Lizards are Lovely

Illustration Friday
(theme: "SLITHER")

I've always been fascinated by lizards, especially the part where they would lose their tails when said tail was grabbed by a cat. With lots of lizards and cats in the neighborhood while growing up in Southern California, there were always plenty of tailless lizards slithering around...!

This watercolor painting is from the files and is called "Twig Lizard"--he was quite certain that I couldn't see him as he held very still and blended in so beautifully with the surrounding twigs.

My fondness for lizards grew considerably when my then-16-year-old son acquired a Bearded Dragon lizard named Ziggy. I was surprised by how lovely it was to hold a lizard in ones hands.

Here is a favorite photo of a tiny baby alligator lizard that was found sunning itself on my car tire, just as sweet as he/she could be!

Thanks for visiting!

Wild Iris Study

I am waiting with great anticipation for the blooming of the woodlands here in the Coastal Hills of Oregon--skunk cabbage, trillium, and wild iris are just around the corner! With the mild winter we are having, I wonder if they will bloom early this year

...One more beautiful reason to take good care of our wetlands and forests here in the Pacific Northwest!

This original watercolor painting is a small study of some blooms I photographed last spring. It is currently for sale in my Etsy shop: Wild Iris Study

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Wilderness

Illustration Friday (theme: "wilderness")

Another one from the files...This watercolor painting was inspired by the Grand Canyon Phantom Ranch mule train, heading up the Kaibab Trail as I was heading down a few years ago. The mule train is the only form of transportation down to the ranch (other than your own two feet), located at the bottom of the canyon near the Colorado River. These faithful and reliable beasts of burden carry everything that goes in and out of the ranch--linens, food, supplies, mail, and garbage. Thanks to them, hundreds of visitors get to enjoy a little taste of the wilderness each year with a warm meal and a soft bed waiting for them at the bottom, one mile straight down in world's most magnificent canyon!

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Illustration Friday..."Hollow"

Illustration Friday (theme: "hollow")

What a pleasure to spot this handsome fellow as he hopped along a hollow log in search of bugs and grubs just two days before spring, signaling the end of a particularly chilly winter...
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Hooray! I'm excited to announce that this original watercolor painting has just found a new home with a lovely Oregon art collector.

Illustration Friday: Cloud Drifting

Illustration
Friday
(theme:
"drifting" )














Summer is a lovely time to climb to a dreamy mountain lake filled with clouds--upside-down and drifting in tandem with those in the perfect blue sky above.

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"Drift With The Clouds" is an illustration from my Mother Nature Series. These designs are available on an assortment of Nature Lover clothing and gifts at my Cafepress Shop: www.cafepress.com/SusanFayeNature

Orange Tulip

Alas, the tulips are gone now, but I have plenty of photos to remember them by, and some will hopefully become the subject of paintings over the next year.

This little orange tulip was an experiment with using watercolors on clayboard. It was my 3rd or 4th attempt and it takes a little getting used to, as the paint moves around differently than on paper. The advantage is that it does not need to be framed under glass!

I'm happy to report that my experiment was a success, as this painting has made its way to a new home, thanks to Hidden Treasures Gallery in McMinnville, Oregon.

Look at these beauties! These were some specialty tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in April. I feel a painting coming on....

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Goldfinch Invasion

I'm happy to report that my watercolor painting called "Delicate By Nature" has flown the coop and landed in a lovely home in Portland, Oregon! It features a pair of American Goldfinches enjoying a spring day. On the same day that the sale was confirmed, a little goldfinch flew into the Lawrence Gallery and Margot was able to rescue it and hold it in her hands for a few moments before she set it free.

Dave and I have been enjoying a record number of goldfinches at the feeders. Dave found this wonderful rock with many holes at the coast and it makes a perfect goldfinch feeder--some holes are filled with water, and others are filled with nyjer seed.

Aren't these birds just the prettiest little things?

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This limited edition print is a giclee reproduction of another watercolor painting of mine called "Such a Pretty Day". Prints may be purchased at my Etsy online shop:

GOLDFINCH LIMITED EDITION PRINT

Vote for Tamayo {{{Pretty Please}}}

My handsome cat nephew Tamayo is famous!

Etsy.com has chosen his handsome mug for their weekly poll featuring Pet Items this week. Please vote for him at http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=44 (he is the Custom Cat Portrait item). If you aren't already a member of Etsy, it's easy to sign up! Voting ends early Monday morning...

You'll notice that Tamayo is extra special, because he is an Odd-Eyed Cat (one blue eye, one green)!

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I'M SO GLAD IT'S SPRING...

...and boy, am I glad! The daffodils are blooming, the tulips aren't far behind, and all of our feathered friends are finding their way back to our bird feeders after their winter vacation in sunnier climes....

"I'm So Glad It's Spring" is the title of this watercolor painting of a White-Crowned Sparrow , and I'm happy to report that the painting is currently winging its way to its new home Missoula, Montana, having just sold yesterday at Lawrence Gallery Sheridan (thank you Margot!). To celebrate, there will be extra suet for all this week, maybe the fancy peanut delight kind...

Thanks for visiting!


"I'm So Glad It's Spring" is also available as a limited edition print at my Etsy Shop.

Each print is personally signed and numbered by me, and is printed on Epson 100 percent cotton rag acid-free art paper with archival quality inks using a "giclee" (ink-jet) process. The image itself measures 9-1/2" x 12-1/2" and is matted in white, ready to frame in a standard 16" x 20" frame. The edition is limited to 200 prints.

Illustation Friday: Legendary

For at least 700 years, the legendary Havasupai Native Americans have lived along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Imagine generation after generation telling and re-telling their fireside legends about Raven and Bear.

