*****************************
Buffer Tweet this Blog with Buffer--Click the button.
| |
March 30, 2013
Hi All Artist Hearts,Well the cat is out of the bag... Did you figure out the subject from the clue I left you? "What big eyes you have. All the better to see you with my dear." We are talking about some amazingly colored tree frogs from the tropics and North America. In particular I am referring to the Red-eyed Tree Frog and the Green Tree Frog. I have also included a common little garden frog to add interest and contrast. At last I now have a working sketch as you will see below. The background is just in rough form at the moment, but you can see clearly the tree frogs and the story line in the composition taking shape.  My working title at the moment will be "Harmonizing Down at the Pond". It has been interesting to research these cute little friends. These tree frogs are NOT poisonous and are very docile in nature. This is where they gather at night to hunt and sing. They live mostly high up in the trees, but do venture closer to the water at times as well as at their mating season where they eventually lay their eggs. They breathe through their skin, so it is imperative that they be near water and keep moist at all times.It will be fun to see these little creatures develop and reveal their glorious colors. I will share some more Tree Frog facts as I go along. In the meantime please enjoy and share the new series with your friends. Once I have the sketch fully completed I will start laying in the first layers and veils of color. I can hardly wait to get started. Until next time keep painting what you love and stay inspired.Blessings,Jan.
Posted by Jan Howlett. Posted In : Harmonizing Down at the Pond
February 17, 2013
Hi All Artist Hearts,
I am getting closer to announcing our new Art Series, so stay tuned. It is still a very slow recovery for me and thus the slight delay in getting the new post done, but I have been slowly working on a new composition.
Now things may change, but a hint might involve the tropics and little creatures that tickle the color spectrum. Another hint, "you have such big eyes... all the better to see you with my dear!" :>) Curious? Me too! Until next time... shortly... stay inspired and paint what you love. Have a great day!
Blessings,
Jan
Posted by Jan Howlett. Posted In : Odds n Ends
January 13, 2013
Posted by Jan Howlett. Posted In : Home Sweet Home
December 18, 2012
Hi All Artists Hearts,This is an extra post script to finalize the "Home Sweet Home" Watercolor series. Somehow I lost the photo showing this painting in it's oval frame as it was presented to my dear Mom on her 90th Birthday this past May. I realized after I posted the last segment that I had hit the publish button before I had actually completed the write up and located this composite photo of the finished piece. So let's try again.
This was a sweet and delightful little painting that gave me great joy to paint especially since it was for a special presentation for my dear Mom. I wanted it to be cheery and lighthearted, and a even a bit whimsical. I believe it is just that. Some of the facets of this piece certainly helped to express those characteristics. From the oval format and frame, the floral vine growing around the driftwood up to the bird house, the whimsical fencing along with the little blue butterflies, including the resident lady bug all contribute to "whimsy" in this little painting that describes Finch's home in this enchanted garden where he dwells.
The soft pretty colors I chose also add to this dream-like view as the sun rays filter through the garden leading the viewer's eye directly to our primary focal point, the Purple Finch. It was great fun to create and paint the wood grain on the birdhouse as well along with it's driftwood supports.
It was simply a joy to paint and imagine life in this lovely, peaceful sun-lit garden filled with beautiful flowers and inviting creatures who share Finch's everyday life. No wonder it was so easy to title it "Home Sweet Home!"
I trust you have enjoyed this series and will visit again soon as we look forward to a brand new series yet to be titled. It may well be a spin off of this series or something entirely new. So until next time.... stay tuned and watch for the announcement and start date, hopefully, if health permits, in early January 2013.
 Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas Season as we celebrate the birth of our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who deserves all our love and worship, even as the shepherds did so many years ago on that starry night. God has provided the Gift of Salvation through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ...the best gift of all this Christmas is Christ!
"Home Sweet Home" shares this word from Psalm. 84:1 "How lovely is Your dwelling place O Lord." "Thank you Lord Jesus for loving us so unconditionally and for providing a bridge by Your finished work on Calvary's Cross to bring us back to Yourself, offering us forgiveness for all sin so we can start fresh and live for You each day." God offers us Eternal life as a free Gift. All we have to do is accept the Gift and Giver of that Gift into our hearts. What better way to celebrate Christmas this year then to give the Lord our whole heart and then serve the Him with great joy.
Thanks again for your loyalty and for joining in with us every few weeks this past year as we have journeyed through these various Watercolor series together. It's been great fun. As always stay inspired and paint what you love and let's give God all the glory. Merry Christmas and have a blessed and fruitful New Year in 2013!
Jan.
Posted by Jan Howlett. Posted In : Home Sweet Home
December 11, 2012
 Hi All Artists Hearts,
We're back temporarily for this promised Christmas post of "Home Sweet Home". Thanks for your patience. I almost managed to post this near the expected date. My recovery from my surgery is slow and still quite painful, but I am at least well enough to start back to painting again. How glad I am for the wonderful diversion of painting. I sure do miss it when I can't be at the easel.
Home Sweet Home is finally completed in this series and many of the loose ends and final detailing have been refined and edited.
Posted by Jan Howlett. Posted In : Home Sweet Home
October 28, 2012
Hi All Artists Hearts,
We can't believe it is November or that a few flurries and light frost have visited us a few times already. But we are cozy inside and enjoying the ability to fire up our paint brushes and continue our series.
 We have many more washes applied now and I'm delighted with the blend of colors that are bringing so much more life to this vignette. The most noticeable progress is seen in the early stages of my filling in the background summer sky at the top of the painting and the upper left and right sides of the grayish green forest sections suggesting a middle ground leaf coverage as well as the foundation for some of the shadows and texture to come.
The technique is wet in wet in the first few passages. After they have thoroughly dried I have begun to use wet on dry scumbling passes as I begin to bring in the closer, brighter greens and leafy suggestions.
The summer sky has several washes using the transparent and lovely cerulean blue as well as touches of cobalt blue suggesting a lovely refreshing temperature.
Other detailed touches may not be as noticeable on the leaves of the flowers, sunlit or shadowed leaves or even the roses themselves, but they are indeed progressing well now.
Our next post will bring many of these little changes together and the final rays of sunshine filtering through the forest garden will help to lead the eye to finally come to rest and focus on our sweet little Purple Finch. But I am jumping ahead a bit.
Hopefully, the next post will be on time, however I am headed off to major surgery October 30th that comes with a long recovery time, but we will do our best to post it at it's usual time. So until next time, keep painting and stay inspired with all God's beauty that you see around you. The Lord has given us so much to see so try not to miss any of the joy or pleasure His creation provides. And then take a moment to thank Him for such blessings. It may just be a perky little Purple Finch on your back fence. Happy painting!
Blessings,
Jan
Posted by Jan Howlett. Posted In : Home Sweet Home
http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/artists
ClustrMaps Live link Click map below to see full report
ClustrMaps Archived Photo of Visitors from Nov. 3, 2009 to Nov. 4, 2010
This site is featured on
Copyright 2009-2012 © Feeding His Lambs Ministries Canada |
