Your Art Inspired by Signs of Spring

   Enjoy the art inspired by Sara's image, Signs of Spring.

(The Inspiration Image is at the bottom of this post.)

Nelvia McGrath: Spring Blooms

Watercolor Sketch

@nelviamcgrath

I'm looking for a loose watercolor look, so I experimented with starting painting without an underdrawing.  I used large brushes and just went at producing an initial image of the bird and flowers.  I finished by adding a limited number of layers to give some additional definition.

Julie Brandt: Just Flowers and a Friend 

Oil on Canvas

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBeePaints

In response to Sara’s June Signs of Spring, I wanted to paint cone flowers floating with a swallowtail butterfly on a white background.
It was fun to paint!

Darlene Awalt: Signs of Summer 

Photographic Art

Instagram: @darlenesphotoart

I used my daisy photo as daises makes me happy, and I think happy thoughts of summer.   I remember pulling the petals and playing the game he loves me - he loves me not.  Then we would throw the seeds in the air, and however many landed on our hands would indicate how many babies we would have.  LOL.   (The picture is two images together.)  

Helen Eaton: Signs of Summer

5"x 7" Oil on Canvas

Blog: https://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/

One of my favorite signs of summer is seeing the little hummingbirds show up at our feeders.  I know there are many different kinds, but we only have the little green ruby-throated hummingbirds here in Northwest Arkansas.  I love hearing their little hmmmmm and seeing them dart in for drinks.

 

Lynn Hanousek: Pink Bloom

8x10 inch acrylic painting

Lynn Hanousek Designs

Earlier this month we were able to get away for the first time in 15 months for a much needed break. The change of scenery was refreshing. This painting was inspired by one of the photos I took of the beautiful flowers that were at the place where we stayed.

Nelvia McGrath: Blossoms

Graphite/Watercolor on 7"x 10" Mixed Media Paper, Sketchbook Drawing Practice

Instagram @nelviamcgrath

I love all the spring flowering trees we have in Georgia.  I'm continuing the practice of first doing a graphite drawing and then doing a painting process, adding that pop of color. Working on a flower multiple times helps me gain familiarity and get more comfortable.  I'm surprised by this stained paper effect that I got when I used a plastic dish drain mat which acted a bit like a resist to staining liquid.

Signs of Spring by Sara Harley

Spring is one of my favourite seasons, full of new beginnings and
the promise of wonderful things to come.

June 2021 - Inspiration Images

Sometimes looking at one of the Inspiration Images leads you in one direction, then reading the thoughts behind it takes you another.
Look at each one below.  Read the thoughts behind each one. 
Which one do you find yourself going back to?
What does it inspire you to create? 

 
Your may choose to do an oil painting, stained glass, colored pencil drawing,  needlework, woodwork, pen and ink, charcoal, photography, mixed media, poetry, watercolor... We love the diversity! 

Click HERE for instructions on how to submit your work.

We love seeing each work that is submitted, and we want YOUR art here with our art! Join us!

June Inspiration 1:Smoky Mountain Stream by Helen Eaton

Whether it's a river, creek, brook, or stream, I want to watch it for a while.  The person who wrote "Peace Like a River" must have felt the same way. There's something soothing to the soul about watching and listening to water trickle and tumble over stones.

June Inspiration 2: Signs of Spring by Sara Harley

Spring is one of my favourite seasons, full of new beginnings and
the promise of wonderful things to come.

Your Art Inspired by Little White Church

  Enjoy the art inspired by Sara's photograph, Little White Church. 

(The Inspiration Image is at the bottom of this post.)

Julie Brandt: Baptist Ford Church

Multi-media Collage

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBeePaints

I have always wanted to reimagine this sweet church that is nestled in the hills. 
This piece is constructed of printed papers cut to represent the picture with acrylic paint to enhance it.

Helen Eaton: Stone Chapel

Oil on Canvas, 8"x 10"

Social Media

A little stone chapel nestled on the edge of the woods...  It makes me wonder... How long ago was it built?  Who built it? Who worships there? How many couples have been married there? Does the stained glass make a lovely pattern across the pews when the sun shines through?

