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Author: Kathy

September 30, 2011
Kathy
2 Comments

Pearl Painting

Posted in Art Work, and Peeking Behind the Easel

Pearl Painting

I have a new miniature painting in my Etsy shop. This is the kind of oyster I want to find.

SibStudio Pearl on a Half Shell Oyster

One of the things I like about painting the miniatures is they can act as a thumbprint for a larger painting.  I've painted oyster shells in prior paintings but haven't tackle pearls. This was a chance to experiment with capturing the luster of the pearl. I used little touches of purple, blues, and creams to recreate the colors you can see in a pearl.

I took a little artistic license and used a bed of sand rather than the oyster itself. I wanted to contrast the texture of sand versus the smoothness of the pearl. 

I also used a pearly finished paint for the background to contrast the dullness of the oyster and highlight the pearl. I think in a larger painting, the pearly background would be overkill, but it works well on a small scale painting.
And that's a peek behind my easel – enjoy the rest of your day!

September 28, 2011
Kathy
9 Comments

And Now For Something Different

Posted in Art Work

And Now For Something Different

I have added some painted ornaments to my shop inventory.

SibStudio at Etsy dot com

Some are painted while I am painting something similar since the paint colors are ones I'm already using. The butterfly and chickadee are examples. And others I am painting in between other paintings. I like the variety of changing up the surface that I'm painting on.  Wood surfaces require a bit of prep work to get smooth surface. They need a little sanding and a coat of gesso before the actual painting. These little guys are fun to paint.   I will be adding more  through out the holiday.

September 27, 2011
Kathy
2 Comments

More Rain

Posted in Peeking Behind the Easel

More Rain

We are 5 inches short of breaking the all time rain records here in Eastern Pennsylvania.  And of course, it's raining again today!   : )    Yesterday when the sun was out, streaming into the house,  I was thinking –  Wow!  The house looks so nice when it's sunny.  Lol!  

I don't have the patience to take rain photos so here a cool one from the copy right free files of bing.com.  The good thing about rain is it's easy to get to work in my studio. It's really hard to paint inside when the sun is shining and the temperatures have cooled off.  As I'm gathering up my brushes and paints, here's a little rainy day humor :

Isn't that helpful?  LOL    Enjoy the rest of your day!

September 23, 2011
Kathy
2 Comments

Chickadee Miniature Painting

Posted in Art Work

Chickadee Miniature Painting

I have a new miniature painting up on my Etsy shop.

Black Capped Chickadee in the snow

Isn't he cute? We have Black Capped Chickadees year round. However, we really don't see much of them until winter comes. The bare branches of the trees makes it easy to see them when they are hanging out.  I think they like the snow or maybe they just like that we tend to feed them more in the snow!  I painted this little guy sitting happily in the snow – probably waiting for the feeder to be refilled. : )

September 21, 2011
Kathy
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Blooming Grasses

Posted in Reference Photos

Blooming Grasses

Can grass bloom? Sure it can! Most ornamental grasses bloom in the late summer and fall. Their blooms are plumes of  white or reddish bronze feathery tops.

 porcupine grass in bloom

This grass is called porcupine grass for the horizontal stripes on the blades. Also know as miscanthus sinesis strictus.

Plumes reach for the sky

In late fall, the grass plant begins with turn brown and wither a bit, but the plume stays upright through the winter months. That is when the grasses also make a rustling sound in the wind, while the plumes wave above. That sound reminds me of the beach in the winter.

Miscanthus in the morning

I often include glasses in my seashore paintings. They grow along many beaches on the edge of the sand. Adding them to the paintings adds a bit of texture and greenery to break up the tans and blues of the sky, sea, and sand.