The Folk Art of Christina Colwell

Finished Two More Paintings

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Well...I just finished two paintings. First, version two of the Three Owls. Mixed media on canvas. Lots of layers of vintage and colored collage papers. Owls are painted directly on canvas. Second is an illustration for Six Swans, a German Folk Tale. It is also mixed media on canvas, consisiting of layers of collage paper. This one waas a bit tricky since the layers of collage papers actually made up the landscape. The landscape looked pretty good before adding paint to give it depth and dimension. The main characters are painted directly on the canvas.

The originals are now available in my etsy store.

Random Drawing

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:40:00 +0000

This pendant will be given away to a lucky winner on January 17, 2010. Follow the link to find out how to enter.

http://www.helixelementaljewelry.blogspot.com/

Three Owls

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:05:00 +0000

I recently painted a picture of three owls. It was a commission and it's kinda cute. Katie, the commissioner, liked it lots. Thank you Katie.

This was painted using collage papers, acrylic, and oil pastel on 20" x 24" canvas.

I'm afraid the photo isn't great but at least offers an idea.

I think I'll try another, smaller version of this for kicks and giggles.

Johann Kisses Julia Number Three

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:10:00 +0000

I have been toying with the idea of doing "paintings on demand" through Etsy. I have a few painting designs that do very well and it seems to me if the paintings sell I should keep painting them. Makes sense right? So here is number three of "Johann Kisses Julia." This is the best of the three..I think. It is now available on Etsy.

Number three is painted after the same fashion as "Mother and Daughter." I like how it turns out so I think I'll adopt this particular method as an ongoing process. Vintage sheet music and colored collage papers fill in the background but the characters are painted directly onto the board. This board happens to be an upcycled cabinet door with a bit of edging that serves to frame the painting.
At any rate...one step closer to landing upon my own Christina Folksy style.

Give Away: Set of Ten Snowman Blank Art Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:55:00 +0000

Come on over to Helix Elemental's Art Spot and check out the GIVEAWAY! A set of 10 snowman cards. For those of you who are familiar with my work..you may remember the snowman art from last year. Well they have been well received and they're back! Come on over and find out how you can enter the drawing to be held Dec. 13, 2009.

Find Out How to Enter the Drawing HERE!

2010 Collaborative Folks Art Calender

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Announcing 2010 Collaborative Folks Art Calender featuring 12 frameable images (including Mother and Daughter - October)by 12 Folk Artists (including me..yay). Thanks to Ann Gardner for putting this project together.

The calenders are available at Just Us Folks at Etsy.

Just Us Folks A Collaborative Folks Project is a grassroots publishing company. Ann Gardner and her husband Aaron
have brought folk art from all over the world together in one place.

Ann says, "We love to make calenders and cards out of wonderful art while avoiding the commercial look. There are tons of over polished calenders an malls and stores everytwhere. These are unique. Each one of our Art Calenders is printed when ordered, hand cut, and hand packaged with lots of lovely goodness. You'll see...Just order one.http://www.etsy.com/shop/justusfolks

Johann Kisses Julia Original Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:56:00 +0000

A few months ago I found some vintage sheet music written for women's voices. It was a song about a heroic but mischeivous young man courting a girl by stealing kisses. Then giving her flowers. It was sweet and funny and it inspired the painting on the left. "Johann Kisses Julia" is collage, acrylic and oil pastel on an upcycled canvas covered board.

It sold rather quickly at the Farmer's Market during this past summer. I had no sooner sold it than I had another inquiry about that same painting. So I decided to try the same painting again. The second "Johann Kisses Julia" (right, below) has the familiar English folk song "Early One Morning" on vintage sheet music, collage papers, acrylic and canvas on hardboard background. I was also able to make prints from this one.

I actually like the first one best but because of the paper creases in the face of both Johann and Julia I was unable to get good prints.

The second original painting and prints are both available in my Etsy shop.

