Asheville Watercolor Map

I had such a great time creating this map for one of my favorite couples! 

Well not at first! ...I have to say, when I started this piece, I offered the bride her money back as I just did not feel my sketches were up to my standards. I had never drawn a map and couldn't create the look I was going for.  Here was her response, which cheered me on.~

"Oh Dana, I just love it!  I am trying hard to see the flaws and be critical and constructive -  but I honestly got little goosebumps and teary eyed I love it so much!  I really think it’s wonderful. I showed it to my mom and she was asking when we get it because she wants to show it off to everyone!  Hopefully this gives you a bit of a boost! I am honestly just so excited to have this hand-crafted piece of artwork representing the town I love and by an artist I admire – even better it represents a time in my life that is so special! I LOVE it! I just can’t wait to share it with everyone! So I thank you again for your honesty and your integrity, I just respect you so much for the hard work you put into what I know is a job that can be thankless and difficult at times! I can’t wait to frame the map and put it in on the wall in our first home as newlyweds (which we started to move into today, how fitting!). So thanks again, I am VERY happy and so excited. You don’t even know, all this special attention has just made it even more special and beautiful – so thank you for making that happen. YAY!"

So that did give me the boost I needed and I felt if she liked my sketches, she would like the final piece - and she did!

"We are just in love with the map, we’ve been showing them off and everyone loves loves loves it!  We loved working with you, too, it was such a special process. And thank you for making all of this happen, and for making it feel like such a wonderful collaborative process! It is rare you get to work with a true artist, and I feel so lucky to get to do it for one of the most special events of my life! So thank you!"

I am so happy I continued to work on it, as it turned out to be one of the most fun projects I have done. I loved adding in little, fun details that were meaningful to this adorable couple. Now I feel ready, and eager, to create more! The maps (or just a collage of favorite places) would make great house warming, wedding or holiday gifts or really a gift or keepsake for any occasion or time of life as you can make each as unique as you like.  They also make great Save the Date cards. My husband now wants me to create one for us!

I cannot wait to share their wedding photos with you. I loved the invitation I designed for the couple, as well as their reception pieces. It truly was one of the most fun weddings I have been a part of!  As soon as I get the professional photographs, I will share ~ or I may share a few I took as a sneak peek soon. :)

For now ~ D is for Daffodil

Because sometimes real life gets in the way ~

the D in my Alphabet Project will be Delinquent until

later next week.

I had several rush orders to get out,

thus the D in Delay.

For now, I leave you with D is for Daffodil ~

which are two illustrations I did, as a gift, for a wonderful client

when their little dog Daffodil died, unexpectedly, last year.

(yes, I did my typical 'two takes' on it,

using two different papers)

...and actually my daffodils are starting to bloom.

