We are buried under snow right now. Well, not literally. But it is snowy, and cold, and miserable. While painting this, I thought of glistening snow surrounding a crisp fallen leaf. I tried to find peace it. It made me look out the window and reflect on nature. I thought about how my children look at the world with fresh and wondrous amazement. My use of glitter is meant to imply this innocent way of looking at the world.
I mustn’t forget that the world is glorious.
I inherited my grandmothers very large collection of costume jewelry. For the last several months I have been using the damaged beads and odds and ends in my handmade watercolors. The green bead on the bottom came from her collection and inspired the luna moth above.
Am I better? Am I worse? I don’t know. I have always been bad.
My brain just thinks visually. Impulsively. I have always made art with my intuition. Writing is not like that. It’s planned, it’s ordered. There are rules. Bear with me while I figure mine out.
I am kind of having fun though, figuring out my words. So thank you for sticking with me.
This sweet little moon is adorned with 18k gold leaf, and a Swarvorski crystal is hidden within the gold. It comes matted and ready to fit in a standard 5’’x7’’ frame. Pick your mat color below.
My paintings are made with handmade watercolors. My watercolors are extremely unique, because they are made out of various textures and found materials. I use semi-precious stones, mica, glass, glitter, and antique beads. I adorn each piece with gilding (gold, silver, or copper leaf).
This sweet little moon is adorned with 18k gold leaf, and a Swarvorski crystal is hidden within the gold. It comes matted and ready to fit in a standard 5’’x7’’ frame. Pick your mat color below.
My paintings are made with handmade watercolors. My watercolors are extremely unique, because they are made out of various textures and found materials. I use semi-precious stones, mica, glass, glitter, and antique beads. I adorn each piece with gilding (gold, silver, or copper leaf).
This moon is adorned with 18k gold leaf. It comes matted and ready to fit in a standard 5’’x7’’ frame. Pick your mat color below.
My paintings are made with handmade watercolors. My watercolors are extremely unique, because they are made out of various textures and found materials. I use semi-precious stones, mica, glass, glitter, and antique beads. I adorn each piece with gilding (gold, silver, or copper leaf).
This piece is like a fine piece of jewelry for your wall. It is interesting from so many angles. And it comes with some surprises. It is painted on a birch panel that is cut in a hexagon. 7’’x7’’. It is ready to hang on your wall.
These paintings are made with handmade watercolors. My watercolors are extremely unique, because they are made out of various textures and found materials. I use semi-precious stones, mica, glass, glitter, and antique beads. I adorn each piece with gilding (gold, silver, or copper leaf).
Do not hesitate to ask me any questions!
This piece is like a fine piece of jewelry for your wall. It is interesting from so many angles. And it comes with some surprises. It is painted on a birch panel that is cut in a hexagon. 7’’x7’’. It is ready to hang on your wall.
These paintings are made with handmade watercolors. My watercolors are extremely unique, because they are made out of various textures and found materials. I use semi-precious stones, mica, glass, glitter, and antique beads. I adorn each piece with gilding (gold, silver, or copper leaf).
Do not hesitate to ask me any questions!
This piece is more like jewelry for your wall. The frame was made out of a real leaf that I electro-formed, or coated in copper. The painting was made of handmade watercolors, glass, and 18k gold leaf. It is 5’’across x9’’down. It is ready to hang on your wall. This piece is a delicate, truly unique piece.
This leaf is based on one I found in my garden this fall, that had been devoured by caterpillars. This piece is made of handmade watercolors. It is framed in a custom gold frame with non-glare glass. It is 11’’x14’’. It is ready to hang on your wall.
This oak leaf is based on one I found in my garden this fall, right as frost began to freeze the fallen leaves. This piece is made of handmade watercolors and 18k gold leaf. It is framed in a custom gold frame with non-glare glass (please see below)*. It is 15.5’’x19’’. It is ready to hang on your wall.
