Craftsmanship

I'm thinking about my dad today, who has been gone for 10 years now...

The best gift I ever received was a wooden oven that my dad (a carpenter) hand-crafted for my 4th birthday. It had knobs that really turned, burners made out of coffee can lids, and a door that would open and close so I could put Bingo the Cat inside to "cook" him a little (hey, I was only 4!). It was a thing of beauty and I loved touching the wood--sanded to silken smoothness, with every corner and edge rounded to perfection. And thus began my appreciation for fine craftsmanship and artistry... Thanks Dad!

Many years later the tradition would continue when he hand-crafted this exquisite Sam Maloof-inspired child-size rocking chair for my son Chris who was 1-1/2 years old at the time (he's 23 now!). Some of the wood in this chair is from an old Chinese elm tree from our family home that was cut down when I was 11!

I have the pleasure of being the keeper of the chair until Chris has a place of his own where he can display it. It is a thing of beauty and I love touching the wood--sanded to silken smoothness, with every corner and edge rounded to perfection.

Thanks Dad!

Frozen

Illustration Friday (theme: "frozen")

I came across this little cottontail early one morning on a five-mile hiking loop through the foothills . It wasn't cold at all, but the young bunny was frozen solid. Frozen as in "if I hold so still that not even a whisker twitches, certainly she will not see me and eat me."

It worked!

Leave Only Footprints...

As the season draws to a close and we head into one of the last weekends of summer (a LONG weekend here in the USofA), here's hoping that you make some time to enjoy the beauty and wonder of Mother Earth.

There was a saying that was impressed upon me by a forest ranger in Yosemite when I was a youngster that I thought was oh-so-clever (and to this day think is oh-so-important!): Take only pictures and leave only footprints...

Have a great weekend!

My LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS design is available on a variety of great camping t-shirts, note cards, totes, and more in my Cafepress shop: Susan Faye For Nature Lovers

Etsy Asks "Which Item Colors You Beautiful?"

I was pleased and excited this morning to discover that Etsy.com has included my "Peaceable Kingdom" print in their weekly poll asking "Which Item Colors You Beautiful?" Please vote for me at

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=57


...and if you don't mind, please ask all of your cat-dog-bird-butterfly lovin' friends to vote too {{{pretty please with sugar on top }}}! If you aren't already a member of Etsy, it's easy to sign up! Voting ends early next Monday morning...

Thanks!

This print is available with or without text in my Etsy shop: Matted Print

And is also available as a mini poster in my Cafepress shop: Mini Poster

Illustation Friday: Unfold

Illustration Friday
(theme:"unfold" )

A watercolor from the archives...a delicate yellow cactus blossom beckons a honeybee while tightly-closed buds await their turn to unfold...

Thanks for visiting!

This limited edition giclee print, called "First Blush" is available as a matted print in my Etsy Shop

Illustration Friday...Peaceable Kingdom

Illustration Friday
(theme:
"hierarchy" )




The Peaceable Kingdom:
A Kinder, Gentler Food Chain






Thanks for visiting!

"The Peaceable Kingdom" is available as a matted print in my Etsy Shop

Illustration Friday...Lucky Charms

Illustration Friday
(theme:"talisman" )


Having possibly used up seven of his nine lives to date (the incident with the shi-tzu is still unconfirmed as actually having been a life-threatening situation...), Clancy never leaves the house now without wearing his Good Luck Talisman around his neck.


Bird Brain 3 can be found on tote bags, tees, note cards and more at my Cafepress Shop.

It is also available as a matted print at my Etsy Shop: Bird Brain 3 print

I'M SO GLAD IT'S SPRING...

...and boy, am I glad! The daffodils are blooming, the tulips aren't far behind, and all of our feathered friends are finding their way back to our bird feeders after their winter vacation in sunnier climes....

"I'm So Glad It's Spring" is the title of this watercolor painting of a White-Crowned Sparrow , and I'm happy to report that the painting is currently winging its way to its new home Missoula, Montana, having just sold yesterday at Lawrence Gallery Sheridan (thank you Margot!). To celebrate, there will be extra suet for all this week, maybe the fancy peanut delight kind...

Thanks for visiting!


"I'm So Glad It's Spring" is also available as a limited edition print at my Etsy Shop.

Each print is personally signed and numbered by me, and is printed on Epson 100 percent cotton rag acid-free art paper with archival quality inks using a "giclee" (ink-jet) process. The image itself measures 9-1/2" x 12-1/2" and is matted in white, ready to frame in a standard 16" x 20" frame. The edition is limited to 200 prints.

