Merry Christmas! -Paint Party Friday

Hello, sweet Friends.  Thank you for your patience.  I have been dealing with some depression over the loss of my sweetheart--granted it has been five years since he flew away to heaven, but this year I missed him extra lots.

This is my finished Christmas card.  I hope you enjoy it.  If you would like to see my reference photo and graphite sketch you can find it here: Christmas is Coming.  If you would like to see the pen and ink version you can find it here: Mary Did you Know?.

Thank you so much for dropping by, dear Friends.  Happy Paint Party Friday and Merry Christmas!

Mary Did you know? -Paint Party Friday

I have been working on my Christmas Card.  A Friend suggested the title of Mary Did You Know.  There's a song out by that name which I love--it is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.

If you would like to see my reference photo and the graphite draft, you can find it at Christmas is Coming.

Merry Christmas dear Friends.  Thank you so much for dropping by.  Blessings and peace be upon you this holiday season, and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Christmas is coming -Paint Party Friday

Here is my first draft of a Christmas Card I'm working for this year.  I apologize for being a little out of touch.  Since the fifth anniversary of my Beloved's home-going in October, I have been struggling with depression and sadness.

Art and the Lord are always my best help when I am feeling so down.  God is so good--and so are the friends He sends alongside.

Above is my reference photo.  It is of a beautiful nativity set I found.  I saw it a few years ago and fell in love with it.   I couldn't believe it when I spied it again--and on sale.

Thank you for dropping by sweet Friends.  God is good and I am grateful for your friendship.  Merry Christmas and Happy Paint Party Friday!

A Beautiful and Ancient Story -Paint Party Friday

When I was a little girl, I could not figure out what all the hoopla was about Santa Claus. It was a charming story--but the problem was, I knew kids from school who were pretty good all year long (myself included), who did not get tons of Christmas gifts.  On the other hand, kids who were mean seemed to have it all!  I remember thinking, "If Santa is real, then he's not very fair."

"Us kids" didn't have much in those days--but thinking back--we were very happy. We were poor, but we didn't know we were lacking in anything. Some say my childhood memories sound like a fairy tale, or something out of a book.

As a child I loved the romance and danger of the ancient story of Joseph and Mary. I was intrigued by the singing angels, shepherds and the tiny baby miraculously conceived. Then there were wise men who followed a shining star to where the child lived. They brought him wonderful exotic gifts.

There was even a jealous, deceitful king who sought after the child's life--yet miraculously, through the intervention of angels, the family escaped certain death.

I am still filled with awe and wonder as I consider the mystery and beauty of that wonderful old story.

Merry Christmas sweet Friends.  May the beauty and mystery of the season fill your hearts with joy!  Thank you so much for dropping by.  Your visits are an encouragement to my heart! 

Christmas Angel -Paint Party Friday

This lovely angel is one of the first Christmas cards I designed, back in the late 1990's.  It was folded into fourths, then in half, with some of the design lapping over onto the back of the card.  I thought it elegant.  This card is one of my favorites of that series--a perfect way to welcome in the Christmas season!

I believe true Christmas joy is not only spending time with family, but it rests within the Gift of God's dear Son to our world.  I know He wasn't really born this time of year, but I love this day we have set aside to celebrate His birth.

Thank you so much for your visits.  They mean SO much to me.  May God give you a blessed Holiday season full of joy.  A BIG hug to all of you dear ones.

Star Child -Paint Party Friday

This is another midnight doodle.  As my reference I used an old photograph from the early 1900's.  I love the style of that era in time.  This little star child is going to be my Christmas card this year!

Have a lovely Christmas holiday, dear Friends, and God bless you all.

And Glory Shone Round About Them -Paint Party Friday

When I was a child I loved the story of Christmas found in the Bible.  I saw the whole thing as beautiful and romantic.  I didn't really care for St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus much.  He didn't appeal to me as much as the magical story of Mary and Joseph.

