Hello friends! As my art show at The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop draws to a close this week, I thought some of you might like to hear about the background of each painting. Also, if you are not local or your favorite painting already sold, I am offering prints in my Etsy Store
For those of you that bought a painting, please remember to pick it up by May 6 or 7 (and thank you!)
Uncertain Future
This first painting is titled Uncertain Future and I think it probably speaks for itself. We have so much uncertainty in our lives right now, on a global and national scale as well as in our personal lives. I painted this to remind myself that we need to continue on with bravery, even when what is ahead may be murky. This was done with watercolor paint and colored pencil.
After the Fire
After the Fire was painted at the very beginning of this year, after the terrible Marshall fire devastated nearby communities. The next day, our first snow of the winter came months later than usual. It felt like a blanket of healing and comfort- but it was bittersweet to think if it had just come a day or two sooner, the fire may have been avoided. Of course it isn’t that simple, the strong winds that brought the snow were the same that fed the fire. Colorado is also on the migration route of white pelicans- beautiful, huge birds that always feel mystical when I spot them at one of our lakes. I have always loved them and their magical feeling seemed the right choice for this piece, which I painted with watercolors.
Rabbit in Contemplation
This little piece, Rabbit in Contemplation, was done as an experiment, one of my first times trying out oil pastels. There isn’t much of a backstory to this except that I really love painting rabbits, and I think it’s fun to imagine they might have a rich internal life. !
Reading Nook
Reading Nook was painted from one of several sketches I made for the cover of the SCBWI 2022 Essential Guide to Publishing for Children (you can see the one we went with here) I liked it so much, I decided to paint it for fun. For this I used watercolor and colored pencil on printmaking paper.
Moving Day
Moving Day was painted a couple years ago, when I started using gouache more. It was inspired by an SCBWI Draw This contest prompt, and while I didn’t win that month I did end up with a piece I am really happy with. This is why I think it’s always a good idea to enter challenges and contests- IF they inspire you and if you have time. Ultimately, if the reward is personal growth and a portfolio piece, you have already won!
If We Can Imagine a Better World, We Can Create It
If We Can Imagine a better World, We Can Create It- because part of the job of artists is to show the world how things could be better. Without imagination, we can’t problem solve and create a better future. I don’t think you need to be a visual artist to take part in this movement, any person with vision and motivation can contribute to imagining a better way for us to be. This piece was painted on sanded paper with acrylic gouache and colored pencil. Acrylic gouache on sanded paper behaves a lot like watercolor- which is a blog post for future me to write :)
Book Love
Book Love was painted for a valentine collection for my literary agency, East West Literary. The ermine is the same character as Lounging Ermine (coming up) and this was painted with watercolor, gouache and colored pencil on printmaking paper.
Lounging Ermine
Lounging Ermine’s story came about pretty organically- I had painted my dog and one of my critique partners thought it was an ermine. Which got me looking at photos of ermines, and then desperately needing to paint one. The curved, graceful shape she makes inspired the bedroom, tea and thoughtful gaze. This pieces was also painted in watercolor and colored pencil on printmaking paper.
The Feast
The Feast is one of my favorite paintings, because I would really like to join that party in those autumn woods. I can see myself paintings this group of friends again. This was a very experimental piece which started with colored pencil, then I layered gouache, crayon and more pencil over it. It can also be seen in the 2022 RMC SCBWI calendar.
Flower Umbrella
Flower Umbrellas or giant bouquets is a reoccurring theme in my sketchbook. This piece was done on brown art paper with gouache and oil pastel.
I hope you enjoyed hearing a little more about my thought process and mediums, and even if you don’t make it there during my show I do hope you will check out The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop in Niwot, CO. It is a beautifully curated shop specializing in children’s literature from picture book to young adult- but I also always find something on the adult shelf to buy too! Thank you for reading, and be well.