New Studio Work

I am really loving the new designs coming out of my studio. It’s been an exploration of color and texture.

This piece is a good example. It’s heavy cotton rag paper, so the surface is uneven.  So, when I print the design, it takes in places, and doesn’t in others.  Also, I’ve got layers of color-changing and shimmery paints underneath, and they all accept or don’t accept paint in different ways.  

This adds up to some cool effects and textures!  It reminds me of flocked wallpaper.  Remember that?!  Really cool to touch and an affordable price too. 🙂. Good combination. At a mere $35.00, you can find it at www.colorcatstudios101.etsy.com.  Please help starving artists - man, business has NOT been good during this quarantine!

Hope in a Dark World

In these precarious times we MUST turn to God’s word.  If each of us did our own part in following those ten extremely strong suggestions, can you imagine what kind of world we would live in?  LOVE EVERYONE!

‘Oh Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven?  You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in your hand and no one can withstand you..... we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.’  This is II Chronicles 20 verses 6 and 12.  These seven verses in order, which I did not type, are precious. They praise God, recall his deeds, remember his promises, tell him their problems and ask for help, then the last verse wraps up with ‘We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.’  Maybe this is all we need to do, huh?

Yesterday we got two inches of rain.  Rain and beauty are God’s blessings too. This beautiful hibiscus thrives because of God’s gifts.  Let’s obey him by loving everyone.

Lily, Lily Painting

Start now and get a jump on Christmas so you can enjoy the season.  I love this pretty painting! 

To me the colors seem rich and modern.  My little friend likes it too.

The lily pops out at me and glows in its iridescents and silvers.  The way the colors flow around each other pulls my eyes around the painting as I follow the ways the paints move and blend together.  Such a beauty!

This is an acrylic pour over 8”x8” cradled birch.  I used the highest quality archival paints which will not fade with time.  That and the sturdy frame will make it an heirloom!  Wired and ready to hang.  Signed on the side.

The website is: 

www.colorcatstudios101.etsy.com and there you can find many more pictures of this painting along with lots of information including the price, which is a MERE $60.00!  Check me out!

A Spring Floral

When I paint flowers I always paint in joy.  And there’s nothing like a fresh watercolor painting of flowers to soothe the soul. This is actually a mixed media piece with all sorts of hidden things which will pull you into its rainbow of mystery. A tiny work on paper with a tiny price.  Find it on my website, 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

And another closeup..

This piece has some really cool textures in it.  My studio is open; get a hold of me and I’ll give you a free tour.  Everything looks ever so much better in person!!

My Art Studio Today

I had to step aside from the work I’d outlined for my painting day because these hyacinths were driving me to distraction!  Their fragrance is divine and I literally carry them from room to room. Finally I prepared a canvas and did some color testing.  Pictured here are the color winners; the color losers were banished back to my paint drawers.  We artists make it our job to make creation look easy, but you can see from this photo that a whole lot of planning and work go into a piece long before brush meets canvas.

Also, sometimes I have a helper come into my studio.  Trust me, when he comes in, I stop and enjoy life for a while.

Flower Painting - Spring!

Spring is coming (comes early here in Texas!) What better way to celebrate than with flowers? This little mixed media piece IS a celebration!  5 1/2”x9”.

Sooo much fun. ❤️ 

Peonies, My Favorite, Bubba!

Just a little piece of gorgeousness to brighten your day.  Peonies are my absolute favorite flower.  When we lived in points North, the first thing I would do is plant a hedge of these beautiful babies. Now that we live in the South, we can’t grow because it doesn’t freeze so I buy stems whenever I get the chance.  That chance is rare and usually expensive... but OH so worth it! Anyway, good morning!!  Take a whiff and imagine a fragrance that rivals roses. Love!! 

And... have a fantastic day!!!!

Little Floral

Flowers ALWAYS make me happy, and since it’s the weekend - let’s be glad! This is a closeup of one section of a painting I created in response to the pot of plants outside our front door.  The colors, layers and subject cheer me. You, too can be cheered by going to my website and making it your own!

Chrysanthemum Woodblock Coasters

Here is the third in my series of artistic coasters.  This one features a woodblock into which I carved a chrysanthemum for printmaking. It’s made many beautiful prints.  With woodblocks you can make maybe 100 prints before the wood begins to shrink, swell and split. I always retire mine before that happens because the blocks themselves are such a thing of beauty.  So... by creating these coasters, it’s a way of sharing the beauty! They’re on my site, for $8.00 a pop! 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

You can see by these last photos that they’re super glossy and reflective.  LOVE! 

It deepens the colors and they are just gorgeous.

Watercolor and Mixed Media Florals

Celebrate the heat of summer and find some cool florals on my website.  Just what you need to make you go ‘aaaahhhhh...’ 

Check out my website at 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

to find all kinds of florals, and more pictures of this painting too!

Abstract Floral for Sale

This one is part of my... bum de da bum... Summer Bargains Program!

