The Book Den Personalized Original Painting by Catherine Holman

In this quiet little village lined with brick sidewalks and old storefronts Betty found her dream.  This is where she opened her own shop, The Book Den.  She restored the building with the wide plank floors and fixed an apartment upstairs where she could retire after the shop closed at 8pm.  Grabbing one of the books off a shelf, she curls up in her favorite chair to read until she can no longer stay awake.

This 8" x 10" personalized painting is finished and available in my Etsy Shop.  You can have your name painted on the shop sign above the door of the shop, i.e. Holman Book Den.  

Prints will be available soon.

New Autumn Folk Art Painting / Autumn at the Lake

 This little 5 x 7 inch painting was listed and sold yesterday in my Etsy Shop but prints are now available.

When the leaves begin to fall and cover the ground with vibrant hues of red and orange the Johnson family head to their lake house to do a little cleanup. Freddie and Ronnie spend more time jumping in piles of leaves while their parents rake them. Evenings are magical sitting around the bonfire roasting marshmallows and hot dogs with all the scents of autumn filling the night air.

 

Thanksgiving Folk Art Painting

Wishing each of you a very happy Thanksgiving day with your family and friends.  Remember to pray for those who are serving our country and can't be with their loved ones.  

 

We will be going to my daughter, Amber's, house to celebrate and I just finished making pecan pies to take along with Sweet Potato Casserole, and dinner rolls.  I'm so looking forward to time with family and friends.  

 

New Halloween Folk Art Original Painting

 It's a day behind schedule, but it's finally finished and listed in my Etsy Shop along with some prints.

I had a vision while vacationing in Buena Vista, CO in September of three kids riding bikes wearing pumpkin heads in front of a spooky house.  It's funny how things get into my mind and just won't go away!

"A Star Filled Halloween Evening"

On a dark, yet starry night a parade of costumed goblins meander from house to house chanting “Trick or Treat”.  Over the hills and in the glow of the full moon they make their way to Mayor Adams house where he and his wife Sasha hand out candy apples and popcorn balls.  Their children, triplets Henry, Heather, and Harvey are heading out on their bikes with their pumpkin pails stowed on the back eager to fill them as the go door to door.  Their mother has knitted them new Halloween sweaters as part of their costumes.  Heather in an act of childish rebellion, recently decided she was tired of wearing matching clothes, so her mother listened to her request and knit her a green sweater.

Now I'm off to enjoy this wonderful weather and do some garden cleanup!

 

Halloween Folk Art Painting Progress

 

I'm moving along at a spookily, slow pace with this new Halloween painting.  Lots of little trick or treaters dressed in costume need to be added along the winding road and tons of autumn leaves yet to paint.  

The leaves can be painted rather quickly though.  

My plan is to have this listed by Friday in my Etsy shop.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Halloween Painting in the Works

 I'm having fun working on a new Halloween Painting for 2022.  There's no guarantee it will be done in time but when it's done I will be listing it on Etsy.  I can't wait to start painting all the children dressed in costumes!  There are lots of ideas running through my head and I'm looking forward to seeing them come to life.

Mansard roofs seem to give an eery feel to a house don't you think?

 

Be safe out there this Halloween!

Jack O' Lantern Lane Original Halloween Folk Art Painting

 

"Jack O Lantern Lane"

I just finished this little 6" x 6" painting and listed it in my Etsy Store.  Halloween will be here before you know it.  I'm sure the candy sales will be way down during this pandemic or all of us adults will be eating it as we work from home!  I'll miss the kids coming by in their costumes.

Ethel and Fred built a house when they got married 45 years ago. Connie and Horace built their house next door and a deep friendship between the neighbors blossomed and they became family. They loved the little trick or treaters who visited every year on Halloween and both couples placed carved pumpkins on the fences posts. That's how their little road became known as Jack-O'Lantern Lane.

We don't get as many trick or treaters as we used to because they go to the nursing homes and churches, which I'm sure is a lot safer.  They won't be going to the nursing homes this year though.  How sad.  My mother loved handing out candy last year to all the little ones coming through the nursing home.  What are you doing different this year?

Pumpkin and Maple Folk Art Cats Original Painting

"Pumpkin and Maple"

This past weekend we went to the Roots N Blues N BBQ in Columbia, Missouri.  We've gone the last three years and it's become a family tradition.  The weather was wonderful and we felt like autumn had finally arrived!  I love spending time doing the things we love with family and friends.

