Christmas Cards 2012: Antler Style

I'm seriously debating about whether or not to make 'Antlers' its own post category on the side of my blog.  Lately I've been posting about them so often because they are the perfect cross between my style and my husband's style.  Trendy yet classic, masculine but feminine.  I decided to watercolor our Christmas cards this year and thought that deer would be the perfect subject matter.  Below are a few snapshots courtesy of Instagram of the cards we sent out.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on how they turned out!

Watercolor Wednesday

Two of my favorite things combined: watercolors and mason jars. I found this painting on Brian C.'s blog, "My Tears Spoiled My Aim". I love the composition of this piece combined with its wet blocks of monochromatic hues.  

[Image courtesy of My Tears Spoiled My Aim]

Watercolor Wednesday

An extra special Holiday edition of Watercolor Wednesday for you.  I found this over at The Love List by watercolor artist Caitlin McGauley.  So festive and fun!

Watercolor Wednesday

I found this little gem on Aubrey Road's Tumblr.  I love the geometric shapes created by such an organic medium of watercolor.  The color palette and different opacities overlaid give this painting so much depth.

Watercolor Wednesday

Eduard Erlikh is a fashion illustrator who uses watercolor as his main medium.  His wet, loose style is so mood-evoking and fresh.  The sensitive lineweights contrast so well against the well-thought-out white space.  I'm jealous of his use of color and bold strokes.

Watercolor Wednesday

This is a watercolor I painted in high school at one of my first watercolor workshops.  It was a great exercise in negative space, and the principle's I learned during the workshop have stuck with me.  Can't you see the similarity between this and the blog header? :)

Watercolor Wednesday

I traveled to Hawaii a few years ago and visited a black sand beach.  One of my family friends took a beautiful picture of the curved palm trees on the beach, and I decided to recreate it in a watercolor.  

Watercolor Wednesday

This semester I took a watercolor class, so I figured I'd show off my final project.  We had to choose a building or an object to do an analytical study of.  I chose Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York.  We had to include a floor plan, section, and an interior or exterior view.  I learned a lot, especially how difficult it is to do a painting on a large scale as 20"x30"!

Watercolor Wednesday

I stumbled upon watercolor artist David Savellano on the Watercolor Artist Blog.  He paints urban settings in a fresh way using dynamic brushstrokes.  This painting is called Oakland Market and is done in a tryptic style painted on three separate pages.  Notice the whispy trees, sunlit umbrellas and awnings, and shadows on the pavement.  Here's a quote from David:


"A successful painting contains correctly painted values and expressive and entertaining brushstrokes, based on good composition.”

Watercolor Wednesday

I discovered Serena Mitnik-Miller through mimi & meg blog.  She is a painter and photographer who is inspired by her love of sea and surf.  Her website is beautiful, as well as her blog.  I'd love to have her photos or paintings on my walls!

Watercolor Wednesday

Today's watercolor is based on Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis fabric.  I used Winsor Newton ceridean orange and blue, mixed with each other and with black to vary tone and value.

Watercolor Wednesday

I love how this painting zooms in on an intricate plant, and depicts the layering of leaves and sunlight.  The colors are warm and the bright highlights and dark shadows give this image so much depth.

 

Summer Wonder

{Image courtesy of Aquarelle Studios & Galleries}

Watercolor Wednesday: Spring Fling

April Watercolor Landscape by Phil Morin

{Image courtesy of the painting blog}

Watercolor Wednesday

This sailboat watercolor is simple and elegant.  I love the loose, sketchy style, and the reflection of the boats on the water.  This painting was created by Diane at Daily Art.  To purchase or for more info, visit her blog.

Watercolor Wednesday

Today there are two equally fabulous watercolors by fashion illustrator Mats Gustafson.  I love their abstract quality and how they evoke a loose, victorian feeling.  I also like how the artist chose to detail their mid section, not the whole figure.

{Images courtesy of Fashion Illustration Gallery}

Watercolor Wednesday

This realistic watercolor by Mary Ann Boysen submerges me into a Paris street cafe, looking out onto a rainy day.

Watercolor Wednesday

I love this composition, the wet streaks of color, and how it is abstracted yet architectural. From my favorite, mypaintings4sale on flickr. Entitled "Pier Pattern"

Watercolor Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! Bloor Bridge by mypaintings4sale on flickr

Watercolor Wednesday!

A lot of you have seen the autumn watercolor painting on my desktop background and asked where I found it. I found it last year on a random google image search, but I hadn't written down where I had gotten it from. So I found it again just the other day, along with many other watercolors by the same artist. Please check this artist out on flickr, his work is amazing.

So each Wednesday I will plan on featuring a different painting for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!