My Book reviewed in a Writer's & Illustrator's Magazine

I went out to the mail box today. Figured I'd have the same ol' mundane junk mail to shred, even though there is a slight bit of excitement still, when going to the mail box. Remember as a child getting mail?? It's so darn fun!
I had pen pals as a child, most of them came from the Western States, as we all was growing up with horses.
I collected those pen pals through mutual magazines. I would submit my drawings of horses to the Appaloosa Journal in hopes of seeing my art in their magazine, which I did every time.

But something else happened, that I never dreamed of. I got letters from other girls who were like me! One family actually made the trip every summer to Maine from Texas. They had a cottage-camp on a lake not to far from where I lived. How fun was that?! We're still friends and occasionally chat. Computers brought us back together again after many years with no contact.

Since puting together my book and publishing it, "Children & their 4-legged friends, a series of watercolor paintings & poems" was picked up by a writer/illustrator and written about in the 'Once upon a time" magazine!
That's what was waiting for me in my mail box today!
Two Spring issues!
Linda T Snider Ward is the staff columnist for this magazine and she follows my weekly email google posts. Her column is "Unleashing the Artist". She also goes into talking about horses and the love us horse crazy people feel for them. And she highlights on painting them and getting reference shots with your own camera. A really nice article.
So I am tickled pink (as we used to say) about being in this article with a preliminary line drawing from one of my paintings that is in my book. Thank you Linda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a reminder, February 28, 2009 is the last day to place an order for the first printing of my book! You can order it through my website http://www.debfloodart.com
or send me an email to arrange for different payment options. debflood@debfloodart.com


Debbie

Maine Summer Evening watercolor of ancestors boats

I finished this watercolor painting on Thursday, Feb 26. "Maine summer evening". 8.25 x 17.5 Watercolor.
My great grandfather was a boat builder in Searsmont, Maine back in the early 1900's. I found an old black and white photograph of these two boats that he built. The photo was in a bunch of my grandmother's photos and things that have been passed on to me. I decided to place the boats on a Maine coast, which is only about 10 miles or so from where the boats were built. So this is not a far fetched background. There was the home in the photo, which was placed a little further back in the photo and I brought it closer to make an intimate feel to this and added those Maine Cape shingles on the house to give that coastal feel.
The window trimmings are low, to give that sleepy, restful feel to this summer evening in Maine.
This painting glows from the setting sun.
Enjoy and thank you for looking.
Debbie

Studio tour, My drawing table

Here it is, the start of my Studio tour. This is my large drawing table. Where I do all of my Watercolors, Graphites and works on paper. The walls are a very calming light powder blue. I made the curtains with dark blue fabric that has chickens on it! These were originally my Kitchen curtains, but I think they are so cute here in the studio.

To the right of my table is another drawing table. This one is smaller and much cheaper made. It is my very first drawing table my parents gave me on my sixteenth Birthday! I cried, I was so happy! I keep a lot of odds and ends on that table. Right now I have all the Graphites piled there, that need to be sprayed with a fixative. They are covered up and protected from anything that may fly through the air and from the sunlight from the large window. There is also a sky light above that table.

I spend a lot of time at the Large drawing table. It's like spending time with a good friend. Many a commission paintings have been rendered on this table. I bought it back in the late 1980's. It has held up wonderfully. If I remember correctly, it was called the 'Amazon' (It's not made anymore) and I purchased it from Dick Blick Art Materials catalog. They now have some newer, just as sturdy, tables that I drool over, but I just don't need another table...nor do I have the room for it! You'll see that, as I post more Studio shots later.

Debbie

Twitter and 'Solid', Rocks

This is a new 5 x 7 watercolor: "Solid". That's how my art feels at the moment. Solid and cohesive. I seem to be going through a creative whiz bang! These works are just flying off my brush and I couldn't be having any more fun!

I've also created a Tweet on Twitter! You can keep up with my little updates each day on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/debflood
If you would like to follow my Tweeting, you can follow the link here or go to the sidebar of this blog and click the link to follow. I also have my Tweets fed into the sidebar on this blog, so you can read my updates right here too. How easy is that?

Happy tweeting....Spring is sure to get here...right? Tweet-tweet...

Deb

Resting at the top. Carriage scene

Here is another new watercolor. 'Resting at the top' 10 x 18 inches.
The light in this is just terrific! I can smell the warm sun baking on the crunchy Autumn grass.
I traveled many a mountain trail and road like this one, while out horseback riding when I was growing up. I loved riding the mountain. I visit there once in awhile, my family and I go hiking. But it is not the same, as trees have been removed and it is more opened up now. Things just don't stay the same. But I can help them last longer by puting them into a painting. Thank the Lord for that!

