Friday Feature

Metal Pink Necklace

Erin from ItsyBeadsySpider on Etsy creates fun and charming jewelry pieces and adorable needle felted cat nip toys, which you just have to check out.

Erin created this stylish Pink Metal necklace using one of my paisley torch fired beads. She's got a great knack for combining a variety of beads to fashion delightful and flirty pieces.

If you're looking for something quirky, exotic, romantic or just love dangly earrings browse through Erin's Etsy shop: ItsyBeadsySpider

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Fill Your Watercolor Palette

Save Paint, Save Money

Squeeze the watercolor paint from the tube directly into the wells of your palette, filling the wells completely. Don't be stingy.

Use a palette knife to stir and level the paint.

Tap your palette on your table top a bunch of times to force any air bubbles to rise to the top.

Allow the fresh from the tube paint in the open palette, to air dry in a dust free place for several days to a week prior to using.

This will help save paint. It's economical too!

If you use fresh from the tube paint and dirty up your pile with another color, there is no way to clean it up. A wet brush swiped across the top of the dried paint re-wets it and cleans it up at the same time.

Friday Feature

Red Tiger Necklace

Nikki from LoveRoot on Etsy created this fabulous necklace using one of my torch fired enamel on metal beads. This edgy victorian styled necklace has a 24" long black brass chain.

The red tiger bead simply smolders in this design!

This one and a lot more unique pieces are available in Nikki's Etsy shop:

LoveRoot

Take a look!

My Nook Book Cover

I created my very own Nook book cover. I am so happy and excited with my result.

I took a pretty journal and turned it into a secret book safe for my Nook. Choosing just the right size journal, height, width and depth was key.

I had a little help from my darling husband, who used a jig saw to remove the innards of the book. The rest I did myself. Planning, gluing, painting, cutting.

I even created the abstract watercolor used through out the inside. See your watercolor painting skills can come in handy for all sorts of projects!

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Label Your Watercolor Palette

It is an excellent idea to label the side of your watercolor palette with the names of the colors you have in your palette.

Use an Ultra Thin Sharpie for handwriting the color names or use a label maker.

If you have the name there you can easily glance at it to see which yellow or which blue you are using. Or if you have used it up and have thrown away the tube, you will have the name there so you know which color you need to re-order.

Here's an extra tip: Use a damp Mr. Clean Eraser to clean off the old name before writing the new name or re-writing a faded or worn off name.

Friday Feature

Fresh Water Pearl & Enamel Bead Hand-Knitted Necklace

Michaela from JewelryByMondaen on Etsy created this wonderful hand-knitted necklace. The silvery gray nylon yarn is beautifully knitted with shimmering silvery freshwater pearls throughout the entire piece and it incorporates two of my glass enameled metal beads as accent pieces. The craftsmanship and design is fabulous on this double strand 23 inch necklace. It gracefully comes together with a classy sterling silver hook and eye clasp.

It is reminiscent of a mystical fairy tale!

This stunning and elegant piece along with many of her other one of a kind amazing pieces can be found in Michaela's Etsy shop: Jewelry by Mondaen

It's worth a closer look!

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Add a Touch of Gold

Every now and then you want a bit of sparkle a bit of pizzaz in your watercolor paintings. Why not add a little bit of gold?

St. Patrick's Day is coming up, this could be your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I like Schmincke Pale Gold Dry Gouache. It is a powder. I place a small amount in a little dish and spritz in some water with a spray bottle. Use a brush to stir it around and it magically turns into a shiny gold opaque watercolor paint.

I recently used it to splatter a touch of gold onto an abstract watercolor.

Twitter Art Exhibit 2012

Mystical Dew Drops

by Artist Rita A. Squier

Original Watercolor Painting

Size: 4" x 6"

This is my entry to the charity Twitter Art Exhibit in Moss, Norway.

The sale of the postcard sized paintings on exhibit at the Moss Library beginning April 13, 2012 will benefit The Women's Crisis Center in Moss, Norway.

The Women's Crisis Center in Moss, Norway is where abused women and children can get help.

Click here to read more about: The 2nd Twitter Art Exhibit and the charity it benefits.

Search Twitter #twitterartexhibit to learn more and find more of the artist who are participating.

Graphic Design

I have been busy working away at creating the 2012 Squier Design Catalog and website. It's 98% there.

In need of racing graphics? Vinyl lettering for vehicles, company trucks, windows, etc? Banners?

Squier Design does more than just racing graphics!

Take a look:

http://squierdesign.com

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Splatter for Texture

Add some texture and fun to your watercolor paintings with a bit of splatter. I like to use an old watercolor brush and a wooden ruler.

• Load the brush with thick soupy paint.

• Tap the handle of the brush against a ruler, another paint brush handle.

• Allow the paint to splatter onto your watercolor paper.

• Hold your hands at different angles and levels to vary the pattern.

Practice on a test piece of paper or the mixing tray of your palette. When you get the hang of it add splatter to your watercolor paintings to give it some texture.

If you want to keep splatter off of certain areas of your painting, like the sky, shield it with another piece of paper. This way you can add texture to the ground without having a whole bunch of dots in the sky.

Sunday Baking

Sunday was a wonderful lazy day. Although it wasn't as lazy as it could have been, I was pretty busy all day. But filled with doing the things I enjoy. Like baking.

I baked a swedish braid.

A perfect compliment to a cup of coffee.

:)

Show Opens Today

Inaugural UB Alumni Art Show
March 1 - 23, 2012

Opening Wine & Cheese Reception
Today, March 1st at 5:30 pm in the Gallery

Arnold Bernhard Arts Center
University of Bridgeport

Bridgeport, CT

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I have 5 paintings on exhibit in this show!

If you're in the area, check it out.