I’m still working on this seasonal piece every few months. I get one season nearly finished and then stop, wait a few months for the season to change, and partly complete the next. I decided I’ll wait until the end of summer before filling in the details that will connect it all together.
My mom asked for a painting that reminded her of home, so I used ink and colored pencil to paint and draw this happy memory.
These miniature pieces measure just 2.5″ x 3.5″. They’re the same size as a wallet photo, just a little bigger than a business card. They’re on Ampersand Claybord tiles, and I used ink, colored pencil, and scratchboard techniques. I have a feeling this is my new favorite thing, creating very small paintings.
I truly love winter, but during this cold snap, I suddenly remembered robins and crab apple blossoms and planting a garden and hanging clothes outside to dry. The next thing I knew, I was drawing this robin.
This may be the only time I’ve used this paper with any success. It’s a bamboo paper that seems to absorb water well and the colors are nice and bright, but the surface is soft so that I’ve never appreciated the rather dreamy effect until now.
Ironically, I based this painting off a photo I took a few years ago in November. I remember thinking I was seeing the last of the robins until spring. I used another photo of this same robin in another drawing, one of my favorites, I think.