Sculpted Paper Watercolor Flower: An Art Lesson #2

A close up:

© Holly Herick Design

Full watercolor painted flower—pen used for scale.

© Holly Herick Design

Even our cat Squeaky liked it.

© Holly Herick Design

One more full size image of the flower.

© Holly Herick Design

My sculpted paper flower is more than 12 inches across. Check out the process of making this flower in my previous post. I will definitely make more of these. It was a fun process with much guess-work this time around—taking me three full days to cut, shape and build the flower. I used a bit too much watercolor paint so it took a full day for all the layers to dry. After touch up paint, a day later, I felt like it was done. I am going to show this piece on a pedestal at the Studio at Living Opportunities this March 2014 for a month. I am curious to see how it is received. If you would like to see my sculpted paper watercolor flower in person, stop by 32 South Central, Medford, Oregon on March 14, starting a 5:00. There will be a reception and some great art by artists of the Rogue Valley mixed with artist of the Studio at Living Opportunities. I hope to see you there.

ART SUPPLIES: STRATHMORE® 140 LB. COLD PRESS WATERCOLOR PAPER AND DR. PH. MARTIN’S HYDRUS FINE ART WATERCOLORS FROM DICKBLICK.COM.

P.S.

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Sculpted Paper Flower: Art Lesson #1

Sculpted Paper Flower: An Art Lesson

I’m not gonna lie. I am not the first person to create a sculpted paper flower, but here is my first experience with the creative experience.

I drew rough petals on 9″ x 12″ watercolor paper—consecutively larger.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

Then, I cut out petals and stacked them from large to small.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

I cut the center base of each petal, overlapped and glued with archival glue.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

After overlapping the tabs and gluing together, the petals started to take shape.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

I started to glue the petals together.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

The flower started to take form—upside down view.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

The flower started to grow.

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

And grow…

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

And grow bigger than scissors…

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

And bigger than apples and oranges…

paper sculpture flower © Holly Herick

Art supplies: Strathmore® 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper and Dr. Ph. Martin’s HYDRUS Fine Art watercolors from DickBlick.com.

Now to add watercolor. stop by next week when I show you the finished colored piece.

P.S.

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Flowers, Gardening and Painting: 100 Flowers # 11

Flowers, gardening and painting…

© Holly Herick

Where has my passion for painting flowers come from? I grew up in Arizona where flowers were maybe not as big, beautiful and bright as they are in Oregon. After having children, I became more interested in nurturing things. Whether it be a child, flowers, or creativity; I knew it was important to nurture. In Scottsdale, Arizona the weather was often hot—too hot to weed a garden. I did not like taking care of the yard when I was young. It seemed like a chore, using too much water—a precious resource. Now that I have lived in a more temperate climate in Southern Oregon, with more rain, I feel more inclined to the use of water, the climate and nurturing flowers. Painting flowers has been a life long study of nature beginning in the Arizona dessert with California Poppies on the Four Peaks of Scottsdale, AZ and concluding with the flowers native to Southern Oregon. Most of these images come from my memory. Whether it be the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona, Oahu, Hawaii or Portland, Oregon; it is all committed to memory. Somewhere from my mind, come the images in these floral paintings. Favorite flowers of mine include multi-petaled flowers including Hydrangeas, Gerber Daisies, Peonies, Austin Roses, Poppies, Ranunculuses and more.

Look at my paintings and guess what flowers may have influenced my paintings. Sometimes I don’t even know…

Above is the next one, what kind of flower is this? Prismacolor pencil on paper.

Follow my blog and come along on my new

creative adventure.

XOXO,
Holly

100 FLOWERS: #5

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #5

© Holly Herick

From my mind. Please comment if you this painting reminds you of a certain flower. Also, prints and cards can be purchased through fineartamerica, see the link in my right column.

XOXO,
Holly

100 FLOWERS: #4

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #4

© Holly Herick

From my mind. Please comment if you this painting reminds you of a certain flower. Also, prints and cards can be purchased through fineartamerica, see the link in my right column.

