ILYS

This is a Christmas card I just completed for my mother inspired by a story she had written a few years back. It is a beautiful story about Christmas and what it really means. Not loosing hope. I did another painting of this story two years ago called, "THE BELLS WILL SOUND" Anyway, I hope you like it and the story. I posted a little portion of mother's story below.

This original was done with sepia watercolors and gesso on Arches 140lb hot press paper. It measures 5 x 7 inches.

"After what seemed like forever, she looked for a place to rest. There was a clearing below; however, not having ever ventured this far from Gogalea, she was afraid to be in the open, so she searched further and soon found a grove of cranberry trees – a perfect sanctuary and sure to be a source of nourishment for her journey. Hungry, tired and feeling very much alone, Ilys went from branch to branch among the cranberry trees, looking for just the right berry ripe enough to eat. Frost covered cranberries were the tastiest and being very good at berry-picking, she soon found the best one, then flew to a nearby moss covered rock to enjoy her breakfast. She thought filling her stomach would take away the deep sadness she felt, however, it only made her feel worse." ~S.B.

Nadine at 7 months.

I had another wonderful day today in the studio. I will certainly be posting more art in the next few days but in the meantime here is a picture that I took yesterday of my lovely Nadine at 7 months. I am looking so forward to the arrival of Baby Brownie but I just love soaking in all the beauty that I see in my wife being with child. She has such a glow about her and I still get goosebumps when I'm with her.

I hope you are all doing well.

~James

SNOWFLAKE

The Winter season is just about to arrive. A season of rest and deep thought. One thing that I have always loved about Winter is the snowfall. It is truly enchanting and full of magic. Have you ever listened to the snow as it falls? There is nothing like it and I dedicate this painting to the wonder of Winter. It is called, "Snowflake". I don't have a story for it just yet, but feel free to share your thoughts if you'd like.

This painting was created using watercolors and gesso on Arches 140lb hot press paper. It measures 8x11 inches.

One other note, I would like to thank the beautiful, Jessica, for modeling as the Snowflake Fairy. You can find her here.

May your day be a blessing and may you be a blessing to your day.

~James

THE LETTER

THE STORY:
"There was a special strength in the woman's heart as she reflected upon her late husband. Love boundless beyond this world she thought as she penned a love letter from the heart."...~JB

MY THOUGHTS:
I've had this image in mind for some time now and I finally saw it clearly enough to illustrate it. It's about losing your soul mate and the heart aching moments and memories that come with it. The longing to be one again. I believe that true love never dies it just changes as do the seasons and sometimes it ends physically but it's memories live on in our hearts. This painting is not meant to be hopeless, but rather the opposite, hopeful. There is a reason for love and it is why we were made.

THE MEANS:
This painting first started as a sketch on very light canson pastel paper using conte' blocks and sepia colored pencil but I really didn't like the texture so I decided to continue reworking it adding, watercolor, sepia ink and gesso. I was able to save it and it became a two day journey creating it. So I would call it a mixed media sepia painting on a very thin piece of paper. It measures 9x12 inches.

BABY FAE

Today, I was able to spend some quality time in the studio and I am so glad to be back in my peaceful place. I created another little painting this afternoon and I have a feeling I'll be painting a lot of this subject when our little baby brownie arrives. This painting measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 as was painted using watercolors.

Naddy-Pa-Taddy

This is a little painting that I did this afternoon that measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. I painted it for my lovely wife, Nadine, who is with child. I couldn't be more excited about the real baby brownie that is on it's way.

Nadine, hasn't seen it yet but I will surprise her when she gets home from work.This is a little painting that I did this afternoon that measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. I painted it for my lovely wife, Nadine, who is with child. I couldn't be more excited about the real baby brownie that is on it's way.

Nadine, hasn't seen it yet but I will surprise her when she gets home from work.

Be well,

James

Pumpkinheads

Today, I spent the day in the studio painting pumpkinheads. It has been a while since I've been able to get some time to paint because of house renovations and it was really nice to be creating again. I had a fun time painting these two pumpkin people. I used a sepia colored pencil along with watercolor on both of these paintings that measure 4x6 inches.

Well, that is all for now. I hope you are doing well and that you enjoy the day your in.

With inspiration, James

Inspired.....

Well, it has been quite some time since I last posted here. I've been missing being in the studio because I've been so busy working on house renovations and doing art shows. My show season is now finished and the house is coming together and yes, I was able to get into the studio today. I did a sketch inspired by "A Midsummer's Night Dream". It focuses on Titania and Puck. Hope you like it!

A study of the lovely Julia

Hello Everyone,

It's been a while since I last posted here. I've been very busy on a new book about a little butterfly, a few new commissions and the show season has gotten well on it's way. In the meantime, I am still trying to put some time aside to create some of my own ideas for paintings and here is one that I would like to share.

This is a pencil study of the lovely Julia. She is a beautiful friend and you can see her work here. She is a great photographer, too.

The original measures 9x12 inches. I will be painting Julia sometime in the near future.

Well, that is all for now. This weekend I will be up in New York doing a show.

God Bless,

James

The Selkie

There is a tale about a lovely seal that shed her skin as she came upon the shore. She transformed into a beautiful woman and became a delight to the eyes of fishermen in those parts. One day a man took her seal skin as she was bathing in the shallow waters and she soon became the wife of the lonely fisherman. She spent her days as a good and loyal companion to the man until one day she found her skin and she returned to the sea as seal once again.

For this was her destiny, to fill the heart of a lonely man with love and service until she was called back to the sea.

This original was created using watercolors on Arches 140lb cold press paper. It measures 5 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches.

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

I had another wonderful day in the studio again. I'm working on some new larger works, but in the mean time I did another drawing. I really like the way this one turned out. It is called "Peter Pan & Tinkerbell".


