I haven’t posted in a while…thought it would be fun to show you some of the stages in my painting process.  I chose to use a watercolor painting I did in my art class with Ruth Bailey.  The title of the work is “Wedding Treasures”.  It’s a still life painting of our wedding sand bottle and cake topper (seahorses), along with a couple of seashells.

The first picture is simply the set up of the objects to be painted; as you can see, I ended up painting it from a different angle.  I wasn’t super concerned about exact proportions for this one and used the set up more as a guide rather than attempting to realistically copy it.  My focus was on the colors and mood as well as working on painting glass.

Next, you can see me at work in the beginning painting stages; I had already sketched it in pencil.

The third picture is the painting before the background and tablecloth were added, and before much shadowing had been done.

Finally, the last picture shows the completed painting, matted and framed, hanging on our bedroom wall next to one of my earlier watercolors called, “Seahorse Romance”.

I really love this piece as it has sentimental value to me and has some of my favorite colors in it, especially the aqua blue!

Check out these pictures of my beautiful new door sign, made by the talented Ann-Marie of Words by Design…she did such an amazing job!!!  She took my logo design from my business card and incorporated it in to a lovely cottage-y looking sign.  View her site where she explains how she did this!

Welcome to my beach cottage!

New Sign at Blue Wave Cottage

I love to paint, and I paint things I love.  I also love to share my art with others, so I find places to display my work.  Art is very subjective; some people will enjoy my work and others may not so much, but that’s just the way it is with art, and it’s really okay.  Having said that, it brings me great joy when someone appreciates something I’ve created; and when someone likes something enough to buy it, well I’m simply ecstatic!  Annapolis Wellness House is the place I first started painting while attending therapeutic art sessions.  This charitable organization has a big annual fundraiser each summer called “La Fiesta”.  This year I donated one of my pieces, “Purple Hydrangeas”, for the silent auction.  I chose this piece because I painted it during an art session at Wellness House and these sessions have been, and continue to be, very healing for me.  I wanted to donate something that was special to me.  I was so happy to receive an email from the purchaser a couple of weeks ago, and she gave me permission to share what she wrote.  She also included a photo of the painting hanging in her house.  The deep joy that filled me when I read her message brought a huge smile to my face that stayed with me for days, and it still makes me smile when I think of it.

“Purple Hydrangeas” Painting at La Fiesta Auction

“Purple Hydrangeas” in New Home

“Dear Kim,

I wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying your beautiful watercolor. I had the winning bid at La Fiesta on Saturday and immediately put it over my sofa in the family room. It must have been karma-I had been looking for something to place there after I remodeled the family room and kitchen and this is the perfect thing. Mary Jane”

In a subsequent email she wrote:

“And the painting is all the more special now that I know when it was done and the role it may have played in your journey in life.”

Thank you so much for sharing, Mary Jane!  It was very thoughtful and touching!