Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Painting My Own 2010 Calendar

When at the bookstore looking at the new 2010 calendars, it dawned on me, why not paint my own. I need an excuse to set some creative time aside and just paint for fun. Running a business leaves little time for play. Next stop, the art store, and as I walked in the cute girl at the registered announced, "All watercolor pads are HALF OFF!"  This felt like a divine appointment, so for $5 I left with my new 2010 calendar ready to be created.

I made a plan to paint each month's birth flower, so January's page is a Carnation.

Already swaying from my plan I painted Violets for February instead of an Iris. I like Irises, I like Irises a lot, but I love Violets.  Then again, this calendar is supposed to be just for fun anyway.

February is my favorite month because 3 family birthdays are celebrated right after Valentines Day.

Now that I've diverted from my original plan, who knows, will March's page be a Daffodil? Only if I'm having fun.

Fall is Here

I just felt like painting a Fall Leaf.

Avoiding the laundry, the dishes, and the overgrown garden for just one day, I choose instead to spend my Saturday playing with my watercolor paints, just for fun!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

10"x11" watercolor painting on 140 lb. hotpress watercolor paper. Artwork © Kimberly Shaw

Fall Give Away

Happy 1st day of Autumn Everyone! Tis the Season to give thanks for the trees changing colors, bulb planting, good friends, warm tea, home made soup, cozy blankets, a fire in the fire place, spectacular sunsets, and hot cocoa.

I thought I'd celebrate this momentous change in seasons with a little Give Away! Here are 12 of my Fall inspired Teacup Greeting Cards for you to warm the hearts of those you send them to and an assortment of 15 delicious Harney & Sons teas to enjoy as the nights get cooler.

To enter just leave a comment by midnight Sunday October 4th California time letting us know what you like best about Autumn.

I am thankful for YOU!

Blue Willow Teapot on Lace Doily

                                                                                                                 Artwork © Kimberly Shaw
8" x 10" Watercolor on 140 lb Hot Press paper.
This is the third watercolor in a series of 3 paintings all celebrating lace doilies.  Growing up lace doilies were just a part of life. My Grandmas and Aunts all had them on their fine wood tables under a favorite china piece or vase of flowers. Many crocheted and gave them as gifts. All three watercolor paintings will be listed in my Etsy Shop soon, framed and ready to hang.  

Pink Teacup on Lace Doily was the first painting, and the second painting is Floral Teacup on Lace Doily.

I have an idea for a fourth painting but that will come later. I've just started painting a 2010 calendar for myself just for fun. January's page is almost done and I'll 'Show and Tell' that project next.

Floral Teacup on Lace Doily

                                                                                                                 Artwork © Kimberly Shaw
8" x 10" Watercolor on 140 lb Hot Press paper.
The china pattern on this teacup is one of my favorites, usually unmarked.  I adopt whatever I can find with this design on it, mostly small plates and teacups.  And, as you know, I love painting the negative space of doilies.  This is second in a series of 3 originals I'm planning to sell in my Etsy shop when all 3 are finished. Although now I have an idea for a fourth.

A Little Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak at the second in a series of watercolor paintings I'm working on, all with embroidered lace.  I don't use masking fluid when painting lace, because by the time I finish applying the sticky substance, I could already be done painting each little opening. Plus I like controlling where I leave more paint leaving darker edges.

But, to be perfectly honest, this part of the painting has been done for a while waiting for me to remove all the creative clutter I piled on my desk.  I'm hoping that by posting what I have finished so far will motivate me to clean off my desk from what's hindering me from having fun. 

Delta Farm House

8"x10" watercolor on 140 lb hotpress paper © Kimberly Shaw

This is my favorite view in the California Delta. From a boat on the Sacramento River this adorable farm house, I'm guessing was built in the 1920's, peaks over the levee road surrounded by spectacular trees.  Earlier this month I happened to be lucky enough to float by just as the setting sun filtered through the trees, when my son fell off his wake skate.  He had to wait a bit for us to go back and pick him up as I captured a few photos.  He wasn't in any danger, though, since we were the only boat out that day.

I was inspired to paint this view from my study of Jeremiah.  Chapter 17:7-8 reads, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

This is our family's favorite wakeboarding spot because the water is always glassy and there are hardly any other boats all week, so I'm sorry but I have been sworn to secrecy not to reveal its exact location.  If you happen to be lucky enough to know where this is, you know what I'm talking about. Shhh

Pink Teacup on Lace Doily

                                                                                                                 Artwork © Kimberly Shaw
8" x 10" Watercolor on 140 lb Hot Press paper.
I've been wanting to challenge myself by painting an embroidered doily.  I love painting negative space and by letting the white of the paper be the doily, I just painted the holes.  I couldn't resist adding a pink teacup just peaking in, as though it's waiting to be filled with a relaxing cup of tea.

