Winter Journal Pages

Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair.
~Minna Thomas Antrim

These journal pages after our trip to South Lake Tahoe that we took this winter. I will be writing about our experiences in the snow and what winter represents to me. I don't live in an area that holds snow on the ground, if it snows by us it is very rare, we get dusted and it melts within hours. I enjoy the snow but as far as all the extra work it entails I don't envy living in it.

What are your favorite parts of winter? Snuggled up on the couch with a fire going? Playing in the snow? Brisk walks and coming inside for a warm cup of tea? Being indoors and having extra time to read a good book? Or having more time indoors for artwork? What invokes winter for you? Journal your favorite parts of winter while having your favorite hot beverage and let me know what you've created~

Snowflakes are kisses from heaven. ~Author Unknown

Baby Its Cold Outside " Snowman"

1st image prior to waxing
The wax looked very yellow against the white. So I added glitter to it. So it shines in the light. I did not wax the whole piece as their is texturing that wouldn't allow for smoothing. I think the wax creates an interest of rain and melting snow~
I might try different lighting to see if I can really capture the shine and post another photo later but until then I am leaving you with one of my favorite winter holiday duets and a winter quote. I hope you are enjoying the season!

Winter came down to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.

Santa Claus~ Getting in the Spirit of the Holidays

Here is my Santa Claus painting ready for waxing~ I took one of the photographs outdoors and one indoors of the full painting on wood to show you.

I am trying get into the holiday spirit. We have put up our Christmas tree, decorated the fireplace mantle and entry way.

I have been working with holiday paper and making Christmas cards only for a special few~I didn't realize how long that can take! It is the first time I have tried it. Now 15 days until Christmas! Maybe I should of started six months ago!

For me Christmas has always has included being creative whether it be painting, making cards and ornaments or one of my other loves baking! Finding the time to have my kids at my side this time of year to share traditions is truly what makes the holidays special. With only one child left at home each year I try to make it special for her as I have seen first hand how quickly my others have grown up! I hope someday to live by my little granddaughter so she can come under my wing and learn the traditions I love.

What are your favorite traditions? Favorite recipes? Favorite memories? What is your favorite thing to do to give you the spirit of the season? Do leave a comment with your answer~ Sharing is part of season ~

Christmas is a spirit that flows from one heart to another. It is more precious than rubies and better than gold.--Agnes M. Pharo

Santa's Coming Preview*

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas. ~WC Jones

I will be posting more pictures of this Santa Claus completed in the upcoming days! I also am working on a easy ornament tutorial for you. It will be posted at MsartistSewCrafty

I will let you know when its ready. I have some links to Christmas projects and a freebie link over there right now! So stop by ~

Winter's Angel

Color inspiration~
Ready to finish~

Process of layering texture and paint~


Above are a few of the process photo's. The angel is a mixed media piece with acrylic paint, pages from a book for her wings, layering of molding paste for her hair and gold leaf highlights through out the painting. I decided to paint her all yellow tones and the background warm orange reds inspired by the colors of the trees. I am going to give her a coating of wax to seal her she is on wood. I had her eyes closed as if she were soaking up the last colors of autumn and the sun to keep her warm through the winter~ The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination~ Ward Elliot Hour

Comic Relief

The above painting was with left over paint and some colored pencil lines done very fast~

Here are some characters that are in a comic book style. I spoke about these in an earlier post that I would share these with you. I did these in my journal just to use different colors, loosen up, work in another style and in one case use spontaneous painting! ( without too much thinking.)

When I have been working on art that is more detailed and thoughtful I need to escape with some comic relief so to speak or at least the freedom to experiment in a more free form. I did these all in the same day and didn't really spend a huge amount of time on them. I hope you find the time to play with color, loosen up in your art journals and look at art forms you might not normally view to find your inspiration!

Colors That Warm My Soul

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. ~ Joseph Addison

I perhaps owe becoming a painter to flowers.~ Claude Monet

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban

I am finishing a painting with flowers in it but did them from my memory. It was so in the moment. Next time I will use a photograph or picked flower to look at. It was such a cold day outside today it warmed my soul to remember this day and to look at the vibrant colors of days past. This might just be my next color inspiration. I will be posting the artwork in the next few days.