Tootsie Pops and Painting Ideas

This week, I was having trouble coming up with new painting ideas. That is when I start looking around my studio at things on my shelves. I have a supply of Tootsie Pops- a sand pail full and a mason jar full, to be exact. They are great little sugar fixes while painting- no hands required after unwrapping and only 2 points on WW (used to be only 1 point, but I will deal with it). So, I decided to do a 20 minute challenge with a Tootsie Pop. I kept painting for longer than the 20 minutes because I got caught up in the little wrapper details, but it was fun. Next, I am working on a watercolor of the Mason jar with Tootsie Pops inside- plenty of interest for me with the colorful wrappers and the shininess of the jar surface.

I came up with a lot of new still life ideas also, so hope to get some reference photos taken this weekend for at least a few. I spend so much time trying to think of what to paint- even though I have lists of ideas. So much painting time gets wasted. I hope if I have some good still life ideas ready to go, I will just sit down and paint. Then, I think I will paint at least some of these still life paintings two ways- in oils AND in watercolors. One of my other problems is deciding which medium to go with. I really enjoy both and some paintings are an easy decision. Beaches, and garden types are watercolors to me- but I love still life and there my decision can go either way. If I plan to paint a still life both ways, I won't waste the time choosing a medium PLUS I will have 2 paintings and I am bound to like at least one of them! I know, I know- most of this dilemma could be solved by just being a more decisive person, but that will never happen to me.

Any other of my artist friends have these problems in their studios?

Mason Jar Madness

One of my favorite ways to spend time with my mom is looking through antique stores. Let me correct that- I use the term "antique" loosely- JUNK stores are more our specialty. The scary thing about these stores is that along with seeing things my mom grew up with, we also see things I happen to have in my house (such as wedding china). We both love antique mason (canning) jars. I think I just love the history that comes with old items. My mom has collected them for years, and I was actually stopping to buy some (for my mom) that a farmer in Rhode Island had put out at the roadside for sale. That was when I decided that I wanted some- even though my mom DID get the ones I found for her. Now, when we are in an antique/junk store, its every collector for herself! The artist in me loves the shades of aquas to ceruleans, and of course, the bubbles in the old glass. There is actually a book that lists types and makers of these old jars, so we can get an idea of how old they are and - even though I can't say this with a straight face- how much they are worth. My husband and sons have had fun with this for years. The fact that we will pay $10 for a jar that someone threw away many years ago is amazing to them. I like to put tags on the jars that show where we found them, just because it reminds me of the places we visited and the fun we had that day. I like to justify my obsession for these old jars by using them to hold anything from seashells and beach glass (other little obsessions we will talk about another time) to buttons, corks, candy, whatever! I also paint them often, which in itself is a good reason to have them.

Do you have something you like to collect? I love to hear about other people's favorite things!

Sheryl

Watercolor- Miner's Hat Drive-In

The Miner's Hat Drive-In opened in Kellogg, Idaho in 1941 (according to my Google sources). It was originally a small drive-in restaurant shaped like a giant miner's hard hat- complete with huge carbide mining lamp. It closed in 1962, and I don't remember ever eating there- but it was an important landmark to us anyway. Both of my parents came from small mining towns in northern Idaho and we spent many summer and Christmas vacations there. We drove to Kellogg annually, to see our grandparents and that over-sized miner's hat was our sign that we were almost there. It also meant one less "Are we there yet?" from the back seat.

After The Miner's Hat closed, it became a real estate office (around 1967), but changed very little in appearance. I love to look at old postcards, and came across one from around 1955 showing the little roadside restaurant in action- and decided it would make a fun painting subject. I forgot to take a photos of my progress, so no step-by-step on this watercolor. Sometimes I am in such a hurry to start painting that I just forget.

Thanks for looking!

Sheryl

Stained Glass Window- California Poppies

We spent Christmas away from home, and I haven't been painting for the last few weeks- but I have made some progress on my latest stained glass window. I haven't been going to the glass studio every week because of the holidays, but I did manage to get my pieces ground and on my board. I love this stage of work, since you can finally see what the window will look like. Next step- foiling the edges and getting ready to solder.