This morning I finally got my act together and listed this brand new painting in my Etsy store.  Just click on the title at the top of this post to go directly to the listing.  I can't believe how long it's been since I've actually finished a painting.  Life takes on all kinds of changes and challenges, but I was finally able to slip in a few days of painting and have to admit how wonderful it felt to actually pick up a paint brush again!

Pumpkin and Maple love resting in the brisk cool air on the porch every day as brightly colored leaves seem to magically fall from the sky. They roll and toss themselves into these irresistible crunchy piles scattering them in all directions. What a heavenly time of year to play outside!

Autumn Folk Art Painting Challenge

I've been busy this week working on a 12" x 12" painting that I started last year.  It was the middle of winter at the time and I decided to paint a summer scene.  Now that I've gotten back to it and the temperatures are still in the 90's in September, I'm trying to figure out if I can change this to a fall scene?  Summer or fall,  what do you think?  

Original Folk Art Painting Thanksgiving at the Parker Farm

"Thanksgiving at the Parker Farm"

Yes!!  It's finally finished!  I've been working on this painting for so long.  Maybe not working, but putting off finishing it because I just wasn't feeling it until recently.  I was beginning to think I would just have to resort to starting a different painting all together.  This is what happens when I haven't painted something this involved for over a year.

Generally when I start a painting I finish it.  I'm not the type to have unfinished projects sitting around.  Canvas is also my surface of choice and this was a flat masonite panel.  I haven't painted on a flat surface in years.  Let me just say that canvas is STILL my preferred choice.  

When I first started this painting last year the barn was gray and I finally realized that was the problem.  It stuck out like a sore thumb.  Gray is all the rage right now, but not for this fall scene.  Once I got that corrected the painting started coming to life with a story to tell.

My husband's family had a farm with a dinner bell like this one.  His dad moved it to his home and last year when no one was around, someone stole it.  It was heartbreaking!  I added this to the painting for my hubby.

Follow the winding country road through the Village of Redfield and you’ll eventually end up passing by the Parker Farm. Guests are guided by the aroma of a home-style Thanksgiving dinner around the bend to the driveway of Ed and Nancy’s home where dinner is laid out picnic style and the family will be eating by moonlight. There’s always plenty of food for extras who might stop by to visit. The scent of chimney smoke and freshly fallen leaves lingers in the air as Lady, the family dog, checks out the new litter of kittens roaming the farm. 

This painting is listed in my Etsy Shop and does not include a frame.

My Autumn Folk Art Painting I Started Over a Year Ago

Before I say anything else, I have to tell you how blessed I am to be able to get back to painting and the joy it has brought me.  I started this autumn painting over a year ago and life got in the way.  I'm not complaining, because things just happen and we do what needs to be done.  I know that painting is my calling because as soon as I finished my art room, orders starting coming in from my Etsy store even though I had not added anything new.  I'm hoping to change that soon.  

I will keep you posted as this painting developes, because the next stage is like adding the frosting on a cupcake.  The magic and the fun is about to begin!  

I'm also working on a small Christmas painting that I have to finish first.  

Having a brush in my hand once again is something I'm so very thankful for.  

What are you thankful for today?

 My prayers go out for the families who suffered so much this past week in Texas.   Please join me in prayers for healing in this small community.  It's a place just like in this painting with a small church and hard working families who know their neighbors and help each other when needed.  We need to get back to the basics of strong faith, prayer, grace, love, kindness, and the list goes on and on.

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted..."

Halloween Folk Art

Stop by my Etsy shop to see my Halloween prints!  

I wish I had gotten my paint room finished sooner! I would have loved working on a new Halloween scene this year.  Check out my Halloween cupcake prints too!  

Autumn Painting and Crochet Shrug Project

This morning I woke up to temps in the 40's.  I made my way down the stairs and went straight away to the thermostat and turned on the heat for the first time this fall.  I love the scent the furnace gives off when you turn it on.  I'm sure that aroma is hot dust, but I love it just the same.