Mother and Daughter:

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:28:00 +0000

I just finished this painting for Amber and Serenity. I hope they like it. It is painted on 8" x 10" gallery wrapped canvas using layers of different papers and texts, acrylic, and colored pencil. I was happy with the end result. It is loosely based on some royalty free clip art that I found in a Dover book of Women. But, I have successfully made it my own and live guilt free.

Snegurochka: The Snow Maiden

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:03:00 +0000

Just Finished this painting "Snegurochka: The Snow Maiden" inspired by a Russian folktale about a old couple who had no children. They watched other children play with great longing. One day they decided to make a snow child. They formed her with snow balls and gave her lovely features. They were so impressed with their creation they wished that it was a real girl. Next thing you know, the snow sculpture comes to life and lovingly introduces herself to her new parents. Snegurochka was a delightful child. Everyone loved her but she preferred to be outside and didn't like to come indoors where it was warm. When Spring came she came to her parents in tears and said she had to go away for a while to the land of the North where it was always cold and snowy. They were so upset the slammed the door and trapped her inside. She melted away in less than an hour. They wept and wept over the loss of their beautiful daughter. When Winter came again, there was a knock on the door and to their amazement their loving daughter stood there before them. They had a joyous celebration. After that they were not so sad when Spring came because they know their daughter would return in the Winter and she did for many happy years to come.

This painting is acrylic and oil pastel on 8 x 10" gallery wrapped canvas. Prints are available in my etsy shop as well as the original painting. The prints come in two versions. One is cooler and closer to the orignal and the other is warmer with more intense warm colors. I would be interested in knowing which of the two you all like best. Please feel free to post a comment letting me know.

Hand Painted Pendants

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:46:00 +0000

During the summer I painted some 1.5" square wood pieces on both sides, drilled a hole and strung 'em up with ball chain. Amazingly enough, most of them have sold during this summers Arts and Crafts Market. I do have a few left though and plan to start listing them in my etsy shop. I suppose I could take custom requests but I'm not sure yet how my time availability is going to land. My husband is now working full time on his Jewlery http://www.helixelemental.etsy.com/ and this is good... However, things are still uncertain enough that I may have to go back to work full time at my regular day job rather than the part time hours that I currently work. I hope I don't have to do this but..we'll see how things go.

Jackie: Wil-o-the-Wisp

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Just in time for Halloween, my final attempt at capturing the "spirit", I now introduce to you...(drum roll please) Jackie! Wil-o-the-wisp. She is painted on an up-cycled canvas covered board..previously a hand painted serving tray. She is often referred to as a ghostly light, a mischeivous spirit, a sprite, but she is the one who lights your jack-o-lantern on halloween night. She is painted using acrylic and oil pastel. She has big hair because she is charged with static electricity and her wings beat her hair into their own wing shape when she flies. She lives in the swamp because she loves swamp creatures. Also it's a great place to play tricks on unsuspecting wanderers who bravely venture into her beloved play ground.

Both the original and art prints are available in my etsy store.

A Creative Dreamer.

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:51:00 +0000

When I stumbled across June's blog, "A Creative Dreamer " and commented on the winged heart, I had no idea she was giving it away. I missed that part. I just liked it. Next thing I know she's asking me for my address. Puzzled, I gave her my address and thought.."okay...if she wants to give me something I'll gladly accept. I remembered the little doodad and thought it would be nice to add to my collection of trinkets.

When I receive the stuffed heart it appeared to be made of vintage fabrics patchworked and cut from an old quilt. There was an embroidered flower and wings made from polymer clay. My response to it was totally unexpected. I can't explain it but it inspired feelings of warmth and affection. The kind that you have toward you favorite security blanket or teddy bear, You know...that one inanimate friend that you carried around as a child that was your constant companion and served as a reminder that you were safe in the world.

Having said all this...I finally found June's blog again and realized that she gives this stuff away occasionally to people who follow her blog. She has a new little doo dad that is a shrine with hearts. Very nice. My encouragement here is to hop on over...check out her blog. If you like what you see...follow her blog and post a comment. Maybe you will receive a warm surprise in the mail.