First in a series of 3 originals I'm planning to sell in my etsy shop when all 3 are finished. This will be the first time I've sold original watercolor paintings.

TeaGuide Review

I received an overwhelming review of my Teacup Greeting cards by Janis Badarau, Editor & Publisher of TeaGuide: Reviews and Ramblings.  She is an incredible writer and her site is brimming with reviews on tea facts and products including cookbooks, tea sources, tea history, gifts, and one of my favorites "Sugars by Sharon".  You'll also find beautiful tea book reviews and numberous links to exquisite tea blogs and web stores.

Sumi-e Class

A Sumi-e art class was offered at our local Community Center.  I signed up and added my 13 year old son to the class as well.  He was furious stating, "I'm not going to an art class with a bunch of old ladies!"  As I purchased 2 each of the items needed on the supply list,  more son complaints followed.  On the day of the class I gave him a choice: art class or chores.  He chose art class insistent  he'd only go once.  The result was surprising, he was better at it than I was and after the first classes were over he  insisted I sign us up for more.  And the "old ladies" were thrilled, they loved him.

Quick energetic strokes makes Sumi-e painting turn out much better, which my son was great at.  Me, I'm more of a planned precise detail artist.  If you work too slow at Sumi-e the porous paper soaks up all the ink leaving a big blob.  This is the only painting I did that turned out, and I credit it to a day I was angry at someone.  My frustration turned into energy that produce this stormy day.  After twelve lessons, my teacher was finally pleased with my work. 

Drop in the Bucket

In response to the events that took place in our nation last week, this verse kept running through my thoughts. 

"Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing." Isaiah 40:15

I imagined God holding a large galvanized farm bucket.  With his wrist, He's twirling the bucket as a drop of water rolls around the bottom.  I'm reminded that He is in control, and whenever He wants to roll our nation to the other side of the bucket, He can.

A Sweet Sunday Message

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew 12:28-30

Radish

Wanting to paint for fun, not only for work, I chose this simple shape from my garden to get started.

A Gift of Beach Sand

I painted this card for my nephew, Joshua, who recently sent me his precious drawing with hearts all over it.

Bright Enough?

I recently received a call at my office from someone who commented that my cards aren't very bright. Here's a sneak preview of my latest card in response to that call.

We take customer comments very seriously at Kimberly Shaw Graphics. It's important to us to know what you're looking for. As I was painting this card another caller commented that my cards were too busy. Well, I'll see what I can do...

Christmas Card Painted in July

A Christmas Card in July for the coming season. Actually, I like painting Christmas Cards. My hobby of creating my own hand-made Christmas cards is how Kimberly Shaw Graphics started in the first place. Besides, it's fun creating new ideas for Christmas.

This year I painted from a different angle.  I didn't paint a matching set, but created something from scratch: a Poinsettia cup, a berries saucer, and a Baroque plate (Georgia's brilliant idea) with a woodland background of squirrels and acorns. Georgia will insert the Cardinal postcard, with special text, on the saucer before printing. She also asked me to paint an acorn. I can't wait to see how she'll surprise me with it.

 

This image will also be used to create a new note pad on the woodland background.

Apple Blossom Watercolor

My MacIntosh apple tree is producing its second crop.  The apples are still very small. It had incredible blossoms which were actually mostly white. I painted these blossoms with more pink.

I was trying a painting technique a friend told me she loved where she wets the leaves and drops the color in. I did that at first but finished with my favorite style of adding layers of color washes.

Aqua Teacup Greeting Card

Painting this aqua teacup poses new challenges because I need to angle the cup differently to see the lovely flowers on the inside.  I shifted the cup to the right, that way I can add a die cut under the saucer to have a place to insert the teabag into the printed card.

I've painted the cup a bit more of a mint green to match the Harrison & Crosfield Peppermint Tea bag.

After sketching the lace and adding Shadow, I'm trying a deep red background because I liked how the color of the teacup contrasted with my red peanut shaped desk.  My favorite thing to do is paint the negative space in between lase.

On the final printed card, I'll  have Georgia Photo Shop something special on the red background.