Not Officially Winter

 

Winter Cheer
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Matted: 8x10 inch
ACEO

This little ACEO brings a bit of Winter Cheer to you during this crazy holiday time.  The weather is a bit crazy too!  That time of year when one day it feels like Autumn and the next day it feels like Winter.  It's not officially Winter yet.

Skies are grey off in the distance.  I'm kinda hoping for a little bit of snow to cover up all those leaves we were unable to rake up because we got an early snow ... over a foot of snow!  We are in the northeastern part of the USA so this type of weather is normal.

New Project Instant Downloads

God Jul Tomte Christmas Card
Original Design & Illustration
by Artist Rita Squier

I started a new project just in time for the Christmas season!

I have been designing and illustrating these little tomte characters for several years now using traditional pen & ink with watercolors.  I decided to give it a try using Adobe Illustrator on my computer.  I love the little guys!

I turned them into instant downloadable digital files and I am offering them up for sale.

You can find this one and more in my Printable Christmas Card section of my Squier Etsy Shop.

Simply purchase the file.  Once your payment is approved and has cleared, Etsy will email you a link to the downloadable file.  Download the file to your computer and you can print it out as many times as you like or need.  Print on 8.5 x 11 inch card stock.  Trim just inside the black borderline.  Fold.  Voila!  A card ready for hand written holiday greeting.

Makes a great last minute Christmas card!
Makes a great DIY cozy stay in the house project.

If you need envelopes, they are easy to find online or at your local stationery store.

Use the Adobe Acrobat Reader available for free online, to print the PDF file.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Please note: My downloadable digital file is for personal use only.
Commercial use of my digital file is prohibited.

Mini Painting Big Mat

Autumn Coming to a Close
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Mat: 8 x 10 inches

One of my favorite Autumn landscape paintings, still waiting for a new home!

I have begun to mat several of my little original ACEO watercolor paintings in 8x10 mats and offer them up for sale this way.  Ready for you to place in your own 8x10 inch frame.  They look stunning hanging on the wall in an oversized mat.

For a long time now, my upstairs hallway is lined with my little "keepers" and I love it!

This little painting Autumn Coming to a Close is currently available in my Squier Etsy Shop.

Afternoon of Photography

Variety of Original Watercolors
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Paintings
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches (each)

I went through my archives of watercolor paintings and found a bunch of little watercolors that I have never put up for sale. I spent the afternoon photographing these delightful little works of art.

It started out as a perfect overcast day with plenty of lovely natural light.  I had everything set up next to my South facing window in my studio and I began to take the pictures.  Soon after I started, the sun came out!  Super bright sunshine streamed through my window casting harsh bright light on my set up.  I began to edit the photos I had already taken before the sun broke through.  Then I came up with a brilliant idea.  I taped a piece of tracing paper to my window and I was able to take more pictures with good lighting.

These little paintings will be popping up in my Squier Etsy Shop real soon!

Round Droplet is already there.

A simple sheet of tracing paper saved the day!

Marigolds Make Autumn Sing

Marigolds
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Matted Size: 8x10 inches

This time of year the marigold plants in the garden begin to really take off and bloom like crazy.  Their vibrant oranges and yellows are perfect.  They really pop and sing!  Smiling brightly during this gloomy rainy season.

This tiny little painting from my Painting A Day Challenge in 2010, is perfect in a black mat. Loose, free, happy little brushstrokes make this Marigolds still life painting sing.

Matting Little Works of Art

Citrine Forest
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Matted: 8x10 inches
ACEO

I have decided to add a mat to some of my little original watercolor ACEO art card paintings.  The paintings are 2.5 x 3.5 inches and the mat size is 8x10 inches.  This makes them easier for you to purchase and add your own frame and hang on your wall.  I am also giving you the option of a black or white mat.

I have begun to add quite a few of my little watercolors that have never been listed for sale before online or in my Etsy shop.  The plan is to add at least a few each day.  Drop by my Squier Etsy Shop to see more of these little treasures.
It's just a click away: squier.etsy.com

ACEO = Art Cards, Editions & Originals always 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Most of my ACEOs are little original watercolor paintings.

Splat from the Past

Splat I, II & III
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Each One Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
ACEO

The Splat Series!  A set of 3 little abstract watercolor paintings.  A blast or splat from the past.  These little ACEO sized paintings were done in 2009.  I have decided to put them up for sale in my Squier Etsy Shop as a set.

This was a fun little experiment in abstract painting.

My Giclee Fine Art Prints

Tomte 2017
Giclée - Fine Art Print
Size: 5x7 inches

I have added my giclée prints back into my Squier Etsy Shop!  I love this adorable little tomte hiding a Christmas tree behind his back.

These 5x7 inch prints are placed in an 8x10 inch mat.  They are ready for you to set in your own 8x10 inch frame.

