Rabbit Train

Due to the high volume of expressed love of  my Snail Train, I decided to do a similar piece: The Rabbit Train. 

The sketching process came natural as it was familiar from my work previously. It flowed well which made the process free flowing and natural-along with quick! Which is good for the buyers :) 

Just incase you are interested in what I eat...I needed a pick me up after my adventure through the hitter coldness of Boston, so I smacked on this! It is honest roasted cashews with vegan/gf chocolates. They are simply tasty. Although I normal led try to avoid sugar, these are made with cane sugar and honey so I have in to a little treat. 

Once I got some Winfrey I began painting and here is what it starting to look like after a few coats of watercolor. 

& I had to brag a bit to my husband about the sunlight I was getting while working in my office (aka our guest room).

As I started adding the blue to resemble to blueprint look I asked my two best girls back home their thoughts. We discussed the background and what we thought would go well with the rest of the piece. 

We all agreed the redish color in the bunny was the best choice. Kind of looks Eastery to be honest, but I like it!  

Just a look back on the path I take to Alewife station....it was nice and slushy for my walk back home...

Not ideal for my boot choice of the day. 

After my longer than expected trip to Micheals craft store, I arrived home with all (plus some) materials needed to finish the piece. This is what the final product ended up like. 

To end with an up close and personal picture...

Happy Friday! Have a fabulous weekend! 

The Riesenrad Octopus

During our visit to Vienna in March of 2014, Ryan & I decided to walk many, many miles to see the oldest ferris wheel. Upon our arrival to Prater we walked across a beautiful long road...it was like straight out of the movies! To be honest, Prater Amusement Park was super creepy....no one was there but there was music playing...the creepy kind of music. Needless to say we didn't stay long. We took a few photos of the Riesenrad and went on our way to our LONG walk back to our hotel. 

The creepy visit inspired me to create this pieces of art. Ryan thought of the idea to go off of the ferris wheel and I went from there. Brainstorming various animals that would work well with the curvature of a giant wheel. This is what I came up with.

Sketching process

Sneak peak photo...I blurred it a bit so I didn't completely give all the details away.

This ferris wheel cabin was drawn based off a direct image of the original cabins of the Riesenrad. 

& once the watercolor was well in the process, it started coming together. 

A close up of the wheel before the wire detail....

& after the wire detail was complete. I, we, used small nails to hold the wire in place. Ryan asked me to wait to do this until he came home from work....I should have know that he really meant, You will not do it how I picture so I shall take it over and do it the correct way....I am pretty sure that was his actually thought process. He did do it better than I so I will give that to him- Dang it! 

I am super happy wit the final product! I think that this piece perfectly express how uncommon my work truly is. The wood used in this piece was an old (very old) cabinet from a lake cabin in northern Minnesota. The original hardware is till in place and might even be used to hang it! I will see what I can do to make that happen. 

Hope you enjoy it! I always love to hear your ideas for new work & thoughts on my current work. Don't be shy- leave a comment! You never know, you might be the one who inspires me and helps me become the artist I one day want to be! 

Stay warm if you are somewhere cold and send warmth if you are somewhere warm. 

Happy Thursday! 

Craned Giraffe

It all started when we went out to explore a bit of Boston....

On our walk to Alewife station Ryan was helping me brainstorm through ideas for my next work of art. I told him I was thinking an animal with a crane but could thing of what would really flow well. As we cross a little creek I glance over to my right to see a giant crane & I yelled a giraffe! Anyone else would think I was crazy but Ryan simply responded with " yeah, that would work." 

The next day I went to his work with him and without any distractions, I got to work. 

Here is the process of the Craned Giraffe. 

This is just after I traced all my graphite drawing with water resistant ink.

I used my watercolor pencils to get the color started.

This show the up to right before I painted the crane and started cutting. 

A close up of the craned giraffe. I used nails and wire to get the full effect.

Just a different angle...

& the final outcome! The reclaimed wood is from an old barn in Minnesota. I went and bought a bunch before we moved out here & man am I glad I did! Reclaimed wood out here is stupid expensive....makes me sad.