(Inside A Black Apple)

Floral Dept.

Bits of blooms around the kitchen.
Clockwise from left :

1. Thrifted vintage plates from occupied Japan. I love the big bunches of delicate flowers and the decorative edges. I don't know know the name of the motif(s), but I have found three variations so far.
2. Scratched, but all the better for it, red floral-printed tin tray.
3. Our kitchen curtains
4. Sweet little thrifted saucer. I use saucers more than anyone I know. I think we eat nearly all our snacks and treats from saucers, not to mention they are champion spoon-rests.

Thanks so much for the kind words about the new painting!
&
Happy weekend to you

The Banjo Recital

I finished this painting recently, after I got a bee in my bonnet about a girl playing the banjo in the middle of the woods.

The Banjo Recital    11"x14"x2"    Acrylic on cradled wood panel

The whole time I was working on it, I kept thinking she was singing/playing them this song. I feel almost certain that's what she's playing, there among the animals and the lily-of-the-valley.

I just listed the painting here, in my shop for sale.

I've been making some paintings lately that aren't part of a larger series or story. I realized that I've hardly made any drawings or paintings that weren't part of something bigger for the last few years, so it's a nice change to make some stand-alone images and smaller series. I have several big, involved projects on the horizon, so I'm working on whatever I fancy now, before I get wrapped up in those.

Liking Lately

A little list of things that have struck my fancy in the past few weeks:

- Beautiful Australian children's style magazine Papier Mache - similar to Milk, but blessedly with English text so I can read it and not just look at the pretty pictures. It's unbelievably beautiful, and I was happy to spy Misako Mimoko and some other favorites peppering the pages.

- Black Books on Netflix instant. This British series from the early 2000's is silly and (I think) wonderful. It might not be everyone's cup of tea (or swig of wine) but cantankerous bookseller Bernard Black, marry me please. I'm forlorn to be out of episodes.

- A magic beauty potion. This was spritzed on my friend's pretty face by a Sephora lady on our last visit. We couldn't get our mitts on our own personal bottles quick enough. It sets your makeup and just feels very lovely. It might be a placebo, but what a nice placebo it is.

- Le Petit Ecolier chocolate cookies. I found them at our supermarket and one or two is so nice for dessert or with tea.

- The Tattooed Lady: A History - I had been wanting this badly for a while, and I finally took it home from Powell's a few weeks back. It is exactly as it sounds and as specialized as it is wonderful.

- Lynch Creek Dahlias (for the flower ladies.) Located only a little while away in Washington, this family farm's website has tons of beautiful Dahlias - from the small pom-pom kind to the dinnerplate variety. I'm awaiting about a half-dozen different kinds...I'm so excited to have some late-Summer/Fall flowers this year.

If that isn't a motley list, I don't know what is - but a true portrayal of the things I get excited about from day to day.

I've got a few new paintings I've been working on to share soon. In the meantime, we have oddball lists!

Happy Friday!

The Oddfellow's Website is up!

This project was keeping me busy for a good little minute, and I'm so happy that it's finally out there. 

The official Oddfellow's Orphanage website is now up and running!

With a character portrait gallery (featuring the new portraits, naturally), a reader art gallery, sketches, downloads and more, I think it's a nice place to hop around for a bit.

If anyone you know (little or otherwise) creates any Oddfellow's inspired art, feel free to email or snail-mail it to me and I'll post it in the reader art gallery.

 

Oh! And I mentioned a new set of paper dolls a few days back...and they're freebies! 

Don't miss the Delia & Ollie paper doll download in the Diversions section. You should be able to download the high-res file straight from the page.

Whew! So happy to share all of this finally!

O.O. Portraits Added

All available paintings can be found here in the originals part of my shop!

2012 Oddfellow's Portraits : Oddfellow Bluebeard

Oddfellow Bluebeard   8"x10" (10"x12" framed)   Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame

And finally, dum-da-dum! The founder of the feast, Headmaster Bluebeard himself.

All thirteen original portraits will be posted in my shop Friday at 12 pm West coast / 3 pm East coast!

2012 Oddfellow's Portraits : Delia

Delia   8"x10" (10"x12" framed)   Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame

It's through Delia's eyes that you first meet Oddfellow's Orphanage, so I wanted to save this silent little miss for almost-last.

Tomorrow is the founder of the feast: Oddfellow Bluebeard himself, and the portrait update as well!

2012 Oddfellow's Portraits : Hank

Hank   8"x10" (10"x12" framed)   Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame

Aw, Hank, that's quite a nice pocket square you've got there!

Hank's occupation? Bear-keeper and general handyman of the house (he also keeps his eye out for varmints and intruders on the grounds.)

Only two portraits remain after Hank, and then all the portraits will be added to the shop Friday. Whew!

Who's left?
Delia & Headmaster Bluebeard, most fittingly.

2012 Oddfellow's Portraits : Imogen

Imogen  8"x10" (10"x12" framed)   Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame

Today we have the inky-armed Imogen. Even though she is a smaller character in the book, I have a real soft spot for her. 

She'll be up in the shop with the other portraits on Friday!

2012 Oddfellow's Portraits : Daniel

Daniel  8"x10" (10"x12" framed)   Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame

Today we have Daniel, pickpocket-er of pickpockets and all 'round stand-up little guy. He sports ribbons awarded for his various good deeds and collected through his time at Oddfellow's.

Four more portraits left to preview!

2012 Oddfellow's Portraits : Ava

Ava   8"x10" (10"x12" framed)   Acrylic on canvas in carved, golden wood frame

I think we're almost two-thirds of the way through the portraits!

For Friday, we have sailor-collared, open-hearted Ava and a trio of the little birds that love her so.

Happy weekend & see you soon!

Paper Dollishness

I was getting a little posting-hypnosis from all the portrait posts, so I thought I'd share a little in-progress snip of new paper dolls I'm working on.

I think the new Oddfellow's portraits will go up for sale next Friday, March 9. I'll post the exact time soon and make one of those "sticky posts" that will stay at the top of the blog as a reminder.

I'm working almost non-stop on finishing up a project that's been in the works for a while - I can't wait to share it here!

Happy Thursday to you!