XOXO,
Holly

100 Flowers: #3

I’m not bored anymore. Here is Flower #3

© Holly Herick

From my mind. Please comment if you this painting reminds you of a certain flower.

XOXO,
Holly

I’m Bored: Announcing “100 Flowers”

I’m bored. As you may know, many artists get bored easily—that’s why us creative types are always trying something new. I have completed “100 faces” but I have not posted them all. I think some of you were maybe getting bored with them too? If you want to see the complete collection you will have to go to fineartamerica.com. They are not all up yet; it takes time to format the images for the site and it takes away from my painting time—just one of the issues of being a one-woman business.

Announcing “100 Flowers”

© Holly Herick

With EVERYTHING in bloom, I have been inspired to start painting 100 Flowers. This should be fun, as I love gardening. I do not intend these paintings to be realistic  but some of them may be. Usually, with my graphic design background, I like to simplify things. Here is Flower #1 which was created about two years ago—inspired from a rose called Pat Austin. This image  is also available as a print or note cards etc. at fineartamerica.com.

Most of these paintings will be inspired from my own garden; however, if you would like to submit a favorite photo from your own garden, I will consider painting it. Send photos to hollyherick@charter.net.

Follow my blog and come along on my new
creative adventure.

XOXO,
Holly

FurnARTure

Third Annual FurnARTure Auction for the Studio at Living Opportunities

Once again this year I will be donating a piece of furniture or “FurARTure” to the Studio at Living Opportunities. On October 7, 2012 at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville, Oregon from 2-5 pm, the Studio at Living Opportunities will hold the Third Annual FurARTure Auction. Artist from around the Rogue Valley will gather together and donate their art to benefit the Studio at Living Opportunities. This year the auction will include a raffle for a fabulous wine rack painting by Gabriel Lipper—including almost $2000 of wine. Anything Gabriel paints is worth tens of thousands so these raffle tickets will go fast. Raffle tickets can be purchased from me for $50 each—what a steal! (winner does not need to be present to win). Last year I painted a pre-set table which you can see below and read more about here.

© Holly Herick. FurnARTure piece 2011.

This year I am also painting a table and I am super excited about it.

© Holly Herick. In process: the paint is visibly wet in this photo.

My table design is loosely based on a zinnia flower. I have been working on it over the past month. If you are interested in bidding on this table you will have to attend the fabulously fun and feel-good event that is the Third Annual FurnARTure Auction to benefit the Studio at Living Opportunities. Tickets are $25 per person and include a bidding number, live music, appetizers, beer and wine. You can contact me for tickets or call Living Opportunities at 541.772.1503.

Poster design by Snapshot Group

During the Third Friday Artwalk in Medford on September 21, 2012 Terra Firma Home will be hosting a sneak preview of the furnARTure that will be auctioned this year.  The Third Friday Artwalk event will be from 5-7 pm at 309 East Main Street,
Medford, Oregon. Thanks Terra Firma for your support! Did you see all the other wonderful sponsors we have on the poster? Thank you Snapshot Group, Valley Immediate Care, Southern Oregon Endodontics, Cutler Investment Group LLC, Newswatch 12, Fox 26 and again, Terrra Firma.

© Holly Herick. After about seven coats of paint.

After about seven coats of paint—I think it still needs something to make it pop. It needs a little bit of the unexpected. Maybe…a little bit of purple. Did I mention that I want to keep this table? You will be prying it from my paint stained fingers at the auction. No—but really—the funds could not go to a better cause.

© Holly Herick

© Holly Herick

© Holly Herick

 

This is the most up-to-date photo of my table that I am going to show you. Did I change it up a little or not? Come to the event to find out…

I have mentioned the event—all the great art, music, food, beer, wine, and great people in a beautiful historic setting in Jacksonville, but the best reason to attend this event is to support the artists of the Studio at Living Opportunities I would love to tell you all about each one of them because each artist is so special to me. To learn more about some of the artists that attend the studio workshops weekly between 2-4pm click here. Check it out—you will be amazed. And the Studio has a facebook page so like us on facebook.

