Join Me at Spirits in Sanford Halloween Art Show Oct. 6 & 7, 2017

Halloween Hitchhiker Fun

Spun Cotton Halloween Hitchhiker

What fun to hitch a ride on a black cat for Halloween! This is my latest offering for the EHAG Emporium blog sale, that happens every last day of the month. You can read more about my spun cotton and paper mache candy box offering in my etsy shop, where you'll find more photos and pricing. Perfect for tucking in some sweet treats or your favorite Halloween jewelry. Meow!!

The Halloween Tree Original Painting

"The Halloween Tree"

An original gouache watercolor

Price: $150 • free shipping

It's the last night of October when mischief abounds! Two trick or treaters happen upon the Halloween tree. Is it alive? Who put the jack-o-lanterns out? And why is the scarecrow smiling so? Something spooky is in store for it's Halloween!!

Using high quality watercolors and gouache, I've painted the scene on 140lb watercolor paper. It measures 7"x7", and comes unframed and unmatted. It is sealed for protection and comes in an acid free sleeve.

It is listed also on the EHAG Emporium, where you'll find other wonderfully creative Halloween art from my fellow artisans in the Electic Halloween Artist Guild. Thanks for taking a peek!

Let the Halloween Mischief Begin!

"Halloween Mischief"

Although it is still wintry and cold outside, I have planned a year of exciting events and art opportunities celebrating Halloween! Foremost is more painting!! This original mixed media linoleum block print is now available on eBay, and it involves quite a process.
     If you are wondering how a "print" can also be an "original," I'll explain.
     I draw the image and then transfer it to a piece of linoleum. Then, I hand cut the image using tools that scoop out the semi-rigid linoleum. I actually carve out the positive, or the white areas. Using a brayer, I spread ink all over the linoleum and then press it onto watercolor paper. It takes a few days for the ink to dry, and then I'm ready to paint and pencil.
     Each print has to be inked, so no two are exactly alike. Most importantly, I hand paint and embellish each, so the originality of each is enhanced even more!

     I love the glowing affects the linoleum block print process provides. Watch for more of these unique pieces as the days progress to Halloween and for exciting announcements of new art events!

Witchy Woman Sneak Peeks

I'm putting the finishing touches on lots of witches this year! Somehow the spirit of "Witchy Woman" caught hold, and I've been busy flying high with these cranky ladies. I wanted to share some sneak peeks at what you'll find at my table during my fall show schedule. In fact, I hear some cackling in the background. I think they're calling me to finish their hats, pumpkins and brooms. Hope to see you in California or Florida this fall!

Imagine Halloween Night

"Halloween Night"

Original 9"x12" Acrylic Painting on Canvas Panel

As you know, I love painting with watercolors. But I got the itch to pick up my acrylic paints and create a Halloween scene similar to one I painted some years ago.
     This is how I imagine Halloween out in the country during a more innocent time. (Although, the headless horseman and a couple of wolves are heading this way, so maybe not so innocent!) Anyway, I'm going to continue to paint some of these off and on in between my watercolors. Let me know what you think! 
     "Halloween Night" is an original painting on a 9"x12" canvas panel and signed by me. It comes unframed, so you can easily pop it into a frame of your choice purchased at your local craft store. It's being featured on the EHAG Emporium tonight, May 31, at 9 pm eastern. Use the secure paypal button below to add it to your collection. First come, first served! And don't forget to check out all the other talented EHAG artists featured on the Emporium!

 ~ SOLD ~

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Art Giveaway!!

Up for grabs are some amazing pieces of Halloween art from the talented artisans of the Eclectic Halloween Artists Guild (EHAG). Just post a verse and your contact info on their blog by April 29, 9 pm EST, and you get a chance to win one of three original pieces of Halloween art! Hurry! You don't have much more time before the witching hour strikes!

EHAGemporium.blogspot.com

Wicked Witch Greetings

The month of Halloween is almost here and I've created a doosie of a paper mache witch to greet all your Halloween trick or treaters, family and friends! The whimsical witch Pannah the Deplorable is a little more than three feet tall and holds a leaf-strewn banner with the letters, "Halloween" hung from it. You can replace the banner with one of your own, for her fingers are shaped to hold something. She's currently on eBay, so take a peek. If you live locally near Danville, CA, I'd be glad to waive the shipping fee and you can pick her up!

