Inexpensive holiday gift idea...

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love to give and receive gifts of art. 

In an attempt to help keep holiday gift giving costs low, I have just posted a number of greeting cards in my Etsy shop (http://debjeffrey.etsy.com/) ...

I know what you are thinking...cards, so what!  BUT, did you know that my cards are the same quality Giclee fine art prints as my larger prints, and that they are printed with archival quality inks, on archival quality fine art paper designed to last 100-200 years, when stored and/or framed properly?

So, if you are looking for an inexpensive gift, please consider purchasing a card ($3.15 ea), or cards ($16.00 for six) and frame it/them in either a 4x6 or 5x7 frame and gift someone with a very nice piece of artwork at an economical price!

Morro Bay Collage Update

You probably thought that I had forgotten about the Morro Bay Collage. Well, I just had several projects that captured my attention, but you'll be happy to know that they are now behind me. I was able to spend some time this weekend working on the Morro Bay Collage.

As I examined the painting, I felt like it was just too blue, so I changed the sky color once again and added some of the colors from the sky to make the painting more cohesive. I'm posting the previous version and the current version so you can compare.

Previous version

Current Version

My goal is to complete this painting this week and get the complimentary Morro Bay Collage cards to those of you who voted for the "light" sky previously.

Oh, I just remembered. I harped on the benefits of painting digitally, but found one "little" problem with the whole thing. As I worked on the painting this weekend I painted, touched up, refined, etc. and then lost all of my work -- you see, I forgot just how important the "SAVE" key is when working digitally. Oh well, lesson learned!

Hello Again...Hello.

Yes, I've let my blog postings lapse a bit. Sadly, I can't really "blame" it on anything. I've been no busier than usual, and I have even been working on a new set of artwork for cards. They are very linear -- drawn with an ink pen and then "colored in" -- some with colored pencils and some on the computer using "digital watercolor."

Does this type image appeal to you? Should I keep going or stop immediately and return to doing something more in line with my "style"?

As always, thanks for your comments, your emails and most of all your support!

Deborah

The HAPPY Card...

First, let me say thank you to everyone who voted with your design preference for the Happy Card. The card is now finished and a blank Happy card will be distributed as a special thank you, to those who provided their input prior to the completion of the card.

The second design was the favorite, and the finished card is shown below.

Each card will include the following abbreviated story about how the card came into being –

A special thank you to our friends David and Melba! David and I love you and the girls. Our lives are certainly much richer because of you!


Have a Happy day!

Happy What?

Yesterday, February 19, 2009, my husband and I received a Christmas card from our friends, David & Melba. The letter enclosed wished us a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Valentine’s Day, Happy St. Paddy’s Day, and then went on and filled us in on the current events. As I read the card and letter I was so happy to receive it and learn what is going on in the lives of my friends. When I finished I just had to say, yeah David & Melba for sending it out…in spite of the fact that it is now the middle of February.

I’m serious. I cannot tell you how many times I have purchased or made cards with the good intentions of sending them out. I’ll even fill them out, but, for some reason, I won’t have stamps, or I don’t make it to the post office, etc. and before you know it, the holiday or occasion has come and gone and I’m too embarrassed to send out my cards.

Well, thanks to yesterday’s out-of-the-blue Christmas card, I hit on an idea. Why not make a somewhat humorous all-occasion card. And so, last night I started drafting my ideas. I came up with two designs – the first is a combination of holidays and occasions rolled into one picture, and the second is a series of holiday and special occasion illustrations. For each of the designs, you wish the person a “Happy…” and then check the appropriate box or boxes.

Design 1

Design 2

The card is still in the design stage, and will be watercolored once the design is finalized. In the meantime, I would love to know what you think of the idea, which design you prefer, and any suggestions that you might have for bringing this all-occasion card idea to completion. You can share your comments by posting a comment or emailing me. I look forward to hearing your comments and will post more photos as the card is “refined”.

Have a happy….