Painting from one of my favorite photographs © Georgianna Lane

Inspired by a photo from © Georgianna Lane

Check out her page for some awesome photography and another painting inspired by her photograph by Lyn Donald @ https://www.facebook.com/LynDonaldArt

Day 1 vs. Day 2

Dr. Martins liquid watercolors on Yupo vs. cold press watercolor paper.

Yupo (Synthetic paper)

Cold Press watercolor paper

Let me know what you like about one over the other?

P.S. remember to check out the original photograph that inspired these painting by Georgianna Lane

“Love From Me” book now available

Dear friends, loved ones, and followers:

“Love From Me” is a book of amazing inspirational art compiled to raise money for cancer fighters. I have a page dedicated to my friend Wendy Anderson in it (p. 44). The book is now available for sale. I will not make any money from the sale of the book, my art is donated.

PLEASE follow the link to view the entire book and purchase “Love From Me.” It is a wonderful gift for people fighting the battle against cancer and a great coffee table book—truly inspirational.

“Love From Me”

The Love From Me Project is an extension of the Paws For Charity Art Book Project (pawsforcharity.blogspot.com), and is the 3rd annual Art Book Project compiled and edited by Sara Harley.

The Paws For Charity Art Book Project was started in 2009 and raised funds for breast cancer charity while celebrating the bond we feel for our pets.

This year continues with the Love From Me Project…Inspirational images donated by 61 artists and photographers from many countries. All funds raised from this project are donated to The Rose Fund, c/o the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada. This is a registered charity to help cancer patients who are facing financial difficulty as a result of dealing with their cancer treatments.
My page dedicated to Wendy:

"Love from Me" compiled by Sara Harley

If you purchase the book or at least view it online, I would love your feedback. Please come back and leave me a comment about the book—or the battle you or your loved one have fought against cancer.

New favorite blog!

Please check out this blog that I am so proud to be a part of. It is amazing that I can help people around the world through my God-given talents and connections. The “Love from Me” project is dedicated to people suffering from cancer. In this blog you will find many artist whom have dedicated their art to friends who have been through cancer. My dedication is to my friend Wendy. “Foxgloves for Wendy” was painted around the time that Wendy fought and died of breast cancer. Here is my page from the book that is being created to honor cancer sufferers.

"Love from Me" by Sara Harley

When it becomes available I will share the link so that you may purchase the book in order to support those whom have suffered in your life.

Start your Holiday shopping now.

If you are looking for a custom portrait of your dog, cat, horse, or any pet, you need to plan ahead. An original custom portrait takes about a month to create. From the first contact about the portrait, through planning, sketching, painting, drying, framing and shipping, it takes time. If you want to give a Pet Portrait for Christmas you need to contact me now. Prices start at $225. Sample pet portraits below:

CHONGO

COCO

LUCY

If you can’t afford giving a custom portrait as a gift, consider ordering a print, poster, or set of cards to give as a gift. As I create, I am added my art to my own shop at Zazzle.com. Check it out. Products include, pet portraits, watercolor illustrations of flowers, photography, paintings and more. Items can be ordered in a variety of forms such as, cards, prints, posters, coffee mugs, hats, mouse pads and t-shirts. If there is an image you like and it is not offered in the product line you are looking for just drop me a note and I will create it for you. Fine art prints and posters will be created with archival quality inks and you have the option to have it framed at a reasonable price. Below are samples of some of my card and poster images.

FOXGLOVE

POPPY

ROSE

BLEEDING HEART

I plan on creating a line of cards with historic buildings of Jacksonville. The Pink Church is the first of one.PINK CHURCH, JACKSONVILLE

If you like my style please pass my store link along to a friend. You can also find a link to my Zazzle store on the top right of my blog: PURCHASE MY ART.

Yellow Tulip

Working on watercolor study of my garden again. It seems to be what I like to paint the most.

First, I print out my inspiration photograph and draw a grid on it.

Then I transfer the grid and drawing to scale onto the paper.

© Holly Herick Design

The painting begins.

Final watercolor: yellow tulip from my yard.

Now you can get my artwork on zazzle.com

Check out my shop at zazzle.com. Many of my watercolor paintings and photographs can be purchased for gifts or even framing.

