Sketchbook Project - Week 34

Since we moved to Northwest Arkansas, I've been able to get on my bike more, and we've been enjoying the greenways and trails here in Fayetteville.  It's also really nice and convenient to have a neighborhood where we can take our pups on long walks, rather than a long farm road with no sidewalks and cars that speed by too quickly.  As the temperature begins to cool off a bit, we've been spending much more time outdoors, which leaves me a little less time for sketching.  So, I'm just trying to be efficient and smart with my drawings and paintings, though there's always one that ends up taking longer than expected. (I'm looking at you, shoes.)

Here's a quick overview of the pages this week: Monday I discovered some morning glories on the fence next to our house.  Tuesday we grabbed Indian takeout for dinner--this is one of the gorgeous lamps in the restaurant. Wednesday and Thursday were quick abstracts filled with color for minimal decision-making. Friday is an ode to my new shoes. Saturday is an appreciation of bikes, plus I wanted to learn how to draw them.  Sunday is a photo from our trip to Italy, since it's been on my mind this week after the earthquake.  It's of a home in Venice.

Enjoy, friends.

Watercolor

Acrylics

Watercolor

Acrylics

Micron Pen

Watercolor

 

Find Weeks 1-33 here.

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 2

This week I was in the mood to felt a little bird and came across the Kirtland's Warbler.  The good news is that this little bird's population is increasing thanks to local conservation efforts and habitat awareness! (High Fives!)  Before these efforts, the jack pine forests that birds relied on to breed were not being properly protected and maintained as optimal habitats for them. The pine trees that they nest in have to be a certain age and size to provide enough cover for the birds.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides more information here. Also, you can check out the warbler's IUCN page.

Kirkland's Warbler Facts:
--Referred to as the "bird of fire" for its reliance on pine forests that remain healthy with wildfires
--Eat primarily insects and larvae
--Summer is spent in Michigan (though area is increasing to include other states)
--Overwinter in the Caribbean

Have a great week!

A New Year of 52 Weeks of Felt Paintings! Week 1

So, in typical fashion, I'm a bit late starting this year's project.  I knew I wanted to do more felt paintings, but I wanted a bit of a theme.  With the help of my wonderful instagram friends, I decided to concentrate on endangered animals this year.  I'll be felting animals with varying levels of vulnerability as well as animals that have already gone extinct.  I might even throw in a few success stories--we might need to lighten up the depressing news about all these endangered animals, right?

Because of my zoo job, I'm very familiar with the IUCN Red List.  You can search animals in their database, and they'll report the last known status of that species.  I'll be using this tool throughout the year. I'll also try to provide you with some links to more information about each animal.  Excited? I am! Let's get started...

Our first week's animal is the polar bear.  This bear is classified by the IUCN as Vulnerable, and its populations are declining.  You can see what the IUCN has to say here.  National Geographic has some fantastic information here, including an audio file of a polar bear--turn up your volume for extra impact. ;)

Polar Bear Facts:
--Have black skin to help soak up sunlight and heat
--Prey mostly on seals
--Can weigh up to 1600 pounds
--Females give birth in winter, usually to twins

I hope you like this new series of paintings and blog posts!!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 52

My last felt painting of the year is another pet portrait.  I plan on continuing this project next year. It definitely keeps me accountable and keeps me creating new projects. I hope you've enjoyed following along!  Did you have a favorite painting from this year?

Hopefully I'll find some time to blog more soon--I miss it, but you all are keeping me busy with felting orders!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 51

I've had a great week! I'm still super busy getting local orders out for friends and family, but I'm down to just a few things to do and that feels so great.  Looking back at all I've made and accomplished in the past few months makes me really proud and ready grow this business of mine.  I've got some exciting things planned for the next few months, so stay tuned!

I'm sharing another pet portrait hoop this weekend.  This is a memorial piece.

Happy weekend to you, friends!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 50

I tried my very first pet portrait in a hoop.  I could not be more pleased with the results!! I will be offering these in my shop soon!!

I'm still finishing holiday orders, but the list is growing shorter--hooray!!  Also, in a few days, I'll be listing some animal hoops in my shop.  Keep an eye on my instagram or facebook to find out exactly when they'll be available!!

Happy weekend!!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 49

I had a wet felting extravaganza last week!  I have some beautiful rovings, and they were just begging to be wet felted.  So here are four pretty versions of a sunset.

I shared this photo on social media, but I want to share it here also.  These are before and after shots of each of these sunsets.  The left side is the loose wool, composed and layered, and the right side is after the painting is wet felted and dried.  Cool, right?

