For The Love Of Pumpkins

There is just something about pumpkins...is it the shape? The intense colors? Or maybe, the delicious goodies we make from these golden orbs of yumminess?! Whatever it is, I simply adore them and they are a joy to sketch and paint. This jewel is forever captured so it can be enjoyed and savored through the Autumn Season!

The original artwork shown above is available for purchase. The price is $20 USD including shipping. This is a mixed media artwork with watercolor and archival inks. The artwork is on an embossed piece of watercolor paper and measures 2.5 x 3.25 inches. It fits neatly into a 4 x 6 inch frame or with a paper backing (the green piece), a 5 x 7 inch frame. The frame shown is for display purpose only and is not included.

If interested, please send me a direct message via the link at the top of the blog. First come, first serve.

Close Up of Artwork

...well, before we get to that, some of you mentioned wanting a larger peek. Since Blogger now limits the view size of the art, I thought I'd post a couple of peeks of different sections of Nature's Classroom.

Detailed View of Nature's Classroom © Laure Ferlita

I noted that there was a bit of commentary on the amount of detail that I've included in this piece of work. Left to my own devices, I would paint details to the point of ad nauseam. Like most things I have found that I need to strike a balance between my need for details with other pieces that are fast and leave a lot to the imagination.

A detailed view of Nature's Classroom © Laure Ferlita

The really nice thing about this painting is that when I found myself craving the detail work, I could work on this piece to satisfy that obsession while continuing to do quick sketch work in my journal. When you are as attracted to (obsessed with?) details as I am, it takes time to learn that not all artwork needs to be detailed.

It comes down to what I'm trying to say in the work or a feeling I'm trying to evoke. Sometimes less is more. Sometimes, more is more. Learning to "see" what works best takes time end lots of experimentation not to mention practice!


For those of you that are interested, you can purchase a copy of the print below using the PayPal button. Prints will be available on the blog at a price of $24.99 USD plus $5.00 shipping in the US for the next 7 days.

After that, the print will be moved to Etsy and will be $34.99 USD plus $5.00 shipping.

As always, thanks so much for the kind words! You make my day and make me want to keep painting!!

Here is the second in the Boomer Series. This is Seth, Boomer's best buddy and he's let love get the best of him...

"The Price of Love" © Laure Ferlita 4.5" x 6" (11.42 cm x 15.24 cm) Watercolor and gouache on paper

"Seth sat shivering, despite the bright warm starlight. Try as he might, he could not figure out how he came to be dressed up like a reindeer in the village play! The last thing he remembered (clearly) was waiting for Boomer at the edge of Hemlock Hollow when that cutie pie, Clarissa, flew up next to him on the branch. From there, things got kinda fuzzy. It seemed his brain ceased normal functions whenever she was too near.


The next thing Seth could vaguely recall was nodding his head yes like some wooden toy. He wished she wouldn't look up at him like that when she was so close—sometimes, he even forgot to breathe! Besides, who had ever heard of a reindeer with a red nose, anyway? Besides Clarissa, he wondered.


And oh, how Seth dreaded Boomer showing up...where was he anyway? Seth hadn't let Boomer live down last summer's escapades, and Seth knew full well he was never going to hear the end of this. The words "village idiot" were about to take on a whole new meaning....."

Available for purchase

$45.00 USD
    5.95 Priority Shipping in the US. If you are outside of the US, I'll see how quickly I can get it to you for the same amount of money.

....a bright, shiny, Christmas ball!

Boomer and the Ball 4.5" x 6" (11.43 cm x 15.24 cm) Watercolor, gouache and acrylic ink

     Boomer stood looking at the shiny bauble with a quizzical look on his face. He was glad no one was around to see what he had found. What was it, he wondered. He'd pecked at it to see if it was edible. He knew if it was he'd be feasting like a king for a week. Alas, it was not. Still, he didn't seem to be able to look away from it.
   
     Pondering what to do with the new toy was turning into quite the dilemma. The snow was falling faster and Boomer knew he'd have to make a decision quickly. He wanted to take it back to the tree he'd decided to call home for the winter, but he wasn't sure how heavy it was or if he could even fly with the thing! Still, Boomer wanted to try. 


     He just didn't want a repeat performance of the situation that had earned him the nickname of Boomer in the first place.....

