let's hear it for the boys....

Yes, I have returned after having fallen off the face of the Internet.  We went for a long visit to the in-laws in Tennessee.  It was interesting not checking email, facebook, web page statistics, etc.  It was freeing, really and with all honesty I didn't miss being "connected" every second of every day.  We are back though, it is nice to be home.  We got in late last night and this morning we got up and went to get our tree from Dull's Tree Farm, where we have been going to since Jon was a baby.  After the Colt's game, we need to pick up Cyd from his doggie hotel and commence decorating and grocery shopping (ugh).  

In the mean time I am so happy to be able to share these canvas' with you.  One of my contest winners, Steph, was kind enough to order two canvas' for her nephews for Christmas.  They were 6 x 6 canvas' with simple wooden frames.  The first was my Vroom, Vroom, Whoosh theme - that Steph specifically asked to focus on trains.  

"G" transportation

I decided to give "G" an sleek express train instead of a freight or steam engine.

The whoosh in Vroom, Vroom, Whoosh

The second canvas I did was my Dino-rific theme.  Every time I do this theme, I have a few dinosaurs that I like to include, raptors and barosaurus, and certain scenery, volcanoes (which were Jon's idea in the first place).  I do like though, to try out new dinosaurs and I am especially happy with my triceratops and pterodactyl.  Yes,I am very pleased with how this canvas turned out.  

"T" in Dino-land

"T" is for triceratops!

Uh-oh - it's going to blow -good thing I'm in water!

I love reviews - of course they've always been good, so I am fortunate - but I love them nonetheless.  Here is Steph's comments on the paintings she's received:

The paintings arrived!!! Oh and they are great! I can't WAIT to give them away at Christmas this year.  I am only disappointed that "G" and his parents won't be traveling since they are expecting a new baby in January and want to stay close to home, so we won't see their reaction in person.  

I'm so impressed with the way the colors on the dino-rific tile will go AWESOME with my nephew's room, even though we didn't know the room colors ahead of time! It's amazing and I love love love the little dino details. The teeth on the one in the water and the dots. The dots are always my favorite little touch!

The train on G's tile is perfect too.  I love the helicopter-- I don't think I'd notice the landing pad before and it's such a great touch! amazing!

Thanks so much again!!! The paintings are so great!!!! I love checking the blog and seeing all the other things you are doing too-- it's especially awesome to have the photos of the little details although having my own and having seen the two others in person, seeing photos does NOT do these paintings justice!!!

Thank YOU Steph - I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to have a repeat customer.  I really enjoyed working on these canvas' and like I said before it is always fun to tweak and change my existing themes.  I can't wait to hear how your family likes them, please drop me a note and let me know!  

I have a few more pieces to share in the days to come - I have a few busy weeks ahead of finishing up my own Christmas presents and doing a large piece for a new client.  I hope every one's holiday was a good one - take care and thanks!

garden girls...

My girlfriend Angie put in a request to have me do two paintings for her girls for Christmas. I was so excited to do these, because Angie's family lives on a farm and her girls are two of the sweetest little farm hands you'd ever lay your eyes on.  Maddie, is my son Jon's age and Avie is a few months older than Drew.  So I've known these girls since they were babies. Angie had requested my flowers are de'vine theme, but wanted to add a bit of the great outdoors to it.  Specifically adding some butterflies and roly poly bugs, which are the girls favorites.  Her girls aren't afraid of dirt, but definitely have a girlie side.  It is always so much fun to customize themes that I have, especially when I know the children I am painting for.

Who doesn't love a lady bug picnic?  I have to admit, Betsy had this song on her website and I was just starting this painting at the same time.  I thought - hey I can have a lady bug picnic!  So this is mine.  And yes they are eating watermelon and chicken legs.

Acrobatic roly poly bugs!

Thanks again to Angie for ordering these fun little pieces!  I can't wait to hear how the girls like them after Christmas!  I am leaving for Tennessee this weekend - have a wonderful holiday and once again...

Thanks!

Go Horse!

While this has little to do with paintings or Penny Pickles, it does have A LOT to do with the mental health of the artist behind Penny Pickles, ME!  I do have a few paintings waiting in the wings - but I am waiting on them getting to my clients, so until then, my day at Lucas Oil Stadium will have to suffice.

