A Swap for Spring!

A group I belong to on Etsy.com is called Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team, or, simply the BBEST team!  Often we have activities which bring members together.  This April we have one entitled, Spring.

Thinking caps on….

This is what emerged from my fair hand!

One rule we have is that we are not to tell the other person who to expect what from!  So, I don’t know where or what I will be receiving and neither does my recipient.

Last two in the Tulip Series

At last I have come to the end of the Tulip Series!  I created the last two.  Now there are five.  They can either be mounted separately or together to make a bigger impact.

Created in an ACEO size (3” x 2.5”) they allow you to own an original work of art for next to nothing!

#4 and #5 to be found in my Etsy shop.

  

Now to see all 5!

Spring is in the Air ….

It’s 1 February!!  Where has January slipped to?  However, with the sun shining I look out of my window and find I have crocuses trying to stretch their necks whilst the daffodils are starting to get ready for their show!

Meanwhile, here is another ACEO in my Tulip series ….

Tulip Series # 2

After a cold winter what can be more joyous than the sight of spring flowers erupting in your garden? The winds might still blow but these hardy tulips are made of stern stuff!
Here we have number two in my Tulip series. With a delicate pinky red hue you can actually imagine those cold winds whipping through the petals.

ACEO Series - Tulips

Since, like so many others, I am getting tired of the cold of winter I thought I would turn my attentions to the garden.  Amazingly, several of my plants are showing signs of life.  Many have buds and my Mountain Ash (Rowan Tree) even has a couple of leaves starting to unfurl!

This brings me nicely to my latest ACEO entitled ‘Mauve Tulip’ series.  I thought I might do a series so do watch out for the next instalment!

An ACEO for Spring in encaustics

Global warming they call it.  So, why is it still cold, wet, windy etc etc?  At least the grass, weeds and lovely flowers are flourishing.

In celebration I created this ACEO entitled ‘Astor’ which I have for sale in my Etsy shop.

Remember!  An ACEO only has one rule.  It must be 3.5” x 2.5”.  It can be made in any medium you like.  I find in these days of ‘the credit crunch’ (I have come to dislike that phrase because it covers a multitude of sins) people still enjoy art but might not have enough spare cash to spend out.  So, by creating ACEOs you can own an original piece of art, show it off however you wish without breaking the bank.

How to display your ACEO?  Try framing it.  These days you can purchase frames and mounts specifically for ACEOs like Custom Art Framing who sell these on Etsy.

Or you can place your ACEO in an album on your coffee table ready for your guests to browse!

Another way to display your collection of ACEOs is to place them on individual stands such as these from Pettman Art on Etsy.

Or, you could be really classy and use this black stained glass stand from Nonnie’s Treasures.

In honour of Spring!

My husband and I went for a walk on Saturday in one of our favourite parks run by the National Trust in UK.  This particular park, called Sheffield Park, was designed by 'Capability' Brown in the eighteenth century when he created irregular belts and clumps of trees and cleared informal paths through the woods.

There are truly some wonderful views.

Meanwhile, in encaustics, I have painted some flower images similar to crocus flowers or tulips.

 

This one entitled Windswept Flower reminded me of a delicate flower being buffeted by a fresh, cold wind in early spring.

 

 

 

Here I tried to convey how delicate the petals could be.

This one called Meadow Flower could be seen as more of a crocus or even a tulip!

Isn’t wonderful to be able to bring all these flowers to bloom with the new warmth of the fresh sunshine.  The world looks a better place already!

If you are interested in viewing more like these please visit my Etsy shop, Artfire or Zazzle.  If you wish to contact me I would love to hear from you too either through my Etsy shop or directly through my blog!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoyed your stay?  Do come again soon!

Ever thankful!

I am very mindful that in today's economic climate when money is not as prolific as in past years that there are still folk out there who appreciate art enough to want to buy it!  After all, it is a luxury that many of us cannot not indulge in however much we would love to.

And so, that brings me to today.  I fired up my laptop to discover a sales notification from my Etsy shop!  The sunshine is shining and a sale.  What else does a girl want?

My buyer comes from overseas and graciously decided to purchase an ACEO entitled Springtime in the Alps.  This is the time of year when we are struggling with bills, trying to stay warm but remain ever hopeful of the stirring of spring.  Even now I can see my daffodils starting to show their flower buds, the snowdrops are out and the crocus greenery is showing through a couple of inches.  It won't be long now!

See the foxgloves in the foreground as your eye moves up the mountain pass.  Birds  of prey fly over searching for their next meal.  A stream is running down too and is helping to keep the flowers well watered.

Can't you just smell the spring?

Off now to wrap up the ACEO safely for its long journey!