Contest Time!!

Yes, that's right! It's contest time again! Hooray! And this one is just as easy as my last. Let's get down to the nitty gritty.
Here's what you have to do:
1. Go to my facebook page and answer this question - Hedgehog or platypus. For a zombie. Meaning, which should I make as a zombie next?
2. Sit back and relax until May 10th when I announce the winner!

How do I announce the winner? Well, I'll make a list of everyone who answered and use a random number generator to pick the winner.

And what do you win? A signature ratty!!! One similar to this:

Hooray!

How I Paint

Just for fun, I thought I'd show the painting process for this painting:

This is a painting I did for a friend and it measures 22in X 30in and is done in watercolors (my favorite medium).
So first, I started by sketching it out and then masking of the birds and the branch with watercolor masking. This lets me paint the background without fear of getting paint on the foreground.

You can just barely see the birds masked off. The paper is also taped down to keep it from warping too much (which paper likes to do when wet from say . . .watercolors).
Next, I did my first wash of color:

Very light and basically just doing some color blocking and deciding what colors I wanted to use.
Second wash:

A little darker now, more brilliant colors used.
Third wash:

I actually did another wash after this and forgot to take a picture of it. Oh well! I let it dry completely and then removed the masking. Next came painting the birds, again, done in washes.

This is after 2 washes. You can start to see some details.

After another 2 washes. Time to paint the branch!

The finished painting again - did 2 washes for the branch and touched up the sparrows. I hope my friend likes it!

Anatomical Knitting

I stumbled upon this Facebook fan page for Anatomical Knitting, and it is quite awesome. Her knitting is impressive and just plain cool!

I mean, LOOK AT THIS! A full skeleton with all its guts!! She even did the thyroid gland!!! I have this sneaking suspicion that if I counted the vertebrae she's have the correct number (which is 24, by the way - 7 cervical, 12 thoracic and 5 lumbar - you're welcome).

INTESTINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Want something other than guts?? How about a . . . .LUCHADOR MASK!!!

I want this so bad. EVERYBODY needs a luchador mask!

Jill is quite talented and if you get a minute, you should check her out!

OWLS!!

A friend of mine has just purchased her first home and she has a thing for owls. So, as part of her house warming gift, I'm painting her owls! I've done 7 so far and may do a few more if the muse hits me ;)
I quite love this barn owl, let's be honest.

This green owl looks very contemplative. Maybe he needs to take a dump and he's deciding which car hood would be best . . .
Both are done in water colors.

Zombie Walrus!

Why yes, yes I did make a zombie walrus! And of course I think he looks like Jaime Hyneman from Mythbusters. Come on, every walrus looks like Jaime!

He's rather intimidating, yeah? I'd certainly hate to meet up with him. Well, except if we were on land. I've heard a rumor that walrus are slow on land, all bulky and awkward. 

Look at that kissable face! Never mind the blood and fishy smell. Kiss him!

Available in my Etsy Shop

Contest Ratty

This is the prize ratty for my contest I held! Curt Baxter was the winner and this guy has been shipped to his new home! I'll probably hold another contest in May, so stay tuned!

OWL!

I painted this for my friend. She's just bought a house and I'm doing several owls for her! I do believe he's proud of his dapper sweater!