Enjoy!
Debbie

'Trust' an Appaloosa and a man wander the field together

This is one of those completed paintings from this past weekend. This is "Trust". A 9.5 x 17.5 Watercolor. I really am enjoying the light in this painting and the moody weather. It looks as though a storm is blowing in. You can hear the rustle of the grass and how it rips and tears around the man's boots as he walks through it.

Today is a catch up day from yesterday. Since I had half a day with no power and lots of shoveling to do and two kids home from school because of the storm...I'm a bit behind.
But I am catching up!

I'll be posting a studio shot soon. And more new paintings.
Until then, have a great day.
Debbie

Summer thunder, new watercolor

Hi,

I'm so glad to be joining you on this Monday.

I had my doubts, as Sunday night brought us a foot or more of snow, wind and no electricity! What a morning, finally by noon today, we had our power back on. But today's morning was a bit hard. Shoveling, The tractor snow blower got wet inside of it, and that had to be dried out. My poor hubby...out there at 5:30AM shoveling and messing with that snow blower.

& me with one sick child. He's got that cough.

But ya know what???? I completed four new paintings this weekend!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited about these new works!

I had to make a decision, as to which one I would show you first. So here is the first one. It's not the first one I completed, this is the second one in the order of things. But I think it is my favorite so far. This little painting just glows! This is "Summer thunder, Keene's Farm" 8 x 17 watercolor. I wish you could see the glow in this painting, the colors are so rich, but the computer monitor seems to rob this painting of that. This painting is part of the Belfast's past series. Well, that's where I am going to put it. I've been meaning to paint this farm since last summer! Want to know what got the fire under my seat???

The kids and I went to the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, last week. I just melted in the Galleries that housed the Wyeth's work. Andrew's to be specific. My oldest son, who is 13, was pulled in too. There we stood, just in awe. I got so close, I could see each brush work, each squiggle, scrape and mark. How up close it didn't look like much of anything but paint splattered on there...and to back away, and see it all pull together. It's like a light bulb came on inside my own head. That afternoon when I got home I raced to the studio, how I couldn't wait to grab the brushes and slop the paint! I finished up a painting that I had been working on all week, and then did this painting I am showing you today. On Saturday, I completed this painting in one day.

I will be posting the others as well as this one here on my Blog too.

Also, I am starting a little something extra on here. I'm delving a little more into my surroundings and my studio, working space and the materials I use. You'll see images of my home and my studio. There is a "Follow this blog" button on the right sidebar of this blog, if you would like to sign up free to follow my blog.

This is the last week to put in your order for the first printing of my book, 'Children & their 4-legged friends, a series of watercolor paintings & poems'. Last day to order is February 28th. I'll be sending the orders to the publishers the first of March.

Thank you to those of you who have placed an order already! Orders may be placed through my website at http://www.debfloodart.com or email me privately if you would rather.

Enjoy today's painting, I know I do!

Have a great week,

Debbie

All about the Artist

I've been thinking, about how I always love seeing other artist's homes, and studios and a little about their lives. It's human nature to be curious and want to know more about the artists we admire or who's work we collect. So I am going to open my world up a little bit here on my blog. My first post starts outside with images of my home, sitting, nestled in the snow storm we acquired these last couple of days!
I made it to the Farnsworth Museum this week and took in all the Wyeth art, as well as Fitz Henry Lane and a handful of other master painters. It was so refreshing to see the real works in person. To feel like you could reach out and touch the boat the man was laying in. And that if you did...the man sleeping there would surly wake and jump with a startle!
Seeing these paintings, made me want to see more of the artists themselves! In the gift store, we saw books and images of the artists, in their studios, painting on location and enjoying their families.
This is what got me thinking, to share my world with you, the readers here and collectors of my art.

My husband and myself, along with some very talented family members, built our Salt Box home, ourselves. A sense of pride comes with building something so spectacular your self. We worked hard for every penny to put this dream together. And we are happy to say that this home is completely paid for! Hard work can accomplish many things!
The garage, is a different story. That is my husband's dream, yeah, I wanted it too. It is a six car garage and we had a prefab company come and erect it. That's the only building we are still paying on. And that's ok.
That little black blob is my buddy, Chandler....he loves rooting in the snow!



