Gift Of A Portrait

Portrait painting is always a challenge. Capturing the essence of a subject using only a photo often leads to inaccuracies in color and lighting. I’ve never attempted painting from life because my sketching skills are still developing. Typically, I print out the reference image, then use tracing paper to emboss the outline onto the canvas. This helps ensure that the features—eyes, nose, and mouth—are proportionally placed.

This particular piece was done on an 11x14 canvas using acrylics. It’s a graduation gift for my niece. While I feel it could benefit from more refinement, I chose to stop before risking overworking it and muddying the colors. Being on a time constraint has disadvantages. At least it will be delivered instead of setting in a pile of my many misfit paintings.

Painting Collection: Babe’s Safari

Completed

Recently, I painted four individual safari animals for my grandson’s new bedroom. Afterward, I had an idea to include my grandson in one painting, sitting along side his new safari friends.

Click link to view Safari Animal Paintings

When beginning a painting I use an inspirational photo to guide my project. Sometimes, I use a digital photo to help refine my vision, and for this, I rely on the Procreate app. It’s a great tool that allows me to combine my artwork with digital photos. I can upload images of my paintings, then manipulate and arrange them within the app to find the best perspective and composition for each piece. It’s an essential part of my creative process. Then I transfer the idea onto my canvas and paint!

Beginning 

Work in progress 

Adding finishing touches 

 

Nursery Paintings Cont

I love looking for painting projects to do. Often to try to enhance my skills as an artist. But recently I found out  that I’m going to have another grand baby. Yay! Such an exciting time to have another baby around. Which is why I decided to do these cute paintings.

They are simple, fun, fast and fantastic to create for any occasion. 

  

Adorable DIY Safari Animal Art for Your Baby’s Room

Getting ready for a baby can be both exciting and overwhelming—especially when it comes to decorating the nursery. If you’re looking for a fun and relaxing project that adds a personal touch, this DIY safari animal artwork is a perfect way to de-stress and bring some cuteness into your baby’s space!

Easy DIY Safari Animal Art

These charming baby safari animals are surprisingly simple to create. Even if you’re not confident in your drawing skills, don’t worry—you can use a cute cartoon template to trace your design. Here’s how:

1. Trace Your Design: Use carbon tracing paper to transfer a template onto a canvas. This saves time and ensures a polished look.
2. Paint with Soft Colors: Use acrylic paint thinned with a bit of water to achieve soft, pastel hues. This keeps the artwork light and soothing—perfect for a nursery.
3. Outline for Definition: Once your painting is dry, use a fine-tip black marker to outline your design, adding detail and depth.

And just like that—voilà! You have an adorable, hand-painted piece of art that ties your baby’s nursery theme together.

Not Into Safari Animals? No Problem!

If safari critters aren’t your style, there are endless other adorable designs available online. Whether you prefer woodland animals, ocean creatures, or dreamy celestial themes, you can easily customize this project to match your vision.

Creating your baby’s nursery should be a joyful experience, and this simple DIY project is a wonderful way to add a personal, handmade touch. So grab your supplies, get creative, and have fun bringing your baby’s space to life!

Kelp In Motion

In this painting, I continue exploring the kelp forest, a process that has been both intriguing and rewarding. Capturing texture, movement, and light presents unique challenges, but incorporating fine details—delicate dashes and varied dots in multiple hues—brings the scene to life. These dynamic patterns create a sense of motion, making the kelp feel as if it’s swaying with the currents.  

As I refine my techniques, I find a deeper connection to the subject, allowing the painting to evolve organically. More to come as this piece progresses! To see post of last update click link Kelp cont. 

 

The Cost of Creativity: Investing in Yourself as an Artist

You can’t paint without pigment, just like you can’t succeed without investment." How true this is.  

Much like the saying "better late than never," this couldn’t be more relevant when it comes to investing in yourself and your passions. Struggling artists earn that title for a reason—often, it’s not just financial hardship but also the reluctance to invest in quality materials or even in the belief that they are worthy of becoming artists.  

As I’ve shared before, I’ve spent much of my life searching for “myself” through art. It has been my lifeline, continually teaching me lessons—not just about painting, but about persistence, growth, and self-worth.

This blog is a personal journal of my artistic journey, documenting my experiences, challenges, and growth. It’s not about making money or influencing others—it’s about sharing what I’ve learned and continue to learn. My hope is that my story resonates with others on a similar path and offers inspiration along the way.

The Art of Quality: Why Materials Matter

For over 20 years, I’ve painted with student-grade off brands and Liquitex acrylics, prioritizing affordability over professional brands like Winsor & Newton, Golden, or Grumbacher. While cost was my main concern, I never really questioned whether higher-quality materials could enhance my work.  

As a dedicated artist striving to improve, I’ve experimented with various mediums—charcoal, watercolor pencils, oils, and most recently, watercolors. Learning has always been my driving force, and I’ve spent countless hours reading books and watching YouTube tutorials. One recurring theme, especially in watercolor discussions, stood out: the crucial role of quality supplies.

