Paintings in Progress

 

It’s been awhile since I have sent out a blog post.  I have been trying my hand at some new marketing ideas.  If anyone has any good ideas about using online sources to show your work, let me know.  It’s all so foreign to me.

I’ve started a newsletter.  I’m trying to get a feel for the difference between a blog and a newsletter.  I think a blog is more like a journal of my thoughts and activites in Art.  A newsletter is a place where I can have events or contests with my art.  I also will advertise my new paintings and give sale prices for some of my art work and prints. I will give updates on paintings in progress and video’s. If anyone has some fun ideas, let me know about them at Lytlebitartistic@gmail.com.  I started an event on my newsletter this last month where my subscribers could send me photo memories that are special to them.  I chose a photo from those and now  I am going to start on the painting next week.  The person who sent in the photo will receive the original back from me – No Charge- A FREE PAINTING with FREE SHIPPING!

I didn’t get a lot of  response from people with their photos so I’m not sure if that is something that people want me to continue to do from time to time.  Let me know about your thoughts on that.

I am trying to paint everyday, it is my top challenge.  Life is so busy.  I was going to paint all day yesterday and then I hit a piece of metal on the side of the road and POP! went my tire.  So I spent the morning at Les Swab!  At least I got some free popcorn out of it.

Well enough talking.  Here is what I have been working on recently –

 

570 pixels -Mexican Sun - watercolor -e by Carol Lytle_edited-1

This is a Watercolor I did of some of my memories in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.  The vase was sitting next to my bed.  Everything is so colorful in Mexico.  On the wall you see a ceramic sun face.  I wanted him to look more real so I animated his face.  You can see Bougainvillea everywhere in Mexico, hence the Bougainvillea in the vase.  I haven’t named the painting yet so if you have any ideas, I’m open to suggestions.  It is on 11″x15″ sheet of arches watercolor.

570 pixels - Still Life - grapes- oranges - Online workshop  I have been painting with my son once a week or so.  It has been a great bonding time for us.  He is actually very good.  He seems to have an eye for the process.  This painting still has some more work to do.  Not quite finished.

I got online and ordered a workshop to learn from.  I thought it was a good deal.  I like the class.  The instructor even told us that we can sell our paintings and don’t even need to say it’s from his workshop.  That’s good marketing.  I decided that I will try and sell them but for a low price.   This is a 8×10 and I will sell it for $40.  plus shipping.   My subscribers get 20% off of that so it would be $32.

 

570 pixels -Still LIfe - Pear - onlne workshopThis is #2 painting in the online series.  I have just started it.  I have a long way to go before it’s finished.  It is an 8×10 Oil on Canvas.  It will also be for sale for $40 or $32 for subscribers.

570 pixels - Eagle Valley Nevada - Beginning of a horse race

This is a 24×12 inch Oil on canvas that I have begun.   This is an old picture from my  father-in-law.  It took place around 1900.  He grew up in Rose Valley, Nevada.  The next valley over was Eagle Valley.  They had annual horse races on the 4th of July  down the main street in the town.  I think they only have two streets.  One of the racers was Roy Lytle, the Great Uncle of my Father-in-law Farrel Lytle.  It always amazes me that people live out there in the middle of nowhere.  It is a beautiful place in the high Nevada hills

 

570 pixels - Mom and Dad on bikefix_edited-1

This is a watercolor that I just started of my Mom and Dad.  My Mom was born in 1927 and my Dad was born in 1928.  That will give you an idea of the time frame.  I love this picture of them.  My mom was really easy to capture but Im having a hard time with my Dad.  Especially his mouth.  I’m determined!!! Im not giving up.  Stay tuned for the progress

570 pixels -beginning of Children on the Beach - Zihuatanejo

This is a  watercolor painting I just started.   My husband and I were strolling on the beach at dusk in Zihuatanejo.  We were enjoying the colors of the evening playing on the water as well as families playing in the  mild surf.