I got the pattern for this window from my mom. She made a window like this many years ago, and my compliments to the artist who made the original window! My mom's window was made with lead, and mine will be soldered with foil, but the look will be the same. I can't wait to finish it and have it in my home- I have always loved seeing it in my mom's kitchen window.

In My Studio This Week- Soldering and more soldering

I haven't been able to pick up a paint brush this week- busy with other projects. I miss the painting, of course, but also enjoy the other art projects. Lots of Etsy orders to fill- all soldered glass ornaments and charms, so I have been using the soldering iron instead of the watercolor brushes. Mostly Blue Star Banner charms and ornaments and a lot of ornaments with photos on them. I really enjoy soldering and making these ornaments and charms, but they do take me away from my painting and I was in such a painting groove lately. I think I spread myself too thin, artistically speaking, but I like so many art forms. I want to try it all! Some of the photos I get from people for charms and ornaments are fun to see- old wedding photos, baby pictures, pictures of deployed husbands...Anyway, my studio is a mess of soldering tools, and I will be back at it today while my unfinished watercolors wait a few feet away. Soon!

Tis The Season!

Nonnie's tree and a few of her beaded ornaments

My three favorite Santas, waiting to be put somewhere

some of my beach santas

hours of ornaments to unpack and hang

I have not picked up a paintbrush in a few days. I had some Etsy orders to get done and in the mail, and now its Christmas Decorating Season! I should have started right after Thanksgiving, and in my house- that means I am already behind schedule. I like to have Christmas for the whole month of December, then take it all down after New Year's. This year, I have been so into painting, that I just got a late start. I have a pile of unmailed cards still to get done and Christmas decorations in boxes everywhere. I got the tree up yesterday, and put who knows how many strings of lights on it- I really don't know now, I do know that I went to the store for more so I could have enough. I like the old style colored bulbs and also clear minis, but don't forget the all- important bubble lights (4 strings of just those). Today I am putting the ornaments on the tree and around the house on garlands and wreaths. I am a Christmas ornament addict. I have been buying and making new ones every year since I got married (actually before). I just keep getting bigger trees to hold more ornaments. My favorites are the ones I have gotten from people over the years, the ones that put a smile on your face when you see them. I also love the old fashioned glass ones (Christopher Radko, etc). I have also been collecting Clothtique Santas for years and they are mostly the beach santas, but my favorite ones are the New York Santa, Artist Santa and Patriotic Santa. By far, my most treasured Christmas decorations are the ones I have gotten from my grandmother. There are the sequined Christmas ornaments she made (pinning thousands of beads and sequins into styrofoam balls would make me crazy!) and the ceramic light up tree she made. Very old fashioned- and she made them herself, so it means so much to me to have them in my home now.

Anyway, I have a full day ahead of me- time to go to the holiday music in my itunes and get to decorating. That pile of boxes speaks for itself!

Thanks for looking-

Sheryl

Stalled Watercolor- "Rooster and Roses"

This is the cookie jar we grew up with, and then it spent more than a few years up in one of my mom's cupboards. I don't know why, but I really love the design. I googled it (of course, how else do you find out anything?) and found out there was a whole dinner set and it was made in the 50's. The cookie jar was a wedding gift, she didn't collect any of the other pieces. I don' know if its the bright colors, or what- but I really wanted to paint it. The watercolor has been fun and so far, trouble-free. My problem now is what to do with it at this point. I know I will need shadows to help ground it, and a table or tablecloth maybe (the reason for the extra space under the cookie jar), but don't want to do that until I am sure what I want to add. I guess I am afraid that I may ruin it when I add other elements and a background. That is my kind of thinking- I have gone this far and I still like the painting, so something bad may be only a brush stroke away! Any ideas? I keep changing my mind on what other things to add- like a table cloth, fruit, cookies, or what? I will paint something else or maybe several other "somethings" while I ponder how to continue with this one.

Thanks for looking!

Sheryl