I've listed several of my latest Halloween prints on eBay, and they include some mysterious black cats and a jack-o-lantern or two. Later this week, I'll be listing several new Christmas pieces in my etsy shop. It's been a busy past two weeks with two wonderful shows I participated in.

The Fourth Annual Tinsel and Treasures Art Show on Sept. 10 was again a fantastic event with so many wonderful artists and collectors coming out to shop! A big thanks to everyone who made the annual art event a great success! This includes my mother who helped me greatly! Of course, I couldn't organize the event without my  talented friend and doll artist Colleen Moody, who hosted a sumptuous dinner for all the artists the night before the show. Head to her blog for great photos of some of the items that were snapped up that day by eager collectors. Thank you both Mom and Colleen!

Then two weeks later, I was off to Halloween and Vine, a spectacular all Halloween art show held in the bucolic town of Petaluma, CA each year. So many gifted artists celebrating October 31! It was great visiting with many artist friends and meeting so many fans! I have a few Halloween pieces left, like these  whimsical black cat shakers. They will be listed on Etsy too.

October will be here this weekend! Yay...Halloween is almost here!

Who lives in Black Cat Cottage?

A lonely cottage in the woods is home to three black cats and who? It's Halloween and the moon is full, as a witch flies across the October sky followed so many bats. This is an original 5x8" watercolor mounted on black matboard now available on eBay.  

More watercolors are to come as I prepare for Tinsel and Treasures, Saturday, Sept. 10, and my newest show Halloween and Vine, Saturday, Sept. 24! I'm so elated to be part of this all Halloween folk art show in Petaluma. Head to the website to see all the other fabulous Halloween artists I will be joining! 

Also, don't miss the EHAG Emporium debut tonight! Lots of fabulous Halloween art up for grabs by my fellow artisans. Hurry to get the best selection!

Ain't No Bones About It

Summer is in full swing, although you wouldn't know it by our daytime temperatures. With a high of 75 to 80 degrees just outside San Francisco, I'm enjoying the cool summer breezes while I dream of fall. My Halloween watercolors are in full swing, while I list a few on eBay. The one pictured is more illustrative and whimsical than my usual, but I was in a JOL-ly mood when I painted it! ;0) It's listed on eBay now, and you can click here to head on over.

I've also started on some large paper mache pumpkins, witches and ghosts. Getting back to the medium is so enjoyable, especially when I can work outdoors. I hope you are enjoying the weather where you are and the creative spirit is with you!

Cat-ching Up

I seem to be spending  my days more and more on Facebook, releasing images of new paintings and the latest works in progress. Thus, so much time as elapsed since my last post, and my need to cat-ch up!  ;)  I do apologize. But, if you'd like to stay in touch more often, please head to my Facebook Iva's Creations art page and hit the "like" button. I do still plan on maintaining my blog, so never fear if you're not a Facebook devotee! Now on to my art! 

I seem to be drawn to black cats these days, as I prepare for Halloween. Yes, the summer solstice is not even a week old and I'm dreaming of fall. But as you know, I'm in the mood for Halloween all year long!

I am starting my Halloween, watercolor auctions on eBay again. The above original painting, "October Eyes," will be listed on eBay tonight, so watch my eBay auctions.

I recently sold this ACEO, "Night Flight." I am using graphite more in my work and love the dreamy affect it casts. I will be listing more of these tiny works of art, so I hope you pop in to my eBay auctions weekly, or simply add me to your favorite sellers list. Halloween is not too far off! 

Wheeeee!

Getting "Familiar"

My fellow members of the Eclectic Halloween Artists Group and I participate in art challenges every month or so. The theme for this month is Familiar Friends. So what better familiar than a black cat! I painted this one as a 5"x7" watercolor, now on eBay. But check out the other offerings from EHAG members, on eBay and on etsy. You'll find links to all of them on the EHAG blog, EHAGart.blogspot.com.

Here's a little history about familiars. In European folklore familiar spirits, sometimes referred to simply as familiars, were supernatural entities that were believed to assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic. According to the records of the time, they would appear in numerous guises, often as an animal, but also at times as a human or humanoid figure, and were described as "clearly defined, three-dimensional… forms, vivid with colour and animated with movement and sound" by those alleging to have come into contact with them, unlike later descriptions of ghosts with their "smoky, undefined form[s]".

When they served witches, they were often thought to be malevolent, while when working for cunning-folk they were often thought of as benevolent, although there was some ambiguity in both cases. The former were often categorised as being demons, while the latter were more commonly thought of and described as being fairies. The main purpose of familiars is to serve the witch/young witch. The service the familiar would provide would be to protect the new witch coming into his/her new powers.
Hope you're better familiar with familiars! ;)

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.

