"Valentine Flowers & Oriental Cat"

“Valentine Flowers & Oriental Cat”
Bleeding Heart Flowers, Swallowtail Butterfly & Cat
Acrylic & Water-mixable Oil
Gesso treated 140lb watercolor paper
Paper size: 8½”X11”
Image size: 7”X10”
February 2010
Matted in an 11”X14” double black matt with a foam core backer.

Click HERE to view this current listing on Ebay.

A beautiful white Oriental cat is fascinated by a swallowtail butterfly which has chosen a string of bleeding heart flowers to rest on while he dries his wings.

These “heart” flowers are actually a real type of flower. They are called “Bleeding Hearts”. They grow in lines on sprigs from a medium sized plant and as they mature the bottom splits open and curls upward revealing their seeds. Their colors vary from rosy pink to creamy white. I have always been intrigued with these charming flowers and I thought that they were the perfect thing to use for my Valentine painting for this year.

This painting is twice the size of my normal cats & flowers paintings. I have wanted to paint some things a little larger lately and have chosen this Valentine painting to start off with. I also purchased some water-mixable oil paints a little while ago and wanted to try them out too. I treated the watercolor paper with a few coats of gesso to prevent the oils from sinking in and started it off with acrylic washes to draw my composition out. Then I painted many layers with my new water-mixable oils to finish. I love these oil paints and want to do more with them. They are so much fun to blend with and easier to clean up than conventional oils. I have spent many hours on this one and had a wonderful time.

"Morning Walk" - Paint Horses

“Morning Walk”
Paint Horses
Acrylic paint & graphite pencil
Stonehenge 90lb paper
Paper size: 6”X8”
Image size: 5”X7”
Date of work: February 2010
An 8”X10” single black matt included

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This lovely paint horse and her young son are out for a nice walk in the crisp morning air.

I did the drawing for this painting in graphite pencil then completed it with acrylic paint used like watercolor washes. A few coats of acrylic semi-gloss varnish were applied as the final finish. It is matted in an 8”X10 single black matt with a foam core backer.

"Life Goes On" Polar bear mom and her cubs

“Life Goes On”
Polar bear mother protects her two young cubs
Pastel painting
Strathmore 100% rag gray charcoal paper
Paper size: 6”X8”
Image size: 5”X7”
Date of work: February 2010
An 8”X10” single black matt included
Click HERE to see this current listing on Ebay.

Faced with every kind of imaginable adversity, life always seems to find a way to go on. Such is the very nature of life.

This theme of polar bear mom and cubs seems to be one of my favorite subjects. There is such a tenderness there that touches my heart. I have to say that the actual pastel painting looks much better than my scan. There seems to be something happening with the scanner and the pastel media that produces a “grainy” appearance that is really not in the original pastel painting.

"A Tear for Haiti"

“A Tear for Haiti”
Original drawing in pastel pencil
4”X6” Strathmore 100% cotton rag drawing paper
Mounted to a 6”X8” piece of black Stonehenge 90lb paper for strength
With an 8”X10” single black matt with a foam core backer included
The opening in the matt is 4”X6”
A final coat of spray matt fixative has been applied.
January 2010
100% of the final sale price of this drawing will
GO TO THE CLINTON BUSH HAITI FUND.
SOLD - Thank you for your generosity

When I see the eyes of those terrified children in the pictures on the television it tears at my heart. I lived in California for 14 years and have had just enough experience with earthquakes to realize how terrifying they can be, however my experience wasn’t even close to what these poor people must have experienced. I can only imagine what horrors they have been through. I want to do something for them, so I thought that I could do this drawing and have 100% of the final sale price go to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
The flowers in her hair represent hope for the future.

