Princess and the Frog - Part I

I envisioned a Princess and the Frog illustration that would...


1. show some Tiana influence in the dress but not be a replica
2. have a cape
3. be wearing a crown
4. and a cornrow-to-beaded braids hairstyle


Actually #4 was my first requirement... since that is how I was seeing her in my imagination.  I'm super happy with the results and anxious to bring her to life with paint. 

What do you think??

What to Wear Wednesday... Spice

Variety is the spice of life.  And - so are shoes!!


Preparing to ship a large order of 11x14 prints.  They looked so bright and lively spread out on the table - they just lit up the room!  My client will be selling these as framed prints... and they will certainly light up any space.


I hung a test print of one in my studio - and am loving having it here.

What to Wear... to the French Court

Thinking of dressing up as Marie Antoinette for Halloween!  I've never done it but would love to.  All those delicious clothes, shoes, wigs would be SO much fun!

                  

'Beautiful Marie ....' by elfoto

All listings about and for beautiful and gorgeous women like Marie Antoinette :)Enjoy!

Paris French Pink Marie Masq... FrenchKissedPi... $75.00	Marie Antoinette Fantasy Gow... RomanticThread... $850.00	ECO Marie Antoinette's W... glaciermilk $169.00
French chic Marie Antoinette... VorontsovaART $4.29	Marie Antoinette - Lustre Pr... meluseena $18.00	Marie Antoinette shoes vivelareine $180.00
Marie Antoinette Style Cotto... PoshFairytaleC... $100.00	Marie Antoinette Decorated S... ProfMaelstromm... $112.00	Marie Antoinette Rococo Shoe... eringopaint $25.00
Sparkle Fantasy Marie Antoin... RomanticThread... $1250.00	Full Marie Antoinette Costum... mdalejohnson $300.00	Marie Antoinette Pink Fluffy... Oliviasromanti... $24.00
Marie Antoinette - Pink Fra... Narry $3.50	Halloween Wig Marie Antoinet... TiffanyDeMiche... $205.00	Marie Antoinette Of Our Hear... artisticcorner $45.00
COTTAGE Shabby Chic Marie An... VorontsovaART $4.19

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

What to Wear... Leaf Peeping

These boots were made for walking - these boots were made for Autumn!  
The leaves may still be green today but before I know it the rich, warm colors will be all around. And, most especially the spectacular, and very old, sugar maple in our yard.
I'll be standing by in my boots, with rake, camera and candy corn at the ready.


Happy Fall!

Monday Inspiration - Fall Harvest, Tomatoes

Ah - tomatoes!  I look forward to the late summer, early autumn just for them.   And, I could eat them at every meal so I took this photo as soon as I could - before they were gone.  They are sneak preview of leaf colors that we will see as we move deeper into the Fall.


The colors are simply gorgeous - vivid, inspiring and bottomless.


So as with all my visual obsessions... I have to paint them.  I painted this basket of tomatoes a few years back.  And my biggest challenge was the depth and vibrancy of the color - that color goes beyond red!  I used layers and layers of glazed color, many of which were lemon yellow, to achieve the luminosity.

"Fruit of the Gods" watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

The original painting hangs in my kitchen bringing me a vivid reminder of those stunning colors year round. 

Inspiration Monday - Quote of the week

"Thumbelina Ballerina" watercolor and ink on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."  ~Anais Nin

Inspiration Monday - Crayons

Crayons! 

They were my favorite as a child... I can still remember when I got my first box of 64!  with-a-built-in-sharpener AND everything!!!!  I think I felt the earth move that day!  And, how I treasured that box of umlimited possiblities.  Color galore.  Brings happy tears to my eyes.

Crayons still make me a little giddy. And, happily my 5 year old daughter loves to color and craft. We spend many an hour coloring side by side.  I with my (well, technically they are hers) crayons, her with her markers... which are her favorite. Who knows... maybe years from now she will be writing almost the same thoughts about markers! :)
I also now work out color schemes of paintings while I color with my girl.  I'll scan my black and white drawing, print out a few copies, and experiment with crayons.

When is the last time you played with crayons? grabbed a handful and went crazy with color and abandon?
Go ahead... take a fistful, take a deep breath of that glorious crayony smell --- and go create something fun and wonderful.  That's were I'm headed now....