let the outside in

let the outside in. prints available in my etsy shop.

well, i'm on my way to england for the do what you love retreat! 

but don't worry, while i'm painting with flora bowley, i have lots of fun blog posts lined up for you...including a few paintings from start to finish!

this painting, let the outside in, is one of my recent favorites. but it was so tricky to uncover this little owl's birch bark scenery.

my owl started out with a nice shape and lots of red and pink.

i found her eyes right away, which rarely happens. but that red hot scene just didn't fit.

so i softened it up with a few birch trees and lightness. then i added a bit of my favorite origami paper onto her belly and as the moon.

but she still looked like she was wearing a helmet and camouflage. and i didn't know where to go with it, so i just added lots of black fingerprints and played with the paint. 

and luckily i found that black scribble over her head, which defined her new shape.

from there the scene cooled down. i added a bit of white sparkle to her head, wings and the trees and it all seemed to turn into magic.

let the outside in. prints available in my etsy shop.

i just love the way her feathers match the birch trees. and her belly mirrors the blooming flower. it really got me thinking that she just ought to 

LET THE OUTSIDE IN.