Mission Accomplished: Etsy Shop Now Open

{That little nugget is me!}

After months {if not a lifetime} of preparation, I'm pleased to announce that my etsy shop is now {finally} open!

I've had so many fears and questions I've used to excuse myself from opening the shop, but I've finally listed and priced my art and opened my shop on Etsy.  It's only small mixed media {watercolor & colored pencil} illustrations for now.  I'll be adding more over the coming weeks of course, but we felt that 12 was sufficient to list for now.

The smaller works were listed first because I was able to scan them myself.  I felt the scanning process provided the best, most accurate representation of the works as photographs may skew the image colors and have a tendency to blur or over correct textures within the works themselves.  Some day soon I'll find an affordable scanner or photographer to take proper images of my paintings and begin listing those.

I believe if you buy a print you should have something that looks like a piece of art, not a picture of a piece of art. Prints should capture the essence of the original work, and for my process that includes brush strokes or indentations from the pressure of pencil on paper.  Therefore, I've felt prior attempts to photograph my art would, if translated to "prints," rob the potential buyer of the richness of movement and texture in the original work.

In addition to making prints from the digital files, I'm considering the possibility other products like calendars, notecards, etc. as I expand my product line in the future.

I am indebted to my husband for his patience, encouragement and support in helping me turn this vague dream into a reality, even as I dragged my feet much of the way.  It's quite a blessing to have him as a partner, and beginning this project has amplified my appreciation for his entrepreneurial mind and his business education.

My family and friends have been so encouraging and inspiring and I am so thankful for them.  These sweet people bless me me with ideas, supplies, and considerable encouragement in words, blog comments, offers, and even patiently sitting with me as I paint and draw.

Finally, thank you, Dear Reader, whether anonymous supporter, curious onlooker, family, or friend.  This online community has been immensely helpful, allowing me to post art and musings and document my journey.  Revealing my goals and art helped to hold me accountable thus far and I value your feedback so much.

I invite you to please visit my shop, where you can see and now purchase more of these works and perhaps add a little whimsy to your world. 
saturatedwhimsee.etsy.com or www.etsy.com/shop/saturatedwhimsee

Neocolors & Neophytes

Neocolors {above} are fantastic. I first used them in a college drawing class.  My professor teased us with color for one project and brought out a huge box of neocolors, water soluble crayons.  I was enchanted.  A few years later my parents gave me a pack of 15 for Christmas and they've been one of my favorite mediums since.   Neocolors are smooth and waxy and they mix together well.   You can make bold designs with heavy handed application, or the faintest washes with light application and more water.  I like to use a water color brush with a water reservoir {above, teal}, which allows me to easily change the amount of water I use by how much I press the reservoir.   To change colors I just scrub out the tip with paper towel {or the back of my hand} and move on. 

Together, this handy brush and the neocolor pack provide a multitude of colors and possibilities.  They don't require sharpening-although you could; they can be used wet or dry, and they're portable.  The neocolor 15 pack is about the size of a CD case and the brush is slightly larger than an average pen.  As with other watercolors, I also bring along a trusty pencil, eraser, and alcohol-based pens.  I prefer mechanical pencils in my art for the same reasons I preferred them in school- less issues with breaking and the mess of sharpening.  I've found I also prefer retractable erasers because they're less messy.  The ink pens {ZIG Drawing Pens- water-proof pigment ink} I've been using came from the drafting section of Hobby Lobby.  The drafting section had many more options than the art section in terms of line width, so that's my handy tip- check the drafting sections.

Neocolor II + pen on watercolor 5.5x7.5"

So here's a work in progress using neocolors and ink in an old watercolor notebook I made.  I started doodling sails and sail boats and thinking about my soon-to-be nephew and my other nephew.  I hope they grow up with big imaginations and curiosity.  I hope they think outside the box.  I hope they see the world with wonder and play make believe, tie a sheet to a sapling and make a sail; find a paper towel roll and make a spyglass.  I hope they dream big dreams.

There's an Ostrich in My Office

I can't believe it's already Wednesday!  My family and I gathered for a long weekend in Savannah, GA to celebrate my fabulous mother's birthday.  We strolled along the beautiful river and it was lovely to be able to walk so much.  There is so much art in that city; I'm not sure which came first- SCAD or the art community, but it's pretty great.  We had some delicious meals and some great walks, and left for home on Monday.  We heard about the bombings in Boston as we were driving home and we- like most people I assume- have been pretty vigilant about watching the news as the story unfolds.  But in between news castings I did get to complete this painting.  She was still waiting on my easel when I got home and painting is a wonderful distraction. 

It's difficult to tell in photos, but her eyes are a purple-y black, and I decided she needed some fancy lashes.  She's currently on display in my office, since we seem to be running out of wall space in our house- more evidence that it's time to get the etsy shop up and running!