Makes a great holiday decoration!

You can also check out the other 5x7 inch prints matted to 8x10 inches that I have available in this section of my Squier Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/squier?section_id=10134149

Tulip Series New This Spring

"Can a Tulip Blush"
by Artist Rita A. Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size:  5x7 inches

Last Autumn, I planted a dozens, maybe a hundred new tulip bulbs.  They have been amazing this Spring.  Some are still blooming!

Every few days, I have been painting one of the many tulips from my own garden.

This is the most recent watercolor painting.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these lovely little paintings, please contact me via email, facebook or even twitter.  My contact info is off to the side.

Facebook Page:  http://facebook.com/rasquier
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/therita
Etsy:  http://squier.etsy.com

Twitter Art Exhibit Donation 2019

Dew Drops for Scotland
by Artist Rita A. Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 12 cm x 16 cm

This is the watercolor painting I donated this year to the Twitter Art Exhibit 2019 held in Edinburgh, Scotland to raise money for Art in Healthcare on May 11, 2019.

My lovely little watercolor painting sold on opening night!

More original postcard sized, affordably price, fantastic little works of art are still available for purchase online at Art in Healthcare's Website.

Search Twitter for #TAE19 or #TwitterArtExhibit for more info, to converse with the artists and view some of the amazing art that has been donated this year.

Twitter Art Exhibit Donation 2018

Dew Drops for Pegasus
by Artist Rita A. Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size:  12 cm x 16 cm

I created this small watercolor painting the size of a postcard for the Twitter Art Exhibit 2018.  This years exhibit is in Australia and it will be raising money for Pegasus Riding for the Disabled.  Pegasus offers therapeutic horse riding programs for people, including children with a disability.

The Twitter Art Exhibit opening is April 7, 2018 at the Strathnairn Arts Gallery in Canberra, Australia at 4 pm.

If you are an artist, have a Twitter account and would like to donate an original work of postcard sized art check out the Call For Artists.

My little painting is now on its way from New York to Australia!

Dusting Off My Techniques

Tranquility
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size:  8x10 inches (cropped a bit)

Fresh off the art board, this precious little watercolor painting.

It is a bit late in the evening, the sun has set. I attempted to take this photo with an iPad Mini and edited the colors to look as best I could on my computer screen simply using the Preview program.  It is a close representation of the piece!

Tomorrow, with proper natural light I will retake the photo and add this new painting to my rasquier.com website.

I painted this little painting on an 8x10 piece of 300 lb. Waterford paper that I found kicking around my studio.  I do love to paint on 300 lb. paper, it handles the water and the paint differently than a 140 lb. piece of watercolor paper.  You have more time to play with the color and techniques because the paper stays wet longer.  Plus I pulled out my Series 7 Winsor Newton brush, it has an awesome point to create that fabulous tree with the thin wispy branches.

It's a Birthday Snow Day

Happy Birthday to Me! 

There's a huge snowstorm outside and my birthday cake is an ice cream cake this year.

Brrrrrr

Hope you all are staying toasty warm.

Hoping to have a year filled with creativity!

Back to painting ... tomorrow.

Love Watercolor Painting

New Beginning
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 9x12 inches

Today's newest watercolor painting!

New Beginning is a fantastic title for this little wonder.  I have not painted all too often for the past year.  I did hand paint my Christmas cards which perhaps sparked my interest in watercolor painting again.  I do absolutely love to paint especially in watercolor a rather challenging medium.

Hopefully this fresh start and new beginning will continue and I will be back to doing what I love doing best.  Painting watercolors, experimenting in other mediums and also teaching and giving out watercolor painting tips.

Happy New Year 2018

Fresh Start
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size:  8x10 inches

Happy New Year Everyone! 

I have decided to give my painting, my website and my blog a brand new fresh start for 2018.  I cleared off my easel and created this lovely little watercolor painting today.  Then proceeded to figure out how to add it to my website.

Updating my website has become a challenge.  I have been trying my best to learn how to use Adobe Dreamweaver pretty much all Summer, Autumn and now this Winter I am going to master it!  I was so good at using Adobe GoLive.  For me, it was quick and simple to use because I knew it so well.  I had been using it for years!  However, the program had become outdated and extinct.  The program and my desktop no longer wanted to talk to the internet.  Too many other things in life had gotten in the way of my art.  I have decided to give myself and my art a Fresh Start.  Learning and updating the art and design things I keep putting on the back burner, my website, my blog.  I myself need to be a priority along with some of the things that make me happy.  The number one thing that makes me happy is creating art.

2018 will be filled with more art, more watercolors and more creativity.

And more blogging!

ACEO - Art Cards Editions and Originals

Mahjong Tiles
by Artist Rita Squier

ACEO
Giclée - Fine Art Print
Size:  2.5 x 3.5 inches

What is an ACEO?