The Havasupai call themselves the “people of the blue-green water”. This raven is halfway down the trail that goes to the canyon floor, and if you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of the blue-green glint of the mighty and timeless river below...

Thanks for visiting!

This Grand Canyon Raven image is available on clothing and gifts at my Cafepress Shop: www.cafepress.com/SusanFayeNature

Illustration Friday is a wonderful website that presents a different theme each week, then encourages illustrators to submit an illustration about that theme.

IF: Intricate

My entry for Illustration Friday is a watercolor study of a little song sparrow that I painted last year.

I love the INTRICATE pattern of banding that he had on this throat and chest...it was a fun challenge to paint. He had a favorite fence post and would appear every late afternoon and serenade us with his beautiful song after eating his fill of seeds spilled on the ground by the feeder birds.

I just put this painting up for sale in my Etsy Shop:

Song Sparrow Watercolor

Illustration Friday is a wonderful website that presents a different theme each week, then encourages illustrators to submit an illustration about that theme.

Enjoy!

Featured Art : "DEW-KISSED"

I'm pleased to announce that my fine art watercolor paintings are now represented by Lawrence Gallery, Oregon. This painting, entitled "Dew-Kissed" is included in the current collection.

The painting was inspired by a trip last fall to the Portland International Rose Test Garden, where hundreds of different rose specimens were still in their full glory.

If you would like to see more of my artwork that is currently exhibited at the gallery, click on this link: Susan Faye at the Lawrence Gallery

To find out more about this beautiful rose garden (admission is free!) visit Portland Rose Garden.

Thanks for visiting!

TUXEDO CAT Treasury on Etsy

I'm very pleased to have been included in a special Treasury on Etsy which you can view for the next few days at: HOLIDAY TUXEDO CATS.

It features the creations of 12 different Etsy artists who have interpreted the "Tuxedo" Cat (also called Cow Cats, Holstein Cats, and Oreo Cats) in many whimsical and festive ways...

The collection was put together by a wonderful jewelry artist on Etsy who I daresay must also be a cat lover; to see her creations, click this link: WINDANCER JEWELRY

I am currently working on a number of "Custom Cat Lady" portraits--one is going all the way overseas to Great Britain! They make a great gift for any Crazy Cat Lady or Lad (I don't discriminate-- I also do portraits of Men and their pets...). For examples and pricing, please visit my Etsy website at: www.SusanFaye.Etsy.com

Thanks for visiting!

NEW! Custom Cat Lady Portraits for Holiday Giving

The PURRfect gift for any Cat Lover! I will paint an original, whimsical CUSTOM watercolor painting of your favorite Cat Lady and one or more cats or kittens of your choice! There are several sizes and formats available including ACEO miniature portraits, and 16" x 20" matted paintings, ready for framing.

Here's how it works:

Visit www.susanfaye.etsy.com and select the size and type of portrait you would like. Then send an email with custom details including: cat lady's hair color and style, skin tone (ie ivory, cinnamon, deep brown), description of each cat or kitten(color, markings, short or long hair, etc). If you'd like, send me several good, clear photos of both subjects. Also let me know your favorite colors for the background and the cat lady's shirt.

When the painting is completed, I will send you an image for your approval. If there need to be any changes, let me know. Once you approve and item is paid for in full, I will ship your item via Priority Mail. Average turnaround time is two to three weeks.

You will be the owner of an original watercolor painting, however, please keep in mind that I retain the copyright and reproduction rights to all of the images I create. It may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission from me. I reserve the right to use the image on my line of Cat Lady giftware which is available on www.CafePress.com/Susan Faye.

I look forward to creating a one-of-a-kind gift for you. Thanks for visiting!

Featured Paintings: TULIP TREASURES

Autumn is just around the corner and I realize it's time to order tulip and daffodil bulbs. These three original watercolor paintings are #1, 2 and 3 from my "Tulip Treasures" series. Each is a study of the elegant and luscious colors and forms of various spring tulip blossoms.


Each is painted on Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Paper with professional high quality watercolor paints. The image is 10" x 14" and is double matted in a white mat with a black inside border in a standard 16" by 20" size, ready for framing.

All three paintings are for sale on my Etsy site : www.SusanFaye.etsy.com

Thanks for visiting!

Featured Painting:: "HOLDING VERY STILL"

This original watercolor painting is called "Holding Very Still". It was inspired by a little cottontail spotted at the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park in Southern California. The wilderness preserve is located in the foothills north of Claremont, California, and is a great place for mountain biking and hiking...more information at this link: Claremont Hills Wilderness Park

It is painted on Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Paper with professional quality Grumbacher watercolor paints. The image is 14 x 20" and is matted in off-white in a standard 22" by 28" size, ready for framing.

This painting is up for auction on ebay this week; the auction ends March 20 at 8:13 a.m. PST. Bidding starts at $200; click here to view auction: "Holding Very Still" Auction.

Thanks for visiting!

Featured Painting: "COURTSHIP"

This original watercolor painting is called "Courtship". It was inspired several springs ago when unusually torrential rains brought a carpet of blooms to the Anza-Borrego Desert in Southern California. In the middle of what is mostly a barren desert, the air was abuzz with bees. The cactus were wooing their prospective pollen bearers with a glorious display of showy blossoms...

It is painted on Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Paper with professional quality Grumbacher watercolor paints. The image is 14 x 20" and is matted in off-white in a standard 22" by 28" size, ready for framing.

For more information on the spring wildflowers at Anza Borrego (at their peak over the next several weeks) visit this link: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638

This painting is up for auction on ebay this week; the auction ends March 1 at 10:46 am PST.