Illustation Friday: Legendary

For at least 700 years, the legendary Havasupai Native Americans have lived along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Imagine generation after generation telling and re-telling their fireside legends about Raven and Bear.

The Havasupai call themselves the “people of the blue-green water”. This raven is halfway down the trail that goes to the canyon floor, and if you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of the blue-green glint of the mighty and timeless river below...

Thanks for visiting!

This Grand Canyon Raven image is available on clothing and gifts at my Cafepress Shop: www.cafepress.com/SusanFayeNature

Illustration Friday is a wonderful website that presents a different theme each week, then encourages illustrators to submit an illustration about that theme.

IF: Intricate

My entry for Illustration Friday is a watercolor study of a little song sparrow that I painted last year.

I love the INTRICATE pattern of banding that he had on this throat and chest...it was a fun challenge to paint. He had a favorite fence post and would appear every late afternoon and serenade us with his beautiful song after eating his fill of seeds spilled on the ground by the feeder birds.

I just put this painting up for sale in my Etsy Shop:

Song Sparrow Watercolor

Illustration Friday is a wonderful website that presents a different theme each week, then encourages illustrators to submit an illustration about that theme.

Enjoy!

Let Your Dreams Take Wing

"Breezy" is this week's theme for Illustration Friday. My entry is my watercolor of a hawk dancing on the wind. We have a wonderful array of hawks, eagles and vultures in the Willamette Valley and Coastal Hills of Oregon, and I always find inspiration when I see one of these splendid birds floating through the sky.

This image is available on my line of Mother Nature giftware at my Cafepress shop: Susan Faye For Nature Lovers

Illustration Friday is a wonderful website that presents a different theme each week, then encourages illustrators to submit an illustration about that theme.

Thanks for visiting!

A Tale of Two Rabbits

I'm happy to announce that both of these rabbits have recently found new homes, thanks to the beautiful and talented Margot Cole, super Sales Consultant at Lawrence Gallery Sheridan, and a wonderful artist herself.

The jackrabbit was one of many that Dave and I spotted on one of the dusty back roads of Anza Borrego State Park in the California Desert, several springs ago. The cottontail was an inhabitant of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens in Claremont, California, caught munching on a grape leaf one bright morning....


Both have made their way to the Great Pacific Northwest, where they now reside as watercolor paintings in the private collection of a Portland couple. Like me, hopefully these Southwest bunnies will get used to a little less sunshine and thoroughly enjoy their new home.

To see my current collection of paintings at the Lawrence Gallery, please click here: Susan Faye at Lawrence Gallery

Thanks for visiting!

Count Your Blessings And Your Birds

It's that time again folks--

The Great Backyard Bird Count begins across North America on Friday, February 13th. It's simple and it's fun. It spans four days, but you can participate for as little as 30 minutes during one day of your choice.

For more information, visit the wonderful interactive site: Great Backyard Bird Count

These two paintings feature goldfinch pairs that are regular visitors to our feeders in the spring and summer--haven't seen any of these pretty little chirpers yet this year but Dave spotted a gorgeous varied thrush a few days ago, along with the juncos and chickadees...

I'll be counting birds most of the weekend, but I'll also be demonstrating watercolor painting techniques at
Lawrence Gallery Sheridan
in Oregon on Sunday, Feb. 15, from 1 to 4-ish p.m. in the gallery's Wine Shop.

Both of these watercolor paintings that are part of the exhibit which includes about a dozen more nature studies in watercolor. To see the whole collection, visit this link:

Watercolors at Lawrence Gallery

Thanks for visiting!

The Winter Blues...and Greens, and Pinks, and...

Got the Winter Blues? Feet dragging as you head out the door into the blustery cold and gray day? I've put a little art collection together that will hopefully put a little Spring in your step...

This watercolor painting is called "Joy Illuminated" and it is a visual description of the joy I felt on a spring day walking through a luminescent tulip field with a riotous display of glowing blossoms in every color.

The entire collection can be viewed in the Wine Shop at the Lawrence Gallery, 19700 SW Hwy 18, halfway between McMinnville and Sheridan in Oregon,

OR click on this link:
Susan Faye at the Lawrence Gallery

Thanks for visiting! I'd love to hear your feedback in the Comments section below...

Featured Art : "DEW-KISSED"

I'm pleased to announce that my fine art watercolor paintings are now represented by Lawrence Gallery, Oregon. This painting, entitled "Dew-Kissed" is included in the current collection.

