Finally, she's flying high this year!

I finally was able to persuade my Knight in Shining Armor to include my Kitty Angel in this years decorations. Yay!

(can click pics to enlarge)

I plan to (hopefully) paint a manger scene to go with her, for next year. Yes... a Cat Joseph, Cat Mary, and Kitten Baby Jesus.  It's okay, roll yer eyes at my hokiness. Me not care!! LOL!

I wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a blessed what-ever-else-you-celebrate. And Happy New Year!

Happy painting,

Retta

39 Years and counting!

Last year artist Jessilyn Brinkerhoff was commissioned to paint some beautiful mural art in my hometown of Medford, Oregon.

Today was the first time I got to see it in person, and my, oh my, it is gorgeous! 

Today Jim and I are celebrating our 39th wedding anniversary, so we went out to lunch and then visited this beautiful art.

It was painted on the pillars holding up a freeway overpass, in Hawthorne Park. There are 12 mural in all. Here are some pics I took, plus some from Jessilyn’s website, which is HERE.

Oh, and while we were there, we were attacked by Zombies!! Well, actually, it was a run called the Running Dead 5K, with proceeds going to Southern Oregon Goodwill. And all the runners were dressed up as various gory zombies. It was hilarious!

Happy painting,

Retta

Virtual Paintout 27: Ducking in to visit Maine, USA!

Last month in June the Virtual Paintout gang went to Maine, USA. What a gorgeous state! 

As my habit has been lately, I kept my eye out for an animal to paint. Say what?? Not one animal to be found along Route 1 in Maine. 

But then... aha!! I spied this Duck in the window of the Siren Song Tattoo Parlor, in Rockland, Maine. A duck! How cool.

Here is the original location. See my little duck on the very left?

I had blast researching tattoos from the Old School, traditional American tattoo styles. Being a coastal town, I wanted to make my design fit the theme. Hence the lighthouse, compass, waves, roses, anchor, North Star symbols, etc. Those were all tattoos used in Old School tattoos from years ago. And I left some of the birch wood showing, and gave the painting a weathered "old" look, as though exposed to the salty sea air.

First some quick thumbnail sketches I did to try out some ideas:

(can click on any pics to enlarge)

After drawing out my final design and putting it onto the wood, 

I lined it using an acrylic paint pen:

Ack!! The paint pen smeared when I went to seal it. 

Don't know what happened; used this same technique last painting.

I stuck with it, and started the underpainting:

Here it is with the value underpainting:

And finally, it's finished. First here are the sides, 

which each have their own little motif going on:

And the finished painting "Siren Song... aka Ducking In For A Tattoo"

"Siren Song aka Ducking In For A Tattoo"

8 x 8 x 1 5/8 acrylic on

cradled birch wood

(prints and cards available HERE)

Hope you enjoyed this adventure from Maine!

Retta

PS: As always, anyone is welcome to join the Virtual Paintout. It's free, it's fun, and each month you can choose to participate or not, as your schedule allows. For this month of June, the destination is Napa Valley, California, USA. I have my spot all picked out! Join me??

Visit here for more details: http://virtualpaintout.blogspot.com/

Virtual Paintout 26: Sri Lankan Princess!

Yay, I finished in time!

This paintout was irresistible. How could I NOT paint an adorable little elephant I discovered along the roadside in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka.

That's where the Virtual Paintout gang went for the month of April: to Sri Lanka. It was a blast! They revere elephants there, and even decorate and beautifully paint them for festivals. 

In light of that, I imagined my little Asian elephant was on her way to a Festival, and gave her a leg bracelet with turquoise stones and golden bells.

Here is the original location where I found her (you can click on any pics to enlarge):

The design surrounding our Princess was influenced by the traditional style of arts and crafts in Sri Lanka, and I left some of the birch wood showing in the finished painting.

First layers and linework:

Starting to add shading and hints of color:

 Working on grasses and the Princess:

"Sri Lankan Princess"

Sri Lanka

acrylic on 8x8x1.5  cradled birch

(prints and cards available HERE)

I hope you enjoyed meeting our Sri Lankan Princess!

Retta

A Princess

Here it is almost the end of the month, and once again I'm scrambling to finish my painting for the Virtual Paintout! I really did start early. Life just loves to get in the way!

My new goal: defend my Studio Time like a Mama tiger!! :-D

In the meantime, below are a couple of pics of my progress on the painting based on Sri Lanka, the country we are virtually visiting this monthly.

When I spotted this little elephant along side the road, I knew she was my subject. They revere elephants in Sri Lanka, and even decorate and paint them beautifully for festivals.

Fun factoid: Sri Lanka has more festivals in the year than any other country in the world!

I included border design based on the arts and crafts of Sri Lanka, and since my little elephant is on her way to a Festival, I gave her a beautiful belled leg bracelet.

Here are the first layers of Sri Lankan Princess - let's hope I get it finished before the end of the month!!

Hope you like my Princess,

Retta

Bunnies on the Brain!

I did it again... another bunny painting!

I entered this white bunny in the Pantone Color of the Year contest. The painting must feature their colors of the year: 

Rose Quartz - a pink hue

Serenity - a blue hue

I've long loved Asian influenced art, so I had fun doing the research and incorporating that type of design in this painting. 

The sides are painted an antiqued red. In Asian culture, red is a symbol of good fortune and joy.

