A Digital Easter

I had fun painting this whimsical picture of Mr. Bunny with his elaborately painted egg. I thought of several captions for it, from silly to downright ridiculous, but decided against including any of them on the painting. I also didn't want to limit how someone might want to use a picture like this, so I'm offering it in the shop as a digital download. Go straight to the listing on Etsy by clicking here.

I don't decorate my house for Easter or most other holidays, for that matter. I've also never been a big fan of Easter bunnies, but I do think bunnies are adorable and make delightful illustrations. I've always been inspired by Beatrix Potter's work, and this is what came out of my inspired imagination.

Mr. Bunny's Awesome Find; 8x10 watercolor

In addition to the image in three high-resolution file formats, I'm including a medium-resolution file of the image formatted as an Easter greeting (see below). Print cards or a scrapbook page or even a piece to frame. Don't you just love options? The digital option is new for me, so this is sort of a test. Don't you just love tests? No? Sorry.

Happy Easter Card, 5x7

Thanks Very Much

I've put some simple thank you cards in the shop for sale. They come in sets of six identical cards. Nothing fancy--just a simple little design for when you want to simply say "Thanks." Go to the listing here.

Thanks Very Much Cards

Thread Painting

I've been enjoying taking one of my floral designs from paper to fabric. I've loved thread arts since I was a young girl, and when I was introduced to the wonderful world of embroidery floss, with its jewel box of gorgeous, shiny colors, it was pretty much love at first sight. Here is the original painting that I'm using as a base.

I might turn the embroidery piece into a cover for a handmade journal. 

Do You Have a Heart O' Green?

Green is probably my favorite color to paint with. Like gray, green has an infinite number of shades, and I think I like them all. I just finished another fantasy floral and have made it available in my shop as a print on a 5x7 frameable card. This "floral" is more like fantasy ferns and shamrocks. These pieces are so much fun to paint!

If you're Irish, or just pretend to be Irish one day in March, your day to "go green" is coming soon. Go ahead and celebrate your "Heart O' Green"!

"Heart O' Green," 5x7 watercolor

Yarn Scraps Wanting To Be Art

I just finished knitting a soft, white blanket for my great nephew's baptism. Spending all that time with white yarn on a big project left me craving some color and wanting to knit something considerably smaller. I grabbed some yarn remnants and my smallest needles and started knitting. Do you wonder what this will turn into? So do I! I have a few rough ideas...that might involve penguins.

More Letters

I've been working on more fantasy floral letters. These are now available as prints in my shop, along with the "M" and the "H" that have been in the shop for a week or so. The prints are cut 8x8, but the actual designed area is closer to 6x6. I've been thinking of other ways to use these letters. Stay tuned. For now, it's just so much fun to create my own flowers!

Fantasy Floral "S"

Fantasy Floral "E"

Fantasy Floral "A"

Please, keep in mind that all images on my blog are copyrighted and not available for use without my written permission. Thanks for your respect of my work!

Illustration Friday - EXOTIC

"Exotic" - 11x14 watercolor on mixed media paper

Here's my first attempt to create something for Illustration Friday. The theme for the week was "exotic," which inspired me to paint another fantasy floral piece. I've always been intrigued by parrots and other exotic birds with their surreal color displays. I used to think I would enjoy a talking bird, but I don't have the patience to train one. Still, a talking bird! That's exotic!

Just in Time for Valentine's Day

I had so much fun painting this fantasy floral piece, and I knew immediately that it would make the perfect card. I don't know about you, but I would always rather receive a gift or card that is unique and not mass-produced. And, since it's really an archival print, this card can go into a frame and be displayed for years to come. The card is available in my Etsy shop. Click here to go straight to the listing.

"i Heart U" Card, 5"x7"

"i Heart U" Card and a framing suggestion

Bright Florals in the Dead of Winter

I've been playing around with bright colors, flowers from my imagination, and the alphabet...oh, and a fat little bird found his way to my desk somehow! We are in the middle of a super cold and snowy winter here in southern Pennsylvania, and painting these pieces has been strangely warming. My husband says I'm dreaming of the tropics!

The letter "M" is available now in my shop as a print. Click here to go straight to the listing. "Little Fat Bird" will be available as a print soon as well. I'm working on other letters and other fantasy florals. It's keeping me warm for now!

A Message of Hope

We all can use a reminder to keep hoping in the midst of life's challenges. Is there someone in your life who needs this message right now? This new watercolor is now available as a print on a blank, folded card in my Etsy shop. The 5"x7" card is suitable for framing, especially when you choose the optional matching 8x10 mat (see below). Click here to go directly to this item in my shop.

The Hope Card

Ivory Envelope & Back of Card

With Optional Mat

Blue on the Desk

5x7 watercolor on 140 lb. paper

I sink in and out of blue periods in my art quite often. It's my favorite color to paint with. I just added indigo to my palette for the first time. It's the perfect blue for denim. I'm also trying violet dioxazine, which should be right for violets, right? I plan to call this piece "Blue."

A Place To Read

"A Place To Read;" 5x7, 140 lb. WC paper

I have painted this scene before, but never so carefully. The first time I painted it was over two years ago, and I was just getting back into watercolors after many years away from them. That first version was much looser than this one. This one is already sold, so I knew I needed to give it my best.

It's amazing how confusing it is to draw a divided-light window when you're trying to fit it into a specific space and when there are items in the foreground, like flower vases. I've drawn this scene more than three times, and I don't think I've ever gotten the window structure entirely correct. But, as a friend once told me, when I was obsessing needlessly about every little detail of a craft project, "If you can't see it from a galloping horse, let it go." Good advice!

Bigger Pad

Blu Jar Studio is getting a bigger, brighter place. I'm knee-deep in moving, but after it's done, I'm going to make some art! I can't wait! I wish I could just snap my fingers and jump to the making-art part. But, this is photo realism here, not fantasy. Back at it....