Enjoy your weekend friends!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 48

Sorry for the late post, friends.  The past two weeks have been the busiest ever for my shop.  In fact, the next three weeks will be just as busy, so expect to see me a little less than normal.  I'll probably only be posting my 52 Weeks of Felt Paintings projects.  Soooo...

I felted a new fox!  I think he's rad.

Last weekend was the Indie Emporium in Tulsa.  We had a GREAT time and sold lots of wool art.  I'll post a few pictures of that soon!

This Friday and Saturday, you'll find me in Fayetteville, Ar at The Little Craft Show.  It's my last show of the season (phew!) but I'm crazy excited about it! Come see us if you're in the area--It's gonna be fabulous!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 47

Birds are such a challenge to needle felt!  All those little feathers and spots can sometimes drive me crazy.  But all of that extra work makes the end result even sweeter.  I love this little quail!

Have a great weekend!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 46

I did another wet felted painting for this week and was reminded of how much I love the process.  The wool is layered and composed, dampened, and then rubbed with special tools (or not-so-special tools like bubble wrap) and soap to create a slick friction.  The friction makes the wool fibers felt together and stick together permanently, more or less. 

This piece reminds me so much of the Scottish highlands.  Scotland has been my very favorite place that my husband and I have traveled so far.  It's just so, so beautiful.  Also, whisky. I'm a big fan now after that trip...

Now I'm off to do more wet felting!  And have some whisky. Have a great weekend!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 45

Happy Sunday!  I took a break from making cutesy animals to try my hand at these toadstools.  I've actually felted some amanita mushrooms before, but I thought they would look beautiful in a hoop. 

I'm so happy with how this turned out!

I am already making a few smaller versions of this.  I'll put them in small, oval hoops. Contact me if you want one--they'll go fast!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 44

Whoa. It's November. That just doesn't seem right. But the cold weather has arrived here in southwest Missouri, so at least it feels like November.  Brrrr!

This week's painting was such a treat to make.  I work with owls in my zoo job, but I've never worked with a barn owl until recently.  His name is Silo, and he is such a neat bird. Here we are a week ago--he was my teaching assistant for preschool nocturnal animal programs.

Barn owls look so different from other owls, so I thought I'd try to felt one.  The painting turned out beautifully!

Thanks for looking!

P.S. Don't forget to set your clocks back tonight--enjoy that extra hour!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 43

I was brainstorming ideas for felt paintings back in September, thought of this one and bumped it to the top of the list.  I couldn't wait to make a hoop of a little mouse reaching for a juicy blackberry.  And why I pick the hardest friggin fruits to needle felt is beyond me, but I'm pretty proud of how this turned out.  In fact, I sold this felt painting at a show the day after I finished it (fist bump!)

Have a great weekend, friends!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 42

If you follow me on instagram (@begoodnatured), you might have seen this hoop already.  It was my husband's idea to felt a goldfish, and I thought it was genius.  Then six hours later, I never wanted to see another goldfish again. (Not really, but man this fish was not easy!)

I sold this hoop at recent show, but I'm open to custom orders!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 41

It's time to give an amphibian some felt painting love.  I couldn't resist this red-eye tree frog--they're so cute and colorful!

Have a great weekend!

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 40

Don't you think luna moths are beautiful?

I'll be listing my available hoops in my shop this week.  This moth will be one of them--if you're interested, let me know before I list it! 

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 39

This was my first reptile hoop (finished before the turtle last week).  I like this one so much. Somebody else really liked it too, because this one sold last weekend at Cider Days.

I think the next reptile hoop needs to be a T-Rex...yes?  I actually was looking for a T-Rex picture to use for reference a couple weeks ago, and I found that I wasn't satisfied with the quality of photos I was finding.  Then I had a moment....duh, Dani.  Photos of dinosaurs don't exist.  All of the images you're finding are artist renderings.

Geez.

So,  if you find a good reference image of a t-rex, something that you think might make a good needle felted hoop, send it my way, will ya? 

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 38

If you follow me on instagram or facebook, then you've seen this hoop.  I thought I'd go ahead and make it officially part of my 52 Weeks of Felt Paintings project.

You might also remember the post I wrote about this box turtle, and the many photos of him and his strawberry.  I just had to needle felt one!


So here's the hoop! 

It's a 12 inch hoop and took me over eight hours to complete.  Over eight hours!! For now, I've decided to keep him.  I don't keep anything that I make, and I'm so incredibly proud of this one, so he's going to stick around for a while.

52 Weeks of Felt Paintings - Week 37

This cute little chipmunk has been my largest hoop felt painting and most time intensive felt painting yet.  He took five hours to create! The most troublesome spots for me were his little chipmunk hands and those peanuts.  It was worth it though, because I really like the way he turned out! 

I included a close-up shot of his hands and peanuts so you can see that detail better.  Have a great weekend!