Category: Revising Old Work

cars and trucks, Revising Old Work

old blue chevy silk painting -49er

Michele B. Naquaiya

Look what I found in an old folder. This jewel was in my first solo show in 1995 in Ventura, CA. I had done quite a few of these silk paintings with procion dyes and framed them. I just love this and was so happy to find the photo. Like almost all of the art around that time, I have no recollection or idea of who bought it or where it is. I do remember the process though. For over a year, I went around with my camera searching back streets of Oxnard and Ventura to find old trucks and cars to paint. I was pretty kooky in those days and full of energy. The silk series was a wonderful thing. I could never do that again. There are other shots in that folder. I promise myself I will do something with these photos.

abstract imagination, cityscapes, Revising Old Work

Fantasy City Moroccan style

Michele B. Naquaiya
Fantasy city Moroccan style

Watercolor from imagination. This watercolor was almost thrown away and I realized it had redeemable qualities. It was on a watercolor pad and we were traveling with minimum art supplies. It was just a testing of random colors splashed on the pad. It was about 4 years old and had been long forgotten. The only water I had was in a small spray bottle. I had 2 brushes and a small dish on my gouache palette. Believe me it did not start out looking like this. The dark shades were my muddy water mixed with browns and blues which I used to define the shapes. I pushed the paint around and did a lot of lifting with a thirsty brush. I worked on it very gently and slowly for about an hour, a little bit at a time. It turned out amazing. I just love it when little miracles like this happen.

fonts, Holidays, Illustrations, Revising Old Work, scratchboard drawing, whimsy

Kissing lips for valentine day

Michele B. Naquaiya

Once upon a time I drew this artwork in scratchboard and colored it with liquid acrylic. I’m guessing it was about 10 years ago…omg…. I drew my own lips. funny right?

Now I have reworked this art into a tshirt and other products, masks, etc. I tested myself to see if I have gained a little speed and yes, I have. I am having a stupid problem in photoshop because I don’t seem to be able to get my old settings back where I can load my artboard so that it lines up with the measurement grid….yesterday I wanted to cry and almost did. Like all things digital, if you could describe the problem accurately you could probably fix it. It’s kind of like going to the doctor and he says what’s wrong, and you are suddenly stumped. grrr. language throws me.

So here’s the new artwork in transparency for textiles. This is a new site for me “Tee Public” and I’m loving their interface. check it out. any comments as usual are appreciated. gracias.



Holidays, humor, Illustrations, Revising Old Work, thoughts behind the work, whimsy

The Giving Christmas Tree

Michele B. Naquaiya
reworking of an analog drawing, now digital

I have always liked the saying “To give is to receive”. I think it’s because this has come true in my life so many times. I gave it a light and whimsical font to keep in the mood with the subject matter. The sketches were done very quickly with pen and ink on a sketch pad. They are in no order of importance on the tree. I think I laid them out digitally according to size. They represent things I have always held dear to my daily life, wherever I lived, worked or played.
There are plants, herbs, animals, dishes, quilts, furniture, an old fashioned windowsill, balloons, flowers in vases, a bumblebee, a big bow, a little cow, afternoon tea and of course a can of soup.
Here is the link to purchase this art on a ton of products. thanks for looking.

greeting cards, Holidays, Illustrations, kids, Revising Old Work, whimsy

Happy Halloween with jack-o-lanterns

Michele B. Naquaiya

A little girl with miniature jack-o-lanterns. Of course my horse. She needs to light the way into the night. She is painted with watercolor and pencil and various digital textures. She can be found on a poster or a greeting card or a coffee mug. Really? Absolutely.
I wanted to show a little bit of process here. Sometimes an idea goes through many changes. This is a typical example for me of how I like to modify and experiment. Here’s a link to my products with the final design.

happy halloween

This was my original sketch. It has gone through a lot of changes.
Here’s a link to my products with the final design.