Nadine Buckinger Artist

I would like to introduce you to my good friend

Artist Nadine Buckinger. Her beautiful paintings are on exhibit at

Gateway Gallery in Winston-Salem, NC, Jan. 22 - March 20,

in an exhibit entitled "Surfacing".

The opening was a huge success! Nadine sold 7 paintings!

I'm not surprised, her work is fabulous. She has really found her medium in encaustic. With wax and pigment she paints with such simplicity of line, richness of texture and yummy hue

that her work is simply irresistible.

To learn more about Nadine visit her website.

Alice in Wonderland Character Series

Back in the Fall I drew a series entitled "Props from Alice in Wonderland"; The spotted mushroom, the Mad Hatter's hat, "Eat me" macarons, and tea cups, all in pink and white. That was the first group in my Alice in Wonderland series. This group entitled "Characters" is drawn in two shades of pink, light blue, light yellow, black and white.

"Characters" introduces us to Alice in a big way, also The Mad Hatter, The Duchess, The Cheshire Cat, The White Rabbit, and The Queen of Hearts. The Alice illustrations tell the story of changes she experiences throughout the story. The bewildered look on her face, is directed at the baby she is holding in her arm that just turned into a pig. Her other arm and hand are being thrust through an open window as she once again enormously grows . Her standing legs and feet are symbolic of her height since her height keeps changing. The Cheshire Cat is grinning from inside her because children are so curious as is Alice. So, all five of the center illustrations make up Alice in puzzle like form and then the other characters surround and encircle her, illustrating that the characters bombard and confuse her in the story.

I really wanted to portray the Characters in a non-threatening way. The Props series was suitable to hang in a nursery with its simple shapes and monochromatic pink. It is a calm series. I have the independent toddler in mind for The Character series. When children reach the age of "I'm a big girl. I'm not a baby anymore." The phase when their rooms are transformed from a baby nursery theme to some characters they like. This is also why I portrayed Alice as younger than she is in the book (so that young children could identify with her and also look up to her because she is probably 7 or 8).

As I was saying it was important to me that these characters not be too ominous, not scary in any way. So, The Mad Hatter looks "Mad" in a happy out of his mind kind of way. The Duchess, who is considered by the story and original illustrations to be an ugly woman, I gave pig like features (since she may be the Mother of the child who turns into a pig). Instead of ugly I was going for a sweet pig lady. The Cheshire Cat was particularly important to me to give a happy grin because my daughter finds some characters with big grins to be rather scary. The rabbit I did not draw as irritated which, as he is late, can not find his gloves and fan etc., could be portrayed that way. Instead I tried giving him a handsome portrait. The Queen of Hearts was a challenge. She IS always shouting, "Off with her head!" A rather violent, bossy queen. I played up the bossy side and could not keep her from shouting but tried not to make her look mean.

I hope you like and enjoy this new series. I will be offering them in my shop in the next couple of days. I've been drawing so much for the past week I have gotten behind in everything else and must catch up today, but hope to list these in my shop tomorrow. :)

Fancy Cats!

Meet Francesca and Felipe, now available in my shop! They are my latest drawings (I just drew them today) and my first kitty cats. I hope you like them. :)

Please Vote for HTS Jan. 15-22

Wolves in Love Valentine Print

Love is in the air! I am in the process, starting today, of adding Valentine prints to my shop. This one features details from my Little Red Riding Hood Valentine illustration. These prints are on 11"x8.5" (red heart on white rectangular background) paper and can be used as such or can be cut out in a heart shape to give as a card or hang as a decoration. :)

♥♥ Valentines! ♥♥

Valentine's Day is coming! Something warm to look forward to in this super cold month. :) New in my shop- this sheet of 8 Valentine cards featuring 4 of my illustrations and sweet Valentine messages!

