Catching up

Photo by Jared Tarbell on Flickr

Last month turned out to be super busy! Actually, this summer has just flown by! I can’t believe it is about time for school to start back. It seems like just yesterday we were saying goodbye to the last school year. With the kids home for the summer most of my time has been focused on them, but I have had a few opportunities to catch up on some painting. Here are the two watercolor pieces, from this earlier post as well as this one, finally completed.



Daisy by Jennifer Snellings
Watercolor and Ink




Lily by Jennifer Snellings
Watercolor and Ink

 I love watercolor and so enjoyed playing and capturing the softness of the flowers. I do want to continue experimenting with layering and trying to use collage with watercolor. I find it to be more challenging because the watercolor is so very transparent. It is all about building layer upon layer. I like where it is going, but definitely need to play some more!!

With school starting up again I plan on carving out more time to create! I’ve got so many new ideas for the fall! Can’t wait to show you!! 

Happy creating!
Jennifer

God Bless America!



My Hero
by Jennifer Snellings
Watercolor



"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."

~ Elmer Davis

So blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom and liberty to choose who we love, where we worship, our profession and the way we want to live our lives!  So thankful for all of the brave men and women who fought to make this country what it is, and for those who are fighting today to keep us safe! 

Have a wonderful 4th of July!  Hope you enjoy all of the family picnics, bar-b-ques, fireworks, patriotic music, and jumping in the pool fun to be had!!  :) 

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."  ~ John F. Kennedy

Happy Independence Day!!

Jennifer

Paint Splatters and Sticky Fingers

I've been trying to get into the studio and spend at least 30 minutes a day painting.  It isn't very much time, but I'm trying to embrace the whole idea of getting things done in small pockets of time rather than lengthy sessions.  Those wonderful lengthy sessions of spending two, three or even four hours painting away in uninterrupted bliss just don't happen these days and I've had to get creative to make time to be creative!  One of the blessings of being a creative Mommy; painting in between the Lego messes, cuddles while reading, and chasing after sticky fingers before they touch the furniture!

I've been slowing working on the watercolor pieces I started from the photos I took of the flowers blooming in my front yard.  Here is a peek at the progress so far:



I'm still working on the idea of layering within a watercolor painting.  I had some fun using my paintbrush to "splatter" some paint across the pieces.  I think next I may try some more stamping.  I'm loving getting reacquainted with my watercolors!  It has been a long time since I've used them.  I do find myself missing my acrylics, though!  I feel the need to get my hands messy while creating another layered background!  So much to do, so little time!! :)

How do you make time in your busy schedule to be creative?  I'd love to know!!

Happy creating!

Jennifer

SPRING is in the air...and a little ART too!!

I’ve totally been hit with Spring Fever!!  The weather has been gorgeous and sunny, even though it is quite windy.  I’ve loved spending time outside and seeing all the newness…new growth, trees budding, flowers blooming, grass greening and kids playing.  The changing of the seasons is always such a neat time.  I’m always so excited to see the transformation from winter to spring, from brown and grey to colorfully alive! 

Photos taken in my front yard.

 I’ve been enjoying the flowers blooming in my front yard and they’ve been inspiring me to paint and create with my watercolors!  I just love how the paint flows so softly and captures the essence of spring!  Fun, fun playing with paint!!  Here is a sneak peek at what I’ve been up to in the studio:

These are currently works in progress and aren't finished yet.  I've been enjoying just playing and experimenting with the paint.  I decided to use some stamps with waterproof ink to break up the blank paper and add some layering to the background as I got started.  I've been wanting to play with the idea of watercolor and collage and using the transparency of the paint to reveal the many layers that have been built up on the paper.  I'll post soon the finished pieces! 

Hope you are enjoying your spring days and finding some time to be creative!  I also wanted to wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Easter weekend!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..."  

~ 1 Peter 1:3

Happy creating!

Jennifer