I am a Featured Artist on Whopple

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:27:00 +0000

I'm happy to announce that I am being featured on Whopple.com. I invite all of you to check it out. Also, if you are an artist, Whopple is always looking to interview new artists. It is a fairly easy process and means some exposure for you. So..what the heck?

Meri Meloncholy Original Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:22:00 +0000

This painting was finished a few days ago. Meri Meloncholy was inspired by a doodle and reminds me of a former co-worker and friend. Meri Meloncholy was neither sad nor jolly Contemplating life, without joy nor strife. Okay...I'm not a great poet but it does sum up the theme and mood of this mono-chromatic piece. She is painted on a home made serving tray made of canvas stretched over plywood. This painting serves to re-cycle and revive something that was trash bound. Meri is sweet and friendly but lives in the moody blue tones of life. She is not flamboyant nor exuberant but maintains a mello pleasantness just out of reach of depression and far from introversion. She thrives in the shade and gives bloom to an ability to get along well with all sorts of personality types. As she endeavors to identify what type of person you are she will draw you out of the sun into the shade or out of the darkness into the dim light. This ability makes her seem very angelic or possibly demonic. She is, of course, no devil or saint. She enjoys little sensual pleasures both openly and privately but is not afraid of the light and the higher things of life.

Custom People with Pets Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Have recently included customized "People with their Pets" portraits on Etsy. These were done from photos and are my first attempts. They are not the work of a master but I can pull these off pretty quickly and keep my price affordable. I plan to offer a folksier version also. Folksier... gee...I wonder if that is a word?

Custom Pet Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:45:00 +0000

Have recently completed an custom painting request for one of our faithful Farmer's Market customers. She has a couple of Corgies and asked for paintings. So.. here they are. They turned out pretty good. I have a new listing in my Etsy store for 5" x 5" custom pet portrait.

Duck Duck Goose

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:04:00 +0000

When my grandsons were a bit younger I liked to take them to Jordan River Parkway or any other park where there were ducks. We'd take a bag full of bread scraps and lure the ducks into our presence with tasty treats. One day we went to Sugar House Park where there was a nice little duck pond. Parker got a thrill out of chasing the ducks and Chris being the younger brother would follow. It wasn't so funny when they came upon a nasty old goose who wasn't so easily frightened by two little boys and their games. I now know, first hand, the logic behind the childrens game "duck duck goose!"

These paintings are mixed media. A bit of vintage paper, collage paper, acrylic paiont, colored pencel, oil pastel on hard board panel.

Halloween Offerings

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:03:00 +0000

Featured here is "The Ghost of John" inspired by lyrics from an elementary school song. You've probably heard it before but if not here is a recent version with additional verses. This version has a mellow but ethereal Enya-like sound. Ghost of John (Dead Composers Version) - Kristen Lawrence.

I had planned this painting a while back. Last week one of our Farmer's Market regulars asked if I could do something Halloween themed with Lillies for a friend who is having a baby on Halloween who's name will be Lily. I told her that I had planned to paint a "Ghost of John" Painting featuring "long white bones i.e. skeleton" and that the lillies would be easy to add in. Actually, the lillies are perfect. She has not yet seen the finished product but was pleased with the concept. I'll report back when she has seen the finished result.

In addition, We have a cute but "Spooky" rendering of Fiffinella riding a broom with her cat and caterpillar. The caterpillar is her dear uncle who was turned into a caterpillar by her angry and vindictive mother, Hose Nose. Fiffinella is a friend to small creatures and is on a quest to change him back to his former self. Though secretly, she likes him better as a caterpillar.

Fiffinella is inspired by child hood games. I have a whole series of stories based on this character and X-1-32 a Space alien played by my elementary school play mate, Kathy. I wonder if she remembers our silly games?

My sister is currently using Fiffinella as her avatar in Facebook with my blessing of course. So if you see her in Face book..it is my sister. Become her friend. She's delightfully weird.

