Category: thoughts behind the work

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.

flora and fauna, Nature, thoughts behind the work

Watercolor abstract leaves painting and holiday cards

Michele B. Naquaiya
Abstract Leaves Watercolor, 2020, full sheet painting

This is a large watercolor and right now it’s in the gallery waiting for a home. I’ve been painting big lately and it feels really good. There’s lots of underpainting and patience in preserving the white areas in this work. That’s really necessary to keep the colors clean and the feeling fresh. The basic idea to start with was to take leaves and branches from my little
garden and draw and paint from life as the composition.
Painting from life has always been my favorite way to go. The colors and shapes point me in the right direction. I did some underpainting with inks on completely saturated full sheets. I used my fingers and didn’t use a brush for the underpainting.
I stuck the very wet paper to a big sheet of plexiglass and it sticks very well and stays wet a long time. I can dry it between takes in the sun. This is my favorite style of painting. It reminds me so much of how I used to paint in California years ago. It’s liberating. Someday when I grow up, I’ll make a video of the technique.
I’ve been remiss in posting for many reasons I think we are all feeling. Lockdowns, covid fears, busy with life chores, some health issues and the list goes on. Anywho, I’ve had a bit of a difficult mountain to climb but I’m happy to say it’s hopefully over. I have lots of new art challenges and I’m facing them head on.
With the work at home as normal now and the new lifestyle settling in, painting has taken on a new pleasant dimension. I surround myself with studying intently trying to catch up on my digital drawing that I haven’t done in a long time. I even bought Affinity Designer software which is completely wonderful. Photoshop is still my go to but I love what this program does afford. I’m beginning to have some time with it.
Since we got through Thanksgiving and have a little less than a month before Christmas, I’ve been busy designing and redesigning my holiday greeting cards. It’s kind of amazing to realize how many I have drawn and painted over the years. This is kind of goofy fun because it’s so flippant. I still try to put some thought into each one and people love them and yes, they get it. The season is very short when you are trying to play catch up on time. Everybody knows you should start December in June but hey, stuff happens. It’s been fun playing catch up and I’m posting one card a day on my Facebook page.
I have done two more large paintings and I will post them to catch up.


this is an old, old one I’m reworking
this is a new digital one
step by step, how to, thoughts behind the work

Old watercolor palettes

Michele B. Naquaiya

quiller-wheel1

Cleaning up one of my old, old Quiller watercolor palettes. After all these years I decide how much I still love colors by Blockx and Marimeri Blu. Soon it will be time to shop for new paints. Tomorrow I will photograph the 2 new palettes I bought. ONe is rugged and small for plein air.

Illustrations, Revising Old Work, storytelling art, thoughts behind the work

Night Visitor pencil drawing

Michele B. Naquaiya

Here is another pencil drawing from my portfolio that I did a little digital editing on today to add some highlights and deepen some tones.  No one has ever seen this artwork as it was buried in some old files I found.

I am posting this and I am wondering if it might be good art for a book cover.  So, in a day or two I will be fabricating a book title and I will search for a font that will fit the art.  The drawing will have to be simplified I think for a commercial book cover.  I love working in pencil because it is so honest.  I want to do more.
Here is the artwork on products in my online store:

nitevisitor-bw

fonts, Illustrations, Revising Old Work, thoughts behind the work

more works in progress

Michele B. Naquaiya

blueyeSwindow-wip

I am drawn to fonts like a moth to a flame.  I found this little sketch in my portfolio and am reworking it digitally.  I’m not done because I can’t yet figure out how to draw her hair and clothing.  I am playing with brushes and new fonts.  I wonder when I finish what this will actually look like.  Where will it live?  In what format will it settle into?  Would anybody buy such an idea?  I think there is a place, so I will continue to draw and play.  I think there is some illusive thing here.  If I keep digging, I will find it.