I really enjoy watercolor painting but with the demands on producing all the different sea glass creations that I make there just hasn't been time.

I'm finally in a place where I can take some time out and paint! Happy, happy! I went onto YouTube and looked up one of the people who inspire me, @DianneAntonStudios. Sure enough she had these tutorials on some cute little birds so away I went. Then from there I decided to go on to paint a couple flowers - they are a staple with me. 

Unfortunately I only have regular card stock which really isn't what should be used for the wet on wet painting technique. Although the cards really soaked up the water I put on the paper I was able to apply more which the card really didn't like but I did manage to create these lovely cards. They were quite warped out of shape so after they initially dried I gave them a light water spray on the back side then pressed them between 2 sheets of cardboard with weight on top. I left that overnight and the cards are now nice and flat. LOL the things I go through for my art.

I decided that I want to paint on cards going forward so I can offer them at the market along side my sea glass cards. Maybe I can practice more using the wet on dry technique. I guess it's something I will have to experiment with but I REALLY like the wet on wet because of the freedom of the paint and it's ability to just go where it wants and create unique designs. I'm pretty sure I will be sourcing out watercolor paper invitation cards soon. Hopefully I'm successful and they don't cost me an arm and a leg.  

#watercolorpaintings #watercolorcards #watercolorbirds #selftaughtartist #iamanartist #myrockpaperart
#watercolorart #watercolorartist

My sea glass trees are becoming quite popular. Living in a beach community makes them just right as a Christmas tree. I spent the past year working furiously to have enough trees for the 2024 high season but as fast as I worked was as fast as they were selling, even without a market display during the slow season. I made so many that I actually ran out of glass for making my stacked trees. I had to come up with a new idea which was the cone shaped trees and fortunately they were also well received.

Over the holidays I had some of the recipients send me photos of their trees all lit up for the season. I really love it when I see where my art ends up. Some times I get pictures of their trees all lit up but I've also had people send me pictures of the sea glass cards or wall art they have gotten from me and had framed.

I know I'm going to have to get busy and get started already for the 2025 season. I actually have a couple new ideas which I want to try as well. One idea is to make trees with these small oyster shells that I've been finding, although I don't have many shells yet, I think I will only have enough for one tree. I guess that will depend on how I build it. I haven't quite worked that out in my head yet. The other idea, and I got this from seeing the creations of the guy I got all the seashells from, is to use sea shells that have holes through them and there are a lot of them. The idea is to put a piece of sea glass in the hole and build it into a tree. Then when there are lights inside it will light up all the glass pieces. I can't wait to see how this idea will work out. But right now I will just think about it for a while as I'm currently focusing on replenishing my supply of sea glass greeting cards. Soon it will be tree building time once again.

#seaglassartist #seaglasscards #seaglasscollector #seaglassaddict 
#myrockpaperart #seashells ​#seashellartist ​#seashellgreetingcards 
​#seashellcollector #seaglasschristmastrees

​I started adding seashells into my sea glass card designs. I recently made a card to create a ballerina and really liked the result. Today I decided to make some more as the first one was well received. Then just for fun I threw in one with bikinis on the beach.

#seaglassartist #seaglasscards #seaglasscollector #seaglassaddict #myrockpaperart 
#seashells #seashellartist ​#seashellgreetingcards #seashellcollector

I often go online and look at posts from people I follow to get inspiration for my creations. Sometimes it's just a certain style or maybe a saying that leads to my creations. Other times just looking at other people's creations gets my head in the right mind set to come up with new ideas. Today I was inspired by @seaglasscreations who makes wonderful artworks using shells as skirts and hats. This hit just the right note with me seeing as how I now have hundreds of shells to work with. Special thanks to @seaglasscreations for setting me on my creative path today.

#seaglassartist #seaglasscards #seaglasscollector #seaglassaddict 
​#myrockpaperart #seashells #seashellartist 
​#seashellgreetingcards #seashellcollector

​It was all about nature - from a goofy bird eyeballing a crab to jet skis on the surf and singing birds on a branch. That's where my creativity led me today.

#seaglassartist #seaglasscards #seaglasscollector #seaglassaddict ​#myrockpaperart #seaglassbirds #seaglassjetski #seaglasscrab

But not all problems are bad ones. The problem is that my sea glass greeting cards are becoming more and more popular! That's definitely a good problem to have. The downside to it is I can't seem to get ahead of the game. I am currently down to 6 cards - that's unheard of for me! So I'm busy creating new cards daily just to try to keep stock at my Friday Market display. No sooner do I get a bunch made and they are gone again. We're in the middle of the busy season so I am busy, busy, busy creating.

I have people who love my work so they bring their friends over to see it and so of course this helps to introduce me to new people. I've had lots of people stopping by to tell me that they've taken the cards home and framed them; or they give them to friends back home who are just thrilled with my creations. I love hearing these stories! 

About mid March things will start to slow down I stop doing the Friday Market. I will focus my summer, slow season, to creating a BIG supply of cards to hopefully keep me in better shape for next season. Since I now have an abundance of sea shells I'm going to start incorporating more shells with my sea glass creations. I will have to go surf the web for inspiring ideas. 

At the same time I will have to replenish my sea glass Christmas tree supply as I sell out of them before Christmas each year. I have a few new tree ideas I want to try that will include making some with sea shells and making some with sea shells that have holes in them and I'm planning to put a piece of glass in the hole. Imagine how pretty that's going to look with lights inside it. 

​#seaglassartist #seaglasscards #seaglasscollector #seaglassaddict ​#myrockpaperart