I have been working with my Friend Lorie on a children's book entitled Christmas With Grandma for a little over two years.  We've added six new pages.  It is our goal to have it printed and assembled in time for Christmas orders--which means only a few more weeks left to put it together!

This pen and ink drawing illustrates the part of the story where angels appear to shepherds who were watching their sheep by night.  They are announcing the arrival of the newborn Baby sent from God.

I like how the drawing turned out.  I especially love the sheep--there's one little fellow who is SO endearing I wanted to pop him out of my drawing to give him a little cuddle.

And now to put color to all these new pages! Have a wonderful weekend, dear ones, and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Christmas With Grandma, Page Two

I have been posting sketches and artwork from Grandma's Christmas Story since October.  Here is Page Two, in its finished form.  Lorie, the author, tells me this little Christmas children's book will be available soon on Amazon.  When it is posted, I'll put up a link for those who are interested.

I love Lorie's idea of Grandma telling the Christmas story to her Granddaughters.  She's reading from the pages of her Bible.  I have precious memories of my own precious Grannie doing that very same thing.  What a wonderful story it is--the truest, greatest story of all time.

Thank you for dropping by, dear Friends.  Merry Christmas and God bless you!

Christmas With Grandma, Page One -Paint Party Friday

I have been working on this lovely little book for quite a while now, and it is done!  I am very happy with the results.  When it becomes available online, I'll let you know.  My friend who commissioned this project says all proceeds from book sales will go to a mission which helps people in Haiti.  I love the idea of being a part of something bigger.

 Above you see my reference photo for this page.  Isn't my Friend darling?    

Merry Christmas and Happy Paint Party Friday, all you lovely artists and truly wonderful people.  May God shed His gift of light and joy in to your lives this Holiday season.  God bless you, dear ones--have a lovely weekend and thank you for stopping by.  ((hugs))

Christmas With Grandma -Paint Party Friday

Here is one of the pages from the Children's Book, Christmas With Grandma, which I've been working on.  I'm about to start coloring the pages now.  I'm SO excited.  It will be completed by Sunday morning.  

Above you see my reference photo for Lorie, Lily and Victoria.  The photoshoot was so much fun.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Paint Party Friday, all you wonderful artists and beautiful people.  May the Creator shed His gift of light and joy in to your lives.  God bless you, dear ones--have a lovely weekend and thank you for stopping by.  ((hugs))

Little Mary -Paint Party Friday

When she was five years old, my darling niece posed for this graphite drawing of Little Mary.  I love the Christmas Story.

I'm sure I have shared this before, but when I was a small girl I fell in love with the delightful drama of Joseph, Mary and the Babe.  To me, it was a wonderful story, filled with miracles, angels, laughter and tears.  In my mind's eye, I would picture every dramatic detail.  There is a beauty and truth about their story which still touches my heart today.

So, Merry Christmas and Happy Paint Party Friday, all you wonderful artists and beautiful people.  May the Creator shed His light and joy into your lives.  You are all precious to Him--and to me.  God bless you, dear ones--have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.  ((hugs))  

Grandma and the Girls -Paint Party Friday

This drawing will be on the dedication page of the Children's book, Christmas With Grandma, which I'm doing for my Friend Lorie.  To work with Lorie is one of the delights of my heart.  It certainly distracts me from the terrible sorrow of losing my Beloved.  

The photo above is my reference for the drawing.  I am so blessed by my dear Friend and am SO honored she would ask me to illustrate this book.  She tells me this is one of her dreams come true--and to tell you the truth, it is also a dream come true for me.  I've always wanted to illustrate children's books.  What a blessing! 

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you wonderful artists and beautiful people. God bless you, dear ones.  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.

Grandma's Christmas Story -Paint Party Friday

I have been commissioned to produce a self-published children's book for a friend of mine.  The title is Christmas With Grandma.  I have completed the drawings in graphite and took them to my friend for her perusal last Monday.  She LOVED it!  Next I will do the lineart, and the last step will be to add full color.

I have had SO much fun with this project.  This is my favorite drawing so far.  The book is ten pages long, along with a front cover, dedication and title pages. 

