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.

 

Groovy Snowman Painting

This 8x10 acrylic painting, completed in 2016, was inspired by my efforts to master snowy scenes.  

The piece is a recreation of a work by the talented artist Vickie Wade from her Snow and Christmas Collection. I admired how she blended soft, cool winter tones with the warm earthy hues of the children’s jackets. I aimed to capture that same effect and was pleased with the result.

Check out Vickie Wade Fine Art Collections

Below is a series of photos showcasing the painting process, starting with the finished piece and followed by step-by-step progress shots.