Sunday, Ryan and I had the good fortune to score some sweet seats from my girlfriend Heather, the creative genius behind Maida Vale.  If you are in need of anything stationary - including wedding and shower invites or announcements - this girl is the person to go to.  

I digress.  So Heather and Shawn have super amazing seats and they live in Seattle and weren't able to come in for a hand full of games.  So they offered them up to some of their friends.  We jumped at the chance and have secured our position as buyers for as long as they live in Seattle.  

I digress again.  We went to the Houston Texans game - and it was AWESOME.  First off the seats are amazing, second off, I hadn't been to a Colts game in two years, third, it was a phenomenal game and we won!!!!  So as we are sitting in our amazing seats, I look down a couple of rows and who is sitting there?  Ashley Manning, Peyton Manning's wife.  She was decked out in a gorgeous blue leather dress and well, there was no denying it was her (especially after I spied her wedding rings.  She got up and moved to the boxes above us - so we tried to be suave and catch a picture, here's what we got.  I swear it is her, I feel like an idiot with a Sasquatch siting. 

Anyway, at halftime we went to the Bud Light Zone to visit our buddy and old neighbor Mikey T. Poor Mikey has season tickets - but his seats are under the press box and you literally can not see half of the field.  So he stands in the Bud Light Zone with the other poor folk with crummy seats.  We went back to our seats after the half and who was sitting in our row, but the entire staff from the Tickets and Promotions staff.  So I made minimal small talk, but I was able to ogle over one of their Superbowl rings, which, even for being the second tier of rings, was amazing!   It was an awesome game, we won, Bullitt made an amazing defensive interception to secure that win and I couldn't have asked for a better finish.  

After the game we went back to our old neighborhood and had wings and beer at KSR (Keystone Sports Review) - which btw is THE most amazing bar food in the world and their wings are better than dare I say BW3's or Hooters.  We ate and visited with some old friends and then headed back to Canada to pay the sitter and put the kids to bed.  

Other than my body rejecting the shear volume of nasty, greasy food, it was a PERFECT day!  Any chance I can get out with Ryan and spend a bit of time with just us is great -but this date exceeded my expectations.

Later this week, I'll be sharing some of my new pieces - until then take care and Thanks!

Princesses of all kinds

As much as I hate to push the delightful cupcakes and ice cream cones down, I have a few princesses I'd like you to meet.  Welcome Ava and Mia:

Mia the mermaid

This crab isn't so crabby!

Ava the dancing princess

A princess has to have a castle!

If you've followed my blog, then you know that I have a new addiction of playing on Facebook.  It has been amazing in putting me in touch with so many people of my past.  Grade school, High School, College - people that I was close to, but with distance and time, have lost touch. One of these individuals was Elizabeth.  I went to college with Elizabeth.  We were two of 7 or 8 in our Urban Planning program at the College of Architecture and Planning.  Elizabeth and I connected through Facebook and pretty soon there after she contacted me about doing two 5 x 7 canvas' for her nieces.  I was thrilled!  She wanted me to expand upon my existing themes of Under the Sea and the Dancing Princesses.  I was so excited too, because her nieces have the shortest, but prettiest names and I would be able to fit their whole name on the canvas.  I think you'll agree they are perfect for two little princesses!

Thanks again Elizabeth for letting me work on this fun little pieces. I hope that your nieces enjoy them very much!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and stay warm!

Thanks!

Sweet, Sweet maria!

I have art to share!!!!

This has been a difficult couple of weeks, between Ryan being on a business trip, Drew's birthday, countless meetings for school, friends and otherwise, and 6 paintings going on a once - it is no wonder I am as pooped as I am!  But after seeing these pieces finished it is sooo worth it!

First up Sweet Little Maria!

