Surprise

I was hoping a few of the daffodil bulbs I planted last Fall took and weren't eating by squirrel and just a handful seems to survive. I found them by accident today while clearing out some paper junk that blew into my little box garden in the front of the house. Of course the little mice came along to celebrate the find.

What was in the garden

What I saw.

Two current commissions.
getting glazed

Season Plates

Four plates together

This weekend I worked on laying out the last three illustrations for The Four Season plates. I love the way they all came out. I'm letting my eyes rest a bit before I start adding paint. Once I start adding paint things really start to change. I should scan each one properly in case I mess up something in the painting stage (like I did with Clytie's hands a few weeks ago). Once I paint over the drawing I'm lost for a spell.

Winter

Summer

Spring

"Fall"

Pencil drawing of "Fall"

A quick technical sketch has turned into a 4 part project. I've decided to name this piece "Fall" and am going ahead with three more pieces that will illustrate the three other seasons. I didn't expect this sketch to inspire three more but sometimes that does happen. The recent portrait sketches I did have now found a home. Spring will be a woman and child and winter and summer will be represented by male figures. I'll probably start "Winter" tonight while "Fall" is drying. The bottom left portion is very mangled with the corn stalks and color but it will make sense once everything dries and things are allowed to pop.

Watercolor and acrylic layering

Adding oil paints for details

Sketches and notes for the
other three seasons.

LOAFIN-N-LAZIN....

Artist Choice #1 Lil Pumpkin

Loafin and lazin....that's been me lately.

I've been away from the blog for a spell. Easter, family, my son's 5th B-day and a myriad of non studio things held my attention. The spring weather hasn't helped. I have found myself soakin in the sun as much as I can and breathing in the fresh grass as it's growing. Watching the trees bloom and come back to life has been rejuvenating, but most definitely bad for studio work. Basically, nothing has gotten done.

Today was literally the first day since March that I've really worked. It felt good to be back in the studio. It was calming and serene. I worked on the first Lil Pumpkin from the resin batch. Half the run sold at the end of March and I plan on releasing the last few shortly. As soon as this artist choice piece is painted. I wanted to show her off with some spots this time around.

First ice cream of the season

Well, back to the studio and my pudgy little pony.

Happy Spring & Blog Sale!

"Maybell" the very first Listen sculpt

My weekend workload has been intricate and fast paced. I wanted to share everything created this weekend with you.

My rattie run "Listen" is on the verge of being released. I've decided to release three pieces at a time at a fixed price. A fourth will be released on eBay for those who missed the first three. Each one is going to be completely different than the next. The first three will consist of a black hooded, a blue russian and a PEW.

Tealight with experimental glaze

This one had nice feminine curves to it and the experimenting I conducted on the outside glaze actually WORKED this time! Yeah! I love that look.

Of course, how could I start the season of Spring without some mice? These four little critters popped out of the boxes. There is a ballerina doing some dance, a lonely little guy offering a flower, a dude just chillin and saying hi, and yes, that boy on the top is picking his toes. Don't ask. I just draw what I see in my head.

New Spring mice boxes! Approx. 1"
ALL HAVE SOLD OUT!
Thank you so much!

I'm opening up their sale to my blog readers first as a "thank you" for your continued dedication to reading my blog. Thank you for coming here every day and checkin' out what is happenin' in my studio. I enjoy your personal letters and comments so much. You can just email me at: studiodanza@optonline.net

Tomorrow I'll offer the ones that are left (if there are any) to my NEWS group. Oh, here is a picture of the bottom of the box:

Side of mice box

There is just a little bit of spring grass around the entire bottom. The inside of the box can be personalized too if you'd like. One word or name only though. There isn't much room but I can use my fine crow quill to get in there. ;)

And that was my weekend!
I hope you had a great weekend as well.
HAPPY SPRING!

Mini Talk

I almost didn't want to post today cause I was really enjoying those two shots of summer from yesterday, but work really does go on and there is exciting stuff happening in the studio despite the slight blue feelings that pop up here and there.

Mini Scarlett in progress

I wanted to share with you one major piece that is almost near finish in the studio. It's a Mini Scarlett in dappled bay. As my space becomes sparse here in the house and studio the more I am loving the smaller pieces. This mini was a commission slot offered as a "send me your bays" deal.

I get on these jags were I just want to paint one color. I'm happy customers like the colors I want to paint too! Once I paint the color that has been nagging I then I have to paint another color. Right now I'm sorta feeling the need to paint up a black and tan with a few tan dapples along the barrel. Hmm...one of those Mini Doodlebugs that were just released would look smashing with such a color on. Hmm....I need to quiet my mind I think and just finish all that I have started in January. Hard to believe it's almost February. But....after February i'ts March and that means spring and I love the sound of that word!