Comfort Cottage

A Walk In The Park

A few weeks ago, after photographing the Brandywine Rughooker's exhibition, I noticed a beautiful park across the street from the library.  It was one of the first really nice days of spring, so I decided to take a closer look through the lens of my camera.  Would you like to take a walk with me?

 

 

Doesn't that bench look inviting?

 

 

I love the pattern of bricks at the entrance.

 

 

The flowers were glorious!

 

 

The cherry blossoms were amazing against the electric blue sky.

 

 

Wouldn't this be the perfect spot for wedding or prom photos?

 

 

All over the neighborhood, the magnolias were bursting into bloom.

 

Their pink fluffiness makes my heart skip a beat!

 

 

Down the street from the park, I found a lovely koi pond where I captured beautiful reflections on the water.

 

 

The koi appeared to be swimming in the clouds!

 

 

All the earth has come to life.

 

 

 They look like neon confetti!

 

 

The light brings out every detail.

 

 

 

We are surrounded by miracles.

 

 

I hope you find a few miracles of your own today.

 

 Happy Pink Saturday to all of my pink-lovng friends out there.  To enjoy all of the wonderful pinkness, click on the Pink Saturday icon in my right sidebar.  Thank you to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for hosting today's pink celebration!

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Until next time,

 

Painting The Badlands

After a few days of vacation from my brushes, I was ready to paint again.

 

 

Timeless Wonder

9" x 12"

Watercolor and Pen and Ink on 140lb. Cold Pressed Paper

 

This is the fifth painting in my watercolor journal series.  I actually fussed less with this one, and I like it better.  The Badlands provide such an exciting subject to paint.  I hope you have a lovely weekend.  We're expecting two days of rain here in the Northeast, so I guess I'll be in the studio.

 

Until next time,

 

Dreaming of Paradise

It reached 78 degrees here in Pennsylvania today.  I pulled up the shades, threw open the windows, and dreamed of faraway places again.  My art reflected my mind's wanderings.  I pulled a photo of Lake Erie from my archives and was instantly transported to sandy beaches and churning surf.

 

 

I could almost feel the sun and the sea spray on my face!

 

A few notes on today's painting:

 

 

As you can see from the shiny areas, I used a masquepen to block out areas I wanted to remain white: seafoam and spray, and beach grasses and shell fragments on the beach.  I washed in the sky with a pale wash of Cobalt Blue mixed with a touch of Pthalo Blue (green shade).  I painted around the cloud areas and then wet the inside edges of the clouds to allow the sky mix to bleed into them a bit.  I used varying mixes of chromium oxide green and Pthalo Blue on the lake.

 

 

The fence posts we're added with a mixed of raw umber and payne's gray.

 

 

For the sand, I used a variety of techniques to produce the texture: splattering, stippling, varied washes of burnt umber and french ultramarine with burnt sienna.  After removing the masking from the grasses, I stroked them in with a 10/0 liner using a variety of mixes of sap green, raw sienna, cadmium red and burnt sienna.  I left some of the tips white to suggest sun sparkle.  The cast shadows from the grass were applied with weak payne's gray.   I used sepia acrylic ink and a fine nib dip pen to add details on the fence and sand.  The grasses were detailed with sap green acrylic ink.

 

 

 

For the rocks of the breakwater, I applied a wash of payne's gray.  While it was still damp, I placed crinkled plastic wrap over it and left it in place until it was almost dry.  This gave me a rock-like pattern.  I then added washes of raw umber and payne's grey and burnt umber.

 

 

At the base of the breakwater, I had forgotten to mask in areas for sea foam.  It can still be created after the fact.  I used a sharp razor and gently scraped the areas that I wanted to be white.  It makes a fairly convincing seafoam.  I did the same where the water meets the beach.  On the edges of the grasses on the far left, I wanted to suggest sun sparkle, so I used the razor to gently scrap away a little of the color.