The letters in ACEO stand for Art Cards, Editions and Originals.

The Art Card Originals are handmade one at a time.  They can be created in any medium such as watercolor, oil paint, acrylics, pen and ink, multi-media, collage and the list goes on.

The Art Card Editions are prints.  They can be open ended editions and sometimes they are limited edition prints.  The printing method can vary as well.

The main requirement of the ACEO or ATC is the size.  They are always 2.5 x 3.5 inches.  They are the same size as trading cards, like baseball cards.  They are kind of a trading card for artists.  They are called Artist Trading Cards or ATC when traded amongst artists.  They are considered ACEOs when they are sold to artists and collectors.

Collecting ACEOs whether they are originals or prints is an excellent way to start an affordable art collection!  They are small and often times not very expensive.

I love to create ACEOs!

Julia's Cross a Memorial to My Mom

Julia's Cross
by Artist Rita Squier

A watercolor painting I created in memory of my Mom who recently passed away in November.  The watercolor is so beautiful and meaningful, I wanted to be able to share it with others.  I had fine art giclée prints made.  The paper is Somerset Velvet.  It has the look and feel of watercolor paper.  The prints have turned out so nice it looks like a real watercolor painting.

If you would like a copy of this beautiful spiritual print, you can find Julia's Cross as an 8x10 inch print in my Squier Etsy Shop.  Also available are 5x7 inch prints with or without a mat in my Squier Etsy Shop.

New Prints for 2017

My newest endeavor to start off 2017 are giclée prints.  These prints were made from watercolor paintings I created in memory of my Mom Julia and my Aunt Viola.  Two very wonderful ladies who will always be very dear to me.

The new prints are currently available in my Squier Etsy Shop.  Both styles are done in 5x7 and 8x10 inch.  I offer the 5x7 prints matted and ready for you to frame in a standard 8x10 frame.

They can be found in the Giclée - Fine Art Prints Section of my Squier Etsy Shop.

New Backdrop for My Art

I was trying to figure out what I could use for a new backdrop for my watercolor paintings that I put up on Etsy for sale.  I tried looking around the house to see if I had a cool new spot I could use to photograph my art.  A new spot that also had great natural light.

I decided my original spot to photograph my art was the best.  It has great lighting, if I can get to it at the right time of day with the right amount of sunshine.  Works like a charm every time.

I wanted a more creative backdrop than just the wall or just a plain white canvas panel.  As I was searching for little paintings to add to my Studio SALE I found an unfinished background for a painting.  It was blue.  I used that for a few paintings.  But I had a lot of trouble getting the blue in one of the paintings to photograph properly.

A day or two later, I came up with the perfect solution!  I would use the backside of the blue background painting.  It is an awesome 300 lb. half sheet of 100% cotton rag archival watercolor paper.  I decided to paint a new backdrop with neutral colors!  I wanted to keep it pale and simple.  I used Carbon Black and Neutral Tint.  I added a few splatters of clear water and a few splatters of my two colors.  I must admit I am very pleased with my result!

I photographed a few of my Studio SALE paintings and I do think they turned out pretty good.  Pop on over to my Squier Etsy Shop and take a look.  You may find a cute little painting you just have to buy!

8 Years on Etsy

Today marks my 
8th Etsy-versary!

I have now been selling my art and more on Etsy for eight years.  I have sold paintings and shipped them all over the world.  It is wonderful to be able to say I have paintings in collections through the USA, Canada, all over Europe, even South America, Australia, Asia, including Brunei.

Today, I have created a Studio SALE section in my Squier Etsy Shop.  The prices are incredible, if you like a painting snap it up quick!  I am not sure just how long I will keep the prices low.

The Studio SALE section has a quite a few watercolor sketches and fun quick paintings and I plan on adding more and more each day this week.

A big thank you to all those who have purchased my art, my designs and my artisan crafts over the years!  -- Sincerely, - Rita

Twitter Art Exhibit Opening Tonight

Dew Drop Trio in Blue
by Artist Rita Squier

Original Watercolor Painting
Size: 4x6 inches

The Twitter Art Exhibit Opens Tonight! 

I donated this lovely little watercolor painting to the Twitter Art Exhibit in New York City the sale of the donated paintings in this exhibit from artists all over the globe supports Foster Pride NYC.

The opening is tonight March 31, 2016 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the Trygve Lie Gallery located at 317 E 52nd St. NYC.  The show runs through April 21, 2016.  All of the postcard sized art is handmade and the price is only $35 each.  Here's your chance to get a fabulous piece of art at an affordable price and support a wonderful charity, Foster Pride NYC.

Buy my painting Dew Drop Trio in Blue at the opening!

Attend the exhibit and follow us on twitter!
@TheRita
@Twitrartexhibit
@FosterPrideNYC
#TwitterArtExhibit