The painting was inspired by a trip last fall to the Portland International Rose Test Garden, where hundreds of different rose specimens were still in their full glory.

If you would like to see more of my artwork that is currently exhibited at the gallery, click on this link: Susan Faye at the Lawrence Gallery

To find out more about this beautiful rose garden (admission is free!) visit Portland Rose Garden.

Thanks for visiting!

LET IT SNOW!

It's SNOWING! The Great Pacific Northwest has been blanketed in a beautiful layer of fluffy white snow; children are sledding down the hill near Lamson Park, and the rest of us are staying warm and cozy inside.

To celebrate the fast approaching Winter Solstice, I have designed six new "LET IT SNOW DESIGNS", featuring Cat Ladies and their Feline Friends, snuggled up in their winter coats

The original artwork is in the form of miniature watercolor paintings in the ACEO (art trading cards) format. These are currently for sale at www.SusanFaye.Etsy.com.

You'll also find these designs on a variety of t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, note cards, and more at www.CafePress.com/SusanFaye.

Enjoy your Winter Wonderland, wherever you might be. Thanks for visiting!

PEACE ON EARTH

A special "wish upon a star" for you and your loved ones during this holiday season and during the coming year: beautiful, shining moments of peace when you need them the most. Moments of quiet solitude, reflection, inspiration, fulfillment, joy, enlightenment, sharing, illumination...all of these are components of peace and I believe they can be quite contagious.

Not long ago Dave and I saw a roadside sign that said "If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours". It was hopelessly hokey, but we couldn't help ourselves: we instantly looked at each other, smiled, and then burst out laughing at how beautifully effective that sign had been.

Thank you to all of my wonderful customers and friends, old and new, for giving me the opportunity to share my artwork with you over this past year. I'm all smiles. Take one and pass them along.

All the best, Susan

NEW! Garden Cat Ladies

My newest series of Cat Ladies is called "Garden Cats". These were painted last week on the deck of Jim and Gretchen's yurt in the beautiful rolling hills of Sonoma County. Gretchen's beautiful garden is still producing a fine array of late season flowers and vegetables which are transformed into wonderful meals throughout the day. Gretchen's delightful artwork can be seen at www.GretchenButler.com.

My new Garden Cat Lady images are now available as ACEO miniature paintings on www.SusanFaye.etsy.com and are also available on wonderful gift ideas for your favorite Garden Goddess or Feline Fanatic at: www.CafePress.com/SusanFaye, including t-shirts, magnets, tote bags, mugs, and more for birthday or holiday giving.

NEW! Custom Cat Lady Portraits for Holiday Giving

The PURRfect gift for any Cat Lover! I will paint an original, whimsical CUSTOM watercolor painting of your favorite Cat Lady and one or more cats or kittens of your choice! There are several sizes and formats available including ACEO miniature portraits, and 16" x 20" matted paintings, ready for framing.

Here's how it works:

Visit www.susanfaye.etsy.com and select the size and type of portrait you would like. Then send an email with custom details including: cat lady's hair color and style, skin tone (ie ivory, cinnamon, deep brown), description of each cat or kitten(color, markings, short or long hair, etc). If you'd like, send me several good, clear photos of both subjects. Also let me know your favorite colors for the background and the cat lady's shirt.

When the painting is completed, I will send you an image for your approval. If there need to be any changes, let me know. Once you approve and item is paid for in full, I will ship your item via Priority Mail. Average turnaround time is two to three weeks.

You will be the owner of an original watercolor painting, however, please keep in mind that I retain the copyright and reproduction rights to all of the images I create. It may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission from me. I reserve the right to use the image on my line of Cat Lady giftware which is available on www.CafePress.com/Susan Faye.

I look forward to creating a one-of-a-kind gift for you. Thanks for visiting!

Happy Halloween!

Cheer up! Turn off those scary campaign ads and the gloomy economic forecasts and enjoy the fun of Halloween! Embrace your fears, whether they be black cats, hobgoblins, skeletons in the closet or those over-caffeinated political analysts!
Rekindle the joys of childhood by playing dress-up and make-believe and carve a jack-o-lantern or two!

With all this in mind, I have created 3 new Halloween designs featuring Lucky Black Cats and their Bewitching Cat Ladies...








You'll find these whimsical designs on canvas trick or treat tote bags, mugs for mulled cider, tee-shirt costume short-cuts, Halloween greeting cards, and more at: Susan Faye Originals.

You'll also find many other great designs for economical holiday or birthday gift giving...most items are under $20, and are sure to put a smile on your face!







Thanks for visiting!