Above you see my lovely model, Lorie, who commissioned the project.  I LOVE her face.  I did a photoshoot for reference photos--as you can see the camera loves her!  I admit though, it was quite a challenge to make the dolls into little girls--but I think I have succeeded.  

Happy Paint Party Friday, all you wonderful artists and beautiful people. God bless you, dear ones.  Have a lovely weekend and thank you for dropping by.

The Lady and the Lambs -Paint Party Friday

This is a graphite rendering from 2005, of an old picture my Mother loved. It was a gift from long ago--the person who gave it to Mums said she looked just like this beautiful woman. It is true! Indeed, in her younger years, Mumsie was beautiful--but not in the classical sense. She is still lovely--a stately yet mischievous and fun lady whom everyone loves.

Years ago, when color programs were first coming out, I scanned my sketch into the computer, then played with the paint programs. I was astonished to see so much color coming from a grey and white graphite drawing--I saved the results. But after that, any attempts to recreate these color patterns failed. I wonder . . .

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May the joy and beauty of Christmas permeate your lives--even through great tragedy and loss.  God is good. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thank you so much for dropping by!  Have a lovely weekend, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Blessed Among Women -Guest Heart Thursday

A bit of a doodle from my sketchbook.  Of course I have hidden several hearts in this graphite drawing.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Guest Heart Thursday! 

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Dear Little Child -Guest Heart Thursday

Here's another of my recent doodles.  Of course, I have hidden some hearts--but they are easily found. 

Have a lovely day!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Let's Get THIS One!

I know this drawing has a Christmas theme, but I could not resist putting it up.  It is a commission I've been working on for some time, and it is finally done!  As soon as I am finished matting and framing the picture, it will be on its way to its new home.

The story behind it, is really cute.  Brother and sister have been sent to choose a Christmas tree and bring it back home on the sled.  Little sister is trying to talk big brother into getting the really BIG tree!   And, since this happens each and every Christmas, her brother is laughing.  This is a treasured memory they both share and enjoy very much.

The lady and her brother are in their 80's now.  I was able to capture their likenesses using pictures of the two of them when they were young.  I did a lot of face studies in order to recreate that special moment.  I'm so excited to send it to them! 

Have a lovely day! 

Welcome Holy Babe - Guest Heart Thursday

December First seems a wonderful day to put up my latest watercolor.  When I was a little girl, I wasn't so interested in Santa Claus.  Rather I loved the beautiful and romantic story of a young girl, visited by an angel, given the gift of a Holy Child.

In my imagination, I watched Joseph as he tenderly cared for Mary--I loved how the angels protected them.  I wished I could have been with the Shepherds who were visited by a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and the birth of His Son.

I was in awe of the great Kings who sought the Babe from faraway lands.  I wondered about His star and  knew if I had been born then, I too, would have followed it to where He lay.

There are hearts in this painting--can you find them all?

Welcome Holy Babe!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Note:  This painting was inspired by the art and style of Alphonse Mucha.

Christmas Tree Angel - Guest Heart Thursday

This is the first sketch of our Christmas card.  She is really my niece--and yes, there are lots of hidden hearts.

And now Malaya and I need your help.  Christmas Tree Angel is a really boring name.  We would like to know if anybody out there might have any ideas for a name for this Christmas card.  If we choose your name, you will get a print of the finished card in the mail at Christmas time.

Four-year-old Malaya says, "I can hardly wait to see the names you think of!"

Have a lovely week!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

Merry Christmas!

This is my rendition of the Ghost of Christmas Present, a profound character found in the story of Scrooge.  He is such a jolly fellow.  I adore the story and I have a copy of just about every movie made featuring Scrooge--with the exception of Mr. Magoo.

This drawing has no pen and ink lines--it was done entirely with Prismacolor pencils.  Of course, my Beloved posed for this piece--and every time I look into those clear blue eyes?  (sigh)  Well, my heart starts beating faster!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!