Confession

I have a confession to make.  Just a few weeks ago I was ready to end my adventure as a working artist.  Funds were running low,  I was spending weekends away from kids, and as much as I love creating I could no longer justify the sacrifices I was making.  But then something happened, I won best of show in 2-D at Monument Square Art Festival!  Somehow I always find the support I need when I put my art into the world, and this really gave me the boost I needed to keep going.

I am especially motivated by the series I am currently working on.  Each piece is created on a 12"x 12" wood panel.  New materials can be exciting, and I especially love watching the inks soak into the wood and allowing them to flow.  The process feels natural to me and I have been very pleased with the results.  I hope you enjoy this preview of my new works.

Studio Sunday: Upcoming Event and New Organic Lavender Sachets in Development

Often when I am referring to "my studio" I really mean "whatever space I can find in my house."  At the moment there are four freshly varnished paintings on the floor near my desk.  Not exactly the vision I had of my own studio, but over there years I've learned to make do with inefficient space!  These paintings will be dry in time for my last Bay View Art in the Park event of there year.

New organic eye pillows, featuring some of these artwork, are in the making.  I sourced an eco-friendly printing service that prints beautiful reproductions of my work.  It is so exciting to see my paintings on fabric!  They will be filled with organic lavender, jasmine and flax seed.  I hope to have them available at a special price by the end of September.

Inside My Journal

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A weekly update dedicated to revealing the pages of my journal.

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Inside My Sketchbook

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A weekly update dedicated to revealing the pages of my sketchbook.

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Studio Sunday

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A monthly update, dedicated to to showing you my process, sneak peeks inside my studio, and previews of works in progress turned into finished products.

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I've made these little boxes in the past, you may remember this one, or this one.  I wanted to put a new spin on an old idea.  Rather than using paper and paint, I cut out small pieces of heirloom fabric to create these little dresses, then embroidered each one with a unique design.  They are the feature of my dioramas and will hang from a delicate bit of thread.  These are a smaller version of the larger ones I am planning to create.  With help from my husband, I would like to construct a few wood boxes that would be the frame for the dioramas.  I will have one of these small boxes available as a "Pay What You Wish" opportunity, details soon.

As you can see, I am dreaming of spring.  The below freezing temperatures are starting to get to me.  Maybe this way I can bring a little warmth inside.  The other day I pulled out a small canvas and created a very simple still life.  I enjoyed the process of creating texture on this simple painting.  It reminds me of the cold sunny days, when the almost blinding sunlight shines into our home, providing some warmth.

Hold

It must be the medium choice, gouache, that led me to this more illustrative look in my most recent paintings.  I do not at all consider myself and illustrator.  In fact, quite the opposite.  I really enjoy a more expressionistic approach to my work, but I am enjoying the simplicity of this painting.  I needed her arms to be the focus they are round and nurturing.

I am also excited to announce the opening of my new, independent store front.  I am slowly building up inventory, feel free to take a look!

www.nicolelilyquist.com

"Hold" - Available in my Shop.

A Doll With a Portrait

This particular doll that I am featuring today is lucky enough to have her own portrait.  You may have seen her in one of my sketches, take a peek here, if not.  She is a little more dark and simple than my other paintings.  Bare branches peek out from her shoulder and hair.  I decided to give her a simple and practical black dress, something that in her time was considered every day wear.

Available in my Etsy shop.

Available in my Etsy shop.

Almost Forgotten

Today I would like to share with you one painting in particular.  At some point it was set aside in a pile of failed gouache paintings for the day, ready to be thrown out. Some days are just a little frustrating, the ideas  in my mind don't always interpret so well on paper, canvas, or whatever I am using that moment.  I decided to take a break, but after a few hours I went back to my desk and pulled this one out of the stack.  For some reason , it didn't look so bad and seemed salvageable.  So I added a few more details, and eventually it turned into something I really love and cherish.

Available in my Etsy Shop.

I have been relying on my cups of tea for comfort and warmth these days, hence the tea cup in her hands.  The bare branch as a reminder of the cold, yet provides her with shelter.  She really has become one of my favorites.

Studio Sunday

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A monthly update, dedicated to to showing you my process, sneak peeks inside my studio, and previews of works in progress turned into finished products.

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Work in progress, still life.

Available in my Etsy shop.

My hanging sachets were my best selling item last year, so i am restocked, this time with lavender filled sachets.  The designs are simple and feature hand painted designs.  I have combined acrylic paint with textile medium to create these.  Along with a new medium comes many new ideas, too many to keep up with.  How do I turn off the creativity switch?

Staying Inside

Portraits and still life paintings have taken over my studio recently.  New lavender sachets, like miniature art pieces, provide a welcoming scent, reminding me that the cold months will not last forever!

I would like to share with you today one of my recent works.  The cold months are here, and I find that most of my time is spent indoors.  Not only does this effect how I work, but my subject matter as well.  With this particular painting my goal was to capture the warmth our home provides.  I chose a neutral color palette to bring in the sun's warmth.

Available in my Etsy shop

Still Life Flowers

Last night was my last class. I was able to finish my painting. In the end, I added a few splashes of paint to the flowers, made a yellow wash for the background, then a blue-green wash for the table. It added some warmth to the paintings dull brown background. And I love the contrast of the blue and the yellow. With my next work of art I will be experimenting with a different technique and some bright colors. Cadmium red and yellow ochre, such a wonderful color combination!

Nourish

In solitude I stay
drifting deeper with a longing
to keep this fragile heart
nourished with love.

First Snow available in my shop.

Art Class Still Life

This is my still life from art class. So far I have created a collaged background and lightly sketched in the flowers and vase with pencil and artist crayons. I am so afraid of adding more, I don't want to loose too much of my background!

Completed Painting

This is my finished piece. My paintings are getting darker. I just love the richness of the deeper browns and purples. I also find I am able to create more depth with these colors.

I am trying to hold off on painting to work on my sons baby book. This is a project I hope to finish soon! Scrapbooking is a fun hobby, but not something I like to do on a regular basis.

Work in Progress

I am finally back to painting after a couple month break. This is my current work in progress. I will have my oil paintings from art class posted soon!

My Talented Husband

Today I would like to share with you my new works space. It fits all my arts and crafts supplies, except for maybe a few larger items. However, I will be working on a desk skirt to solve this problem. My husband built this beautiful desk using a plan I found. The drawers are very deep and I can fit LOTS of supplies in them. But my most favorite part is the built in lighting in the shelves! I have been very productive with my new workspace!

Mini Envelope Template

Please find the updated envelope template HERE.

I have another envelope template to share. This one I used to create envelopes for the "Silhouette of a Tree" and "Evening Light" cards. These are slightly more tricky than the petal envelopes because the corners of the square need to be marked on the inside of the paper before cutting. That way you know exactly where to score and fold. Also, a little bit of gluing involved. Or you can use a nice double sided tape so its not as messy. I also like the clear paper glue.

I got my gouache today, so far its not working for me. I am going to try to combine watercolor and gouache to see if I can get the results I was looking for. It could be that I am now in the mood to work with oils so I might give the gouache and watercolors a break.