Thank you so much,
And God bless you,
Lynn Bonnette

"Dreaming of Spring"

“Dreaming of Spring”
Aceo size - 2½” X 3½” - ⅛” thick
(also called: ATC – artist’s trading card)
Watercolor, graphite pencil, acrylic
Two layers – smooth bristol board & Crescent matt board
January 2010
SOLD

This ACEO sized painting is done in a decorative style.
It started out with a little drawing that I had done on a small piece of very smooth bristol board. I was enjoying the smoothness of the bristol board and the way my watercolor and my pencil glided over the surface. I decided that I wanted to complete the drawing and make it into an aceo sized piece, so I mounted the bristol board drawing to an aceo sized piece of navy blue Crescent matt board, and continued the floral design onto the matt board. I finished the piece with a thin coat of matt fixative.

"Winter Colors"

“Winter Colors”
Deer in a winter snow storm
ACEO original painting - 2½” X 3½”
Watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic paint
Hot Press watercolor 140lb paper
January 2010

This lovely deer in caught in a winter storm. He is temporarily hidden from the hunters in a soft blanket of white.

"Red Fox Twilight Moon"

“Red Fox Twilight Moon”
SFA – (small format art) - 4½” X 6½”
Mixed Media: watercolor, acrylic & colored pencil
Stonehenge 90lb paper
8”X10” single black matt included
January 2010
SOLD

On a cool twilight evening this red fox finds a cozy place to hide in the tall prairie grass while the harvest moon watches from above.

I love this mixed media combination. When I was a little girl about 8 years old I received a package of Prismacolor colored pencils for my birthday. I have the fondest memories of sitting cross legged on my bed and sketching with them for hours. It was the first art supply that I fell in love with and although I have used many other art supplies, I always return to the colored pencil as my “comfort media”. In the last 15 years I have enjoyed using them in combination with watercolor and acrylic to achieve many carefully applied layers of transparent color and special effects.

Little Gray Oriental Kitten

“Little Gray Oriental Kitten”
4”X6”
®OSWOA (original small work of art)
Mixed media – watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, & acrylic paint
Canson heavy weight drawing paper
January 2010
Finished with acrylic varnish
SOLD

I liked the look of this little gray Oriental kitten with his turquoise eyes against the turquoise background. He looks so innocent, full of expectations and ready for anything.

I started this one in pastel pencil then used watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic paint with a final coat of acrylic semi-gloss varnish for protection.

Blue Bird & Snow Berries

“Blue Bird & Snow Berries”
Blue bird & snow covered berries
4”X6”
®OSWOA (original small work of art)
Mixed media – watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, & acrylic paint
Canson heavy weight drawing paper
January 2010
Finished with acrylic varnish
SOLD

Blue birds and cardinals are so pretty in the snow. We have many feeders and I love to watch them, take pictures of them, and to sketch and paint them. I started this one in pastel pencil then used watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic paint with a final coat of acrylic semi-gloss varnish for protection.

"Snow-girl in Pink Corset"

“Snow-girl in Pink Corset”
Original - mixed media
ACEO size - 2½” X 3½”
Watercolor and colored pencil
Stonehenge 90lb paper
January 2010
Click here to view this current listing in Etsy.

Sally snow-girl achieves that fresh spring look even in the snow by downing her pink straw hat and her lovely new pink corset. She is sure to attract many a young snow-boy’s eye with this new fashion.

"Gray Kitten Flower Fantasy"

“Gray Kitten Flower Fantasy”
3”X5” colored pencil drawing
Artist’s sketch paper
Matted in 5”X7” single black matt
January 2010

This little gray kitten peeks out from behind some imaginary flowers.

This is a 3”X5” colored pencil drawing from my sketch book. It is done on regular weight sketch paper. The actual paper size is approximately 4¼ “X 6¼” and the drawing is a little bigger than 3”X5”. It comes matted in a 5”X7” single black matt with a foam core backer.

"Snow-women going to market"

“Snow-women going to market”
Original small format painting
4½” X 6½”
Mixed media
Watercolor, colored pencil & acrylic paint
Stonehenge 120lb paper
8”X10” single black matt included
January 2010
SOLD

With their husbands gone to work and their kids in day care, Snow-women travel in groups for their safety. With their warm pashmina scarves snuggly tied around their heads and toting their shopping baskets, this group of Snow-women head out to their local farmer’s market for their daily supplies.

