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

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

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!

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 Cotton Towels

A miniature painting of these towels was a big hit when I posted it on Facebook, so I decided to paint a larger version and put it in the shop. It is available with or without the blue mat. See the full listing in my Etsy shop.

Blue Kitchen Towels; 8x10 watercolor with optional mat

Mr. Jefferson's Livable Artwork

I live a few hours away from Monticello, the estate of Thomas Jefferson. Last year, on a VERY hot day in July, we had an impromptu family reunion there. I drove down from Pennsylvania with my kids and my sister drove up from North Carolina with my parents. We toured the house and drank lots of water! I love the place!

Jefferson was such a clever and creative person, which is obvious when you tour his house. He created many functional things to make life easier. They were his works of art, and he lived among them.

One of the words I use to define my artwork is "livable." I love the idea of art being comfortable and soothing and fun. Of course, there is a place for confrontational art and art that teaches, and I am okay with that. But, for me, the best kind of art becomes a part of your life and family. Some people feel that way about their books. Jefferson certainly felt that way. His house is decorated with lovely leather-bound volumes, and I'm pretty sure they were more than decorative pieces to him. He wrote in a letter to his good friend, John Adams, "I cannot live without books."

I have several family members who share that sentiment, so I created a piece that features the saying with books lined up like colorful jewels. Prints of this 5" x 7" painting are available in my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/169565699/5x7-digital-print-i-cannot-live-without?. The paper is cut to 8" x 10", providing a nice, wide border around the artwork for matting and framing.

Nearing the Top of the Learning Curve...I Hope!

Well, my online shop has been open for one week, and it's been a very busy several days! In the business world, busy is good! I've received so many nice comments and lots of visits to the shop. I also received just the right amount of purchases for my first week. If there had been many more this week, I would not have been able to keep up.

Every task is new, and every new thing has several OTHER new things to learn and arrange and set up. I'm sure it will start to feel somewhat routine eventually, but for now, I'm still heading up the learning curve. I am really looking forward to being able to focus on painting some new pieces soon.

The best seller so far; 2.5" x 3.5" ACEO watercolor

I'm still posting pieces that I finished painting during the summer. The ACEOs have been the best selling items so far, and the "Perfect Sister" design (above) has been the best of the best. ACEOs are small and affordable and essentially fill the role of "the adorable puppy" in the art world. If you're unfamiliar with ACEOs, you'll just have to visit the shop and read about it in the item descriptions. See, I know that eventually I must get you to click away from here and head over to the shop, so go ahead.

BUT FIRST, take a look at the items (pictured below) that I've been working on for most of today. I call these Quilt Corners. There are four in the set, and they represent the four seasons. They are available as a set of four or individually. I have loved fabric since I was very young. I used to enjoy making real quilts, but now I'm enjoying painting them even more. I love designing my own fabrics for my painted quilts. The only thing I miss is handling the fabric, which any quilter will tell you is a very important part of the experience!

Quilt Corners; 5..5" square watercolor prints

Okay, NOW you can go shopping! Here's a link to the shop: Blu Jar Studio on Etsy.

Made to Order

Thread Collector ACEO, 2.5"x3.5" watercolor original

The paint is barely dry on this piece. It will be heading to California on Monday. I sold it on Etsy this morning, and painted it this afternoon. That's how "made to order" works for me. I listed pictures of a previously painted piece that serves as the general reference for future originals. Of course, no two will be exactly alike, but they will be similar. Here is the piece I painted several weeks ago and listed on Etsy a few days ago.

In the description of the item, I explain that I will be painting a fresh piece "to order" when someone chooses to buy this piece. If the customer receives the piece, and doesn't like it, they may return it for a full refund.

I have relisted this piece. And, again, it will be made to order...maybe for you! Click here to see what's available in my Etsy shop.