Protecting Robin

Yesterday I spent some time in my studio, and this is what came out of it. Nesting Robin is a 5ax7 inch acrylic painting. The reference photo was from my father-in-law, Robert Thour.
If you are interested, it is listed in my etsy shop.

Hope your day is going well,

Brenda Thour

How Nice is That?

I just found out that I am being featured on The Best Of Zazzle Weekly Squidoo Lens. This lens is created from kasei_lee from Zazzle.

This is straight from the squidoo lens:

Showcasing original art, photography and design at Zazzle.com

The Best of Zazzle Weekly showcases some of the best original art, photography and design on zazzle.com.

Each week, this lens lists roughly 30-35 great products with designs by talented artists from all over the globe.

A weekly 'featured artist' is also spotlighted, in the hopes that more people will become aware of their awesome talent.

If you would like to see more of what these artists have to offer simply click on their names on the product page, to be taken to their zazzle stores.

Click Here to go to the Squidoo Page

***

Farmer Fox, invitation by kasei_lee
Buy invitations at zazzle

kasei_lee's real name is Lee Leplaw Deichmann and her shop's name is 'Lee Lee and the Bee', I love that name, Lee Lee and the Bee!

Here's a little about her from her About page on zazzle:

"Describes themself as: I'm an australian woman living in Denmark with my very lovely danish archaeologist husband and our mad, psychotic street kitten, Kalimah.

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember, and hopefully will be doing so for a long time to come. Most of my works at Lee Lee and the Bee are digital pieces, or traditional pieces reworked slightly in some form of illustration program.

Photography is a passion of mine also, even though I'm not very good at it. I just point the camera at things that interest me and go click. It usually works our for the best :)"

Owl Plus Pussycat, magnet by kasei_lee
Design custom magnets at zazzle

You can follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/LeeLeeandtheBee
Twitter, her Blog, and Lee's My Space page. I did. : )

Lobster Claus, greeting card by kasei_lee
Shop for another greeting card on zazzle.com

Pink Water Lily

Today I'd like to share with you both my Pink Water Lily original painting and Hot Pink Water Lily photo.
The painting, Pink Water Lily is an original 6x8 inch acrylic painting by me, of course, on canvas panel. This painting is not framed, but can very easily be placed into a regular 6x8 inch frame with or without the glass. Since it's not framed it is only $66 US. You can find it in my Etsy Shop. You can also purchase a print of this painting



I shot this photo at the Como Park Zoo in Minnesota last week.
Hot Pink Water Lily, the photo can be purchased as prints starting at $20.50 US. It comes in paper or canvas and it can be framed, stretched or rolled in a tube. You can also purchase a greeting card for $4.45

Gifts of the photo can be purchased here.
Gifts featuring my painting can be purchased at my www.zazzle/bmthour* soon

Have a blessed day,
Brenda

Freedom aceo

This was such a fun painting to create. It is an original acrylic and ink aceo painting by me, Brenda Thour. I created it for a challenge for my Designing Artists Women Group, DAWG team on etsy. It is painted on a 3.5x2.5 inch stretch canvas that is glued on the sides. The sides are painted as a continuation of the painting.
If you are interested, you can acquire it at my Etsy Shop
Designs on my zazzle shop will be available in a few days.
My DAWG team is a small and intimate group of women who love the Lord. We love to paint, all sizes and shapes, especially aceo size. We enjoy altered art, mixed media and more. If this sounds like the group for you, I welcome you to think about joining, we'd love to have you. Go here for more information.

This is one of the shots I took at the Como Park Zoo in Minnesota. You can purchase prints of it here or different gifts and ideas at my Zazzle Shop.

Hope you have a wonderful day,
Brenda

Nesting Robin

My husband's parents were lucky enough to have a robin build a nest under their deck this spring. My father-in-law, Robert Thour, being an avid photographer took some wonderful photos of mommy bird tending to her babies. I am so blessed to be allowed to paint from his photos. So when he showed me the pic, I could not resist. I just had to paint it.

So here it is, 8x10 oil on stretched canvas. I hope you like it as much as I do. It is listed in my etsy shop.

As always I will be creating Nesting Robin gifts such as tshirts, mugs, stickers and more at my Zazzle Shop.

Nesting Robin Fine Art Prints available starting at $21.

This painting would be a beautiful addition to your home decor, or as a gift for someone special.

Until next time,

Brenda

Three Amigo's

I just finished this painting yesturday, and will be posting it for sale on my website where you can purchase the original, prints, and other gift ideas. I call it Three Amigo's and the reference photo is by Barb Schleif.

Free Postcard Giveaway

Giveaway Prize:

4×6″ Flat Postcards
Quantity: 100
Dimension: 4×6″
Paper: 14 pt Cardstock – Gloss
Printing: 4 Color, Both Sides
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only
Eligibility: you must be at least 18 years old to enter

Contest ends midnight Sunday, June 27 – that way Diane can announce the winner on June 28!! And it could be YOU who gets to own a lovely 100 Postcards of your choice!!

To enter to win go to Diane Clancy's Art Blog

Barbara Haviland - Featured Artist

Big Horned Sheep

From Barbara's Profile:

"I create art and have been an artist for 34 years. I paint daily and usually have about 6 paintings going at a time. I am mostly a self-taught, raw artist who draws inspiration from the world around me. My favorite artist is Dalhart Windberg. I love taking workshops to further my learning. You can never cease to learn something new. I usually paint from my photos. I love bright, bold, rich colors."

