Purple Clematis & Hummingbird

I shipped out my last mailbox of the year a few weeks ago. Even though right now, I'm taking time off from this kind of work to concentrate on some other painting projects, I really did like the subject as it reminds me of kinder months weather wise.

The customer wanted deep purple Clematis as this is the flower that grows by her mailbox post. She said they always attract a good bunch of red throated hummers each year as well , so she wanted to combine these themes for her new mailbox. I hope that the purple Clematis and Hummingbird will bring a bit of warm weather spirit to your winter.

Little Gray Kitty

My little gray kitty mailbox was a holiday order I shipped out last week. It is going to its new home, all the way to Belgium believe it or not.

I often get asked what I need to complete a pet portrait mailbox. All I need to do a proper job, are as many good quality photos as you can send via e-mail. I need as many close ups and different poses as you can come up with. Basically, the more good quality photos that you can send me, the better.

I doubt I will have much time in the next few weeks to work on my rose watercolor. Even though I'm yearning too, I have a slew of Christmas orders to complete and get shipped out so at the moment, those take priority. I hope to return to my watercolor over my Christmas vacation. This is when I take a much needed break from custom orders, to focus on what I would like to paint.... or sometimes, I paint nothing at all.

A Mix Of Topics

I guess it just seems easier at this time of year, since there are so many good photo opportunities outside, to mix some of my posts up between the outside world and my artwork. I'm still stalking butterflies in my spare time and I was lucky enough to get some good photos of this little guy above. I was walking one of the dogs and saw the butterfly above on some of my potted plants in the front. I quickly got Willow back in the house and ran outside to take some photos.

My pereinnial Hibiscus are just beginning to bloom now. Although they bloom on and off through the fall, they are most prolific from late July to late August. For those 4 weeks I pretty much get non stop blooms. I have 7 Hibiscus right now, whites above (the first blooms to open) 2 different shades of pink and also a red.

I painted this watercolor 2 years ago...big surprise, it's called Pink Hibiscus. It was a lot of fun to do and they really and truly are some of my favorite summer flowers.

My Hibiscus are the tall plants in the very back of the garden. Only a few weeks ago, they were as tall as the lilies in front of them, but now, they have gotten way taller and will be bursting open any time now. The white blooms from above are on the smaller Hibiscus to the extreme most left and are only visible from the side. I'll also try to take a photo of the 7 of them when they are really in full bloom because they are quite a wonderful sight to see.

I shipped off a cat portrait mailbox this week, today actually and I hope the person who ordered it will really enjoy it. These mailboxes always cause me a bit of stress as I always worry about the customer and owner of the animals, liking the representation I've done. I'm actually quite relieved when they are finished and shipped out.

New Things For Me

For a change, I painted something for myself. We desperately needed a new mailbox and I thought this would be a good time to make one because we are moving in a couple of weeks so, new house, new mailbox.

I have a plaque that I made some time ago for my front door that I painted with Hydrangeas, one of my favorite flowers. I decided the mailbox should matche the plaque so I did the same flowers but added my Little Spring Bluebird I've been painting on pins as I thought it would go nicely. I also have a planter that has been painted with Hydrangeas so I think the 3 items on my front porch , will look very beautiful.