A Christmas Evening Walk Original Folk Art Painting

Emily, Anna, and Joe end the day of Christmas celebrations with their families by taking their dogs for a walk on this beautiful snowy evening.  Their pups love to walk with friends before bed and run off some energy. 

Daisy is spoiled rotten and prefers to ride in the car.  It looks like Oscar decided to show off his new sweater to the girls.

Everyone went all out with decorations this year and the Sullivans won first prize because of the large Santa they put in their upper window.  Peace fills this little village feeling blessed to celebrate the true reason for the season with family and friends.

This painting has sold but prints are available here in my Etsy Shop.

2024 Christmas Painting Nearing Completion

Thanks so much for following along as this new painting nears completion.  It's funny how it takes me just as much time to decide what to add to a painting as it does to actually paint it.  Hopefully it will be finished today.  A good friend suggested a dog walker which I'm definitely going to add.  Other ideas keep popping into my head too and we'll see which ones make it onto the canvas today.

 

2024 Christmas Painting Progression is Smokin'

 The chimneys are smokin' all through the neighborhood.  This is always one of my favorite details to add.

Now decisions have to be made for the foreground.  People, cars, dogs?  

New Christmas Painting Continued

I've had so much fun with this painting that I got up at 5:30 to get back at it.   

I'm so tired that I'm putting it away for now to give my brain and eyes a break.  

I will get back at it Monday bright and early.

I might need some help with a title.  

2024 Italianate Christmas Village Painting Step by Step

I'm really getting in the mood for Christmas even though it's still in the 60's here.  Today I'll be painting brick on the front and center house and finishing this charming home today.  My plan is to have all the houses done this week so I can begin adding other items to this scene.

Our home turned 100 years old this year and once this painting is finished my plan is to start decorating for Christmas.

 

2024 Christmas Painting Moving Right Along

 

It's coming right along!  I've so loved working on this. Adding garland, snow, wreaths, etc is like the icing on a cake.  

This is truly so much fun!

New Christmas Painting Started

A new Christmas painting is on my table today.  I'll share more as it comes alive.

 I understand it's too early for most people to enjoy Christmas but it takes me a while to design and create a painting.  Enjoy your little trick or treaters tomorrow!

New Christmas Folk Art Painting, The Inn on Crescent Lake

The Inn on Crescent Lake is a place where memories are made. Many families over the years have celebrated weddings, family reunions, and holidays. Christmas is magical with several trees decorated throughout the Inn for guests to enjoy along with cookies and hot chocolate. Take a peaceful walk around the grounds along the moat where the water sparkles like frozen glass.  

I've been wanting to paint this beautiful place that is in our home town.  Last year we were blessed to stay there. I ran around with my husband, sister, and brother in law taking pictures of this beautiful place.  It's so lovely and has a moat almost completely around it.  I wish I could have included that in this painting but in reference to the building it sits much lower making it difficult to add to this scene.

We weren't lucky enough to have snow during our stay, but I could imagine how glorious this place would look during Christmas.

It was so fun to use my imagination and decorate it for Christmas!

Can't you just imagine yourself snuggled up inside with a cup of hot cocoa while this cute snowman greets new visitors!

This original painting is sold and heading off tomorrow, but prints are available in my Etsy Shop.

Prints larger than 11" x 14", mugs, puzzles, and other items, are available at my FineArt America/Pixels Shop

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas!

This year I painted this wintery Christmas scene called "Christmas Magic".  My prayer for my readers is that we stop and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas as we fill our busy days with decorating, baking, and shopping.    

Nothing can give us the peace, hope, and joy that we so long for than turning to our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Remember our country is a nation under God.  

Spread the good news! 

It looks like many of us across the country will be having a white Christmas this year, so I pray for traveling mercies as well.

Help someone in need this year because there are so many.

Hug your families and be thankful for each and everyone of them.

May God's mercies bring you renewed hope this year!

Wishing you and your family a joy filled Christmas!

Christmas Magic Original Folk Art Painting

"Christmas Magic"

My new painting is finally finished and off to it's new home.  
The prints will be available in my Etsy store.

Dragging their Christmas tree toward home, the McKinley family sings carols with their children Alias, Abel, and Alice as a snowman tips his hat to them.   Snow gently falls and glistens like sugar poured from a shaker.  Puffs of smoke rise from the chimneys as everyone settles down for the evening. The children are out of school and have spent their days bundled up in the cold skillfully building jolly snowmen dressed in hats and scarves giving a magical feel to the village. Pastor Phil and his son, Ezra, are busy hanging lights on the evergreen trees by the church to be ready for the Christmas program.  A lone tree decorated for the holiday floats in a boat anchored off the shore by the little church.  A gold star perched on top of the tree represents the light of Jesus as they celebrate his birth on Christmas day.

Progress of Folk Art Painting Christmas Magic

Progress of Folk Art Painting Christmas Magic

In between camping this summer in sweltering heat, I've been working on this painting.  To keep me motivated, I've been adding the Christmas decorations as I go instead of waiting until the end.

I've always referred to this stage as the icing on the cake and it's my favorite part of painting!  This is when the painting seems to take on life and I start writing the story in my head.
 

I can also see at this point where changes need to be made.

Adding the teeny, tiny people hanging decorations on the evergreen by the church put my eyes to the test after vision correction and cataract surgery several months ago.

This doesn't seem like the best choice of location according to the look on the snowman's face.

Hope everyone has enjoyed summer this year because I can honestly say that I'm ready for a long fall season!

Brushes Creating Christmas Magic

Nothing beats painting a Christmas snow scene in the middle of a hot summer.  We started out with a cold rainy spring keeping me inside instead of gardening and then we went straight to hot with temperatures in the 90's and high humidity for days on end.    

Then came Covid.  I'm out of quarantine and Rick will be soon.  How's your summer going?

I'm done complaining since the weather has been much better the last couple days and I'm out of jail!

 

New Folk Art Painting "Christmas in Pine Valley"

"Christmas in Pine Valley"

Painting this Christmas scene was so much fun for me.  I've been away from painting for quite some time so I decided to start with what I love and Christmas is right at the top of my list.  It brings me so much joy and with everything going on in the world today and in our lives this was just what I needed! It took so long to paint all those tiny evergreens on the mountain but it was also therapeutic.

Nestled below mountains covered in evergreens you’ll find a charming village known as Pine Valley.  A little snow doesn’t stop families from getting out and having dinner at Ginger Sue’s or doing some Christmas shopping at the Nutcracker Gift Store.  Amanda and Clifford, owners of the Pine Valley Inn, greet guests making sure everyone is welcomed and made to feel at home.  Worn, wide planked floors lead weary visitors to the cozy dining room where they can order something to eat and sit by the fire or simply enjoy some hot coffee or cocoa before retiring to their room.  Snuggling into bed with a good book discovered at the local bookstore under a fluffy, down comforter and an extra quilt is a great way to end a perfect day.  

I will be listing this print today in my Etsy shop as well as FineArt America.