Diner Waitress / Beehive Hairdo

Violet, Chiffon, Sheri, and Peaches make up my Diner Girls series. They are now available in my shop! Alyssa Tasker helped me with writing a story about each of them (read description in shop). Thanks again Al! And come to think of it, it was her suggestion I draw portraits of different hairdos. She is pure genius! I hope you like them. :)

Retro Hairdo Series

Introducing the first two drawings from my Retro Hairdo Series: Josie and Rita! Alyssa Tasker suggested I do a series of hairdo drawings. Thank you for the suggestion Al! It has been fun, Fun, FUN! :)

They are now available in my shop in 3 sizes: 8.5"x11", 5"x7", and an ACEO 2.5"x3.5".

Amy Pigtails Print

Happy New Year to you all! I've been working on my retro hairdo drawings: beehives, up-dos, even one with a pill box hat! When this sweet creature appeared. I was thinking of a 1970's pigtail hairdo when she transformed into a little girl that reminds me of Amy March from Little Women. It is funny how illustrations evolve and take on a life of their own sometimes. She is now available in my shop in 3 sizes: 8.5"x11", 5"x7", and an ACEO 2.5"x3.5". I am offering all three sizes on all my illustrations whenever possible.

Fun and Wacky New Year!

I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season and I want to wish all of you a very happy 2010! Thank you for making my first blogging year a fun one with all your kind comments and follows! I am so happy to have made so many friends around the world.

I'm thinking ahead to the new year and coming up with some new fun and wacky creations. Alyssa Tasker gave me the idea to do hairdo drawings (Beehive above in progress). Thanks Al! Al has such fun ideas.
Also, I finally finished this grumpy little bird illustration and listed it in my shop! :)

Owl Jack in the Box!

New in my shop Owl Jack in the Box DIY PDF toy craft! Making this Owl in the box was a request from my friend Michelle. Thank you Michelle!

Now Available! Babushka with a Pearl Earring!

New Drawing! Now available in my shop! :)

Alice in Wonderland Prints Now Available!

Now available in my shop Alice!

Also new to my shop Alice in Wonderland Prop illustration prints!

Russian Dolls Gift Guide

Russian dolls make a very fun gift theme! In my shop I have ACEOs and gift tags, small prints, letter size prints, pinback buttons, pocket mirror/pinback button gift sets, and DIY printable toy tent card dolls and coloring sheets. They are sure to bring a smile to the face of any little girl or girlfriend on your gift list!

Russian Doll and Snowman Gift Ideas

Looking for a gift theme? Mix and match these items from the "Russian Doll and Snowman" collection for sweet, fun, affordable gift giving! Happy Holidays!

5"x7" prints, letter size prints, accessories, cards, gift tags and ACEOS, a coloring/activity book

Coloring / Activity Book!

I'm so excited about these Russian Doll and Snowman coloring and activity books!!

They include:

4 coloring pages,

1 maze,

1 draw your own snow globe scene and

2 tent card dolls to make!

I print and assemble each book by hand (you can read more about how I make them in the description). They really are a labor of love because I enjoy working with these illustrations so much. I'm proud of how these turned out. I really think they're fun! I hope you like them too! :)

Free Shipping World Wide!

Free shipping world wide in my shop!! Happy Holidays everybody! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!! :)

Holiday Gift Tags

Now available in my shop sets of holiday gift tags! These are ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) prints. Fun and affordable miniature art, the size of a baseball cards (2.5"x3.5"), to collect, display or trade. Usually I sell these in my shop individually but for the holidays I'm offering a special reduced price on sets of 4 to use as gift tags or to give as gifts. :)

Orange U Blue Treasury

This is a treasury I just made including some of my favorite color combinations. I find these pieces inspiring and fun! Hope you like. :)

Meerkat

Yesterday I was saying on twitter that I was between illustrations at the moment and did not really have a clue what I would be drawing next. When alyssatasker responded that I should draw "a purple meerkat". Well since my daughter loves Disney's the Lion King and purple is her favorite color and alyssatasker did ask me, I thought, "Yes! I should!" And so that is what I did today. What do you think of my little meerkat? Now available in my shop! Free shipping worldwide!

New- Little Red Riding Hood Winter Holiday, 6 Blank Card Set with Envelopes!

