5-Day Art Challenge - DAY 5

Hello Everyone! Today is DAY 5 of the 5-Day Facebook Art Challenge. (But, why let Facebook have all of the fun? That's why I'm posting it here, too). A warm thank you to Debbie Lamey MacDonald, a Nova Scotia artist, for nominating me.

For today’s post, I am sharing with you several commissioned pieces – two fine art paintings and two pet illustrations.

The Dogwood Blossom painting is a 30” x 30”, oil on canvas, painted from photographs that I took at a local nursery. I am super pleased with the oil paints by M. Graham that are based with walnut oil and offer such vibrancy.

The painting of delphiniums is a work-in-progress that I am painting right now for a client. It’s 30” x 30”, oil on canvas. Again, I am using my own reference photos that I took over the summer. Not only are delphiniums difficult to grow, they are difficult to find to photograph! 

My pet illustration, Cake Cats, was a pet illustration commission from last year. My client provided photos of her daughter’s cats and gave me a list of interest of her daughter and son-in-law. Her daughter loves to make cakes, loves Gerber daisies and her son-in-law is a Bills fan. In-progress photos and sketches of this project can be seen on my website. Gouache and colored pencil on vellum, 5” x 7”.

The Santa and dog illustration was a pet commission for a past Christmas card. The client provided photos of her mixed breed hound. Gouache and colored pencil on vellum, 5” x 5”. You can read about the process of drawing this illustration, here: http://cherylkugler.blogspot.com/2009/12/illustrating-dog-gone-cute-christmas.html

On my last day of this challenge, I nominate TatyanaStarikova, a talented illustrator who I met during a workshop at Highlights Foundation called “Mastering the Picture Book”.

5-Day Art Challenge - DAY 1

Hello Everyone! 
This is DAY 1 of the Facebook art challenge of posting 3 paintings a day over 5 days. (Why let Facebook have all of the fun?...that's why I'm sharing it here, too!). Warm thanks to Debbie Lamey MacDonald, a Nova Scotia artist for nominating me. 

Today, I'm sharing with you a series of paintings I created on a week-long painting and bookbinding experience during a week in March called Creativity Unbound in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. Throughout the week, a small, talented and enthusiastic group of artists created small paintings in watercolor and/or acrylics on the grounds of the Calabash House mentored by artist Paul King, then crafted intricate books under the expertise of master book-binder, Bridget Morris of Bella Forte Bookbinding and Letterpress. 

Imagine the eye-candy we feasted upon as we left a cold and snowy, cabin-fever-felt Pennsylvania March and arrived in the quaint Jamaican seaside town full of warm sun, blue ocean and vibrant blossoms. I think I could of stayed a month! 


My childhood friend, Bridget Morris, coordinated the incredible week and so I'm nominating Bridget to share in the 5-day FB art challenge to share the amazing craft of her bookbinding and letterpress business.

Thanks for stopping by!