White Rabbit and Paisley

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:17:00 +0000

It has been a while since I've posted anything here. When we were accepted into the downtown weekend craft market we have been working every waking moment to get ready and stay on top of our inventory. I did make time for a new painting. It is White rabbit and Paisley. It is acrylic and oil pastel on a gallery wrapped 8 x 10 canvas. It is just another in a string of paisleys incorporating small creatures.

Love Angel Series

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:36:00 +0000

It has been a while. We have been so insanely busy. I have a perpetual log jam in my brain. Somehow I do manage to get some painting done. I started a new blog that caters to my desire to honor G-d. This entire series will eventually be featured on my new blog with inspirational messages. I'm not a preacher or a teacher but I can share my own tidbits.
Meanwhile, here are the first two of a series of paintings based on Corinthians 13 referred to as "the Love chapter".

These paintings are 6" x 12" mixed media. Prints will be availalble in my etsy shop and eventually the originals will be available as well. Please feel free to visit my new blog http://hearttoheartprayerandart.blogspot.com/. Please keep in mind that it is still under construction but there will be works featured there that will not be featured here. The whole target audience thing. Thanks for dropping by and leaving your comments.

Mini Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:53:00 +0000

I have recently been printing and uploading Mini Cards like crazy. Russ and I are hoping to participate in the Farmer's Market this year. We plan to present pretty dichroic glass jewelry, assorted keepsake giftboxes and mini cards. The cards are 2.5" X 3.5" (ACEO sized) come with an envelope in a clear bag. They are cute and affordable at $1.50 each. They can also be found on all of our sites:

http://www.christinacolwell.artfire.com/
http://www.helixelemental.etsy.com/
http://www.christinacolwell.etsy.com/

Altered Pages and 99 Doodles

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Sometimes, when I get stuck and the creative juices just aren't flowing... doodling is the answer. Let go of all performance anxiety and just start doodling. When you have something that you like and want to share.. there are a couple of outlets for sharing that I have come accross in my efforts to create a social network. One is Altered Pages and the other is 99 Doodles.

The details of these are each posted on Helix Elemental Art Spot

Blog Posts: Altered Pages and 99 Doodles

Decora: Tokyo Street Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:01:00 +0000

My husband and I became fascinated with everything Japanese once we discovered the delightful world of Hayao Miyazaki of Ghibli Studios and his wonderful full featured animated movies (anime). (Just love his weird and whimsical sense of humor)

Most recently, we have been exploring the various cultural phenomena referred to as Kawaii which simply means "cute". After a bit of practise and research into the Tokyo street fashions I have created my own gang of "cute" kids with anime' styled eyes. I discovered that this was an fun and easy art form... I may be on a tangent now.

This series of postcards are my own stylized depiction of the Decora (fruit) style. This style is very playful, pink, incorporates toys, lots of hair doodads and above all...is very CUTE.

These images are acrylic on art paper collaged onto Photoshop altered photos of a Tokyo Street and printed on my printer.

They are currently available as postcards individually or as a set. Please visit http://www.christinacolwell.etsy.com/

Also, if you have a fascination for this playful style visit: http://decora-fashion.blogspot.com/

Wee Folk: Original ACEO sized Paintings on Canvas by Christina Colwell

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:12:00 +0000

This set of very small paintings were inspired by one illustration from a vintage book of Folk Tales. The paintings remind me of games that I played with my sisters when we were kids. We had our own world of make believe where we all were very small people inhabiting the things of nature. I realize this is a bit corny but we were imaginitive kids. In response to the growing popularity of the ACEO sized work of art or print Russ and I have constructed mini canvases. There are canvases available through Dick Blick that are fine but these are a little thicker enabling them to be stood on end.
Here is my first set, hand painted using acrylic paint on 2.5" x 3.5"x5/8" on these gallery style prestretched blank canvases.
These blank canvases are now available at:
http://www.christinacolwell.etsy.com or
http://www.helixelemental.etsy.com

Wee Folk: Photos of Original ACEO Sized Paintings by Christina Colwell

noreply@blogger.com (Christina Colwell) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:52:00 +0000