Evolution of a Painting: Ginkgo Leaves

Ginkgo is a leafy tree that is not only beautiful but is also beneficial medically. Its leaves have a certain grace about them. They are a vivid green color during the spring/summer but turn a vibrant gold during the fall. Here is the "evolutionary process" of a painting featuring ginkgo that I painted for a special friend of mine. :)


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DIY - Rub-Ons

One of most favorite things to craft with is rub-ons. Versatile and impressionable, these little embellishments add the finishing touch to projects because they can overlay several layers of paper. Unlike stickers, they don't leave white around the edges. They almost seem to "float."
The problem with rub-ons is that they can get kind of pricey, especially because they can only be used once. You can either keep buying more as needed or become a little more creative...

Make Your Own Rub-ons
You will need:
A computer printer
Transparency sheets
A popsicle stick

Choose a subject matter. Search for graphics online or create your own. Here are some rub-ons that I hand-drew. You are welcome to use them for your personal use.P.S. If you are using text, make sure that you horizontally flip it so that the images will come out the right way once they are printed! :)

Print your text/images on the wrong side of the transparency paper. This will allow you to transfer them off. Let the rub-on dry for about 10 minutes so that it will not smear as easily. Then, carefully cut around the image you want to use, lay it over your area of choice, and firmly rub with the popsicle stick. Remove the transparency. Ta-da!

If you want, you can leave the transparency in-tact and simply wipe off the excess ink. It can then be reused again and again.

Here are some examples of what I did with the rub-ons I created:

Enjoy! :)

Sunday Afternoon's Painting

One of my favorite ways to paint using oils is what I like to call "lathering it on." Instead of thinning the paint and doing several layers, I first paint a section's base color (undertone) and then start lathering on highlights and lowlights. The end result is a very fluid texture. I like how it looks on this particular cow! :)

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Weird things start happening once school lets out...

It seems like I go through the same pattern year after year:

School starts --> I become so busy and caught up studying that I neglect art --> School ends ---> I devour everything artistic like a ravenous raccoon.

Summer is coming to an end (sniff!) but I am bound and determined to keep my art skills sharpened as I enter grad school. It is something I feel like I MUST do. I need both the intellectual stimulation and artistic stimulation to be the person I truly am.
Here is a look at some of the art I've done this summer (some of which are not up in my Etsy shop yet... Preview!):


Vintage-styled painting - soft colors



Bright lemons on a fancy blue china plate


Pretty 8" x 8" scrapbook

Cute 3" x 3" bird nest painting

More to come! :)