It would seem I have "cute" on the brain with this adorable little bird just demanding to be painted! The idea came to me just before I drifted off to sleep Monday evening. It was one of the first things to hit my consciousness on Tuesday morning. Boomer was quite insistent about becoming a painting. And he brought some friends. There's at least two more chickadee paintings waiting in the wings (no pun intended).

It would also seem that the obsessive, compulsive, detail-loving side of my painting personality has returned:

Detail of Boomer's cap

I had hoped I had finally overcome this need to worship at the alter of detail. Apparently not!

I'm putting this cute little guy up for sale as I will the others once they're complete. He can be yours for $45.00 plus $5.95 shipping. He'll come to you Priority Mail in the US. If you live outside of the U.S., I'll see how quickly I can get him to you for the same amount of money. If you decide to purchase Boomer, you'll also have the right of first refusal on the other two paintings.


SOLD!

Thank you!!

I had Spring Fever something fierce last year and decided to paint all the blooms I could find. This hyacinth turned out to be absolutely gorgeous and I had so much fun painting the progression of the bloom. Nature unfolding before my very eyes. The changes seemed hourly! I've only finished up the last sketch in this past month! Just small things, little touches still needed here and there.

In finishing up the sketch, I realized I have not made the time to do as much painting this year as I did last Spring. What a mistake! One that I am working on correcting with restructuring my workday and refocusing my priorities.

I will be putting this in my Etsy shop early next week. Until then, this print is available to purchase below at $19.95 + 4.00 Shipping and Handling. If you're interested in purchasing it, please use the PayPal button below, and Happy Spring, Y'all!!!

Please note: The colored bar and copyright information does not appear on the actual print. Artist retains all copyrights.

$19.95 + 4.00 S&H

Pink Petticoats Peony

Rosebud WIP

Over the weekend I was able to finish up this small watercolor, Summer Jewel! It is painted on Ampersand's Aquabord® and is my first painting on this support. (UPDATE: The size is 4" x 4" and this is an original watercolor!) I have to say, I rather like the Aquabord and I'm going to be doing some more work on it to see what this stuff can handle. (If you're interested, check tomorrow's post where I'll offer my observations on this product.)

Sold

Original Sunflower Watercolor Painting

I have just added two new sets of notecards to my online store Painted Thoughts!
The second set is also a set of four (4) notecards of the sweet little nest found in a friend's neighbor's yard in North Carolina:

These are the Easter cards I mentioned earlier in the week - I finally managed to get a decent photo of them and I will be adding them to Etsy! The cards are blank on the inside so that you can send your own personal greeting.

These cards are printed on premium, bright white card stock and are accompanied by matching envelopes. The folded card size is 5.5" by 4.25". The back gives the title and artist name as well as all the copyright information.

Pink Tulip Original Watercolor ACEO
$24.00 + $1.50 Shipping

It is a wonderful feeling to be able to get so much done and get organized until you realize two days have gone by and you haven't created any art! Still, I'm glad to have gotten caught up on some of this stuff and I have more to do, but I think a little each day will get me there. A few more tweaks to the web site and it will be caught up. My business cards are now up to date with my new blog and Etsy addresses added. I have updated Flickr and Etsy with the latest links. And I have identified a number of other things that need doing but are not so pressing that everything else has to stop until they're done.

Last night I was digging around looking for acetate envelopes in some old storage boxes when I ran across this sweet little ACEO. I took some pink tulips into work one morning to put on my desk. One of the tulips just would not stand up. The floppy tulip was right in my site line whenever I glanced at my phone. It seemed to be begging to be painted and I just couldn't resist - isn't it sweet?! I remember setting the painting aside after I painted it with the intention of putting a background on it because it just looked unfinished to me. That was 2007. Fast forward to April 1st, 2009, and I finally put a background on it. Geez, where does the time go?! Anyway, I'm offering it here and then will move it over to Etsy in a few days.

Do you ever feel that way after you've spent a morning doing "chores"? Things that have to be done like scanning and labeling artwork for various tasks (hi-res for printing, low-res for the web); organizing computer files; doing paperwork, etc. I got an early start today but here it is noon, and I'm just now getting to a stopping spot. Not finished, mind you, but stopping. I don't think you ever get finished with this kind of "stuff"!