Etsy Featurette: Steppie

In an effort to celebrate my love for my new haircut and the most wonderful bangs, I would like to feature Steppie's print, "Bangin' Brunette"

I immediately thought of this print when I started my search on Etsy for the perfect "Bangs Feature" hehe. It's just too cute for it's own good!

Have a good Wednesday everyone! I would like to say the week is half over (and almost give a hip horray)...but I'm working until Sunday. So for all you Monday to Friday-ers, be happy today. I will be happy on Thursday, and even happier on Sunday when this long stretch is over lol. :)

My New Do!

I've been wanting to chop my hair off for awhile, but could just not think of what I wanted. Now you see that my hair was quite long - pretty much mid back. And with the summer it was getting hot and horrible - I would just put it up in a clip / pony tail / bun just to get it out of the way.
My hair needed style. And this is what I did:


It is quite shorter now...and so much lighter!! I know it always takes a few days for 'drastic' hair cuts to sink in. But so far I am loving it! I guess I'll see how it goes when I style it myself, and that will determine whether it will be a love-hate relationship or not. :)

Moss I ACEO

Moss I ACEO - Watercolor on 140lb watercolor paper

The last time I was at my parents place, I took a lot of pictures of moss with the intent of painting them later. I just loved how it looked on the rock. Well this is the first of them!

It was based on this picture in particular. Now this isn't officially moss, it's more of a lichen - or that's what the internet has told me :)

Available on:

Venus Love

James has recently moved ( far far away...well, only an hour) for a Paramedic job. I knew I had to get him something for his new place, since it is his first step into the 'real world' - James and I have been students, so this is his first non-student housing, with a non-student job.

It was had to choose something, but finally I settled on a plant. Now...to get a plant that wasn't girly, that was easy. Meet his new Venus fly trap:

It is quite a small plant - only a couple inches high. But it is definitely a hungry plant :)

You might have noticed the design changing on my blog this week and probably into the next week. Blogger just rolled out this template design tool, and I've been dabbling in it. I really like the two side columns, but at the same time, it just doesn't look quite right. What do you think?

Constellations

I completed this painting a while back, but there were some finishing changes that I needed to do.

Constellations - Original Mixed Media painting

For instance, painting the sides a lovely black and applying a protective coating to it. But now it's ready to leave home and live in someone else wonderful home :)

I love the texture on this one. It took many layers of so many things to get it just how I wanted it. Available in my Etsy shop.

Landscape painting

I had to dabble into a painting right away after buying those books last week!

Landscape painting - Acrylic on Board

It's weird for me to paint like this, after painting with watercolor for so long. So I'm definitely feeling a learning curve. But I think it turned out good, and it can only go up from here! And of course, it's available for sale.

New painting books!

As many of you know, I am no where near formally trained. But that's okay :) I like to read, so I have tons of art books - both instruction and just compilations of beautiful works. The books are not only bery instructional, but they are wonderfully inspirational.

The first one I have acquired is, Painting peaceful country landscapes, by Annette Dozier. I got lucky, this book was on sale at my local art store for $7-ish.

The second is Clouds & Skies, by William F. Powell. I am still trying to perfect my clouds and incorporate them into my painting styles.

I can't wait to really get into these books :) I'm planning on visiting my parents in the country soon - maybe I'll bring some paints with me :o)

Sandy - Progress Shot 2

I've been working on my painting of Sandy - slowly but surly :)


I do have more done, but I can't share it all at once! ;)

Buttons

Do you know what is as cute as buttons?

Buttons - Original Watercolor Painting

This painting...or I think so lol. And, who doesn't like buttons?

Sandy - Progress shot 1

I decided I wanted to try my hand at pet portraits (and wanted a perfect opportunity to use my new Liquitex Soft Body Bright Yellow Green paint - which I solely bought because I liked the colour and without purpose).

Anyways, I started to paint my family dog, Sandy. She is now more my parents and younger brother's dog - but she gives me love whenever I visit, so I still constitute her as the family's.

The green is going to be showcased in the background, I think it will work very well with her colouring. I won't be painting her 'picture perfect' - I love colour too much for that! So I thought I would try a sort of pop-artish approach (if you want to call this that lol). I want to try and incorporate quite a bit of colour, while maintaining her light-sandy colouring.

And if you're wondering - she's a white Shepard breed - although we've been wondering for a while if there's not something else, like Huskey in her...she wasn't officially bred so there's no way to tell. But it doesn't really matter - just curiousity, my parents didn't get her just for her breed. They didn't really even care about it lol :)

Goldfinch Week: Goldfinch Handmade Brooch

Brooches are a great way to add a finishing touch to an outfit. This goldfinch brooch by lupin is just so adorable, and perfectly seasonal right now! It would look great on a jean jacket, or a light and casual blazer.


I can't believe the detail in this small piece! The rest of lupin's shop is just as equally amazing, if not more. I cannot even fathom how hard some of these detailed pieces must be to create!

Indiefixx Galleria

I'm excited to say that I got accepted for this years summertime Indiefixx Galleria!


I think what drew me in to apply for this spot was just how wonderful the design of the galleria was, and of it's current collection. I think it's the perfect spot for my watercolors :)

It is my first fairly large advertising venture, so I'm anxious to see the results from it :)

Goldfinch Week: take off greeting card

This yellow finch greeting card by saramontour is just so fresh. I love how there is so much greenery in it, yet the yellow finch is still the focal spot. Just beautiful photography!

There are also many fine art prints available at saramontour's shop!

Custom Wedding Invitation Packages!

I am pleased to announce that I am offering wedding packages! They are, of course, fully customizable. The listings I have up are just sort of guidelines - anything can be taken out, added, increased, decreased ect.


It's a really unique package - you not only get the invitations done to your precise vision; but you get the original painting, and prints to give to the parents on both sides. Precious keepsakes for you and your family and your new family.

I've included examples of what I've done in the listings. The names and places have been changed just for privacy reasons. It's just coincidence that the trees are similar - any sort of painting can be designed for your wedding!

Available on:

Supermarket

Etsy Love: TheFaerieMarket

I love flower hair pieces, and this one by TheFaerieMarket is so pretty. Simple and colourful - if you're going to do the elegant flower, you don't want it too be too loud, especially if there's other things going on with your outfit!

Etsy Love: redhotpottery

I love these birdie vases by redhotpottery. I'm sure I've featured them before, but they're just so great that I don't mind sharing them again :)


And as most know, I'm a huge fan of green - so this vase is right up my alley!

A Little Gift To You

I thought that I would give a lovely gift to all my blog readers. It's a desktop background!! I've been wanting to design one of these for awhile, and now I have one :)

It features my print, which is available to print it off for yourself through the indiefixx Feed Your Soul free art project.

You just have to click on the image to have it open large so that you can download it to your computer :)