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.

Preview of a New Book Store Painting

I completely forgot that I needed to paint a book shop to add to my personalized paintings.  Hopefully I can finish this in a couple more days and will have it up for sale in my Etsy Shop soon.  There is a lot more detail to add and this is my favorite part of a painting.  This book shop stays open late and the owner lives upstairs in her cozy apartment where she loves to read of course!

 

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.

 

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!

Original Folk Art Painting Thimbles 'n Threads by Catherine Holman

In the last couple years my new hobby, quilting, has become a big part of my life.  I won't say I'm that great at it, but I do love it!  I also love that my daughter, Amber, and daughter in law, Bonnie love to come over and sew with me.  We are learning together.  I wish my mother was still here to join us and give us some tips.  She was a great seamstress making wedding and prom gowns for women in our area.   She also worked in a sewing factory locally in our small town.  My mother made all my clothes when I was little too.  There's just something about sewing the brings up so many fond memories.   

With all that being said, I just finished this 8" x 10" painting and have listed it in my Etsy Shop.

"Thimbles 'n Threads"

Emily who has been sewing since she was 10 has finally opened her new quilt shop, Thimbles 'n Threads. Her grandma, Kate, taught her how to sew. Each and every stitch brings back so many wonderful memories of her grandma guiding her through every stage of making her first quilt. The shop cat, Cleo, greets the customers from her perch in the window as they come through the door.

This painting can be personalized with your first name painted on the black sewing machine sign between the two windows.

Now I'm off to work on a new quilt!

New Faithful Folk Art Painting

I just listed this little 5" x 7" painting in my Etsy Store.  You can check it out here.

As the stars and the moon shine down on Esther and Phillip’s cottage they are filled with memories of their wedding night 25 years ago. It was an evening just like this when they took their vows to each other and to God. They have put Him first in their marriage and have been blessed more than they could ever imagine. Being faithful to God and each other is the secret to a long and wonderful marriage.

Hoping you all are having a wonderful Spring!  I'm ready to starting putting out my plants after Mother's Day.  Flower gardening is my favorite thing to do next to painting!

New Original Painting, Thelma's Pies

I just finished this little 4" x 4" painting and have listed it in my Etsy Store.

Thelma Lynn got up early and has been making pies at her shop all morning. She started out the morning rolling out the crusts and lining the pans preparing them for the filling. Soon villagers will be stopping by to pick up orders and others will straggle in for a piece of pie and coffee. Her cat Ellen greets each visitor with a little purr. If she’s lucky she’ll get a little scratch on her head before they enter.

Thelma's Pies

I love these little 4" x 4" canvas' because they are 1 1/2" deep and there is no need for framing.  They look great sitting on a shelf or hanging and the scene wraps around the edges.

I've been busy baking, painting, and trying to decide what flowers I'm planting this year.  We've had some pretty great weather in the 70's, but one day we got to experience spring, summer, and winter all within 24 hours.  We had 77 during the day and by late afternoon it started dropping quickly and we got freezing rain and snow before I went to bed.  Crazy weather here in the midwest!

 

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!

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.