I made my daily trek (this is now considered exercise at my age) back upstairs and sat down at my paint table to work on one of these two projects.  I keep my sketch on top of my painting to protect it while I crochet.  As I slid it down to remind me what I started working on over a year ago, I realized the colors in my crochet shrug match my painting!  I think I'll just paint for a while and then go back to working on this shrug later in the day.

What are you doing this fall?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't want anyone to think I've dropped my blog so I'll explain what's been going on.  My husband had cataract surgery on one eye, the following week I had sinus surgery, and yesterday my husband had cataract surgery on the other eye.  We are both doing well but I didn't want to post during that time in case I started to complain along the way.  We were both very blessed and I'm actually breathing again.

Hopefully I'll get back on track soon but we are having a little work done on our house and there's furniture to be moved and sawdust to clean up.  I'll share soon!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Fill Our Hearts With Thankfulness Folk Art Painting

"Fill Our Hearts With Thankfulness"

The neighbors who live in this little cove are thankful for so many things.  They join together each year at their church to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for those who have no place to go.  Large tables laden with turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the fixin's greet those who come through the doors.  Pumpkin pies and various other desserts are served as the guests finish up their meal.  Needs are met and new friendships are formed.

Last night I stayed up and finished this little 6" x 6" autumn painting because the Royals had the night off.  Looks like we'll be playing the Astros tomorrow night.  I can't paint and watch the games so I'm glad I was able to finish this one up.  Are any of my readers baseball fans or am I alone on this?  Oh, maybe I should do a painting with some children playing baseball!

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:4

Pirate's Cove Halloween Painting

As promised, here is my new Halloween painting:

"Pirate's Cove Halloween"

In Pirate's Cove as soon as the moon rises high in the sky,  tiny goblins run from house to house giggling and gathering treats of caramel apples, popcorn balls, candy corn and various sweets and surprises.  Adults and scared pets warm themselves by an inviting fire as they supervise their surroundings.  Pirates anchor their ship in the cove curiously spying on these shenanigans as a ghost slips over the bridge chasing a very tiny witch and her suspicious black cat.  This scary evening includes tiny tots and their bewildered dog dressed in strange uncomfortable attire being pulling by the wagon load through a small cemetery.  Bugs and various creepy crawlers, pirates, mummies, and a superhero swarm the streets. A sweet princess being escorted by a mouse standing on two feet is about to magically fill her treat bag when she taps on the door, demurely smiles, and chants "trick or treat!"

This painting was so much fun to paint!  Like I've mentioned before, it's hard to know when to stop painting.  I have this painting for sale on my blog and in my Etsy shop.  To locate it on my blog, click on the tab at the top for "Original Painting".

Annual Autumn Barn Dance & Hayride Folk Art Painting

This painting, Annual Autumn Barn Dance & Hayride, is one of my most looked at prints on FineArt America.  I do, however, need a better image of this particular piece so that I can sell larger prints.  Back in the day when I first started selling my artwork on eBay, I never stopped to think about reproducing them for prints before the paintings were sold.  

I may just have to paint this one again.  I will probably make a few changes here and there to make it new and fresh though.  

I also have a new Halloween painting to share that I finished last year and have been hanging onto it.  

Have you started decorating for fall?

Halloween Folk Art

I am ready for those little signs of fall to begin.   Pumpkins, brightly colored leaves, mums, sweater weather, and hot cider are a few of my favorite things.

Autumn has always been my favorite season and it's here and gone before you know it.  I want to take the time to fully embrace it this year.  

What is your favorite thing about fall?  Do you take the time to count your blessings or rush through the season?

Maple Place Autumn Folk Art Painting

I've been locked away in that tower on the top right of this scene working diligently on finishing up this painting before fall is over.  Seriously, I do wish I had this round studio room to paint in, but mine is just a cramped little spare room in our house on the second floor.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving though, I am very thankful to even have a room that I can shut myself in where I can dream of quaint little villages where people have the time to stack pumpkins in massive iron urns and line up little pumpkins on their porch railing.  The Lord provides the rest of the decorations. This is a place where people truly are thankful for their many blessings. 

"Maple Place"

Uncle John and Aunt Dottie, as they are know to all in their little village, have been inviting folks to their home for Thanksgiving for longer than anyone can remember.  They share their home, a turkey dinner, and their blessings with those who have no where else to go on this day.  Family and friends help to make this a day that they will not soon forget.