Frida Kahlo Burning Heart Folk Art

"Love Leads the Way"

Love is like a flaming light that shows us the way when we are uncertain. Frida is always beautiful with her flowers and cat. How does she manage to always look great? This is the second large painting I'm offering of Frida Kahlo. It's an inspirational one that would look great in your office or home. Kitty with paws curled in front looks like he/she is praying. I think that every time I see our cats with their paws folded just so. The painting measures a large 16 x 20 inches and makes a colorful statement.

I looked at lots of sedum plants (Autumn Joy and others) today and if you are familiar with them they are a beautiful blue and green depending on the lighting. They are about the same colors as agave plants. This is the color I carried around today even into this painting.
Up for sale on ebay with a low start price for a large painting.

Frida Kahlo's Secret Garden Folk Art

We gardened all day Saturday so when I came in I was still gardening on canvas. Here is Frida's Secret Garden where she can always find her friends...look at all of the little birds lined up for their turn in Frida's hand. There are so many benefits when you have a garden. Birds bring you the best seeds from other people's gardens! We all look for little surprise plants in our flower gardens every spring. Little gifts of love they had left for us to find <3.

Frida's Secret garden is on a large 24-inches tall and 8-inches wide canvas. Lots of brushstroke details and the colors are magical and bright. To see more pictures click here where it is listed for sale.

Did anyone else outdo themselves gardening on Saturday?

Making and Shaping a Paperclay Folk Art Doll

To begin just get your hands wet and start shaping your doll. Have a bowl of water at hand to keep dipping your fingers in and keep shaping. My dolls will look like the girls in my paintings so I shaped them accordingly.

I attached the clay to the stair rail spindle and then finished shaping it. This clay attaches itself to most everything and it shrinks a bit as it dries. The railings are a great way to give your dolls height and, if attached to another block on the bottom, keep them standing securely.

Drying times vary, but give it a few days to cure or fully dry. The paint works as a sealer so it's important that it be dry first before painting.

Here I have started painting my black americana girl. I put a close-hanger wire through the upper body to make space to attach her arms. You can use wire, small dowls, string and buttons to attach arms. I don't think I will use this fabric but it was handy for the picture and it does look good against her facial coloring.

Paperclay is super to work with. Keep it wet and you don't need many tools. Your fingers can smooth out everything as long as they are wet. A wet sponge buffs it like a light sanding when it's wet. You can also sand when it's completely dry. I've heard people say the finished doll looks like china. Especially with a glossy finish.

For this doll it took 1 1/3 packages of paperclay. 6 oz. packages. Check back for the finished doll! She will be up for sale on yes, you guessed it, ebay.

Valentine's Day Cupid Mexican Folk Art

Gardening is on my mind more and more these days as the seed and plant catalogs are avalanched to our door by the postman. Then Valentine's day has such a romantic pull to it. All you need is love...and a rascal cat. I added a cat mouse toy with little red hearts on it plus the hugs and kisses on Frida's blouse. Topiary heart plants and love. And they are evergreen which means love lasts through all seasons. No one can miss all of the symbols of love I reckon. Fun ones at that.

But better yet Frida is Cupid and with the help of her black cat she is going to plant lots of seeds of love in everyone's hearts. I think the colors show that Frida is very serious about being Cupid. Link to Painting.

Love is Heart Cupcakes- Daily painting Valentines

Our cat used to have the midnight crazies and now it just wants to steal our whipped confections. Thus came about this 5 x 10-inch painting titled "Heart Stealer." Don't let the cute heart glasses fool you. Kitty is cute though. Kitty only has eyes for cupcakes...paws are going to make them hers. The bluebirds wait for the crumbs.

I seem to zig zag back and forth from day to day from soft colors to bright, rich saturated colors. I tried to add a few light notes to the rich ones...such as the light pink dress and the light green shirt. I do love the rich red, orange and pink color combinations in the garden and in art on canvas. Even textiles. Think merrimekko.

Up for sale on ebay.

Yarn Knitting Girl Cat Folk Art

Fall and cool weather are here! A new little painting of the yarn girl knitting socks for santa. Yes, Santa Claus. Two kitties help with the production. One works with yarn tension and the other on her lap tests for durability. Up for sale now.

I think she looks cute in her beanie. They're not just for kids.

Scottie, Cat, Doll & Frida Kahlo Candylei Painting

A new little painting with our westie's cousin in it for sale on ebay now by seller: colorist_painter. Scottie is so cute in the right hand corner. Kitty has a face with white fuzz on it from playing with the white cotton yarn. I have this exact little old-fashioned singer sewing machine! I also made a Frida doll to sell coordinating with this painting. Check back tomorrow for that picture.