This Witch Brings Good Tidings at Halloween

New art is available tonight at 9 pm EDT on the EHAG Emporium, but I'm providing an early bird preview of my contribution. She is an adorable vintage-style witch, available for $75, plus $5 shipping (CA residents will be charged sales tax). 

She wishes all a "Happy Halloween," with her arms loaded with October 31 treasures! She holds her broom, a hand sculpted pumpkin, a mini skeleton sprinkled with silver glass glitter and a Man in the Moon gold Dresden wand. Her head is vintage China from Germany and she stands atop a glass base. Her spidery cotton skirt is covered in tulle and her bodice is made of vintage black crepe paper trimmed with gold dresden. She wears a hand sewn felt hat adorned with vintage seam binding and a star. A small "Happy Halloween" sign adorns the glass base. The piece stands a litte over 10" tall, was handmade by me, comes signed and is one of a kind!

Halloween Doodles

In between projects, I like to doodle. I was experimenting with pen and ink and colored pencils on hot press watercolor paper. Just a fun little piece I wanted to share.  Still working on my studio clean up and hopefully photos will be in order soon. Happy haunted weekend!

Fab Halloween Art Up for Grabs on EHAG Emporium

Head over to the EHAG Emporium to have a chance at winning one of three Halloween folk art pieces now up for grabs! Just leave a comment on the blog, along with your email address in case you win, and you could be one of three lucky winners! The uber talented Laurie Hardin of Monkey Cats Studio (above giveaway) and David Everett of Chicken Lips (giveaway pictured directly below) have donated items for the giveaway as have I.

My Curious Eye Ornament below follows you around the room and is perfect for anyone's cabinet of curiosities! They are also available in my Etsy shop, where you'll find Halloween art all year round.

Good luck!

A New Year Means Time for Reflection

 

"Halloween Haunts"

The start of a new year means time to reflect on my art. You may notice that I often paint a pre-teen girl and a younger boy. You see, unconsciously I am painting our two children, during a time long ago. It is a time I cherish most of all, when the world was still innocent and our family was still complete.

The new year also brings the birthday of our departed 17-year-old daughter Brianna. January 12 ushers in wonderful memories and much sadness. The fact that she is now gone is as fresh today as it was three and a half years ago when she died.

So I keep painting scenes in which innocence abounds, and the world on Halloween is full of wonder and not too scary. My idealized world helps me cope with our loss. Some of you have told me my paintings help you escape to a gentler time and place too.

So as I think about my art moving into 2011, I've realized it has been a source of joy for me during the darkest time in my life. And it continues to elevate me to a better state of mind each time I put pencil and paint brush to paper.

The above painting is available on SpookyTimeJingles.com.