 

 

We're still two months away from kayak season, so I'll just have to settle for painting the water!  I know many of you are taking the Strathmore Online Workshop with Cathy Johnson too.  How's it going for you?  I'd love to hear from you. 

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

Art Journal Inspiration

Yesterday, my  hubby took the day off and we all went on a little road trip.  We traveled to upstate Pennsylvania, where some of his happiest memories live.  My father-in-law, now 90, owns the land that we visited.  His family built the one-hundred-year old barn that still stands on the property today. Just two years ago, at the ripe old age of 88, Dad put a new roof on it:  by himself.   This place has seen generations of my husband's family through good times and bad.  It provided sustenance to those who farmed it, and even during the depression, they never went hungry.  As I walk the paths today, I can hear the echoes of history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed this little walk with me.  Even in winter, there is still beauty to be found.  Have a lovely weekend.

 

Until next time,

 

A New Drawing and Lots of Quilting Inspiration

Hello my friends!  I hope all of you are having a good weekend so far.  It's pretty dreary here in the Northeast.  It's been snowing all day, but so far, it's not accumulating.  I have a few things to share with you today.  The first is my new drawing - a bright yellow finch.

 

 

Instead of watercolor, I used Caran D'Ache Neocolor II water-soluble crayons for the finch.  The rest is the usual pen and ink and graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum.  It was nice working without the distractions of the last week.  I was able to finish him much more quickly than the last drawing.

I also wanted to share some fabric and quilting inspiration.  Last month I had purchased the new editions of Sew Somerset and Art Quilting Studio.  They always get me to thinking about ways to use my fabric stash and my sewing machine.

 

 

There were several beautiful examples of fiber art that really caught my eye.

 

 

I love the way the artist combined embroidery and vintage bird graphics into this fabric book.

 

 

The combination of lace, sumptuous red fabrics and tassel fringe paired with the vintage photo is so lovely.

I'm sure you know that I'm a pushover for bright colors and bold patterns by now.

 

 

In the latest issue of Art Quilting Studio, I found an art quilt that really excites me.

 

 

I recently found some fat quarters that I've been wanting to use for art quilts.

 

 

The colors and patterns are so bright and energetic.

 

 

I found some ideas in the previous issue of Art Quilting Studio that I think these fabrics would be perfect for.

 

 

This conversation quilt can be based on any theme.

 

 

The colors used together in these quilts are so striking together.

 

 

Finally, I loved the way the artist used variegated embroidery thread in her work.

 

 

I think I'll take a break from drawing tomorrow and put my studio back in order.  It shouldn't take too long this time because I just worked on it two weeks ago.  I'm trying to keep up on it because I've found that the more cluttered it is, the less creative I am.  I think it just becomes too much of an effort to work in a disorganized environment.  After I tidy up, I want to try the darning foot I bought for my machine.  It will allow me to do free-motion sewing, which will give me more options for art quilting.

On the horizon, there's a fabric shopping trip to the Old Country Store in Intercourse in the works for Monday.  My sister and quilting buddy, Lorrie and I will be having a day of bliss at the fabric sale.

I hope you have a happy and restful Sunday.

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Butterfly

In coping with my son's recent trauma, I'm finding that I'm even more compelled to create.  I finished a new drawing.  I decided to add some color to this one.  I used Prismacolor colored pencils to enhance the butterfly. 

 

 

We met the surgeon who will be performing my son's reconstructive surgery yesterday.  He described in perhaps more detail than my son wanted what he will be doing to piece his facial bones back together.  The scene was like something out of House, complete with the six residents who filed into the room behind him.  Fortunately, none of them were as obnoxious as House!  My son is understandably nervous, but even he sensed the surgeon's confidence in his ability.  He scheduled the operation for Tuesday, as he wanted to approach the procedure when well-rested.  His schedule was entirely too crowded for Thursday.  I appreciated that - I wouldn't want a tired surgeon reconstructing my son's face!

I hope all you are well.  Please keep my son and his surgeon in your prayers, and thank you for being there to listen.