Every Once in a While

Ever feel like your stagnant? Nothing new going on, looking for inspiration? I go out in the garden and look for beautiful things—flowers, bugs, sky, colors. this time of year I am lucky to have things growing and blooming. If we have one week of hot weather, things will burst open. I can’t wait to share with you. Today, I found these wonderful flowers—and a few bugs. The Bleeding Hearts interest me the most. Maybe I will get a chance to paint them soon.

Bleeding Hearts: There is something special about a flower close up. The ultimate “art” of our Creator.

Cream colored tulip. Black bug exploring petals.

Climbing Clematis, “Sunset”

Lupine.

Spanish Lavender. Happy Bees.

Stock.

Flowers on steps. Anyone know what this one is called?

I love to look at flowers and bugs, anything close up. What’s your favorite? What makes you wonder—what makes stop to look and admire creation? If you would like to paint with me, I wold love it, contact me below.

Flowering Quince Art: Artist are painting from my photo. See them all here.

A photo I took on Easter of flowering Quince is being used for Monthly Sketch Project on Ning. MSJ is just a group of artist looking for inspiration and support. Anyone is welcome to join, but you don’t even have to join to participate in my blog. I hope to add links to any participants blog’s. One of my favorite things to do in art is find how many different ways artist will interpret the same thing. Artists styles vary be the medium they use, the style they have developed, and the mood they are in at the time they created the art. Watch with me over the month to see how many people will chose to draw, sketch or paint from this photo. My goal today, among others, is to get started on a watercolor from this inspirational photo today. I will post when I am done.

If you would like to participate you can send me an email with your art image attached (please keep .jpg file size small) and I will post it on my blog. Also, you can post it to your blog and link up to mine. I am working on figuring out how that works so stay tuned for a “McLinky button”

Any level of work is acceptable. Hope to see your work.

Here is my first attempt. It still needs some detail work, shadows and washes. I might just start over, but l like to see the transformation take place. Check back later to see my reworking of the quince flowers.

This morning a worked on shading the flowers and creating more depth. It was hard to decide what approach to take. More practice and experience will definitely help. Helpful critique is always welcome, so if you have any please leave a comment. Below is after I added shading to the flowers and depth to the background.

I sure like this one by Neon Fog, nice composition and sense of light.

This one is by Eva @ To Be Determined.

What’s blooming in your garden?

Sandy of Reluctant Entertainer asked today, “what’s blooming in your garden?”

What is growing in your backyard right now?

Inspired by friend Sandy of Reluctant Entertainer, I thought I would post some of my current garden photos. Most of my creative inspiration comes from the outdoors, specifically my garden. The other half of my inspiration comes from people. I love to create paintings with family and friends in mind.

This watercolor was painted for Sandy, thanks for the coffee date Sandy.

Photos from my Yard:

Mother’s Day means veggie garden at my house

I am a very happy mother this Mother’s day. I got dirt. I also got raised vegetable beds built by my favorite handyman, my very own husband, David.

First raised bed, view from deck.

Mantis tiller helps break up our clay soil. Rogue Premium from the Grange Co-op was added—smells good.

Planning the arrangement in the first bed. Baby lettuce in foreground.

Gotta love him.

David building the second veggie bed. It helps to have your very own handyman.

Tilling in the good soil. We have red clay and veggies don’t care for the it much.

This year’s garden includes:

Eight types of tomatoes:

Mr. Stripey

Sweet Millions (a standard in my garden)

Sweet 100’s

Burpee Burger

Cherokee Purple

Tangerine tomato

Lemon tomato

4th of July (Early tomato)

Three kinds of cucumbers:

Lemon (a standard for us)

Express

forgot ????

Two kinds of strawberries

Cheddar Cauliflower. Can’t wait to taste this.

Chives and Basil—not pictured.

Cilantro and carrots—not yet sprouted.

Baby lettuce, love the speckles.

Patty Pan Squash.

Have you ever gardened with your kids? It is amazing to watch children grow food and then eat it. It makes the food extra special. What’s your favorite to grow? “Create Adventures” in your own garden.

