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....