Watercolor Illustrations

Canna Lily
Watercolor
View in my shop

Well, I started out doing a 30 day challenge and then life happened. I think I got to day 21 and then stopped… home life got so turbulent, I just couldn't concentrate to paint so I allowed myself to back out of the challenge. I feel guilty, but I'll be fine. As I get older, I accept that this is MY life and I can change my mind if I want and that's just what I did.

Sooo, the other day I was going through some old watercolor illustrations and decided to put them up on my Etsy shop. You can see them here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ClairHartmannFineArt?section_id=12496014&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1
Looks like I was having some fun when I did these. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did finding them again.

Sid

Sid
8" x 10
oil on canvas
Sold

Feather Finds (detail)

Feather Finds (detail)
24" x 12"
oil on canvas

Decided to add two more feathers today.

Feather Finds (detail)

Feather Finds (detail)
24" x 12"
oil on canvas

This bluejay feather is the beginning to a larger 24" x 12" painting. The goal of the 30 day challenge I'm working on is to complete a small painting a day and technically this is what I'm doing - It's just that this painting contains 6 small paintings.
Tomorrow I'll post another.

Mockingbird Feather

Mockingbird Feathers
5" x 7"
oil on panel
view in my shop

Just a paint sketch of one of my feathers from my found feather stash.
I love the way the black runs into the white.

Sliced Cantaloupe

"Sliced Cantaloupe"
8" x 6"
oil on panel
view in my shop

PAINT MY DOG - Daisy

10" x 8"
oil on canvas
Sold

In Remembrance...

 

7" x 5"
oil on panel
NFS

A few days ago Guy's children lost their grandfather.
They called him Pawpaw.
I never met him, but I heard wonderful stories of him and how he appreciated creativity. He sounded like a very interesting man. Sara told me one time that he liked to make pickled bamboo. I had never hear of such a thing and then she brought some home... it's absolutely delicious!

My thoughts are with Sara and Jesse during this sad time
- I'm sure their Pawpaw will be greatly missed.

New Color

New Color
5" x 7"
oil on panel
view in my shop
framed

I painted this subject a few years ago and I wanted to paint it again to see how my style has changed. 

Here is the first one:

Although, this painting is brighter, it doesn't feel "expressive" to me. 

The most recent painting is more relaxed, expressive and painted with confidence. 

It is definitely the direction I've wanted to go in. 

Swallow Study

"Swallow Study"

8" X 5"

oil on panel

framed

view in my shop

Photo reference by Hermant Kumar 

Windswept Pony

"Windswept Pony"
oil on panel
3.25" x 4.75"
framed
view in my shop

Nest

"Nest"
oil on panel
4" x 4"
framed
view in my shop

I've had this frame for awhile and I just couldn't find the right painting for it. 

I think this nest works. 

Jar-O-Olives

Jar-O-Olives
22" x 28"
oil on canvas
view in my shop


Yeah, I know I'm all over the place.
My brain works that way.
I have struggled with ADD all my life learning that lists are my friend. In school it was a real problem, but now it just makes life interesting.

Indian Kingfisher

"Indian Kingfisher"
10" x 20"
oil on canvas
view in my shop

I have an acquaintance who lives in Indian and takes gorgeous photographs. He has been so kind to allow me to paint some of his birds.
You can see his work here: https://500px.com/HemantKumar
Thanks Hemant!!

Nash

Nash
8" x 10"
sold

Tucker

8" x 10"
oil on canvas
Sold

Ok, back to reality… still have a few portraits left to do :)

Night Heron

Night Heron
14" x 5"
oil on thick panel
view in my shop

Barn Owl

Barn Owl
8" x 10" x 3/4"
oil on thick panel
view in my shop

I had a lot of fun with the drips and color on this one.
These animals are so intense looking.

Blue Crab

 Blue Crab
10" x 8"
oil on canvas

Anjou Pear

"Anjou Pear"
8" x 10"
oil on canvas
view in my shop

Bluejay of Happiness

Bluejay of Happiness
10" x 8"x 3/4" (sides)
oil on heavy panel
view in my store

I wanted my first painting of 2015 to reflect how I hoped the year would be. Originally I thought of painting a bluebird, but I didn't feel the energy of a bluebird translated what I wanted to convey. I have always loved bluejays and their strong, proud, joyful energy. They are incredibly intelligent and very misunderstood. (on a side note: I have recorded about 12 different calls they make, all unique and expressive - the "squeaking gate" sound being my favorite) My mother told me once that when she was in labor with me, she listened to a bluejay outside the window making all of it's calls… maybe I heard them too.

So this year I hope to go in with strength and embrace joy in all things, choosing to recognize the joys and hold them in me.

Happy New Year to all of you - I have a good feeling about this one :)