"Traveling Sales Snowmen"

“Traveling Sales Snowmen”
Original small format painting
4½” X 6½”
Mixed media
Watercolor, colored pencil & acrylic paint
Stonehenge 120lb paper
8”X10” single black matt included
January 2010

In these days of global warming and tough economic times, the Snowmen find that they have to take jobs that they would not normally do in order to survive. Sometimes they have to travel to distant lands, not seeing their families for months. These are traveling sales snowmen - selling refrigerators to Eskimos.

Chocolate Oriental Snow Kitten

“Chocolate Oriental Snow Kitten”
ACEO sized painting
Size of a playing card - 2½” X 3½”
Watercolor, acrylic & colored pencil
Arches 140lb hot press watercolor paper
January 2010
SOLD

"Christmas Mistletoe Angel"

“Christmas Mistletoe Angel”
Oil painting - small format
On Raymar canvas prepared panel
5” X 7” - ¼” thick
Finished with retouch varnish
December 2009
SOLD

This Mistletoe Angel brings the spirit of Christmas love to all of us.

"Silent Night Holy Night"

“Silent Night Holy Night”
Nativity Scene
Acrylic paint
Stonehenge 90lb paper
Paper size: 5½” X 7½”
Image in matt: 5” X 7”
8"X10" single black matt included
December 2009
Click Here to view this currently listed in my Ebay Store.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

"Poinsettia Flowers & Oriental Cat"

“Poinsettia Flowers & Oriental Cat”
Mixed Media: pastel pencil, watercolor and acrylic paint
Stonehenge 90lb paper
8"X10" single black matt included
Paper size: 5½” X 7½”
Image in matt: 5” X 7”
December 2009
SOLD

I am still inspired by the relationship of cats and flowers. Some cats seem to “belong” next to a certain flower. This Oriental cat looks comfortable next to these Poinsettia Flowers. I love Poinsettia Flowers. I used to live in Ventura California. (14 years) That city was officially called “The Poinsettia City”. It seemed like every house had one or more Poinsettia bushes. They were so very beautiful to see everywhere and I miss them.

"Santa's Helpers"

“Santa’s Helpers”
Santa’s other Persian Cat & Mouse
Original ACEO painting
2½” X 3½” – ACEO size
Watercolor with acrylic accents
Stonehenge 90lb paper
December 2009
SOLD

SANTA: “All right guys, it’s starting to snow so we had better get the sleigh ready and hitch up the team.”

"Santa's Persian Cat"

Original painting
Pastel pencil & acrylic paint
Stonehenge 90lb paper
Matt included: 8”X10” single black with foam core backer
Paper size: 6” X 8”
Image size in matt: 5½” X 7½”
November 2009
SOLD

It seems to me that Santa’s Cat would be a white Persian all fluffy and white like the beard on his chin, the fur on his cloths, and the snow on the ground.

Of all the mixed media that I like to use, this technique is the most successful for me. I start with a complete detailed drawing using pastel pencils, and then I use water and brush to “fix” the pastel to the Stonehenge paper. I love this Stonehenge paper for this technique because it can take all the pastel you can layer on it so well and then absorb the wet media with a vigorous thirst. The final stage is done with very thin acrylic and matt medium in a watercolor technique to darken and lighten and to achieve the fine details. The whole painting is then finished with a thin coat of acrylic varnish.

"Christmas Expectations"

“Christmas Expectations”
Cat, Mouse and Christmas Present
Original ACEO painting
2½” X 3½” – ACEO size
Watercolor with acrylic accents
Stonehenge 90lb paper
November 2009
SOLD

The expectation of imagining what amazing thing could be hidden inside, the mesmerizing beauty of fancy paper, and the explosion of bright red ribbon has hypnotized this mouse so much that he has failed to consider what could be concealed behind this lovely Christmas present.