"Metal World (Day 3)"

First of all, I want to thank sooooo many friends wishing me happy birthday. Various kinds birthday cakes have overwhelmed my FB. Someday I will do a birthday cake painting. I should have more than enough reference photos. Thank you for making my life so sweet.



So far for how this painting goes, I think I have exhausted all I know about painting. Now I have entered my "pushing envelope" stage. Obviously, I will get more details on the white cup in the front and I will add more stuff in the foreground. The painting will naturally move into a more realistic look. That is not the direction I want to go. I want to keep the painting painterly, but offer more dramatic effects. Let's keep on going.

Sign of the week

You can probably guess where this sign would be found.

Stamps!

This has been a long time coming! I've finally partnered with Magenta to offer a collection of rubber stamps designed by me. The rubber stamps are available with wood backing and on foam mounted cling. The quality of the stamps is wonderful and I'm very proud to have collaborated with this great company. You can purchase them here :)

Renaissance Fair Dancer

HEART OF THE FLOWER 2

I finished this painting yesterday. I took a photo of a day lily growing in our front yard. You are looking deep into the heart of that day lily. I love my new camera. It is a mixed media measuring 11.5"x 14.5". I used watercolor with Prismacolor pencil for an extra punch.

CRYSTAL COVE

I love to visit the West Coast of the Island...thundering waves, sandy beaches and complete serenity..One of my favourite spots is Crystal Cove.

summer chic

We have had some beautiful weather the last couple of days and it feels so great to finally have that bit of sunshine and warm weather back. The energy is coming back to us, getting outside to eat and play and enjoy the sunshine...oh yes we love it.



Summer also means updating and refreshing your clothes. We love this summer chic outfit by Selected Femme with the jeans shorts and perfect basic tee and blazer. Basic, feminine, chic and easy to wear...We need more of this this summer.

Photo suite 126 -- inside city limits

Location Design

Sign of the week

Have only been repainting rooms,as you see I am busy.

we've got a winner..

We have got a winner for the beautiful black wall structure of Kristina Dam studio!

Congratulations to Jet! We hope it will get a perfect spot in your home. Please e-mail us at info@aprilandmay.nl with your personal information and this piece of art will soon be yours.

Thank you Kristina Dam Studio for this great give-away!



xoxo April and May

Sketchbook Studies

She's got style

We are back after our trip to Copenhagen this weekend where we joined The Hive 2014. We were proud and honored to be one of the speakers talking about Personal Branding and our story and journey. We loved meeting all of you and talking with you.



But now back in the Studio and back to work. Today we want to share these images with you by our intern Manon. We are very happy with her joining us for a couple of months and what a great start of the week visiting her blog that she just started.



Thank you Manon for these great images, we love them!

Photo suite 125 -- on vacation at the cemetery

HISTORICAL HOUSE IN OLD TOWN ORANGE, CA

I painted this in 1994. It was one of the two that was in the 1995 Old Town Orange calendar. I sold the other one. Renters were in this house when I painted it so they didn't buy it. I don't know if the owner saw it. It is located at 708 East Almond. I heard that it has been repainted a different color. The tree is also historical. The painting is for sale. It measures 15x20 and is in a 18x24 mat. It will be in my bin at the Art-A-Fair show.

THE HEART OF A FLOWER

My latest painting. It didn't take long because it isn't a kaleidoscope. The painting is a mixed media (watercolor with Prismacolor pencil). It measures 11.5"x14.5". You are looking deep into a Nasturtium in my front yard. An ant was making his home there.

April and may hearts

- fashion | food | words | interior | product -

Sign of the week

Completed Sketchbook

I try to fill a sketchbook every month, this is my latest effort. Pentel black 101 brush pen, prismacolor verithin orange pencil and waterbrush in a "hand-book" sketchbook made by Global Art Materials.

ZARA lookbook MINI

We are getting into the summer mood and are happy to tell you that the newest Zara MINI lookbook is online. It was again a pleasure working on this one and this lookbook is all about that summer feeling. Lot's of fresh colors and also a more blue/navy inspired collection that is absolutely adorable.

We hope you will get in the summer mood with this lookbook and be sure to take a look at the Zara site to see the complete lookbook and the new collection.

Images: ZARA | styling: April and May | photography: James Stokes

Tools of the Trade