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Woodland Fairy Series

I have completed five of my “Woodland Fairy Series” and thought I would present them all together. I even got one order to do a Fairy for someone else. It was fun to work on them and I may add to the series from time to time. Here they are:

570 pixels - - Fairy, Hyacynth, Toad Lady Bug _edited-1 copy 2  # 1  -” The Frog, The Fairy and the Hydrangea”

I was walking along a stream in the woods with two of my Granddaughters. The Ferns and trickling water over rocks got me thinking of Fairies and little woodland people. I had the desire to paint a fantasy painting with my Grandchildren in it. Fairies came to my mind. I went through some of my pictures and have come up with five paintings I want to paint using my Grandchildren as models. This is #1. I will be painting the others soon. It was really fun doing this painting. I look forward to working on the others.   I have completed five of my “Woodland Fairy Series” and thought I would present them all together. I even got one order to do a Fairy for someone else. It was fun to work on them and I may add to the series from time to time. Here they are.Beginning of our Fairy Series -Summer of 2016FrogOur Walk in the Woods!- Beginning of our Fairy Series

The pictures above are some of the things that inspired my paintings. These are two of my sweet Granddaughters, and it all began on a summer day when Grandma (me) Lana and Locklyn went for a walk in the woods:)

 

#2 –  “Fairy in the Woods –

570 Pixels - Fairy in the Woods - Locklyn copy

Here it is! My Second Watercolor Painting in my Woodland Fairy Series. This is my sweet Granddaughter climbing on a mossy rock as we journey through the woods to see what we can find. I tell them about the Wild Blackberries,Salmon Berries, Thimble berries, Black Caps and Huckleberries that we might be able to munch on on our journey. I warn them about eating anything red or things that they are uncertain about. I tell them to stay away from the mushrooms in the forest and tell them never to eat them and why. My oldest Granddaughter is already off to the nearby stream to toss her wood boat in to see where the currant will take it.

 

#3 –  “The Things You See in Grandma’s Garden”570 pixles -of Fairy - Ande and the Hummingbird_edited-1 copy 3

It is always an adventure going out into my Grandparents garden. You never know what you will see amongst the greenery, bushes, vines, flowers and vegetable garden . As you peek through the hanging vines you might see baby raccoons hanging from the raspberry bushes eating to their hearts content. Looking up in the trees you often find fat cheeked squirrel’s busily munching from the bird feeder as the birds wait patiently to have their fill. The frogs in Grandma’s pond sing a beautiful melody while the Hummingbirds flit here and there taking their fill of nectar from the flowers and vines that grow all along the house. If you look close enough and are lucky enough you may run into the woodland fairies that stop from time to time to visit my Grandparents house and collect their fill of the blueberries, grapes and cherries that grow in abundance in the early summer.

 

#4 – “Washing Up!”

570 pixels - Woodland Fairy Series #4 - Freshening Up

I just finished #4 of my “Woodland Fairy Series.” Our family has a favorite place that we go in the Cascade Mountains. My Grandchildren think I am funny when I lay flat on the ground by the stream to get these kind of pictures. They even like it better when I use them as my models for my fairies. As a young girl, I would imagine my own little secret worlds as I would explore the creek beds around my home.

 

#5 – “Prince of The Trumpet Vines”

570 pixels - Fairy #5 - Woodland Fairy Series - Prince of the Trumpet Vines- full pixels -jpg_edited-1 copy

This is #5 of my Woodland Fairy Series. It is painted on Arches 11.5×15 watercolor paper. It is called “Prince of the Trumpet Vines”. This fairy is full of life and Trumpet vines definitely fit his character. We definitely know when he is around with the sounds of Trumpet blowing all through the Woodlands. He keeps all the Lytle Fairies on the go with his rough tumble play and love for exploration. Watch out world, here he comes!

 

Paintings in Process –

 

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In my next blog, I will be introducing a new series along with an invitation to participate in my upcoming paintings.  Keep your eyes out!  Until next time:)

Zihuatanejo, Mexico

570 pixels - Zihuatanejo - photo.jpgMy husband and I got back from a lovely trip to Mexico.  We had never been to Zihuatanejo  and we heard good things about it so we got online and looked for a place to stay.  We didn’t want to stay in Ixtapa which is right next to Zihuatanejo.  It has the big hotels.  We wanted to stay in the town area.  We are so glad we did.  The place we stayed at  was charming and the view was amazing.   This is the view.  I got to practice my spanish and enjoyed our evening strolls down the fishermans path that edges the town.

I have many pictures I want to paint of the area.  I have something new I want to begin.  I am going to set up a subscribers page on my website that will be linked to my Facebook and Instagram.  Subscribers will be able to get a sneak peak of my paintings that are coming up and can view some of the process pictures.  I’m even taking a video class so I can download videos of my art set in quick mode.  My subscribers will also get an additional 10% off on any Original painting or Giclee Print that they buy.  As soon as I get this set up I will let you know on my Instagram, Facebook,my website Lytlebitartistic.com and my Blog

 

Here is my 12×12 Oil on Canvas of my Turtle Pot at Zihuatanejo.  It is on sale for $200 if you are interested:)    Until next time.