The title "Carpe Diem" (Seize the Day) is painted on the gold stripe in Japanese kanji fashion, though it's hard to see the gleam of the gold paint in a scan. But in person, it's there. :-D

Here is how the background looked at the start:

You can just see the antiqued red sides here:

And the finished bunny:

"Carpe Diem"

8 x 8 inch acrylic on wrapped canvas

(Bunny prints, cards and more available 

in my Prints Shop)

Hope you enjoyed meeting this newest bunbun to join the growing Bunny Parade! They pick the 5 winners tomorrow, Monday Feb 15th. Fingers and toes crossed! :-D

Retta

MONDAY UPDATE: Carpe Diem Bunny wasn't chosen as a winner. But I'm still happy with her, and glad I painted this one. Totally enjoyed playing with the Asian influenced design.
If you'd like to see the winners, their Facebook page announcement is HERE.
Congratulations to the winners!

Bunnies on Plaid - the Poster!

The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge has ended. There were 1403 artists from around the world participating... wow! I appreciate Leslie Saeta, the creator and host of this challenge. Thank you, Leslie.

Now I get to make my challenge poster, showing all 30 paintings together. How colorful and fun this turned out! (as usual, can click image to enlarge)

"Bunnies on Plaid"

by Retta Stephenson

Thanks for following along, and I hope you enjoyed my Bunnies. And here is the link to Leslie's blog so you can enjoy collages from the other artists. They are so colorful!

Retta

PS:  I'm putting the bunnies all together in a Facebook photo album (click on Photos then Albums, and you'll see the album titled Jan 2016 Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge). It's fun and colorful to see them altogether!  

Day 30 - Dare Greatly - Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge

It's over! 

I made it to the end of the 30in30 painting challenge. I truly appreciate the support and comments given. Some days were a real bear, and your interest helped energize me. Thank you so much!

My husband said this last bunny should be named "The End". But it's title "Dare Greatly" is taken from the famous speech by Theodore Roosevelt, which means a lot to me. 

So, I'd like to share the complete version here, hoping it will inspire you also:

"The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at the best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

"Dare Greatly"

by Retta Stephenson

6x6 inch acrylic on wrapped canvas

Special challenge price of

$30 includes it's own FREE wooden 

mini display easel and 

FREE shipping in the continental US

(other locations please email artbyretta@gmail.com 

for shipping costs) 

These mini art paintings are being sold on a first come first served basis, so anyone interested please email me at artbyretta@gmail.com with any questions. If you'd like this daring bunny to come and live with you, simply click on the Button above (you don't need a Paypal account).

Pricing note: These original mini art bunny paintings will soon be listed at an online gallery (I will post the link when it's finalized) therefore the special challenge price will no longer apply. They will revert to normal pricing, around $72 each for the 4x4 inch bunnies, and around $108 for the 6x6 inch bunnies. So if you think you'd like a bunny to come live with you, please consider deciding before the change is made, so I can give you the direct-from-artist best pricing. :-)

As always, thank you for visiting, and I greatly appreciate any and all comments. I hope you've enjoyed following along on this adventure!

Retta

PS:  I'm putting the bunnies all together in a Facebook photo album (click on Photos then Albums, and you'll see the album titled Jan 2016 Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge). It's fun and colorful to see them altogether! 

Day 29 - Curiosity - Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge

As an artist, I enjoy asking the question "What if?"

What would happen if I combined two things that I like: rabbits and madras plaids.

When I was a teenager, we raised rabbits. Then again, early in my marriage, my husband and I raised Rex rabbits.

As a kid, I remember loving the bright and colorful Madras plaid fabrics.

So... I combined those two things, and the result was this series!

"Curiosity"

by Retta Stephenson

6x6 inch acrylic on wrapped canvas

Special challenge price of

$30 includes it's own FREE wooden 

mini display easel and 

FREE shipping in the continental US

(other locations please email artbyretta@gmail.com 

for shipping costs) 

These mini art paintings are being sold on a first come first served basis, so anyone interested please email me at artbyretta@gmail.com with any questions. If you'd like this curious duo to come and live with you, simply click on the Button above (you don't need a Paypal account).

As always, thanks for visiting, and I truly appreciate the comments and support.

Retta

PS: I invite you to watch my daily Facebook posts for photos of my bunnies, where I'm putting them all together in a Facebook photo album (click on Photos then Albums, and you'll see the album titled Jan 2016 Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge). It's fun and colorful to see them altogether! 

Day 28 - Joyful - Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge

From a singer/songwriter I grew up with, Bob Dylan:

"May your heart always be joyful. 

May your song always be sung."

"Joyful"

by Retta Stephenson

6x6 inch acrylic on wrapped canvas

Special challenge price of

$30 includes it's own FREE wooden 

mini display easel and 

FREE shipping in the continental US

(other locations please email artbyretta@gmail.com 

for shipping costs) 

These mini art paintings are being sold on a first come first served basis, so anyone interested please email me at artbyretta@gmail.com with any questions. If you'd like this joyful bunny to come and live with you, simply click on the Button above (you don't need a Paypal account).

As always, thanks for visiting, and feel free to leave a comment or ask a question.

Retta

PS: I invite you to watch my daily Facebook posts for photos of my bunnies, where I'm putting them all together in a Facebook photo album. 

Day 27 - Authenticity - Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge

And now for some wisdom from Dr Seuss:

"Today you are you! 

That is truer than true!

There is no one alive

Who is you-er than you!

"Authenticity"

by Retta Stephenson

4x4 inch acrylic on wrapped canvas

$30 includes it's own FREE wooden 

mini display easel and 

FREE shipping in the continental US

(other locations please email artbyretta@gmail.com 

for shipping costs) 

These mini art paintings are being sold on a first come first served basis, so anyone interested please email me at artbyretta@gmail.com with any questions. If you'd like this authentic bunny to come and live with you, simply click on the Button above (you don't need a Paypal account).

As always, thanks for visiting, and feel free to leave a comment.

Retta

PS: I invite you to watch my daily Facebook posts for photos of my bunnies, where I'm putting them all together in a Facebook photo album.