April Showers, bring May Flowers, and Prom

Old gardens are extra special.

Today I went with a friend to her mother’s garden which was abundant with Lilacs and Snowballs. It is not the fact that her mother is older than us that made the garden glorious, but the fact that the garden is mature. What a treat to have to climb a ladder to fetch these beautiful Lilacs. We have a special project in mind for these flowers, soon they will become a wrist corsage for his Prom date.

This week Dillon and I went to the store to purchase crystals for Kayla’s corsage. We used elastic cord and made a three strand bracelet—two of the stands were tight so they would hold the flowers to her wrist. Above is the bracelet we designed. It has one large teardrop crystal at the bottom.

Dillon wrapping the flower stems with florist tape. Lilacs and Snowballs.

The flowers were attached to the crystals with florist tape.

Kayla wearing the corsage. For me, part of having a creative home is sharing with my children. The time I spent with Dillon working on this bracelet corsage will be forever in my mind.

Flowers are my favorite inspiration throughout the year. I loose track of time when I am in the garden. Every flower, to me, is like a intricate painting from God—a glorious creation, right in front of me. What a wonderful way to enjoy flowers, by sharing them with Kayla. How can I NOT get excited? Happy May Day!

Mimi paints Dogwood

Ever wonder how much a rainy day effects you mood? Mimi gets tired of the rain most days, but today she welcomed it because it kept her indoors to paint. The frogs are croaking, and last night the air smelled of blossoms. It is no wonder Mimi would paint flowers again. Somehow her painting—as well as her mood—has been influenced by the rain. The lack of sunshine in the sky has shown up in her painting. Still only three colors have been used on her palette, red, blue and yellow. It is helping somewhat with color harmony and she is getting better at mixing colors. Mimi is still working on focal point and foreground vs. background. If you have any helpful information, leave Holly a comment and she will pass it along to Mimi.

Poppies for Sandy

What inspires you? For me it is people, my kids, family, friends, special occasions like birthdays and holidays. It always comes back to who’s on my mind. Today I had coffee with a new friend, who seems like an old friend. She continually inspires me to be the best I can be. So today I paint for Sandy. “Poppies for Sandy” Thanks for the inspiration wise friend, and the laughter. Check out Sandy’s blog and you’ll know why I like her so much.

Spring is Here: Surprise.

Here in Southern Oregon we have had a very strange winter, and equally odd Spring. Winter, Mimi thinks, might have been warmer than spring. Finally this week the butterflies and bees will come out and do what they should. Mimi watches them pollinate and transform life in an amazing adventure. Mimi says—enjoy spring. Here at Creative Home, we believe in observing everything, alive, from nature. There is nothing more amazing than what God has created before our very own eyes.

Birthday Cake

Day one quick sketch was actually finished on day three. Mimi is not happy with the focal point (there is none). Mimi is using a Pen Sketcher’s Book from Bee Paper Company: Professional Series size 5.5″ x 8.5 ” 70lb. 114gsm paper. She really likes the smooth finish and bright whitness of the paper.

April Fool

“Adventures in Design” is taking an adventure.

This month I will have an alter ego called Mimi. Mimi is a perfectionist and is obsessed with watercolor paints, only three colors of watercolor paints—the primary ones—of course. Red, yellow, and blue. The primary colors make up all colors on the color wheel and Mimi likes to be efficient— why bother with anything that is not needed. Mimi has decided that she will paint at least three times a week for the month of April. Hereby known as “International Fake Journal Month” or IFJM. In this journal she will study primary colors with watercolor paints, focusing on color harmony and focal point. Mimi likes to make a point. Only perfection, only necessities. Mimi says things like, “of course” and “I knew that” or “practice makes perfect.” She really thinks she knows it all. Don’t let her know that “practice makes progress”—not perfect.

Mimi’s—Day one entry—”For Cassidy”

Follow along with Mimi this month. Please note: International Fake Journal Month idea came from officialinternationalfakejournalblog.blogspot.com/ Check it out by clicking the dog button on the left side of my (Mimi’s) blog.