The EART team on Etsy is having a Scavenger Hunt, July 1-10. There are prizes galore! Every shop has donated a prize and there are discounts for everyone who plays! Come and check out the rules and information by clicking on the picture above. It will take you to the EART blog where you will find all the rules to play!
Marionette of “Painting Paradise” beginning the silk painting class
I belong to a group on Etsy called VAST = Visual Artists Team. I met a lovely artist named Marionette through this team. She lives in Kauai and her Plumeria painting is one of my favorites.
For our 25th wedding anniversary, our daughter sent us to Kauai. I was excited to meet Marionette, visit her studio and take a class from her. Originally, I was going to take a watercolor class – but then as I studied her class schedule (which you can see here on her class blog) I opted for a silk painting class.
I’ve always admired silk painting and had no clue how to start so the class was perfect for me – and so fun and exotic!
Here is my beginning – the outline of my Plumeria flowers.
Now we’re waiting for the salt to do it’s work on the paint.
Marionette worked right along with me. She’s a fantastic teacher. We not only spent some great time getting to know each other, but she also did a great job guiding me through each step.
While we waited for them to fully dry, my husband and I had some time to browse around Marionette’s lovely studio. What fun it was to see all these paintings – that I’ve long admired on Etsy – right there in real life!
My husband chose this print to frame and hang in his office:
I of course, had to purchase a print of her famous Plumeria painting!
And I also purchased an original Water Lily ACEO. What fun!!! You can click the pictures to see Marionettes Etsy shop. You should also visit her blogs (listed on the left) and if you are ever in Kauai, be sure and visit “Painting Paradise” – Marionette’s studio. You can take a variety of classes including classes out on location!
Mahalo Marionette, for such a fun and unique Hawaii experience!
You can also read Marionette’s blog about our time together here!
Aloha!
Watercolor on Canvas?
Yes, well, it is a bit uncommon. But there are two companies that are making canvas that is specially prepared for watermedia. I find it to be in between painting on Yupo and paper.
After the painting is complete, it is sprayed with varnish and can be hung directly on the wall with no matting or frame. There are no staples showing and I paint the all the way around the edge. However, it's 3/4" wide which easily allows it to be framed in a canvas frame as well.
This painting, "Lavender Fields" just won an award at the SW Watercolor Society Spring Show! It was my first ever show and my first ever ribbon! Pretty cool, huh?
It’s still for sale… come visit either one of my shops: at 1000Markets to pay with Amazon (US only) or Etsy to pay with PayPal (US and International.
As James Taylor so amply put it…
“Summer's here
I'm for that
Got my rubber sandals
Got my straw hat
Got my cold beer
I'm just glad that it's here
Summer's here
That suits me fine
It may rain today
But I don't mind
It's my favorite time of the year
And I'm glad that it's here”
He’s got it just about right. (Well… no beer for me… maybe a nice glass of Cabernet ) Here in the Northwest, summer hits – we get a hot spell, the roses start blooming, we start sunning and then it rains again for another month LOL!
But I don’t care – I’m celebrating summer! And you should too… just take a look at some of the lovely summer earrings and anklets I’ve made. (click the pic to go to my shop) – and lots more coming!
So what are you waiting for? Come visit me at TCPJewelry and jump into summer with me!
PS: Want a matching pair of earrings for 5.00? Just sent me a message and I’ll see if I can create something special to match your anklet.
© M Pruitt 2008
For the past month or so, it's been a dreary cold spring. I have my painting "The Great Northwest" in a temporary mat and frame, hanging on my wall. I keep looking at it and I began to feel the proportions were really wrong - with that big snowy mountain sticking up like that. I even debated whether I should take if out of my shop. 
Then, just this week, the sun came out - spring began in earnest and my hubby and I headed out to the nursery to buy some plants.
On our drive home, the drive we take any time we go to town, and the scene which inspired this painting, sprung before my eyes. With the gorgeous Columbia River, Mount Hood stood out so strong and majestic with such a lovely sky, that I sucked my breath in!
Suddenly, I realized that the proportions were not wrong in this painting! Our volcanic mountains rise suddenly and stand majestically over the lovely green rolling hills.
I've lived here almost 15 years, and I never tire of seeing the view that inspired this painting. And I never fail to marvel at the size of Mt. Hood - it's majesty standing above the green hillsides - with the river as never ending base of our view. 