 

Until next time,

 

A Christmas Cardinal

Since I'm already on a holiday roll this week, I thought I'd unveil my Christmas cardinal.  He's ready for the holidays, even if we aren't!

 

 

Christmas Cardinal

11 x 13

Pen and Ink, and Watercolor on 140lb Cold Press

 

I'm smiling as I think of all of you.  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

 

Until next time,

 

Christmas In November

I know it's a bit early, but I just can't help myself.  A few years ago, my sister and I visited Longwood Gardens for their annual Christmas display.  Needless to say, it was magical and breathtaking.  Lorrie called me earlier this week to firm up our plans for this year.  I'm so excited because I'll be able to document our visit with my new camera.  Somehow, I missed sharing my photos from our 2008 visit.  They were taken with my old camera, but the beauty of Longwood shines through.  So come along with me, and we'll start the holiday season early.

 

 

This is the scene that greeted us as we entered the Conservatory.

 

 

I've never seen so many pointsettias in one place in my life!

 

 

 

I love the way the light played with the petals and leaves.

 

 

There was no shortage of Christmas trees!

 

 

The theme for that year was cranberries, so of course, there was a cranberry bog.

 

 

As always at Longwood, you have to remember to look up.

 

 

 

I love white lillies.

 

 

There was a gorgeous white poinsettia topiary surrounded by a sea of red geraniums.

 

 

 

 

The horse is made entirely of vines!

 

 

The cold didn't seem to deter this little fellow.

 

Sometimes we just have to remember all the beauty that surrounds us.

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

It's About Me

For the past nineteen years I've been Mom.  I've loved living that role, and as any Mom  will tell you, when you have kids, life becomes all about them.  I've never regretted a day of it (well, almost...).  Lately, as my son has begun spreading his wings, I've been working on defining who I am and what I want my life to be about.  Too often, women do not appreciate the depth of their souls and their lives.  I spent some time thinking about the life I've been given, and rediscovering my heart and soul.  Now, before anyone gets nervous, this was actually an extraordinarily enjoyable experience that I've been able to translate to my latest collage.

 

 

I primarily used my own art and photography.  Some of the words, I did in Photoshop, some were borrowed from free downloads, and the rest were gleaned from my rather sizable magazine collection.

 

A collage artist's best friend:

 

 

I adhered everything to a 16 x 20 canvas board.

 

 

 

 

So tell me, what is it that makes your heart beat a little faster?  What is it that calls your name or inspires you?  Let me hear from you!  There is a unique and special heart that beats in all of us.

 

Until next time,

 

A Never Ending Story

Hello there!  How are you today?  I hope you'll drop me a comment today and tell me what you're up to.  I'm looking forward to a day at home.  Yesterday started with a bang.  My nineteen year old college sophomore son was diagnosed with pneumonia.  Of course, I spent the day running him to the doctor, whose appointment secretary insisted that there was no record of him having ever been a patient there.  It turns out that she looked up the wrong name.  That'll do it every time :)

I'm so happy you are joining me for Texture Tuesday.  To find out what it's all about, and to see many wonderful examples of digital art, please pay Kim a visit at Kim Klassen Cafe. Thank you, Kim, for providing us with such wonderful photoshop textures and inspiration!

This week's theme is Love.  It took me awhile to figure out how to approach this.  I went through my photos and finally, this one jumped out at me.  It is yet another one I took in Maine.  The lovely pair of flowers reminds me of the beauty of two hearts joined in love.  Not even when parted in death does their story end.  It lives on in the hearts and souls of all who loved and were loved by them.  It's effects spread out like ripples on the water.

 

 

I used one layer of Kim's Scripted Edges texture set to Linear Dodge over the photo.  I added a layer mask to the texture layer and brushed the texture away from just the pink blossoms.  It seemed to help bring them forward.  The font for the word "love" is Felt Pen.  The layer is set to Screen at 73 percent opacity.  The font for the rest of the text is Porcelain, set to Normal.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Until next time,