Commissions Catch Up

In case anyone was wondering what was taking up most of my time, I've been doing lots of lovely commissions! Here are a few that I have recently completed:I would also like to note, that I am always accepting commissions - whether it be family trees, wedding pictures, and even just an idea you want me to paint. Give me a hollar at angievanden@gmail.com, and we can talk :)

Dandelion Pastures

Dandelions Pastures - 16 x 16" Acrylic Painting on Gallery Canvas

There has been tons of dandelions this spring, and so I couldn't resist painting them! On my last trip down to Paisley, James hometown, we passed so many fields that were just yellow with dandelions. Even though they're 'just a weed' - it was gorgeous! And it's now for sale in my shop :)

I took the opportunity when creating this painting to try my hand at 'wrapping' my painting around the edges, instead of painting them black like I usually do. The results - love it! I wish I had attempted this so much sooner since the results are stunning!

Also, as a treat - I have a few progress picture to show you! I wish I had taken more, but once paint starts hitting canvas, I lose track of time and everything else that I should be doing. Enjoy :)

Delicious Breakfast Muffins

I enjoy mornings, but like everyone else - sometimes I'm running a little late. I had wanted to try and create a nice breakfast muffin, so that I could eat it while walking to work. It had to be very hearty and filling - and delicious of course. I ended up adapting a recipe from Women's Health magazine, their Papaya and Pineapple Muffins. I didn't change much...but enough for me :) (My changes will be in bold).
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 C whole-wheat flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 C crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 C cubed papaya
• 1/3 C yogurt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp canola oil (I used olive oil)
• 1/4 C sugar (I used honey)
• 1/4 C agave syrup (I couldn't find this, so I just omitted it and used more crushed pineapple and yogurt)
• 1/4 C walnuts (I used more - just whatever I had left in my cupboards)
• 1/2 C dried cranberries (I used 3/4c. and then sprinkled more on top)
• One banana cubed
• 3 Tbsp of ground flaxseed

Generally, I just used more of the 'good-stuff' hehe.

(from women's health mag:)
Instructions:

1.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.

3.

In a food processor or blender, puree pineapple, papaya, and yogurt. Mix in egg, oil, sugar, and syrup.

4.

Combine pineapple and flour mixtures; fold in walnuts and cranberries.

5.

Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 12.

And ta-da! delicious morning muffins!

Blush

Blush - 9 x 12" watercolor painting

I've been trying to incorporate blushing trees for quite some time now. I finally came up with this idea. It's like that first few touches, they make you blush and tingle.

It's now available for sale in the shop

Grow Together

Grow Together - Watercolor painting

I saw these two cute little stout trees in my mom's garden, and I just thought of the whole "grow old together" sort of thing.


Don't those two just look perfect beside each other there?

The Paisley RailTrail

The last time I went to visit my honey's home town, Paisley, we took a stroll down their rail trail. It's a fairly long trail created along an old rail road. It's quite nice - they re-boarded the train bridges too, so you get a beautiful view of the river.

The trees were in blossom too!

Figures..

You can buy pets the most wonderful toys, and in this case kitty beds. But alas, they'll always sleep somewhere else - like in a lid for my paint box. Oh, Oreo you're too silly to realize that you don't even fit in it!

Beautiful veggies

I cooked an artichoke the other night - my first time, it was a semi-successful experiment. But I think I'll try again when they're on sale at the grocery store again. They are the most beautiful vegetables when you cut them open! Look at all that colour!

The Princess

My brothers and I have long been replaced with a little princess in the family - Sandy. She could get away with murder, whereas as a child, we never got away with anything. But who can blame my parents for loving her more, can you resist her? I know I couldn't.

Under the Sea

I have finally completed my long running project: Under the Sea. It has taken me just under a year - paint met canvas a year ago, just shy a month or so.


I did that painting for some close friends, and I know they'll be excited that the wait is over. They have mentioned the 'empty space' on the wall waiting for this painting, hehehe - it's cute.


You can see more pictures and close ups on my Flickr account. :o)