Birds and Berries -Paint Party Friday

The drawing above is a sketch/doodle, which I inked in a few days ago.  As you see, there's a story here.  Yes, the little bird in the middle has two suitors.  One seems taken aback, and the other is pretty sure of himself.

There are so many birds around this time of year--they flock into my garden where I watch them flirt, eat and sing.  Spring is such a delightful time of year.

Here's an extra for you all!  Because it is so close to Mother's Day I'm also posting this colored pencil drawing I drew of my sister and her little girl when my niece was a tiny baby. 

Thank you for stopping by today.  Your visit has brought joy to my heart.  Have a lovely weekend, sweet Friends.  Happy Mother's Day and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Holly Mermaid's Seahorses -Paint Party Friday

This picture was originally drawn from memory in 2011.  Holly has been in my life for years--I met this delightful young woman when she was around eight years old.  She has always loved horses--this whimsical piece pictures Holly as a mermaid who's best buds are the sea horses.  I just recently finished adding color to this pen and ink drawing from long ago.

For those who may be wondering, I am doing well after surgery.  God is so good to me.  The two-year mark of the passing of my Beloved has come and gone, and though I miss him dreadfully, life does go on.  And there are often sparkles of joy along with the tears.

Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers, dear ones.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Tide of Hearts -Guest Heart Thursday

I've been on a mermaid kick lately, can you tell?  I thought it would be fun to show the ocean with foam made of hearts--a tide of hearts.  It might be that I miss the ocean.

Have a lovely day, 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.

Under the Sea

Here is a look at a painting I was commissioned to do recently.  Her hair turned out better than I thought it would, and I was totally surprised at how nice the rock work looked!

This little mermaid was fun to do--I used watercolors for most of this painting.  For her skin, though--I did something a little different. I used a bit of coffee and cream--from my coffee cup--and added a tiny dab of crimson.  The skin tone turned out perfectly--though the scanner didn't do justice to the smooth look of the painting in real life.

Have a wonderful weekend friends--Ah, isn't summer marvelous? 

Daughter of the Sea -Paint Party Friday

I am delighted to post this little mermaid as a part of Paint Party Friday. This is one I've been working to finish for a friend of mine, for several months.  This was done in colored pencil.  I also did two others, one in watercolor and another in mixed media.  This one is my favorite!

 
Above you see a picture of Denise--the sweet girl, who's face was my inspiration for the mermaid. 

With last night's tremendous sky show of lightning and thunder boomers which shook the house from 11 p.m.- 4:30 a.m., I felt restless and couldn't sleep--so I did a bit of doodling.

She's a tree dryad, you see...

And here is my lovely model Rena--she is such an inspiration to me!  Have a lovely day and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Gathering Sea Shells

This is a commissioned piece I just finished.  I love the way the rocks turned out--almost translucent in places.  These two are great friends in real life.

The Awakening - Guest Heart Thursday

Even in the Sea there are stories of faeries and enchantment.  This drawing is from the tale of Sleeping Beauty as told by the Merfolk of the deepest Oceans.  (Ha, ha--No pun intended.) Since this is a story of love, of course, there are hearts hidden everywhere.  How many can YOU find?

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

Malaya's Lessons - Happy Mother's Day!

I have been collecting fairy tale books for years--a whole shelf full of them. In particular, I've loved stories of mermaids, mermen and their families. I even found a book called The Mermaid Reader, which details the lives, stories and legends of the merpeople.

This morning, in honor of Mother's Day I am re-posting one of my favorite drawings.

Here you see a tiny mermaid learning how to swim, instructed by her lovely green and blue tressed mother. The fish is a helpful friend--bubbling encouragement to the little one as she learns to flip her fins.

My reference models were my Sister Leigh and darling little niece Malaya.

Happy Mother's Day!