Inspiration Image:  Little White Church by Sara Harley

I have photographed churches for many years and am especially attracted to little white churches on back country roads. They always bring me peace and solace. There is something comforting about imagining all the stories that have passed through their doors over the years. Joyful celebrations, overwhelming grief, and everything in between, have been held in the hearts of the faithful.

Your Art Inspired by My Rooster, Bob

     Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, My Rooster, Bob.
(The Inspiration Image is at the bottom of this post.)

Nelvia McGrath: Ode to Bob

@nelviamcgrath

Sketch book watercolor, 10"x 7" 

Well, Bob started as a loose watercolor strutting his stuff.  Yep, got a little watery on slinging the spritz, but still it adds some drama and mystery as to “why the heck is that there?”

Anyway as is usually the case, he got a bit tighter toward the end.  But it was sure fun adding all those luscious colors.

AJ: Farm Friend
Yarn Scraps & Cotton Stuffing

I made some little animals for my girls. 
Piglet was theit favorite.

Deidre Townsend: Coco

Acrylic on Canvas

Helen mentions the sounds around her home and list birds and their sounds.  Around many homes, including mine, you hear dog sounds! Before I even get inside from the garage, I can hear my dogs clamoring to greet me at the door. My friend, Becky, is greeted by her dog, Coco, with barks and a near toothless smile. 

Jeanne King: The Beginning Is Now

Gouache and Acrylic Paint Pens

Helen’s rooster was so beautiful; I decided to use it to explore the use of gouache and paint pens for intense color and lots of texture and pattern. Just as Bob heralds each new day, Lisa Congdon’s quote reminds us that we have many chances to start anew.

Sara Harley: Celebration

Photographic Art

@saraharley.studio

This spring I have been watching a pair of starlings who have been busy building a nest in a hydro pole. I have photographed them coming and going, to-ing and fro-ing, watching the gradual creation of their home. The colourful feathers of Helen's rooster Bob, combined with a photograph of a starling with a long piece of grass, made me think of ribbons. I combined those thoughts with the joy of spring, and created Celebration, my version of a maypole dance.

Inspiration Image:  My Rooster, Bob by Helen Eaton

I love the way my home sounds. Cardinals, blue jays, finches, chickadees, wrens, robins, hawks, crows, mocking birds, whippoorwills… There’s a pair of owls that call out to each other. A red headed woodpecker beats his percussive addition to the cacophony.  Soon there will be the hum of hummingbirds as they’ll flit around their feeders.  In a few weeks there will be the tiny peeps of chicks under running around their clucking mama hen.  There are caws, peeps, twitters, tweets, hoots, clucks, hums, whistles, and then… there’s Bob… Er er-er er-errrr! All… the… time…

May 2021 - Inspiration Images

Welcome!  We hope you join us this month and see where your creativity will take you.

We've provided two new inspiration images.  Does one of them cause your imagination to stir? remind you of something? cause you to reflect? give you an idea? We look forward to seeing your art inspired by one of them! 

We would love to see YOUR art alongside ours this month! Make it with paint... or wood... or yarn... or fabric... or words... or a camera... or clay... pen and ink...  YES, your art will fit in perfectly!

May Inspiration 1: Little White Church by Sara Harley

I have photographed churches for many years and am especially attracted to little white churches on back country roads. They always bring me peace and solace. There is something comforting about imagining all the stories that have passed through their doors over the years. Joyful celebrations, overwhelming grief, and everything in between, have been held in the hearts of the faithful.

May Inspiration 2: My Rooster, Bob by Helen Eaton

I love the way my home sounds. Cardinals, blue jays, finches, chickadees, wrens, robins, hawks, crows, mocking birds, whippoorwills… There’s a pair of owls that call out to each other. A red headed woodpecker beats his percussive addition to the cacophony.  Soon there will be the hum of hummingbirds as they’ll flit around their feeders.  In a few weeks there will be the tiny peeps of chicks under running around their clucking mama hen.  There are caws, peeps, twitters, tweets, hoots, clucks, hums, whistles, and then… there’s Bob… Er er-er er-errrr! All… the… time…

 

Your Art Inspired by Dickson Street

    Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, Dickson Street

(The Inspiration Image is at the bottom of this post.)

Deidre Townsend: Venice, Where Else!

