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.

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!

 

New Folk Art Painting, Sweet Pea Cottage

 This week I finished and sold this little 6" x 6" painting.  I'm not sure how much longer I can paint on these tiny canvas. I have a little 4" x 4" that I need to get started on too.  I'm going to give that a try!  I used to do these all the time.  I think it's a good way to get me motivated for a much larger painting.

I have a dream in my head of the old Flander's department store in our home town from years ago.  They had huge display windows that I'm wanting to do like the old Christmas displays from years ago.

Sweet Pea Cottage

Prints are now available in my Etsy store in two sizes. 

Helen and Clifford turned Sweet Pea Cottage into their own cozy sanctuary. Helen learned to garden and she created a place to dream and relax surrounded by beauty and fragrance. Clifford is always helping, carrying the heavy bags of mulch, soil, and rocks. They’ve made beautiful memories in their sweet cottage while raising their children and now they have time to sit back and relax in their garden. Reading and napping is on their schedule for today.

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

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!

 

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.

Sweet Water Stables Folk Art Painting

I can't believe it's finally finished!  I got caught up in gardening and kept putting off working on this painting.  Yesterday it finally clicked and I got on a roll to complete this summer scene "Sweet Water Stables".  I'm ready to do some camping this summer and relaxing!  

This painting is now for sale in my Etsy Shop.

Summer is always full of activity at Sweet Water Stables.  Peggy is busy with the horses and giving riding lessons while Dave drives into town for supplies. 

The Jones children know how to have a good time at Sweet Water Stables.  Once chores are done they head for the pond to cool off.  April, Tommy, and their neighbor Danny jump right in.   Mary reads and dreams in her favorite spot up in the tree while John sways from the tire swing.  Little Billy is giving Lady and her two new pups a tour of the farm from the red wagon.   Life on the farm is never boring!

Have you been able to do any gardening or outdoor activity this summer?  This has been a summer we won't soon forget!

Painting House Details On Folk Art Scene

Today I finished the first floor of the house adding curtains in the windows, rockers on the porch as well as the porch railings.  Bushes and a sidewalk were also painted and pumpkins and autumn leaves will be added once the surrounding area of the landscape is painted.

Below are more autumn prints that are available in my Etsy store at 15% off when you use the code BLOGREADER11 at checkout.  I would love it if you would subscribe to my blog in the righthand column on Linky or Google Friend Connect, but it's not necessary.  Just use the discount code and you will get a discount on your entire purchase each time you visit my store.

"Autumn Spice Cupcake"

"Peace Be to This House"

"Hometown America"

 I'll be back with more details added to the new autumn folk art painting.  I also need to start thinking of a title and if anyone has any ideas, please share in the comment section.  Hope you are having some wonderful fall weather wherever you are!

Catherine Holman

Christmas Print Sale

Happy Birthday!!

Sorry about the length of time between posts, but I've been sick with a terrible cold for three weeks and now the medicine that I'm taking makes my hands shake so I can't paint. I do feel better though.

Today is not my birthday. My birthday is at the end of February. My cold kept me from posting this until now because not only was it hard to paint it was very hard to type with shaky hands. I wanted to share what my crafty daughter, Amber, made me for my special day.

She made this little crochet hook case:

This cute little wreath:



This is the cover for some music she recorded on a cd for me. It's made with pictures from old Anthropology catalogs:




Isn't it cute!!!





She puts so much thought and love into everything she makes....




She also made me these adorable earring......

Please check out this post from her blog here. Also, if you like a real tear jerker check out her post here too.

Not responsible for any mistakes in the post. Ha!