The Succubus Gift and Newer Art

I've been really busy on commissions lately that I've only gotten one personal painting done since January! Luckily I've really enjoyed working on everything so much! So I'd like to share my three newest paintings.

"Cecaelia"
First of all is a small commissioned painting of a Cecaelia, or a human/octopus hybrid. You know, kind of like Ursula from The Little Mermaid. ;)  I was very intrigued by the subject since I have yet to paint a Cecaelia. I also would like to add more sea creatures/mermaids to my portfolio. Ideas for them just don't come to me as often as other things.

She was 5 x 7", watercolor and white gouache. Prints of her are available on my website.

"Spellbook"

I feel like I paint in blues much more than any other color, and while it is one of my favorite color schemes, it is nice to switch it up a bit at times. And fiery red and Autumn colors are probably my next favorite! And what better for a witch reading her book of spells! This painting seems a bit off-season to be painted in February instead of around Halloween, but it's my favorite time of year. :)

8.5 x 11"  Watercolor and white gouache.

"The Succubus Gift"

I'm excited to show my newest commission! This painting was done as cover art for an an urban fantasy/paranormal romance novel by BR Kingsolver. You can read more about this book on the author's website: http://brkingsolver.com
It isn't out yet, but should be sometime next month.

I tried a new technique on the background of this painting. I couldn't quite get the background as smooth as I wanted the coloring to be for some reason at first, so I had to completely scrap it and start over. This time around I tried an airbrush technique. I got a cheap airbrush kit on ebay, the air is even propelled by canned air and not an air compressor. I knew that it would suit my needs because I didn't intend on doing anything detailed with it. I just wanted some soft coloring effects in the background, so I didn't need any fancy, expensive equipment. It worked very well! I just used some darker blue watercolor in it and sprayed in the darker blue areas of the background. I think that I will be using this technique again in the future.

9 x 12.5" Watercolor, white gouache, colored pencil and airbrush.

Prints of this painting are available on my website: http://www.elvenstarart.com/Galleries/Misc/TheSuccubusGift.html

Below is the complete cover design, with text, also done by me.

I currently have two special auctions going on ebay! These are for two LARGE sets of ACEO prints. Each set contains 20 different prints and they both started at only one penny!! See both those auctions HERE!

In Licensing news...

For all you cross stitchers out there, my painting, "Shadow Dragon" is now available as a cross stitch pattern! Get that HERE!  Also, "Spellbook" and "Cecaelia" are available as tubes on Dreamscape Imaging! Get those and any of my other tubes HERE!

Next up... I have possibly one more commission to go! After that I hope to start a new ACEO series that I've been planning for several months now. I just haven't gotten a chance to start it yet due to other projects. All I'll say, is that it's a sort of spin off to my garden series, but with a theme of it's own. :)  I have some other larger painting ideas too that I want to do. I may do one of those first and then do the ACEOs. Not sure yet...

New Jewelry and Magazine Feature!

 

I have a TON of new jewelry for sale!!
I made a lot of new Dog Tag Necklaces! These feature many of my newest paintings. The entire garden series is currently available, ONLY these have a small matching crystal rhinestone attached to the corner of them! :)

I finally have some cameo rings available again! These were pretty popular the first time I made them, but I had trouble finding some of the parts for them. I'd been on the lookout ever since and finally got everything to make them again! :)

And just for fun, I made some other filigree rings that are topped with beautifully detailed resin chrysanthemum cabochons! These are available in a few different colors!

ALL of this jewelry is now available in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elvenstarart

Other Art News: My second sheet of Rubber Stamps is now available for pre-order at Sweet Pea Stamps!!  Pre-order yours and see all my stamps HERE!

 I have a feature in the current issue (June 2011 Issue #70) of ImagineFX Magazine!! So keep an eye out for it. It is on sale now the UK, and a month later everywhere else. :) I need to get my hands on a copy! You can buy a digital copy HERE or the actual magazine HERE if you can't find it in a store.

"Black Rose Immortal" and "Black Winter Day" are now available as Cross Stitch Patterns at Heaven and Earth Designs!