Peter discovers his friend of destiny. The journey that they would share would be truly magical.

This original was made with graphite on mat board and measures 5x7 inches. The original is available HERE.

That's all for now. It was a Spring like day today. It sure feels good to feel the warmth of the sun.

~James

Aiken the faun.

This is a drawing that I did today of a faun. His name is Aiken and he continues to play his pipes. He has seen a lot in his time but he finds joy in the music....can you hear him playing?

This original was created using graphite on mat board and measures 5x7 inches. It is available HERE for purchase in case you are interested.

God Bless,

James

NEW Baby Brownie available on Ebay!

Hello Everyone!

I just put a new "Baby Brownie" ACEO up for auction on Ebay. It is a cute little painting and I hope you like it. If you are interested in this little original you can find it HERE. The opening bid is $24.95. Have a wonderful weekend!

The Gift

It was not the gift of the gold coin that touched the leprechaun's heart but the symbol that was engraved upon it. The fairy spoke of its meaning and all of his days of luck and gold no longer had any meaning to him, it was the fairy's gift that filled this leprechaun's heart with joy.

This original was painting using watercolor on Arches hot press paper. It measures 4x6 inches. Prints of it are available here.

I had another good day in the studio and I'm looking forward to getting started on a new painting tomorrow. That's all for now. Have a great day!

A nice weekend and more originals!

I had a show this past weekend and it was great to be out there showing my work again. I wanted to thank all those who came out and for all your kind words about my paintings. It is inspiring and I am truly blessed to be doing what I'm doing. I'm looking forward to the rest of the art shows this year.

Today, I created some more small originals, aka "Baby Brownies". The one pictured below is one of my favorite, it is titled, "Protector". The other "Baby Brownie" originals are available here.

The weather was beautiful once again today and I can feel the Spring just around the corner....I can't wait!

Talk to you soon, James

Baby Brownies are back!

This morning I created a little painting in the early hours. I call these little paintings, "Baby Brownies" and they are so much to do. Knowing that I only had a little time in the studio today I decided to start doing them again. They are also known as ACEOs. There is more information about these paintings on here. This little Bunny original is available for $35. I hope you like it.

That is all for today. Have a special and inspiring day.

James

Winter Refuge

Seeking refuge were the four fae. Their home destroyed by the season's last storm. To the loving owl they flew where they found shelter in his warm feathers.

This original watercolor measures 8x10 inches. I had started this painting before Christmas and I spent the last two days finishing it up. I really like the way that it turned out. Since the snow is still here, I can't help but continue to paint snowy scenes. God Bless.

Irene

Irene was lost, not a friend in sight. The night was setting in and the little humble faery perched upon an iris. She prayed for help and called out, "Show me the way I am meant to go!".A faint voice rustled in the wind or no, was it a voice inside her heart. The voice said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light". At that moment she feared no more and she knew just who it was who spoke to her.

Irene was no longer alone and she was led by the Light that was in her heart.

This was my painting for today, I hope you like it. It measures 6x6 inches and was painted using indigo blue, gesso and graphite.

LORIC'S CALLING

Today's painting is called "Loric's Calling". Loric is a character from another one of paintings, "Winterstock". He is a caring gnome who spends his days storing up food for the little forest folk that pass by his tree. He is also know to give them shelter on some of the very cold days of Winter. Where there is a need, Loric is there to offer his help. Having compassion for others is a beautiful thing and well....Loric is a great example of this.

This original measures 6x6 inches and is available here . It was painted using watercolors.

I had another wonderful day in the studio today. I am so inspired. That's all for now.

~ James

TINY TASHA

Hello again everyone!

I had a most wonderful day painting again in the studio. I can't express enough how nice it is to be back and painting daily. I tried something a little different today. I decided to create a painting using a very limited palette. I used graphite, gesso and indigo blue watercolor. It was so much fun and I am certainly going to try this again. Todays painting is titled, "Tiny Tasha", and she is a brave little soul, I must say. I hope you like it. The original is 5x6 inches and is available here if anyone is interested.

It's funny, I've been getting up at 5am the last three mornings to do a painting a day and Little Daisy Dukes, our new bassett pup, is so confused where she is supposed to go after eating her breakfast so early, either lie in bed with her mommy for one more hour or go to the studio with her daddy....and well, she seems to be rooting me on in the studio. She is such cutie pie. Below is a picture of her.

Well, that is all for today. Have a wonderful day folks! James

NEW LIFE

I have been longing for Spring for the past few weeks. It is always such a time of renewal. I love when the birds sing their song and the buds start to sprout. The colors slowly spring up everywhere and new life is all around to be seen. Breathe it all in....it is not too far off.

Nadine and I have been working on our house for the last 4 months. We have a beautiful new kitchen and there are three other rooms that we done in the near future. I have enjoyed getting back into my studio the past couple of days and I am so excited about painting.

Here is today's painting. It is called "New Life". The original is available if anyone is interested
here .

Okay, that is all for now. God Bless, James

Back to "A Painting a Day"

Well, it's been a while since I last posted a painting and I thought I would start up again by starting a new daily habit and that is to do a painting a day. I've been away from my work for nearly three months now due to being busy with huge construction going on in our home and well, just a little break. This was certainly the longest that I have ever gone without creating something but hey, I've gotten real good with carpentry, building, tearing walls down, house painting, tiling, and the list goes on.

I woke up this morning at 5am and started on my new "painting a day" journey. This is the first of many (I hope) and I hope you like it. It is titled "Union Shepherd" and it measures 5 1/2 x 6 inches and was painted using watercolors.

These "A Painting a Day" paintings will be available on my website.

That's all for now. I will be posting more....

James