"It's Halloween!"

I've been working on several large pen and ink and watercolor pieces for fall shows, and I managed to squeeze in this little art card for eBay. (ACEO's measure 2-1/2" by 3-1/2") I love making jack-o-lanterns glow! I had fun with this piece and just played a bit with the word "Halloween." You can find it on eBay, and the auction ends Sunday evening, March 31.

"Never Met a Pumpkin I didn't Like"

Sharpening up my drawing skills for a season of Halloween illustrations and paintings. I've been playing with linoleum block prints and love the texture they add to a piece. But for now, my micron pen is getting lots of good use!

A New Year with New Paintings

"Celebrate Pumpkin Carving on Halloween!"

It's a new year and the first of my 2013 paintings will be available on the EHAG Emporium, Thursday, January 31, at 9 pm Pacific. As a member of the Eclectic Halloween Artist Guild, my talented fellow artists and I hold a blog art sale the last day of every month. I am going to try my hardest to participate in every one this year! (Hmmm.... a 2013 resolution, perhaps?) 

You don't have to wait until the last day to see the new piece. YOU get a sneak peek at this 12x16 acrylic on artist canvas piece right here on my blog!

I love the idea of an old fashioned Halloween where kids rule the night and are free to enjoy the innocent and naive spirit of October 31. What could be more fun than an old barn filled with pumpkins  lit by cafe lights, bobbing for apples and your friends and siblings all dressed in costumes and gathered round. Well, I can think of one...getting candy! So after the carving, everyone sets off to trick or treat!

Happy Halloween! See you at the EHAG Emporium!

Time to Give Thanks

I thank all of my collectors, friends and fans for your continued support. I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families. Hold them close.  Remember, each day is a gift.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Iva

Spirits Are High

The last month has flown by with so much happening! Let's see:

• a two-and-a-half week trip to Northern California for Tinsel and Treasures and Halloween and Vine - both fabulous shows!!
• a week in between to visit my parents in Reno, Nevada. The evening sky is pictured above - and I didn't even change any of the photo settings it was that beautiful of a sunset over the Sierra Mountains!
• fly back to Florida and a week later Trevor and some college friends come home for the weekend and we all head to Gainesville for the big SEC football show down between LSU and the Gators (not the outcome we would have liked)
• a week later head to Spirits in Sanford, a Halloween folk art show about 30 minutes from Orlando in the historic town of Sanford. 

Whew!!

Now it's time to relax and enjoy fall and my favorite holiday - Halloween!!

Here are a few more pictures of my recent adventures.

The setting moon over the Sierras.

Playing catch in the Truckee River with Gutzi, my parents lab.

Say "Cheese!" mom and dad!

A pen and ink with watercolor of mine I sold at Halloween and Vine.

One of many amazing pieces from folk artist Jack Roads at Halloween and Vine. My good friend Colleen Moody was lucky enough to snap this piece up. Jealous! Although I did get a wonderful piece of his work too, pictured below!

 

Seeing my work published in Orlando Home & Leisure magazine! Yay!

Fellow folk artist Jorge de Rojas and I pose during the Friday night Preview Costume Party at Spirits in Sanford.

And this is just a small part of all the happenings in my world. I'll be finishing my decorating of our Florida house for Halloween and I will post some pictures of that next. Until then...

Heading for Spirits in Sanford Halloween Art Show Oct. 12 & 13

Get ready for some Halloween art and fun this weekend at Spirits in Sanford, Friday and Saturday,  Oct. 12 & 13, in Sanford, Florida, just outside of Orlando! I'm packing up my props and my vintage-style paper mache art, watercolor paintings and pen and ink drawings for this one-of-a-kind east coast event. Look forward to seeing you!

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!

Pumpkins Soon Will Abound!

The recent full moon in all its splendor makes me think of the months to come. Pumpkins, black cats, spooky houses and then the big day...Halloween! Still working into the wee hours in my studio on paintings, sculptures and all manner of holiday fun. Hope to see you at one of my upcoming folk art shows! Yay...fall is almost here!

Magical Parachutes for Halloween

There's a goblin at my window,

A monster by my door.

The pumpkin at my table

Keeps on smiling more and more.

There's a bat-like shape in the sky

A pumpkin sprite with legs of green.

He's parachuting through the air

Just in time for Halloween.

• • •

Join my email list to receive news of my latest creations, like the one pictured above. (Actually, this stunt was all part of his bucket list.) He will be making an appearance at the folk art shows listed here that I'll be participating in this fall.

Happy (early) Halloween!

A Haunted Night!

"A Haunted Night!"

I am dreaming of Halloween and just listed an original Halloween watercolor postcard on eBay. You see, I'm preparing for three folk art shows this fall, two of which are Halloween shows!

First, I'll kick off the show season with Tinsel and Treasures Folk Art Show, Sept. 15 in Danville, CA. I can't wait to see all my friends and collectors at the show! I'll be in California for a week visiting friends and shopping, of course! Then off to see my parents in Reno. The trip will culminate with the wonderful Halloween art show Halloween and Vine, Sept. 29, in Petaluma, CA. It's always an awesome event with some of the best Halloween artists around! I love that I am returning again this year to this show!

And finally, I'll be participating in a Halloween folk art show closer to my home in Florida. Spirits in Sanford, Oct. 13, is in Sanford, FL, a quaint, historic town a little more than an hour from me. I will be celebrating Halloween so many times before the 31st!

With dreams of Halloween, I hope you enjoy the later half of your summer!