One Yellow Iris

"I feel satisfied when someone can see the love I have put into the piece that I have created, whether it is a landscape, a floral, a portrait, or a seascape. At this stage in my career, I enjoy painting in Plein Air. It is both exciting and frustrating. Light changes, and shadows move, but I love it! A paint brush is my favorite tool. You can just about do anything with a brush and some paint. Painting brings out my passion. It is like reading a book, you can go anywhere. It is my escape. The problems of the world fade away. For a few moments, it is just me and the canvas. I feel as though I am meant to create art. God has blessed me in this way."

Along the River

Little Yellow Bird

I create in oils and usually paint on a canvas. I stretch my own canvas. Winsor Newton paints are my personal preference. Everything about painting just makes my day. I never get bored. Now that I am retired, I paint every day. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and must get it sketched on canvas. I start with a vision and go from there. It just flows. Painting fills me with joy."

View From Under the Bridge

"I am married to Sam, my husband of 46 years. We have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. We have been fortunate enough to travel the country. I paint wherever we are. I do not think I could survive without my painting. It is my drug of choice. I need it. I do have to do it every single day. I am a sight painter. I simply paint what I see. Lately, my art has been taking on a fresh look of looseness, and I like it. Plein Air is my new thing. It feels great to create! Painting is very relaxing and gratifying. It is freeing. The world around us is so beautiful. I try to capture it's raw beauty on my canvas. I love to paint landscapes of the bayou. They are my favorite! I also love painting flowers as well as animals. I paint everything. If you have a photo, I can paint it. I am so thankful to be able to paint and create art."

My Wild Purple Iris

Visit Barbara Haviland's Website http://barbarahavilandfineart.net
Barbara's blog http://barbsgarden.blogspot.com

Fine Art Prints http://barbara-haviland.artistwebsites.com

http://barbsgarden.ebsqart.com

http://barbsgarden.etsy.com

http://barbara-haviland.fineartamerica.com

http://bonanzle.com/booths/BarbaraHaviland

Featured Artist - Karen Casey-Smith

Today I am featuring Karen Casey-Smith. Karen works in fine art photography, mandalas and digital art. She is a member of the World Wide Women Artists Online group (WWAO), and participated in the May Showcase that I am hosting on my website, yes, even though it's now June, the Showcase is still up and running.

Donsejo de las Rosas

Purple Pansie

From Karen's Bio:

Home has been the Chicago-land area with my DH since 1981. We have two cats that make me laugh every single day. My love of all things creative comes to me as a gift from my mother and her mother and on and on. Most of my art training has come from books and "doing". Favorite mediums are drawing, watercolor, pencils (plain and color), calligraphy, ink, photography and PhotoShop."

Not Fat Just Fluffy

"My work has primarily been in the mandala form since around 1995, first in colored pencils and now with flower photographs. Mandalas combine my two great interests, that of creating art and healing. Mandalas are used as a healing and transforming art in cultures around the world. It is always an amazing experience, and a delightful surprise to see the patterns that emerge while making the flower mandalas. Some of my photographs are of flowers growing in our yard, while others are from one of my many trips to the Chicago Botanic Garden. What a wonderful place!"

Release

A Dream Within A Dream

"For many years now, I've been involved in energy healing and balancing. I play Tai Chi, and use Reiki, Qigong, Chios, Seichim, Donna Eden's Energy Medacine plus other energy healing systems learned along the way. All of these things influence and infuse my work. Each mandala has its own vibrational frequency. They bring healing energy where they are displayed and to whoever wears or views them. I find that they draw me in and still my mind. It's a lovely place to be. I hope you enjoy them."

Adagio Afternoon

Visit Karen Casey-Smith Website

Karen's Etsy Shop

Her 1000 Markets Shop

Karen Casey-Smith's Blog
Follow Karen on Twitter

Karen Casey-Smith's Facebook Fan Page

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about Karen Casey-Smith and viewing her beautiful and vibrant work.

Have a wonderful day,

Brenda

Featured Artist - Edoen Kang

Purple Iris

Today I would like to introduce to you another very talented artist, Edoen Kang. She is also a member of WWAO, World Wide Women Artists Online and is participating in the WWAO May Showcase.

Queen Conch

From Edoen Kang's Profile:

"I am Edoen, a full time artist living in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia BORNEO.I paint in watercolor, oil and acrylic. The inspiration of my work is the beautiful nature of Borneo, ie the unspoiled underwater world, the tropical rainforest, the people and their culture. Painting to me is a life long passion. Colors, light, patterns found in nature fascinated me. My favourite subjects are marine life, Koi fishes, the Borneo nepenthes and orchids.

Auspicious Turtle

"Hopefully, people who see my paintings can also appreciate my view on the nature and environment. Since 1990, I have participated in more then 40 exhibitions locally and abroad. Some of my paintings here are for sale, please visit my Artwanted website's store for more info, or email me at edoen98@yahoo.com. Thank you !"

Morning Catch

Edoen Kang's paintings are vibrant and beautiful. Her love of nature shows in her work, and that tropical feeling is quite evident in each piece. I am both impressed and delighted whenever I view her work.

Auspicious Koi 7

Lion Fish

I hope you have enjoyed viewing the artwork of Edoen Kang.
You can view her work Here
Her ArtWanted Website
View her Online Gallery

Her Blog

Have a wonderful day,
Brenda