Oil on Canvas, 30"x 40"

Well, I finally finished it. It started as an inspiration from Helen’s Dickson Street (and a bit from my own Through the Storm). I think everyone can recognize scenes from Venice, even if you’ve never visited. It also started as an monochromatic abstract, but you can’t paint Venice without color, I’ve discovered. This will be a gift to my sweet next door neighbor who has helped me through the most difficult year of my life. I painted Venice for her because I felt it was a place she would love to go. Little did I know, that’s where she went on her honeymoon! I hope she loves it. Thanks for all the inspirations. It’s been fun, and well, inspirational! 

Deidre Townsend: Through the Storm

Acrylic Triptych on Canvas

Skyscrapers and concrete are part of a big city's personality.  Storms come through and wash the grime away leaving wet, glossy streets. The sun peeking through shines gold off the glass while people start to emerge to carry on about their day.  One lone umbrella gleams red in rebellion against all the gray and white of the streets.

Sara Harley: Bridgewater Reflections

Photograph

Instagram:saraharley.studio

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia is a town of approximately 9000 people. Like many small towns, the downtown has seen better days. Most people have changed their shopping habits, making malls their primary choice. There have been subtle changes over the past few years and our downtown is improving. The most striking feature of our town is the LaHave River running through it, a tidal river that flows to the Atlantic Ocean. I walk along the river every day enjoying the cry of the seagulls, the sight of the occasional seal, and the ever changing reflections of our downtown.

Inspiration Image:  Dickson Street by Helen Eaton

It seems like most towns have their special places that give them personality… the landmark where everybody has their pictures made, the street for the parade route, the square where the farmers’ market sets up or rallies take place, the restaurant that always has a long wait list, the old homes in the historic district, or the building whose silhouette appears on the city logo.

Dickson Street is my city’s colorful strip of activity.

Your Art Inspired by Here Comes the Sun

    Enjoy the art inspired by Sara's photograph, Here Comes the Sun. 

(The Inspiration Image is at the bottom of this post.)

Deidre Townsend: There Goes the Sun

Oil on Canvas Board

Sara talked about how spectacular a sunrise is.  I'm more of a night person, so I don't see as many sunrises as I do sunsets.  I do agree with her about looking at the right moment so you don't miss something incredible.  I have dozens of pictures of sunsets from my childhood home in Louisiana.  The bayou makes a beautiful setting for a spectacular sunset almost every night.  Capturing it on canvas enables me to keep it even though I don't get to see it often anymore.

Jeanne King: Good Day, Sunshine

Acrylic Pens on Rock

There is no happier image than a smiling sun, and I’m looking for happiness these days! 

Julie Brandt: Summer Sun and Water

Acrylic on Canvas Board, 4"x 4"

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBeePaints

Here are my twin oceanside paintings. Being by the water, and type of water, gives me peace and joy.  I guess that means I am a water sign.  

Lynn Hanousek: April Sunrise

5x60 inch scarf from leftover yarn

Facebook: Lynn Hanousek Designs

Who would knit a scarf to use in April one might ask? Spring is here, the weather is warmer. I started knitting this project to see if I could use up some leftover yarn. It's simply knit one, purl one and it seemed to work, so I kept on going bringing all of the colors randomly together like a beautiful sunrise. It's finished now and it is so cold and windy out today, a day so close to the end of April, that I’ll wear it when I go out later.

 

Helen Eaton: Sunrise Ablaze

Mixed Media Collage

https://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/

I discovered that Sara's gorgeous fire-y sunrise was only one of many when I clicked over to her blog.  She had taken a photo from her kitchen window on 25 different mornings.  Each was exactly the same... and completely different.  I noticed that one of them showed a small cottage in the trees.  I'd add that cottage to my collage. 
(If you're wondering, yes... I did stress a lot over it looking like my cottage was on fire instead of the sun rising behind it.  In the end, I embraced the issue by giving the piece a fire-y title.)

Inspiration Image:  Here Comes the Sun by Sara Harley

Every morning I stand at my kitchen window and look at a masterpiece. Each day is unique and sometimes if you don't look at just the right moment, you'll miss something spectacular. The simple beauty of a sunrise is a gift, and a wonderful way to start a day.