The light on these trees this morning was so pretty! I sure am sick of the snow and am waiting for Spring. But it really was a pretty sight out there today.

This is looking out back off our deck. This is the path that I walk Chandler on, when it's not snowed in.

The next post/tour will take you into my home and I will start showing you my studio and where I work everyday. I also plan on doing posts about the materials I use and why I use them and where they can be purchased. I'm sure this can be just as much fun, as seeing a painting everyday.

I do have a cute little painting to show you though. I did the 'Music lesson' for the Watercolor Wednesdays Blog.This is a cropped in view, so you can see the detail.

Have a great weekend!
Debbie

Evening trail, Boxer watercolor

This is a small watercolor of a Boxer pup. He was probably a year old or less when I saw him at a horse show. I had a lot of troubles with this painting. Mostly, it was the surface that I had to work on. The watercolor board inventory was low in the studio and all I had large enough to just get him to fit on, was illustration board. That stuff is horrid ! But I used it to lay out the design and colors and light direction. I then was able to start fresh on a better piece of board. But it still was too small, though I forged ahead anyways. And the paper didn't accept my water and colors very well. I guess I have been spoiled by the good stuff! Not all was lost in the workings of this painting. As I did a Work in process posting on the Canine Art Guild's private forum for the members. I'm hoping what I posted was useful to one or more of them.
I then just realized that I hadn't posted this guy on my Blog here. So, here he is! "Evening trail, Boxer".

I'm hoping to make it to the Farnsworth Art Museum on Friday this week with my oldest son. We're going to get dumped on with snow and ice on Thursday and going Wednesday is out of the question because of other engagements. Fingers crossed we make it!

I'm also waiting for the weather to clear a bit and reach above freezing! Why you ask, other than the reason of wanting sun and warmth??!!!
I found some fixative for my Ampersand Aqua Board! Remember the thread where I was investigating what to protect these watercolors with? So I can frame without glass!
I found some fixative that goes on Prints/Reproductions on paper. A couple coats of this stuff and it should be sealed enough to then go over it with an Acrylic varnish when dry! But our snow flurries won't stop. I have to spray outside, or we wouldn't be able to live in the house! PeeeUUUU!!!!! cough-cough....

This is one of those paintings on the Aqua board. "Golden glow". Doesn't this look so much more warmer than what is going on outside my window!!

Debbie

I got a Blog Award!!

My Goodness! Surprised me right out of my computer chair, I got a Blog Award! Given to me by the wonderful artist Catherine McMillan! Thank you Catherine! I will cherish this Award and feel so honored just to have been thought about! Wow.
What a wonderful award to send around to our favorite bloggers.
The name of the game here is to choose seven artists that I feel should get this award. Ok, do any of you know how hard it is to narrow it down to just seven??!!!! I love so many artists and everyone's work is so unique and fun. But, I'm forced, it seems to only list seven. So I picked the seven most, that are at my top of the most top.
I also am to list seven things that I love.
What I love most:

1. My family, which includes my parents, my husband, his family, our 2 boys, and all the other extended family!

2. My art career! I absolutely love painting!

3. Steamed clams on a hot summer day...with dripping butter & vinegar!

4. Our dog Chandler!

5. The memories I have of my childhood.

6. Going to the Ocean in the summer

7. Playing with my new Sony Camera!

Blog Artist I have chosen to receive this award in no particular order:

1. Jennifer Pratt

2. Heather Anderson

3. Elin Pendelton

4. Judy Johnson

5. Michelle Grant

6. Donna Ridgway

7. Karie Ann Cooper

Now I have to email them all and tell them the great news!! Hee hee...how fun!