Curious but not ready to invest in professional-grade products, I upgraded to a mid-tier watercolor set—Koi Watercolors—along with 100% cotton paper. The difference was immediate. The colors were richer, the application smoother, and the overall experience more enjoyable. It left me wondering: Why hadn’t I upgraded my other mediums sooner?  

Does better quality really matter? Absolutely. Professional-grade paints, paper, and brushes respond more effectively, allowing for greater control and improved results. While skill develops with practice, using the right materials can elevate an artist’s potential in ways budget options simply can’t.

 

Watercolor Painting With Children

One of the joys of working with the young is their pure joy, enthusiasm and creativity. I am often fascinated with how fast the littles take to painting. My youngest grandson loved his new experience at working with watercolor. I did have to guide his hand and brush slightly. Otherwise, my dining room would begin to look like a Pollock. 

Note: My watercolor palette (Master’s Touch) is non-toxic to children. For children under age 10: recommended to having an adult overseeing craft or painting activities. 

Watercolor Greeting Cards

This year I have made several varieties of greeting cards. Recently, I have been practicing with watercolor paints. Below are several examples I have made. Instead of buying expensive store bought cards. I decided to make my grandson’s each a card based on a theme or characters they like.

Get creative and personalize each card.
*Grandma, would move icebergs for you*

This one is for my Titanic obsessed grandson 

Kelp Painting Cont

Actually, I’ve never been scuba diving in my life. I can only imagine the breathtaking beauty of the ocean coming to life beneath the surface.  

Painting a seascape is my way of immersing myself in that world—a way to explore its wonder and magic without ever leaving dry land. For now, this is as close as I plan on getting, and that’s more than enough for me.

My inspiration comes from online photos of kelp beds. I may decide to add marine life or a mythical creature such as a Mermaid. I have to figure out the kelp first. 

Painting kelp is a first for me. The colors have been a challenge. I have used several mixing formulas of violet, orange, cobalt teal, crimson red, burnt sienna, titanium white, and phthalocyanine blue. I will post more soon. 

Painting Kelp: Helps Winter Blues

 

 Beginning Phase

Adding Subject 

Since January is nearly over, I’ve found myself shifting into the mindset of warmer weather. One of my favorite ways to embrace summer is by heading to the beach. Unfortunately, living in the Midwest means the closest option is the river shoreline—far from ideal, especially after winter, with its lingering smells of chemicals and dead fish. Not exactly paradise.  

That’s why this is the perfect time to create an ocean scene on canvas. Above is the start of my newest painting, inspired by where I’d love to be right now: scuba diving through an amber forest of golden, flowing kelp beds, where fish gracefully dance in the turquoise depths. Absolute heaven! Stay tune for the finish.

Painting Winter Scenes

These snow-themed paintings showcase the variety of colors that can capture the essence of snow—ranging from blues, violets, and grays, to greens and browns—each offering a unique perspective of a snowy landscape.

As I've discussed in previous posts, painting snow is as much about patience and practice as it is about achieving the level of accuracy you find satisfying. For me, the goal is realism, though I often feel I fall short. My style leans toward a craft-like approach, but I continually refine my techniques to achieve a more realistic application.

For beginners, it can be overwhelming to follow expert tutorials focused on realism, especially when you're just looking for something fun and accessible. Personally, I find that keeping the process enjoyable makes learning much more rewarding.

What I love most about this process is how it allows me to learn by recreating, which ultimately helps me create something even better with each project. It has been invaluable in refining my skills and deepening my understanding of the medium.

Gnome In Snow

This playful painting of Gnome Santa was created quickly but turned out to be a charming addition to my snow collection. It also made a delightful Christmas gift!

Christmas Lighthouse Painting

A lighthouse adorned for Christmas stands resilient in a snowy dusk filled scene, surrounded by a sky painted in soft pinks and pastel blues. A large wreath hangs from the tower, while a nearby Christmas tree sparkles with twinkling lights. Snow falls gently, blanketing the white picket fence and the warmly lit house attached to the lighthouse. The colorful sky reflects on the snow, enhancing the festive glow of the lights and creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.  

Below is the final painting, followed by a breakdown of the steps taken to bring it to completion.  

In the second stage, I began by blocking in the base colors. For the ground, I used a mix of Prussian blue, ultramarine blue, and a touch of white to create depth and coldness in the snow. The lighthouse was painted with pink tones and muted violet hues, achieved by blending sienna, crimson, ultramarine blue, and white for a soft yet striking effect.  

For the rooftops of both the house and lighthouse, I combined burnt umber, sienna, ultramarine blue, and a small amount of white to achieve a weathered, wintry look. The Christmas tree, garland, and wreath were created using a mix of bluish green, ultramarine blue, yellow, burnt umber, crimson red, and white for rich, festive greenery. Finally, the glow of the Christmas lights was captured with a blend of yellow, a hint of sienna, and white, adding warmth and a magical touch to the scene.