It is beginning to look a lot like Spring!

~~~

~ April in Paris ~

I wish I could say I was spending the month of April in Paris, but instead I have been busy creating a logo design and illustrations for April in Paris ~ a French Patisserie in Texas.

I met April about five years ago at two separate, week long, calligraphy workshops.  April was there to create a logo for her European bakery and espresso bar.  We had so much fun sharing and getting to know each other.  I lost touch with April soon after and was delighted to hear from her again. During this time she had decided she wanted more and left for NYC and then to Paris for more culinary studies.

While studying in Paris at the Ritz Escoffier and Le Cordon Bleu, her experience inspired her to start a new venture and open April in Paris.

When she contacted me she told me she loved the work I did at the workshop and wanted me to create a logo and some whimsical illustrations for her new bakery and website (not up yet).  She asked me to use the beautiful storefronts and patisserie of Paris, the colors of French macaroons, artisan breads, French silver and fresh ingredients for inspiration.  With those things in mind, and uncertain of exactly what she wanted, I started sketching away.

Here are a few of the illustrations I created for April's website and printed pieces.

artisian breads and pastries

I felt the first pedestal was too dark ~ so I did another ~ but liked the bread in the first one best.  Basically...pretty similar...

...and because I tend to redo things, that most people do not notice (those I have worked for will know this! :), I also drew another storefront, using my first outline. I felt the painting could be better...but in the end, I couldn't tell it was much different either. So, I now have one for my portfolio!

Pâtisserie Stohrer is a favorite of April's and was my inspiration for her storefront illustration.

fresh ingredients

 a macaroon pedestal

mini cupcakes on silver cherub stand

silver serving pieces

a few petits fours ... that didn't scan well

When I showed April several ideas I had for her logo design, her response was so funny, like that only of a baker - "I cannot possibly choose one. It is like looking into a freshly filled pasty case - you have to have a bit of everything!"  So I decided to go with a wheat wreath, encircling the logo, to represent the French artisan breads and pastries she loves to bake.  We then had her business cards engraved in gold on chocolate European paper. She loved that it was like a classic bittersweet chocolate macaroon with a touch of edible gold leaf or classic French gold gilt. Eventually, she wants her business cards to run the full spectrum of macaroon colors "just as the competition for the most exotic colors and flavors continue to unfurl in Paris...with gold gilt engraving, of course."  The first card she chose to use represents her love for the simple chocolate macaroon with a bittersweet chocolate ganache filling.

Creating a "look" for April in Paris was so much fun.  A happy client is the sweetest reward of all! 

From April~

Dana,
I knew you were the one I wanted to do this for me!!
Your illustrations are absolutely poetry in watercolor. I came to you wanting something specific and left with so much more since I entrusted you with so much artistic freedom. Little details I was not sure really came through with my description - you totally brought through.
I couldn't be more happy, unless I were sitting in a bakery on Rue St. Honore having a macaroon!
I cannot quit staring at it all. I am so excited. It is so much beyond what I was thinking. I just absolutely love everything!!!
Merci-
April

Home Sweet Homes

Earlier this year I was commissioned to render 8 house portraits for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary as a gift from their children. Working as an executive for GM, the couple moved quite a bit over the last 50 years.

From the townhome where they began their lives together and the first home for their three children,

to the home where they retired,

...and all the beautiful homes in between,

they have shared an amazing life together.

I hope each time they look at this painting it will bring back wonderful memories of the times they have shared together, and those with family and friends, over last 50 years ... and many more to come.

This was my first attempt at ever painting a house and coordinating eight on one page was quite challenging, but I was happy with the overall results.

Workshop with Joe Miller

A painting by Joe Miller from our workshop that he gave to me as a gift!. I was so excited!!

It is going to be perfect in my sunroom.

At the first of September, my mother and I had the privilege of taking a workshop with Joe Miller, fabulous artist, teacher and founder/owner of one of the country's largest mail-order art supply companies, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff. We were the first students to ever take private classes in his studio in Boone, NC. I felt so lucky just to be there. Joe is one of the kindest, most generous teachers I have ever had. He is so encouraging and positive and has the most wonderful personality and sense of humor. It was such a pleasure to spend three lovely days in his gorgeous studio overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. I will tell you more about Joe, or "Cheap Joe" as he is known, in a Featured Artist Friday post coming soon.

I told Joe I wanted to loosen up, get bolder and braver with watercolor. I tend to paint very light and I'm afraid to really put down color. With Joe’s help, he pushed me to go darker, spatter, spray,

get messy

Yicks! have never been this messy - but it was fun and I loved the results!

Joe's Paletteand just have fun mixing the color on the paper, as well as the palette, learning all sorts of new and exciting techniques.

He told us we really needed to work on value and do these little studies before we start painting. Obviously, I need some help in that area!

Joe's notes to me We really had fun taking the gestural approach to quick little figures. I think Joe thought we might have been a bit carried away with them as we were adding them to everything we did.

Joe's Little People

It was the most spectacular three days. I was sad to see it end. I hope to go back really soon.

Now that my wedding season is slowing down for the year, I hope to start working on all that we learned!

Speaking of weddings ... I have several amazing weddings to share with you over the next few weeks.

Sketchy Thursday

I haven't forgotten I promised to share details from my workshop a few weeks ago - but the truth is, I didn't produce anything I want to show! ;0

The class was held at Cheap Joe's in Boone, NC. I do not know why I have not taken more classes there, but have already signed up for 3 more! I will tell you all about those when the time comes. In the meantime, I have been keeping my goal of a sketch a day.

I had signed up for this workshop, entitled "Sketching with Watercolor" with Brenda Swenson, to try and loosen my style. I have painted detailed botanicals and house portraits many times, but nothing loose and free ... like I want to produce ... but I am changing my ways! Brenda commented that I drew a lot of detail and very tiny things and reminded me "not to paint the fleas before the dog"! I am so used to producing "small pieces of art" in my stationery and do love tiny little drawings, so I guess that is why I am having problem with large still life objects.

The class was a lot of fun. I did not get to attend all of it due to my dog starting her chemo and working out work schedules with my husband, but what I was able attend was very insightful.

Brenda is taking a small group to France in the spring of 2010 and I had just talked my husband into taking me, had all the plans worked out with the tour group, when she informed me it was full already. I have to say, I was very disappointed but have something else in the works.

I promise to show you some things soon, but in the meantime, I will show you my overworked urn. I am so drawn to urns and have so many as an antique lover and gardener, I am sketching and painting them all...on paper that is. I DO love this Twinrocker paper I am using. I have sold their stationery for years and only in the last couple of months started using their watercolor paper and really enjoy it. I think this piece, and its color, has the same patina as the urn.