570 pixels - fixed -Zihuatanejo Turtle - Oil on Canvas - 12x12 - box canvasOfficial one - outside picture   copy_edited-1.jpg

Ready For Winter -Squirrel

570-pixels-all-ready-for-winter-squirrel

My Squirrel is ready for the Winter and he is done being painted. He will shortly fine his way to my Esty Shop were he may be viewed in many different sizes.

I am starting a new painting tomorrow so come visit me soon to see what will make its way to my arches watercolor paper.

Squirrel in my backyard tree

570-pixels-squirrel-in-a-tree

This little guy was up in my backyard tree. I love animals and especially big fat fluffy squirrels. It’s Fall again and those squirrels that have been running all around hiding nuts are going to enjoy their hidden treasures. I’m not quite done with this painting. I feel like it still needs something. Anybody have any suggestions?

Looking at the Stars – Cascade Mt. Range

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Sept 13,2016-

While I was up at the cabin in the Cascade Mountain Range about a week ago, I had some extra time to paint. I finished my Fairy watercolor painting and then I started experimenting with different paints to come up with a painting I had thought about doing the night before.

The night before I was laying in my bed at my in-law cabin that is up in the Cascade Mountains in Washington. The bed is right next to a big picture window. As I looked up into the night sky, I got lost in a world of stars. I could see the Silhouette of the Evergreen Trees shooting up to the sky with the Milky Way and Big Dipper in the Background. The light given off from the stars made the lake below glow. It was beautiful and I wanted to see if I could capture it. I wanted to paint it from a third person view.

I use a lot of staining watercolors and played around for awhile. I then took some dark acrylic to help make the Evergreens stand out more.

 

I also had a thought when I was painting that Life is a lot like painting.

I was meditating and thought about all the layers I was putting on my painting and not knowing quite how things would turn out, But I kept going because I was curious and I wanted to see how the staining paints worked with each other. There was a lot of trial and error and a step by step process.

I thought that was a lot like life, you never know what will happen unless you try. I think it is funny that I always have this big urge to paint, but when it gets right down to having to sit down and do it, I have to push myself. Once I start, I take off and things begin to happen. Some surprising, some expected and some not so good things. You would be surprised what you can problem solve to fix a watercolor painting. The Painting may not turn out as I planned, but it works out sometimes for the better. It teaches me not to give up. It teaches me to look inward and outward and trust myself through Gods guidance.Sometimes it teaches me to accept the bad with the good and know it is time not waisted. I learn what not to do. I learn from experience.

Watercolor is an Art of Layer upon layer. It takes patience (which I have a hard time with- as you can see Im a bit heavy handed- too used to working with Oils). In time I start to see that good things are happening; I’m not going down a dead end road. I start to trust the process and continue to move forward. In life I start to realize I am not alone. I feel guidance from a different source. It comes from me but I can feel it comes from another source also. To me that is my Heavenly Father telling me Im not alone. He is always there and he guides me. He expects me to practice,try hard and work in the direction I feel I need to go and things start to happen. I begin to see what he wants me to see – A beautiful life and a beautiful painting. Step-by-Step. Push yourself and Try. Work at it! That’s all He asks. What you get in return for trying is simply AMAZING! It’s the only way I can describe it.

On a less serious side. After I had these thoughts, I went for a walk and as I was walking around a bend I looked up in the sky and saw this.

570-pixels-dinosaur-in-the-sky-painting

A DINOSAUR WITH A PAINT BRUSH AND PALETTE.

It made me LAUGH with joy! Life doesn’t always have to be serious. Take time to Laugh! I felt God laughing with me and I definitely felt HIS LOVE!!

Day 5 – Done – Fireweed & Fir

570 pixels -Day 5 - Fireweed and Fir -watercolor

It is always hard to know when you are done but if I keep going Ill probably mess it up. My goal is to be less heavy handed with my paint. That is a hard one for me. On to my next painting:)

I got to thinking that all my posts may be driving people crazy so I may not post until I’m done. Have a good week:)

Day 3 – Fireweed & Fir- Watercolor

570 pixels -Blog Day 3 - Fireweed and Fir

Blog – Day 3 – Fireweed & Fir – Watercolor
I think it is working! Knowing I have to report to my blog gets me motivated to paint. It is so hot today but I went upstairs anyway for about 45 minutes. I’m glad I did. Something about trusting myself to create and actually doing it brings satisfaction to me. It’s having the faith to try and then acting on it. It works in all parts of my life. Amazing things can happen. I have Flops too but it is all a part of the learning experience. I enjoy the learning process:)

Stay tune for next time:)