I also have a couple new pieces of handmade jewelry for sale!!
I have a chainmaille choker done in the dragonscale weave!  This cute necklace features a butterfly pendant and extender chain!
 The second piece is  a simple multi-strand bracelet made using a couple different types of chain and a chain of wire wrapped beaded links!
Both are available in my etsy shop!!

---

And a small update on my kittens... all seem to be recovering well from their surgeries and all cats are now getting along fine again! :)

February news...

I need to try update my blog more regularly. This is pretty much all of February's news in one post. lol  If you want to make sure to get all my updates quickly, please follow my Facebook fanpage or subscribe to my newsletter (more about this further down).

This is my latest painting finished 1-2 weeks ago, "Absinthe" featuring, of course, the green fairy.  :)  I've wanted to do my own version of the absinthe fairy for a while.  I hope that yo like her!  Please check out the detail view on my website for a close view of her face.

The original painting has sold, but prints are available on my website.  Larger 13 x 19" prints are available in my ebay store.  I keep meaning to get those up on my website for most of my paintings, but that will be a large task and I haven't gotten a chance yet.  Feel free to contact me if you're ever interested in a print at that size and don't want to use Ebay or you don't see the image you want there.  It shouldn't be a problem for most of my artwork except for ACEOs or odd shaped ones like square paintings.  They're $29.95 each.

She's also available as a tube through Dreamscape Imaging for the taggers out there!

About my newsletter... I've recently switched mailing list providers.  I used Bravenet before, but I didn't like the ads in the emails I sent out, at least for the free service.  I also think they went to people's spam too easily.  So I found a better service with MailChimp.  For those who already subscribed to my newsletter, you've already been switched over.  For anyone else, if you'd like to join my mailing list to get my most important updates then feel free to sign up at the link in the first paragraph or at my website.  I promise I won't spam your inbox or anything.  I just alert you to newest art, special auctions, sales, products... things like that.  ;)

 I have some new bookmarks for sale!  This is a new type of bookmark for me.  These are laminated and don't come in the big vinyl sleeves.  Though the vinyl ones are still available, these aren't quite as bulky.  They're really beautiful, and available in my ebay store HERE.  Right now I just have one of each listed available. I will be continuously adding new ones as I make them, but eventually they will become a regular item of mine.  :)  I may phase the vinyl ones out and replace them with these, but for now you can get both.

Heaven and Earth Designs recently released a couple of my paintings as quick stitch cross stitch charts. Amaryllis and Sweet Pea!

JEWELRY
Though these were made in December/January I just realized that I never mentioned them in my blog.
All of these are for sale HERE

New chainmaille bracelet and necklace set (sold separately) done in the full persian weave.

A gothic necklace and earrings set (also sold separately)

And a beaded kumihimo braided bracelet!








I believe that is pretty much it for the moment.  I'm going to have a new ACEO painting done soon.  I really should have it done already, but I've been a slacker.  lol  I have it sketched and ready to go.  I just have to add color.  :)

I think that I will feel more productive once the weather gets a little nicer!  I'm so tired of winter and snow and cold... bleh!

On a more positive note... I have cute kitties to cheer me up!  They're just over 4 months old now.  :)

Pretty Storm

A Few New Things...

I have some new updates to share...
First of all, a couple of new paintings!  These are the next two ACEOs in my Garden series.  #9 and #10 in the series.  There are going to be 12 of them, so I have 2 more to go.  I'm currently working on #11.

"Daffodil" and "Orchid"

Limited Edition Prints for these and the rest of The Garden Series are available on my website.

Also, some new cross stitch patterns of my art have been released with Heaven and Earth Designs!!  See all that are currently available HERE  I think there is at least one under the quick stitches category too.  :)

 I've been playing around with more chainmaille and made a couple more necklaces.  This stuff is pretty addicting!  ;)  These are both made in the Full Persian weave.

 This first one is made with Olivine Swarovski crystal beads and bright aluminum rings and wire.  It is really light weight!

This is for sale in my Etsy shop HERE

 This second necklace is pretty much the same as the one I posted a couple weeks ago, but this is made with black anodized aluminum rings and Aquamarine Swarovski crystal beads.  Again, being made with aluminum rings makes this necklace quite light weight.

This one is also for sale in my etsy shop, with more photos and description, HERE