Category Archives: shellac

Table Legs

Posted on October 25, 2017 by

I had the opportunity to repair the finish on these lovely legs from a family table, and now I paint them.  They were stacked in my finish studio for a long time in this manner and reminded me of ancient … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, shellac, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

My Secret Journal: Four, Shellac Tip-ins

Posted on September 26, 2015 by

Note:  I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full.  These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Because of the business we are in we end … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, india ink, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, shellac, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

My Secret Journal: One

Posted on September 19, 2015 by

Well as my brother’s used to say, I AM blonde! (Sssshhh, so are two of my brothers.) I am writing a journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full. This is why I have not … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, drawing, india ink, journal, making a living, memory, pen & ink, process, shellac, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Gratitude Journal: Back to Studio Work!

Posted on September 4, 2015 by

 It is good to be back in my finish studio working on paying conservation projects. I have a NPS project due this month. Historic Mason Monterey paper and iron “chandeliers” for the Chateau need to be reproduced.  The original historic … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, handmade paper, making a living, paper, pastel, process, shellac, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Mug of Hope: Mix-it Monthly Challenge

Posted on May 3, 2014 by

Pia Rom’s prompt this month for her challenge grabbed me immediately, though the colors for this month are not me at all!  We collect coffee mugs!  Mitchell and I have names for them — Our Happy Mug (white roosters stamped … Continue reading →

Posted in art, challenge, creativity, drawing, india ink, journal, painting, shellac, sketchbook, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

E is for Environmentally Friendly: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 5, 2014 by

I’m talking toxicity versus environmentally friendly and how to read labels.  Above are three labels: Golden’s “AP Nontoxic”, Gamblin’s information label stated clearly, and an older tube of Cotman Cadmiun Red that shows a Health Label requiring no labeling (again, … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, oil paint, pastel, pencil, shellac, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

D is for Drawing Pens: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 4, 2014 by

My favorite drawing pens are Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens, shown right as the top three pens with their caps off.  I love them because they are wonderfully waterproofed India ink, and work best of all the pens on shellacked … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, process, shellac, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

Paint Party Friday #1, As I am New to This Party

Posted on March 14, 2014 by

Been sick with the flu(?) cold(?) god/dess knows — but it has been a LONG time!  To entertain myself I have painted on shellacked paper with India ink.   Always in love with the sunny images of Mexico, and seen them … Continue reading →

Posted in art, painting, shellac | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Basilica of the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo: Sketch to Finished Piece

Posted on March 9, 2014 by

Carmel Mission (long name is Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, link to Wiki article) is one of my favorite missions.  I am taking you through my sketching process from rough pencil sketches (which I wish I had not lost) to … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, drawing, painting, process, shellac | 6 Comments