Watercolors are my favorite medium to paint with. I’m always astonished by how each painter is unique in their process and execution of this medium. The following artists are some of my personal favorites. Notice how the use of watercolors change from artist to artist and celebrate the difference with me.
Geninne’s Art Shop is full of intricate watercolor paintings. The artwork here makes me feel like I’m looking at beautifully illustrated scientific classification books. This particular painting, Crafty Bird, would be a cherished gift for your crafty friend or to yourself. I want one for my sewing room!
Several months ago I was fortunate to win a print of Lisa Kaser’s work. I instantly fell in love with all of her quirky characters and the sense of storytelling portrayed in each piece. Her use of gentle colors and humorous scenes invites peace and conversation. You will love the high quality of her work.
I marked CGalla Fine Art as a favorite almost one year ago and I check in every couple of weeks to gaze into the melting colors and movement of the paintings. I can’t get over how much emotion is conveyed from the brush strokes. The up-close faces are my favorite but there are several landscapes and still life paintings as well. This is an exquisite gallery!
I just about fell over when I discovered Be Happy Now. You will be smiling from ear to ear each time you glance at the artwork found there. Calendars, prints, collages and originals are all waiting for you to dive into. I’m fascinated by the lighthearted portraits painted in brilliant color combinations.
Do you love a little mystery in your art? If so, skip on over to Oh My Cavalier. The drawings and prints will have you dreaming of forest adventures and make believe friends. There is a vintage feel to the artwork and the restrained use of color is fantastic. I’m captivated!
As you have seen, watercolors are an intense and quite intriguing medium. Aren’t the different uses and styles wonderful? I hope you found a few artists to add to your favorites and perhaps a piece or two of artwork to add to your ever expanding collection.
Susannah Rodgers
Susannah Rodgers maintains a personal blog,
Art Nest, which reflects her pursuit to live simply, work hard, and find everyday beauty. You can follow her on
Twitter or visit her online
shop.
Block prints are my favorite type of artwork to collect. My home’s living room wall is covered with a variety of block prints that I have collected over the years. It’s fun to see the differences and similarities between them. As a novice block printer myself, I know that time, thought, and talent go into every print created! Block prints are a great way to add the handmade look to your walls and are extra special as each print is a true work of art on it’s own.
While all of the art at She Rides the Lion is unique there is also a classic or vintage feel to each designs. I love the one color prints as they are bold and intricate. You will find prints and some wearable art at this shop!
The block prints at Amanda Kindregan are entirely lovable and well done. I am especially in love with the horse print. Several types of prints and paintings are available!
Melissa Kate holds the most adorable block printed art and cards! The happy colors will have you smiling all day!
Nydam Press celebrates the art of block printing with non-fussy design and interesting subject matter. This radio would look wonderful in a men’s library or study.
Last but not least, Erica Harris hold block prints that are boldly executed and a bit humorous. Don’t forget to check out the drawings and collages as well!
These are just a sampling of some of the amazing block print artists and pieces available to you. I encourage you to search around for other talents that might capture your interest as well. Maybe you’ll be inspired to start your own special collection of block prints!
Susannah Rodgers
Susannah Rodgers maintains a personal blog,
Art Nest, which reflects her pursuit to live simply, work hard, and find everyday beauty. You can follow her on
Twitter or visit her online
shop.
I am constantly intrigued by what cut paper artists can accomplish with scissors, papers, and glue. Each artist below has embraced a unique style on this art form which is sure to captivate your interest.
Jayme McGowan from Roadside Projects is setting a new standard for cut paper art. Her pieces are intricately concocted and expertly executed. Her subject matter spans generational interest and can be displayed in any room of your house. Prints and originals are available in her shop and don’t forget to visit her project blog.
I found the cut paper art at Rural Pearl to be modern and refreshing. The artist, Angie Pickman, has made this art form her own. I am drawn to the strong black and white pieces and appreciate her use of color. You will find prints and even some pendants made from her originals.
Read more…
Susannah Rodgers
Susannah Rodgers maintains a personal blog,
Art Nest, which reflects her pursuit to live simply, work hard, and find everyday beauty. You can follow her on
Twitter or visit her online
shop.
Fall is my favorite season of the year! Largely in part because it includes Halloween. I’ve often wondered why I look so forward to Halloween each year, and I’ve decided it’s because Halloween allows for everyone to be as creative and playful as they want. Understand that I don’t enjoy the scary and gory costumes or even the 10lbs of sugar that my children gather and try to consume over the course of one weekend, I enjoy the lighthearted, imaginative merry-making of the evening.
In light of one of my favorite holidays, I’ve rounded up some art that is both alluring and mysterious. These pieces were not created specifically for Halloween, making them a perfect addition to your walls year round.
There is a beautiful haunting quality to all of the pieces at Little Red Fox. The sketches are well balanced between intentional simplicity and complex emotions. I’ve been a fan of this art for years because of the consistency in the quality of work. You will find originals and prints as well as stickers, dolls, and cards.
Read more…
Susannah Rodgers
Susannah Rodgers maintains a personal blog,
Art Nest, which reflects her pursuit to live simply, work hard, and find everyday beauty. You can follow her on
Twitter or visit her online
shop.
Please welcome the latest Try Handmade columnist, Susannah Rodgers! You may know her through her shop Art Nest (which we featured a few weeks ago), and we’re fortunate to have her and her new series Get On The Wall. She’s going to be treating us with 2D, frameable art for your walls. Check out her first column, and I know you’re going to be hungry for more. Welcome Susannah!
:: Erika
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My interest in mixed media art was sparked by mistake. Several years ago, a local artist gave me one of her watercolor paintings as a thank-you gift for hosting her first art exhibit. I proudly hung the painting in my home, and it was admired often by my family and me. One evening, I was walking through my home turning off lights, and something in the painting caught my eye. Upon closer inspection, I was shocked to discover that the artist had used a few strips of magazine images in a section of the artwork—it was a mixed media piece, not a strict painting as I had previously thought! I had my nose to the glass for a long while, examining all of the details I had been missing. My mistake was a happy one which resulted in a new-found fascination of mixed media art. This month’s get-on-the-wall pieces are beautiful examples of how delightful mixed media artwork can be.
I think the Color Theory pieces by Esta Sketch are genius. Read more…
Susannah Rodgers
Susannah Rodgers maintains a personal blog,
Art Nest, which reflects her pursuit to live simply, work hard, and find everyday beauty. You can follow her on
Twitter or visit her online
shop.
