Who-who will be there?

More watercolor goodies in store for upcoming fall shows! A work on progress. Who-who will I be seeing there? I hope it's you!...Iva

Scaring the Boys and Girls on Halloween

Original ACEO watercolor, now available on eBay here.

"We're the farmer's scarecrows

We scare away the birds

We keep the farmer's corn safe
Without any words.

But when Halloween comes

We jump out of the ground

And we scare the boys and girls

When they come walking 'round."

- anonymous

Howling with Delight

I hope you enjoyed that large glowing orb on Saturday night! We were out and howled with delight as it rose to its closest point to earth this year. I was so inspired by the perigee moon, I created my first Halloween ACEO of 2012. "Harvest Moon" is up for bid on eBay, just click here to head to my auction. Happy Haunting!

Halloween Art Cards Make Originals Affordable

I have not painted many Halloween artist trading cards in a while and thought it was time. Artist trading cards (ATC), or as eBay calls them art cards, editions and originals (ACEO), are tiny works of art created on a standard size of 2-1/2" by 3-1/2" sheet. They were originally intended for artists to trade works of art with each other, and they were never to be sold. But they caught on with the masses, because they make original works of art affordable for everyone. I have painted many of these in past years and began moving toward larger paintings. But in this economy, I figured it was time to offer an original work for the same cost as one of my prints.

I've listed this original Halloween watercolor on eBay and you will find my auction here. Look for other Halloween ACEOs on eBay by some of my fellow Eclectic Halloween Artists Guild members by using the search term, "EHAG." Now, I'm off to continue preparing for upcoming art shows Tinsel and Treasures, September 10, in Alamo, CA, and then Halloween and Vine, September 24, in Petaluma, CA. Happy Halloween...soon! 

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! ;)

Flying in the Moonlight

Two friends are taking a moonlight ride while several friendly bats flutter about. What could be better than to be surrounded by friends, a full moon and Halloween night? This is an original ACEO watercolor now available on eBay. Happy Haunting!

A Glowing Halloween

I'm working on adding texture to my watercolors, or at least the image of texture. "A Glowing Halloween," was born from this experimentation. The 5"x7" watercolor will be listed on eBay tonight. The image was one of many photographs I took last Halloween and I can't wait to paint my way through them! I'm always in the mood for a glowing jack-o-lantern! How about you?

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.

My Halloween Art Up for Grabs on the EHAG Emporium

Halloween is almost here and that means GIVEAWAY time, not to mention the newest update of the EHAG Emporium. On the 31st of every month, the artists of the Eclectic Halloween Artist Group offer for purchase spectacular Halloween art valued at $75 or more. And there's always a giveaway before the big day. 

This month two pieces of my art are up for grabs! A limited edition "Haunted Mansion" watercolor print (8" x 10" and no. 8/50) will be given away, along with an original, vintage inspired Halloween mask ornament. And there's several other pieces of art to be gifted to a lucky few.

To enter, head on over to the EHAG Emporium blog, leave a comment telling about your favorite decoration or piece of Halloween art! A winner will be drawn on Saturday, October 30th.

And, if you're interested in seeing more of my original Halloween watercolor prints available for purchase, check out my "Buy It Now" listings on eBay and my prints in my Etsy shop. Lots of Halloween images to choose from.

Happy Halloween!

My Watercolors Featured in Celebrate365 magazine!

 

I am so proud to be in the Halloween issue of Celebrate 365, a journal for the ornament enthusiast. There are many other Halloween artists featured too, as you can see from this two-page spread of the quarterly publication. The magazine also offer artist interviews and many photos of ornaments and October 31 inspired art.  Another large watercolor of mine also was featured, in addition to my Victorian Paper Doll Witch wall decor. Publisher Connie Porcher does a great job finding the best in the industry and I'm humbled to be a part of it.

All Smiles for Fall

After a long summer of cool temperatures, we're getting a bit of Indian summer here. The thermometer has reached close to 100 degrees for the past two days and we have another hot one in store today. But thankfully, I know it won't last. You can see signs of the approaching fall. The leaves are starting to change and flutter to the ground. It inspires me so much to try and capture that feeling of cooler temperatures and brilliant colors in my watercolors. The painting above is now listed on eBay and ends tonight. It makes me smile knowing that fall is on it's way!

The Finished Work

As promised, I completed the  9"x12" Halloween watercolor I showed in my previous post. Compare the "before" in my last post to the finished painting here. I've added layer upon layer of detail. I just love getting lost in these! I've listed it on eBay, and will be selling prints soon! Let me know if you are interested!

Also, I'm so excited to be featured in two of Stampington & Company's magazines this month. I wrote an article, "Away to Halloween Town," which featured my Halloween Hot Air Balloon for the Sept/Oct. 2010 Vintage Halloween issue of Somerset Studio. That issue also included a Haunted Masquerade beeswax collage I created.

Next, two of my projects were featured in Somerset Holidays & Celebrations 2010. My whimsical hot air balloon Christmas ornaments graced the pages of the magazine, as did my Halloween Witch's Shoe project. I am thrilled with both!

If you are planning on attending Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art show, Saturday, Sept. 18, I'll be signing copies of Somerset Studio's Halloween issue. So much happening now! Wheeee!

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!

 

Beware of Odd Encounters in the Woods

As you may know from my last post, I met a tree gnome and actually snapped his picture. What I didn't tell you was the old witch we met during our meanderings in the forest. She was a bit creepy and invited us in for tea. Thankfully, my husband and I had to get back to our visitors, so we couldn't accept her invitation. I don't know if her disappointed expression was because she was lonely or because she had something unfavorable in mind! You'll find her art-card-sized watercolor portrait on eBay, here. You never know who you'll meet in the forest these days! Happy wanderings!
 

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.

Curiousity Did Not Kill the Cat

We've been having many rainy, cold days during the past couple of months, so I've been staying indoors and experimenting with some new mediums. Block printing has always intrigued me, so I decided to give it a try. I did a bit of research and found some wonderful tutorials on YouTube. The most helpful was one by Milliande. She provides information about the materials to use, ways in which she uses the prints and carvings, and more. Here's part one of her seven-part series.



So off I ventured to Micheal's with my 50% off coupon in hand. I purchased a little kit that included a easy carve block, some ink and a carving tool with two blades.

Since I have painted many watercolors, I figured I could use one of those designs. However, for my first one, I thought I'd better keep it simple. I sketched something out and transfered the drawing onto the block. Remember, it's in reverse! Here's what I ended up with.

 
And then the printed version.

Of course, I had to add some watercolors! But I plan on carving more of these and have all sorts of ideas of how to use them. It was so much fun just experimenting with these! If you have the time and need a break, give something new a try.

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!