Flowers flowers flowers flowers... I can’t get enough of them. I LOVE flowers, and love playing them loose and fast like this. One of the greatest things about watercolors is the bleeds and blossoms you get which I think add to the freshness and joy of the painting.  Available. Message me if interested. This one is watercolor on 12x12” heavy paper.

Those things which are made in joy reflect joy!

Floral Artwork, Patterns

Here is the floral pattern I’ve been working on in my studio. Inspired by my big, red hibiscus. Thinking I’d pick up a backpack if it had this pattern. Would you?

This could work for all kinds of things - cushions, drapes, and anything for the interior. That would be one cheery room!  I would love to have this in a room filled with light and plants and wicker.

My dilemma as I was working was to keep it simple.  As any artist works, there are so many decisions to make.

I had to fight my desire to paint the background (all white) either a deep blue or black.  That would be showy and nice, but I wanted to keep this one light.

Because watercolor is such a fresh, immediate medium, I also had to fight the desire to ‘finish’ it by adding details in the flower centers and leaves.  I felt that would detract from the beautiful bleeds and bloomed of the watercolor movement and flow.  It might have erased it and covered it altogether!

Another decision was to NOT add darks for shading and dimension.  I wanted to keep it slightly flat.  Also to add the shading would have opened up the possibility of overworking the painting.

I think these were all good decisions.  In fact... I like it! :) Do you?

Abstracts and Flowers

Here I have a pair of almost-abstract florals which I laid down in layers of transparent glazing. Seems fitting to me to celebrate SUMMERTIME!!! 12”x12” each!

They sure seem celebratory to me! And... I love how you can see through one layer to another, like Tiffany’s stained glass.

Newest Floral - Just Finished!

Here’s my newest floral in all its bright colors.  At 12” square, it’s sure to cheer. This painting is for sale on my website, and you can also find lots of detailed photos.  Only $50.00 for this little stunner. 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Don’t you just love the layers? In this tiny piece I’ve got a crayon resist done with watercolors and acrylics, a paint marker (and pencil under it all,) and then those lovely Golden fluid acrylics on top to balance it all out and brighten everything.  Such a fun piece!

Can There Ever Be Enough Flowers?

Here’s a cutaway of a floral I just finished and absolutely love.  Tonight I’ll post the painting in its entirety.  This pretty little thing has an abundance of layers in mixed media. I did a wax crayon resist with watercolors and acrylics, used pencil and paint pens and gave some pops of serious colors with some glorious Golden fluid acrylics.

Carved Woodblock

This is a woodblock I carved into a chrysanthemum.  I used it to make prints and suppose I made about 100 before I retired it.  As for ME, I want to retire my printing blocks before they start to crack and split as I consider them things of beauty in themselves. You can never get them entirely clean after each use, and I consider the leftover paint hiding in the cracks part of our history together, this block and me.  

Although technically it’s a tool, I consider it a piece of art in its own right and love it for itself.  It really is a beautiful thing, isn’t it? I have it resting on a shelf to happy it up for me each morning.  Here’s a side view, with the little indentations carved for handles.

A Creative’s Summer Gardening

If you feel something wonderfully warm, if you hear something stretch within itself, it’s my squash. ❤️ ❤️ 

In the North we grew so much squash everyone would come to church with grocery bags full of the stuff. We would look at each others’ bags and try to give it away to someone, anyone!  This is the first time in 19 years, since we’ve lived down here, that I’ve been able to grow squash.

We shall see if it can stretch itself into yummyhood before squirrel, opossum, coon, humidity, mysterious phenomenon or Act of God takes it out. We shall see.  Artists are forever optimists.

Oh, the beauty with which God has surrounded us! Thank you, Lord!!

Outside My Doorstep

Just listed this little 12”square beauty.  I named it ‘Outside My Doorstep.’ The plant that inspired this really IS outside our doorstep, and welcomes us home with its cheery little persona. This painting will do the same, and with its tiny size can warm and cheer even the smallest space.  The depth and colors will draw you back again and again. Check out for purchase. 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

I posted two ‘identical’ pictures so you could see the variation in color a little better. It’s hard to trust a camera, or the lighting or time of day.

Here’s a nice closeup to let you peer in a bit better.  Bright and cheery.

Painting Sold

This one is sold and tomorrow will be wending its way to its new owner. You would note that I added a little rust into the mix per the client’s request. Love the added color, and now it will compliment their beautiful silk carpet. Absolutely love the rich new dimension added into the mix!

Below shows my original painting.  They request that salmon be added and I really love the difference!

Painting for Sale Today Only!

Memorial Day Special! This beautiful 12”x12” square piece is only $50.00 to celebrate the day! Today only.  I don’t have it on my site, so you’ll have to reply here. First one to reply gets this colorful painting! Mixed media on heavy mixed media paper.  

Wow, I absolutely adore these colors and textures~!!  :) Happy.