My favorite time of year to see Mt. Hood is right now! It's still covered in snow - but the hills are lush and green - reflected in the river that Lewis and Clark made famous. It's not my own exaggeration, but God's. And wow... does that mountain stand out!
I love the Pacific Northwest! If you've never visited it - you really should. There is no place on earth like it!
This Triptych (three paintings that hang together) has just been completed and listed in my shop The Creators Palette.
It’s a total of 36:x36” of painting – each painting being 12”x12”. They are painted with transparent watercolor on special watermedia canvas and sealed with Krylon spray varnish.
Painted on the sides – wired and ready to hang – these will make a lovely wall decor in home or office!
Come visit me at Etsy to see this and other original watercolor paintings!
© M. Pruitt 2009
I paint with pigment. My son paints with words. With his permission, I’d like to share one of his paintings with you. He requested this music be playing as you read his artwork:
Dearest Ada Vera (Grammie),
I saw you last night. It was the first time in a while. The first time since your funeral in fact. I have to say it was good to see you again. And maybe happier than I've ever seen you before.
We were at your funeral for the second time, the cloudy morning full of dreariness was the same. The church was the same. I'm sure you'd like to know who was there, but for some reason the faces are just a blur. Rest assured it was a good service. I sat next to your loved one throughout. I know you would have taken his tears on yourself if you could, but since you weren’t there...well it was the least I could do to put my arm around him. At least I know now that he would be following you shortly...
Do you remember the end? Bagpipes filled the room with echoing sound; a familiar tune. Amazing Grace, wasn't it? Everyone followed him as it played...everyone leaving. The room empty. Except me. Because it was then that I saw you. And I saw Him.
As you rose out of the coffin, standing on your two feet, I think I heard something else. Did you hear it? Harps, singing...accompaniment to this last song. Or was it the first?
Then I saw Him, in all of His radiant glory! Standing at the other end of the room. A smile spread across His face, and his arms were held wide open to you. As I turned back I saw again the old one bent over. But you began to walk, to move toward Him. And as you did, a miracle occurred. You began to walk with more strength, and move faster. As you moved closer to Him I saw you get younger with each step. With each new lift of your foot a burden was lifted, more and more until you were running to him!
Now a young child, you leaped into his arms. He held you, laughing and tickling you. A smile on your face you squirmed and wiggled, at complete peace in your Fathers arms. He kissed your face, and held you close. You took a fistful of his hair and leaned in close to His ear. I could hear you whisper, "I love you." He laughed with radiant joy, and said "I love you too." You said "I know. You’re the best."
At that moment a beam of light descended from above. With you held to him tightly in one hand, he raised the other to the Heavens...and you descended into paradise with your Savior.
I wish I could tell you how happy I am that you are there ahead of me, dear Grammie. And I eagerly await the day, when I can join you.
Forever your grandson,
Christopher
© C. J. Pruitt 2009 (please do not copy or redistribute without artists written consent)
The Etsy team EART (Eclectic Arisans Team) has begun a “Blog Carnival”. You can see the link here on my blog. Each month, we will all blog the same topic and you travel through the blog carnival and get a great glimpse of who we are, how we create and what we love!
So to begin with, our topic is: Create a wish list of up to 5 things/objects/items and describe why they are on your wish list for your small business!
So here is my wish list:
#1 I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get a Guerilla Painter Watercolorboard and stand. It stretches and holds watercolor paper, and swivels around on the stand. It would be the perfect painting surface!
#2 My next big wish is to have a set of Kolinsky Sable Watercolor brushes! I can't wait for the day when I get to paint with these!
#3 I’d love to have a full spectrum Natural Lighting lamp! I paint all times of day, and here in the Northwest, we have a lot of dark cloudy days. Natural lighting would sure help me keep my colors true – no matter what time of day I was painting!
#4 I would like a Logan mat cutter – and as long as I’m wishing, I’d choose the 750/760 series so I could cut large mats for shows. (include a nice supply of mat board)
#5 And lastly, I’d love to add to my Oil Pastel collection. Right now I only have Sennelier… which I love, but they are very soft. I would add some other brands, like Holbein, and Nupastel so I could do more detail in my Oil Pastel paintings!
Wow… that was easy! I think I could keep going! But five was the limit… so there it is… my wish list!