Miss Leslie, my photographer, asked a simple favor.  For me to do a canvas for her dear friend Jill, who just had her third child, but first baby girl.  Being a lady who knows how exciting it is to make the jump from Dinosaurs to Princesses, I was thrilled with the opportunity.  The request, she would like a 24 x 24 canvas, and she was visiting them in a week.  Now to be clear, Leslie did NOT put me under the week constraint, but she has been so awesome taking pictures left and right and turning them around in no time, how could I NOT deliver? Well, I did, in fact I finished the painting in three days.  Of course the third day involved seeing the AM on the good ol' clock, but I couldn't be happier with this outcome. The only details that I was given, was to do a pale pink background with a darker pink "M" and add cupcakes and ice cream cones in pastel colors.  I decided to do a pink on pink stripe with a scrolly "M", and have alternating cupcakes and ice cream cones in a variety of "flavors."  I also added my sparkle - which I have become fond of.  After using it in my Tiny Angels painting, I realized in the right setting, it adds just the right finishing touch.  Of course in addition to my sparkle, when I asked my son Jon what I needed to finish the painting "I know mom, you have to add your dots,"  I've become predictable - hopefully that isn't a bad thing!  I consider my dots to be my "flair" or my signature touch.  Honestly this is going to become a new theme -it is SOOOOOO cute.  I think you'll agree!  So here is sweet treats for a little sweetie:

Cupcakes and Ice cream - what could be yummier?

Strawberry Vanilla

Chocolate with Buttercream Glitter Frosting

Chocolate with Chocolate Chip

I haven't gotten to talk to Jill directly, but the way Leslie describes it, Jill opened the box, grabbed the piece, jumped up and ran into the nursery.   She started to take down the art pieces she bought that inspired this piece and wanted to hang it immediately!  I look so forward to hearing from her and posting her response later this week.  

In the mean time here is what else Leslie had to say:

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to tell you how much Jill and Gaspare loved the piece for Maria!  I was so proud to give it to them, and they truly appreciated it.  You cannot possibly imagine how closely the pink you used for the background matches the pink on Maria's walls.  It's like you were a little fly on her wall! 

I am really happy with this one - it had been a while since I had worked on such a big canvas - it was such a nice change of pace.  While I love working on my tiny paintings, it is a treat now and again to work on something so big.  I am thrilled that I had another satisfied customer - beyond just my good friend.  Ryan just laughs because all day Saturday I was like, "I wonder how they liked it?" I get so nervous, it isn't even funny.  I'm just a people pleaser. 

I have several more paintings, but need to get clearance from the clients to post those pics this week.  For now, just enjoy Miss Maria's sweet treat!

Thanks again to Leslie for her great photography, feeding me and my chickens and for the record, Leslie, I like the name William.

Thanks!

New stuff coming soon!

Hello All!

No I don't have any pictures, but I do have lots of paintings finished. Tomorrow my faithful photographer will be back in Indiana and ready to photograph all that I have done!  I have six paintings finished and two more on the way. I am so excited to share these new works with you, some are larger versions of my existing themes, some are new takes on my existing themes and two are just completely new ideas!  I promise I will be updating you this week on these new paintings - thanks for checking in, in the mean time - these new pieces won't disappoint, I promise!

Until then - take care and thanks!

brushes, paint, brushes, paint

Okay, so I've become slightly obsessed with brushes lately.  I used to just pick up one when I knew I needed it, now I can't help myself.  I LOVE them.  To be fair, I do burn through certain ones faster than others.  I've learned that one of my favorite brushes to use is a 1/4 angular. I don't have a brand, but Loew-Cornell, seems to make some pretty resilient brushes. I have also learned that I don't like synthetic mongoose brushes.  They don't hold up well - and while I can make them serve other purposes, they can't give me the sharp edge I sometimes need.  Who knew?

Here's my new one - its a sable bristle, which seems to be the best kind I've used so far:

I am also always looking for different tiny brushes because I typically put a lot of tiny details into my paintings.  It doesn't always show well online, but you can ask anyone who has one of my paintings, its all in the details. So I found this gem the other day:

The one I have is a 10/0, which is super tiny and AWESOME for little areas that need shading. Okay, I realize after reading this I am such a dork!

My favorite by far and I CAN'T wait to use is this little fella - I had never seen such a thing, but this is called a whale tail!  I have some special things in mind for what this guy is going to do!

I have a very special, large canvas that I am going to get started on, and I have a feeling this is going to come in handy! I just couldn't help myself, we saw each other from across the room and it was kismet!

So I have these new brushes and three paintings to get started and one to finish up!  I am a busy girl!  So one last picture to share before I go:

I *heart* my new brushes!

Okay you can all say it in unison - with my husband.... big dork!

Thanks and have a great day!