*PLEASE NOTE, I NEED TO REPLACE THE GLASS ON THIS PIECE. PLEASE ALLOW AN EXTRA WEEK OR SO FOR SHIPPING.
This yellow maple leaf is based on one I found in my garden this fall. This piece is made of handmade watercolors and 18k gold leaf. It is framed in a custom gold frame with non-glare glass. It is 11’’x14’’. It is ready to hang on your wall.
I have been asked so often lately about my materials. I have a really hard time answering, because my material list has gotten rather complicated over the last year. I don’t think I can answer the question in one post, but I will try to start talking about it more here and there, starting now.
I guess today I would like to prelude the question with some background. I was a painter, then I was a printmaker, and now I am an artist. I am an alchemist. I am a witch. And that is how I look at my process and materials.
I am often asked at art fairs how long I have been doing this. And I always say, forever. I had an overwhelming impulse to make things from a young age. I think this is fairly common amongst artists. My clearest memory is sewing quilts, and creatures, and things. Then, I tried to work with every material and technique I could get my hands on. I am an only child, and I was always trying to occupy my mind. But the impulse never went away. Except after graduate school for a handful of years, but that is a story for another day.
Other artists out there, what is your experience? When did you start your journey as an artist?
Oh boy, this writing thing is hard to do when life interferes. That paired with finding writing difficult to begin with, I just don’t wanna do it! But I must. And I will. Because this is kind of important to me.
So, now I am sick too! Sore throat and misery all over. Rose is still sick. Brennan is cranky, but I don’t know. My pediatrician informed me that kids under 2 can get sick 10-14 times a year! And this is the back-to-back season for babies. It’s been rough, to say the least.
I won’t say anything will be back to normal soon. Because with two toddlers, nothing is ever normal.
What is normal, anyway.
Yesterdays post was delayed. My daughter has a virus and has a terrible cough at night. I have had to stay up with her through the night, and I am exhausted! Steamy showers, VICS, repeat. Anyone have any other tips for a 1 year old sick baby?
Today I am in the studio, enjoying a day of painting, writing, and fighting off the exhaustion after two nights of no sleep. Luckily I have help with the kids today, so I can finish up a few commissions and write a little bit about my materials. There seem to be quite a few people interested in this.
Please keep the questions coming. This gives me something to write about!
Today was just a something day. I had to run the kids to a couple appointments. Far less painting went on that I had anticipated. But, I guess you could say I had a breakthrough moment after finishing this painting on panel. It has been far too long since I worked on panel, and I think I am finally ready to add it to my repertoire.
I don’t know what to write about today. There are a lot of ideas running through my head. But also nothing in particular to go on about. I mostly took care of Brennan and Rose, and ran errands during the day. In the last hour, I was finally able to finish the new series of moons. I will post them on my website later this week.
Today I went sledding with Brennan and Rose. I was reminded how inspiring winter can be. I am one that easily get caught up in the negative aspects of winter. Season depression hits me hard, and I hate the cold. But today it was so bright, and the snow was light and sparkled like one of my paintings. That paired with watching the joy on my children’s winter kissed faces, how could I not be inspired. I have to remind myself that spring is birthed out of winter. So there must be good in it.
I also ran into my high school art teacher. This was a huge thrill, because it was the first time I had seen her since I graduated 13 years ago. So many memories came flooding back. Ugh, the frustrating years of adolescence. The angst, the pain, the agony! Art was my therapy. And now it is my day job. Mrs. Ragotzy was a big part of those first few years, so I have a lot to thank her for.
This piece is like a fine piece of jewelry for your wall. It is interesting from so many angles. And it comes with some surprises. It is painted on a birch panel that is cut in a hexagon. 7’’x7’’. It is ready to hang on your wall.
These paintings are made with handmade watercolors. My watercolors are extremely unique, because they are made out of various textures and found materials. I use semi-precious stones, mica, glass, glitter, and antique beads. I adorn each piece with gilding (gold, silver, or copper leaf).
Do not hesitate to ask me any questions!