Debbie

The pumpkin bag watercolor illustration

Yippee....It's Friday!
Yeah, I know, this is February, even though I have a Halloween painting here! This is my two boys a few years back. I'm still working on illustrations of children for my portfolio submissions to publishers. I sound like a broken record here (Hmmm...what's a record???! ha) because I keep talking about these children illustrations. I guess when you want something bad enough...you become redundant about it.
The way I'm going here with all these little paintings, I'm going to have a healthy inventory come the Summer Art Festivals! I have a feeling my followers will be happy about that! It proves that the purchases they have made in the past are worth something and I am not giving up my art career. They and you can rest assured that you will be purchasing a collectible when you invest in a painting of mine. Getting the first of these Children illustrations could prove to be a smart move also. How many N.C. Wyeth illustrations do you wish you could have purchased in the beginning of his career??!! Well, not that any of us would have even been around during that time, but that is beside my point.
Speaking of N.C. Wyeth, next week is school vacation and my two boys will be home with me. I'm planning a trip with the older one to the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine. Only about 30 minutes from where I live. We are going to tour the Wyeth Center and take in all that Wyeth talent! I can't wait. It's probably been about 20 years since I have been in there. I know, so close to me too.
So, I am making a point to go and enrich the life of my young man while I'm at it. I'm very excited about this trip. I just hope the snow storm they are predicting for Thursday next week, will stay on Thursday...or later!
Thank you for reading my Blog and following along with me on my artistic journey.
A timely groan just came out of my dog Chandler. He's laying here next to me...so bored! He doesn't get what this little box is that my fingers are clicking on!

Debbie

'Cave' a weekly watercolor illustration project

Since joining the Society of Children's book writers and illustrators, I was invited to be a participating member of the Watercolor Wednesdays Blog for Children Book illustrators. They have weekly and monthly painting challenges. They have a word for each week and we the illustrators have to come up with a creative illustration to showcase that word. This weeks word was 'Cave'.
All I could think of at the moment was my dogs crate. I always tell him to get into his cave when I put him and the kids to bed. I used my dog as a model, but I changed his color for more interest. I also changed the floor, as the real floor is a rug. You can check out this post and posts of others on that blog, by following the link above.

Debbie

One step ahead, frustrated girl with pony

Well, those of us who have ever had horses and ponies, know what it is like to try to catch one without a halter on! Even one with a halter can be difficult...to say the least! This little girl raises her hands in frustration and tries to figure out her next strategy, while the pony stays 'One step ahead'.
This is a cute little watercolor painting that I will be adding to my portfolio, as I try to Catch the attention of Children's Book Publishers!

Debbie

Toes in the sand!!!! Watercolor

Hi, I'm behind on my posts! I have a good reason though.....I been painting! This watercolor is "Toes in the sand". I had a photograph of my youngest son from a few summers back, when we went to a very sandy beach in Bar Harbor, Maine. Want to know the name of the beach???? 'Sandy beach' !! Real original, huh? But actually, it is original for a beach in Maine! Most are full of rocks, and more rocks! Sandy beach is located in a National Park in Maine, called Acadia. I can remember being able to go there for free, when I was a kid growing up. We loved thunder hole, where the waves came violently crashing into a cave of ledge, and if you were brave, you could stand out on a small pier that had a safety railing, and get totally soaked by the waves when they hit those rocks. A few years back, they implemented a fee, to get into the park, for help with the up keep. Thousands of people -tourists flow through the park every year!
Today wasn't as hot as the day pictured here, but it did get up into the high 40's and the sun was out bright! Just glorious....like Spring!! Yup, we have mud and slush out there! Funny how up lifting of the spirit mud can be!

Can't wait to sink the toes in the sand!!!!

Debbie

Comforting the puppy. A Child's Illustration

I'm falling more and more in love with this painting. "Comforting the puppy" an Illustrative watercolor. This is one that I have been working on to add to my illustration portfolio.
There is so much emotion in this. Don't we all need a hug, now and then. To have that feeling like the world isn't so big after all, and that someone cares. The sky is so big, the land is so big....but in the arms of the right person...it's not all that scary.
My paintings use the illustrative narratives of children and animals to point out the feelings we all can have. My paintings are to connect with the viewer and to share those feelings.

Give your special someone a hug today. They may need one. Even your loyal canine could use a hug!

I would like to say thank you to those of you who have signed on my Blog subscription here! I'm glad you found this blog and felt it was worthy of signing on!

It's Friday!!!
Plans for the weekend include taking in the action of the Championship Toboggan Races at the Camden Snow Bowl, a ski resort in Camden, Maine! Should be getting some awesome winter games photographs there!! Yippee....

Debbie

Post Office square, Belfast, Finished

I finally have finish Post Office square, Belfast. A new watercolor on the series of the Belfast's past series. I really like this one. The light is glowing and bouncing all over the place! And I like that 'Maine's' typical moody sky. We get that sky in Spring and in Fall. Those are two transitional seasons for the weather, plus being on the coast can change the air rather quickly.

I will be taking pre-orders for a Limited Edition Giclee of this image. You can contact me through www.debfloodart.com and ask for pricing and sizes. I'm contemplating an Open Edition much smaller as well as the larger one that will be close to the size of the original, which is 18 x 11.