lately, wanderings and paintings

Been working on a lots of new paintings.

White-washed layers have been consuming my painting time.

Sketchbook pages, ideas, plannings. For the new year and now. I keep playing around with variations of a sketch of this one woman….

Bits.

I found the loveliest roll of 1940’s wallpaper along a driveway, discarded.

Last Saturday I went for a snowy walk oh so early in the morning. So cold but I got to see the sun rise over the silvery trees!

Another brooch from tinyhappy. So lovely…not only because of the teeny-tiny artistry that goes into each one, but because they are made with real wool felt and hand dyes threads. These little touches really make them so uttely amazing!

I am so excited for this new year! I have some exciting art news for you that I can’t wait to spill!
Happy Holidays Everyone!

Up to…

I don’t really want gush over my new kitty too much here, but I’ve been spending all of my time with my sweet persian, Maximilian Cream Puff. He has the most beautiful blue eyes and softest fur, I am in love!

The days are so short. Too short. Its completely dark 4:30. I’m having a hard time with the lack of light.

Sun drenched afternoon wildflower fields, late fall.

Very soon I’ll be back from my blogging break.

november

Hello beautiful crisp days!

We just got back from hiking at the nearby Wick farm. The New England style farmhouse above is from 1750. Despite the clear skies and November sunbeams, the inside of the homestead was so dark and smelled of creosote from ages past. A little fire burned in the kitchen and herbs hung from the ceiling. The surrounding fields were the home to 13,000 soldiers during the Revolutionary War. I can’t wait to go back next weekend!

Thanks so much for all your comments on my windowsill collection and things! I have been busy, computer turned off and out of sight, outside playing in the sun (and will be until it’s too unbearably cold to be outdoors).
Have wonderful weeks, all!

tree bark and stitching on felt

Such lovely textures from the weekend! Felt brooch and autumn tree bark from the beautiful campus of Princeton.

I received my beautiful package from the amazingly talented New Zealand artist tiny happy. Such pretty packaging with a gocco botanical print and delicate green string.

She does such beautiful stitching and sewing and I absolutely love to read her blog. And I love her felt and embroidered brooches! She is such a dear to give us this tutorial on how to make them! When I saw this daisy pin I had to have it… while it’s tempting to try to make one myself I prefer to have the original work straight from the artists hands. Plus, I don’t think mine would come out as pretty.

Another inspiration- the most curious frozen fox, entwined in vines, then set in stone on the exterior of the Princeton University Chapel. As many times as I’ve been by this amazing building from the 1920’s, I’ve never noticed him until now!

Thanks to all for your comments on my newest print! We have been so busy doing autumn things…taking walks and traveling all over the place to see the leaves and revel in the fall light. And now it’s cold here so I think I’d like to stay indoors.

graphite drawing, version one

Finally finished, taken from this in my hardcover sketch book and reworked from this sketch, in my watercolor journal.

Little details:

A final drawing, graphite on 11″ by 14″ paper. I changed her so much from the previous sketches, I think. I created a second version as well, which I will post this weekend. I am very happy with her, most happy with her face. It’s been fun documenting my working process here!

And thanks to all your comments of my previous posts about our trip to New Hope. I will answer them all individually very soon! So happy tomorrow’s Friday. Whew!

one fox

A new pendant necklace featuring a floating fox from my oil painting Pulling on Our Ribbons and Hair . Now in the shop.

moth theater necklace

What’s that I see?

Yes, it’s one very big skeleton key necklace that’s up in my shop right now.

Lush with light mocha velvet ribbon and a giant-crowned skeleton key. And a little bow! Textured and ready to add some magic to your fall wardrobe (or to adorn yourself in these late days of summer…)

Thank you!

a new print set

Honeybee Stories and Moth Theater

Right here in my shop!

moth theater

Hello Hello! Have been working on a bunch of things at once.

Finished this tonight…

Moth Theater
Acrylic and paper on ampersand gesso board
12 x 16 inches

Worked smaller on this one (compared to Honeybee Stories) She is surrounded by Cinnabar and Leopard Moths.

I had the prettiest antiqued repro paper laying around, creating one of those what if moments and thus, the elaborate curtains were born.

work in progress

Here’s a peek at another, slightly smaller, theater painting:

She wears a green dress and is surrounded by moths (instead of a single-file line of bumble bees).

I am off, to antique!! Have wonderful weekends!