Woodland Silhouettes and Forest Creatures

I've been having a play and experiment with silhouettes and as I have already got lots of photographs and sketches I decided to work with what I had.

I trawled through my photo's for background colour inspiration.I liked the orange and yellow sunrise.

Sunrise or Sunset, you decide

 

Unicorn on Canvas

I chose a prancing unicorn painting as my first subject matter, I've used this image in a few of my paintings and everyone loves Unicorns don't they?





I played around with PhotoScape.org to get different looks, I liked the black unicorn and thought it would stand out nicely against the orange background.
(PhotoScape is photo editing software and you can get it as a free download), I can't get my head around PhotoShop and PhotoScape is easy as well as free, so that's a bonus.

A selection of silhouettes

I went through my stash of wood and decided on a rectangle and some wooden hearts. I started with the background using orange and yellow. These colours work well for either a sunset or a sunrise.

Work in Progress

On the rectangle I painted trees up the sides following the arch shape of the sky, they help to frame the unicorn and add some interest.

Unicorn Work in Progress

For the hearts I thought other woodland creatures would carry on the theme.

Woodland Hearts

 

Woodland Hanging Hearts

I added a 'D' hook to the back of the wood so it can easily be hung up from a hook or nail or it could be put on a little desk easel or propped on a shelf.

Unicorn Silhouette

I have loved working with these colours, they are so bright and cheerful.

Prancing Unicorn

I think I'll pop these into my Jan Ryan Art Etsy Shop if for any reason you can't see them you can always message me via my shops or my Handcrafted by Picto Facebook page.  

That's all from me for now

Jan x

K is for Keyrings

Everybody I know uses a keyring, they come in all shapes, sizes, colours and designs,big, small, soft, hard. I've made a few....

A wooden man painted orange.

 A Keyring for Dad.

A pretty Fairy Door

 

And my favourite... The Scull

 

The scull is very versatile, it can be finished off as a brooch, a bookmark or zip pull.

Any questions or queries? you can contact me via my facebook or shops... links in side bar 

Jan x 

Valentine House, Candlemas & Groundhog Day

We are now into the shortest month of the year, the month when thoughts often turn to love, yes this is another Valentine Post but only so I can show you my Valentine House with the lattice windows and Heart details....

Handpainted Valentine House

Hearts & Flowers on a House

There are other significant events that happen in February, one celebration is Candlemas.  

A Snowdrop ACEO from my Etsy Shop

Candlemas is a Christian feast celebrated on February 2nd. Sometimes it's known as the Feast of the Presentation. Snowdrops (galanthus nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom in February.

You can read more about the  Candlemas Feast here.

February 2nd is also the date Groundhog Day is celebrated. According to folklore, a Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap because he believes the winter will continue but if the day is cloudy he remains outside, as the weather is going to be moderate. There is an interesting Groundhog Day Article Here 

Have you ever seen the Bill Murray Groundhog Day Movie ? It's a great 'curl up on the sofa with a duvet' movie.

I came across some poems that covers both these events...

In Scotland, the verse:

If Candle-mas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year.

Or an alternative Scottish rhyme:

If Candlemas day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter to come and mair,
If Candlemas day be wet and foul,
The half of winter's gone at Yule.

An English verse:

If Candle mas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

A European verse:

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until the May.

So are we going to get a 'second winter' or is spring on it's way? What do you think?

I'm linking this post to Handmade Monday
 

Jan x

Cute Ninja Aceo's

I've done it, I've opened a new shop on Etsy,  

(for those who don't know what Etsy is, it's an online marketplace where you are able to buy and sell handmade or vintage items, art and supplies).

Do you remember a while back in the post What's in a Name, I asked your advice about a name to use for my art work?  well taking all your ideas on board, my new shop is called.....

 

Jan Ryan Art & Illustration

I'd love you to pop over for a nosey. I haven't got much on there at the moment, my first 3 listings are of Cute Ninja's (read on) but hopefully I will be doing lots of listing in the next few weeks.

Hi to those who have already popped over.

 

This new shop is in addition to my Handcrafted by Picto empire and not replacing it.

ok I know 'empire' is a bit grand but I couldn't think of the word I wanted to use

I've no doubt that there will be a bit of a crossover between shops but my Etsy shop will be for art work rather than crafts. 

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I've been playing around with a few Ninja pictures this week, it all started when (cue 'going back in time' type music) a facebook page I follow called Scented Sweetpeas  asked if anyone could doodle a Ninja that she could use in her 'Ninja Attacks' (where she visits and likes pages she admires and encourages others to pop over too). I sent her a couple of painted doodles, I enjoyed painting these cute little ninja's so much I went a bit overboard and done lots of them, here are a few, these ones are ACEO's

Halloween Vampire Ninja

 

Cute Ninja with Nunchucks

Pirate Ninja

Cute Ninja's playing dress-up

What are Aceo's I hear some of you say!!

 

The acronym "ACEO" stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals,

they can also be known as ATC's Art Trading Cards. 

They are collectible little pieces of art always sized 2.5 x 3.5 inches. 

They can be framed, either individually or in groups or they can be kept in an album. 

I have other ideas in the pipeline for these cuties so watch this space!!!

 Wishing you all a great week

Jan x

I've linked this post to the Handmade Harbour Link up  

 

 

Yay.....It's nearly December.

I've been busy busy busy. My Folksy Shop  done really well last week. It seemed to be stagnant for a while but has now picked up lovely. I also had some brilliant news from Pickle-lily, I'm the winner of her great givaway of wool, fabric, a great spotty bag, a magazine and oooh a box of choccies. So a big thank you to both of you, it's a great prize and I'm going to do a separate post about this so keep checking back. 

I spent Friday afternoon at a lovely Craft Fayre at a small village school just outside Newmarket, it was really well attended and I'd forgotten just how loud a primary school full of excited children can be. 

I was hoping to get around all the other stalls but I was on my own and those who do Craft Fairs know how difficult that can be, and as it was so busy I didn't get a chance to get around everyone, but I did manage to have a nosey at a wonderful felter who made lovely scarfs, hats and Christmas Decorations as well as lots of other great items, you can check out her shop EntWorks on Etsy.

Mini Snowman Decoration by Ent-Works

I also had a look at the work of The Tiny Scribbler, a brilliant artist, who can be found HERE on Etsy. 

The Squirrel Lady by The Tiny Scribbler

 I have another busy week ahead, but hey, I'm not complaining, I have Plaques to paint, Monkeys to make and a bit more sewing to do, I'll leave you with a few of the childrens tote and drawstring bags I made as my contribution for this weeks Handmade Monday 

 

Wishing you all a good week, I'm off now to try and get my orders completed before my next Fair which is next Saturday 3rd December (yes it is nearly December) at The Carnegie Rooms and Guildhall in Thetford, Norfolk.

Take care every one

Jan x