Halloween Manor ~ Won't You Come In?

Maybe Halloween Manor is a bit too scary on this night! 

Who is behind that tree?

Is that a ghost on the roof? 

Look, there's a witch in the window!

 Holding hands, the three children might have enough courage to pass the black cats and maybe the ghosts. But a cemetery too? They may just stand and stare for a while and then run home! 

 My original 9" x 12" watercolor painting is now available on the EHAG Emporium, tonight, July 31, for $150, plus shipping! Please email me to purchase this one of a kind original art created on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper and Windsor Newton watercolors. 

Then, head on over to see all the spooky art from my talented friends of Eclectic Halloween Artists Group, EHAG. It will be live tonight at 9 pm Eastern. Happy Halloween!

 

Homecoming and Graduation

For the past few weeks, we've been focused on our son's high school graduation. Not only was there the ceremony, but a senior picnic, senior photos, senior barbecue and grad night, in which directly following the ceremony the students were whisked off to a USS destroyer docked in Oakland and outfitted with all sorts of games and activities. The night culminated in the 200+ recent grads hopping onto a boat and crusing the San Francisco bay with more music, games and lots of food and espresso. They didn't get home until 6:15 am the next day!

While our son was off having a good time, we had family and friends staying with us. So we took a day trip to Muir Woods in Marin County. If you've never gone, it is one of the few remaining places in the world where giant redwoods still tower above the land.

Some reach as high as 260 feet and are as old as 1,000 years! They are magnificent sentries near the coast and are among the oldest living things on earth. We even spotted a few deer that came down from the hills to feast on the lush carpet of greenery.

And...I even found a tree gnome!

Do you see his profile? He is looking to the left of the screen, with his button nose and big chin! I just knew the forest there was enchanted!!

With all the entertaining, sightseeing and celebrating, I managed to finish a watercolor "Halloween Homecoming," and post it as a "Buy It Now" listing on eBay.

I hope you are enjoying the start of your summer.

Glitterfest Fun with Paper and Fabric

I love mixing paper and fabric to come up with original folk art for Halloween. My Victorian paper doll witch is the perfect example! Her skirt is filled with tulle to make it full and then I've used vintage-style millinery netting over it. Don't you think it gives it the perfect gothic feel? And she is a favorite image of mine from my collection of Victorian scrap books. This spooky gal is about 17" tall, and has a unconventional glass glitter witches hat. She is the perfect door greeter for Halloween! (She has a hook in the back for easy hanging.) If you like her, visit my page on SpookyTimeJingles.com where she is currently available.

Also, if you're in Southern California, look for me at Glitterfest on Saturday, May 22, 10 am - 3 pm, at the Elks Lodge in Santa Ana. I always have a bit of Halloween available, no matter what time of year. Hope to see you there!

A Soul Full of Halloween

Even though there are more than seven months until Halloween, I somehow find it all year long. The smell of wood burning in the crisp air,  the sun low in the sky casting an orange glow on all it touches and drinking spiced cider on a brisk moonlight night reminds me of fall's splendor - even though spring is almost here! These help to inspire me to create Halloween art all year long. My acrylic paints have found their way onto my palette and a young witch sprang to life on the canvas. Watch for more Halloween pieces during the next release of SpookyTimeJingles.com March 13, and every 13th of the month thereafter. Look for a few rabbits to accompany her, too and even a tiny snowman. I have to spread the holiday love!

They Bid You a Scary Halloween

Two by two they come to bid you a scary Halloween. The Witching Hour - Original beeswax collage on 5"x7" board, available on PFATT Marketplace.com tomorrow, October 10.

A Crazy Colorful Halloween

Trying something a bit different can be fun and freeing. Thought I'd give a lighter, more whimsical touch to a haunted house. I had fun letting the colors bleed into each other. This one is now available on eBay. Have you tried something different lately?

Watercolor Trick or Treat

Have I mentioned that I love painting Halloween watercolors? Here's another little art card I have listed on eBay. You'll find the listing here. This one really has an innocent feel, don't you think?

And be sure to check in just before July 13th, when I'll have some more Halloween art up on SpookyTimeJingles.com. We're celebrating our 1st Year Anniversary and there are all sorts of door prizes and fun for our collectors. Stop by and take a peek, but remember it's July 13!