess I just have a love-hate relationship with the outline brush :)

Wrap around me

I really like the print on this scarf by RedPrairiePress. It's in a sky blue ink, different from the traditional white or black ink printed onto scarfs that I have seen a lot of.

Brown Folkprint Scarf - RedPrairiePress

The colour of the scarf material is definitely one that I'm a fan of. Although warmer months are coming, this is a great piece to pair up with a tank or tee too keep you warm one cooler summer nights.

A natural disco

This Square Mother of Pearl Hanging Ball by Sigmosiacs is beautiful! The square shape of the mosaic pieces, and the almost white colour of the ball make me think of a disco ball - but one more appropriate for a whimsy, natural-like gathering.


I think it would be perfect in the bedroom of a child, teenager or adult who may not like something as em, corny, as a disco ball; but would still like something with the same idea to hang and decorate their room. The mother of pearl pieces are what make it's so lovely - they softly shimmer in the light.

River Rocks

River Rocks is finally complete! This 12 x 12" acrylic beauty definitely tested my patience with all the lining required! The colors (especially the blues) are more true in the close ups:

Now, it only took - what - 4ish months to complete hehe. If you click on the images, they will get nice and big for you :)

Little Green Paintings

I love painting little miniature paintings - especially when I have an idea that I'm not 100% about, the I can experiment with it almost risk free! If I'm lucky, like this time, then I end up with a cute little piece of art.

Green Tree I Available on Etsy

Green Tree II Available on ArtFire

I decided to 'spread the love', and place one of each in both my Etsy and Artfire stores. If you are interested in both, then just contact me and I'll make a custom listing for both in the store of your preference :).