Now listed in my shop Little Red Riding Hood Winter Holiday cards, set of 6. Send individually as holiday greeting cards or give the set as a gift of winter note cards. Two of these sets are listed in my shop but I can make as many as you'd like so please contact me if you would like more. :)

Teddy and Ginger, Jack in the Box, Holiday Pop Up Decorations

Introducing Teddy and Ginger! Ta-Da! This adorable pair is spring loaded for fun holiday decorating! DIY printable PDF crafts are new in my shop! I love gingerbread. Can you tell? he he.

Jack in the Box DIY PDF Toy Crafts!

New in my shop!! :) I'm so excited. I love making toys!!

I've been busy the last 2 days coming up with these sweeties. Introducing, "Poppet and Moppet" Jack in the Boxes. I just listed them in my shop as a DIY PDF toy craft. Hope you like!

New! FREE Shipping Worldwide!

Free shipping on all items in my shop!!!

Also, I've added some new items and relisted some older pieces.

All in time for the holiday season! :)

Sweet Holiday DIY Gift Tag PDF

I just added these sweet little guys to my shop! :) They are available as a sweet and convenient DIY PDF. Purchase and print as many as you want as often as you want! I myself am fighting the urge to print out a million of them and set them up on the floor all over my house while blaring some classical music and maybe even do a stop action movie with them!!! :O LOL I've gone mad with cuteness! ;)

Indian Nesting Doll Family Sneak Peek

A sneak peek at the latest in my series of nesting doll families— an Indian family of babushkas. Alas, I am out of ink. So printing and proofing the colors will have to wait. I'm glad I don't have to wait to show them to you though! :)

Tuareg Family of Nesting Dolls

It's all about family this week! :) Here is my Tuareg nesting doll family illustration. I loved the purple one so much I had to make an indigo and a rose!

Nesting Doll Drawings

I've drawn lots of Russian dolls, but never a family of nesting dolls. I was thinking it's about time I did. So, here is my first nesting doll family in various black and white variations. Which one do you like best? :)

Sweet Escape!

I woke up this morning and went straight to my studio to draw. It was quite chilly. I began to draw and had to laugh because I was cold and drawing ice cream. I have always loved and enjoyed anthropomorphic illustrations and figures. I hope you like this one entitled "Sweet Escape!" She is fleeing some lover of ice cream no doubt! ;)

Sneak Peek - India Inspired Doll

This is a sneak peek at my latest drawing an India inspired nesting doll. This is part of a series including the HanFu and Tuareg dolls. Each in this series uses one main color for their clothing and white. This series as well as the first series (which included Peruvian, Portuguese and Tibetan dolls) all use some of the same design motifs— a flower, leaves, and swirls, as unifying factors. What differentiates between the series is the way color is used. I have really enjoyed drawing these dolls!

Next will come a second series of toy animals to go with each of these dolls. I am offering the doll and animal drawings to an online store that is opening early next year. They will be selling my drawings as limited addition prints available in an array of sizes. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Wish me luck! :)

Sneak Peek - HanFu Style Doll

This is a sneak peek of my latest nesting doll illustration. It is inspired by HanFu style Chinese traditional clothing. Thank you for the suggestion Ren! :)

Sneak Peek Latest Drawing

I just drew this Tuareg inspired doll today. I have had this drawing stirring in me for a while. Very fun to at last be drawing it. Back in school I drew my first Tuareg inspired illustration and I have been itching to do a nesting doll drawing. I hope you like her. :)

Babushka Sneak Peek

This is a sneak peek at the latest series of nesting doll drawings I'm working on. This series of illustrations is inspired by 3 different cultures from 3 very different parts of the world that all use similar colors in their traditional costumes. They are inspired by Peruvian, Tibetan and Portuguese cultures. I have always admired the bright colors of these cultures. My Grandparents lived in Portugal for a time and my Grandmother gave me a black apron she bought while she was there. I have always loved all the colorful embroidery on it. I'll have to photograph it and the red one my Mom has and post here later.

I drew the Peruvian and the Portuguese girls first and am now still tinkering with the Tibetan girls colors. When I'm finished I will post again, along with a link where they will be available.

The plan is to do a second series of toy animals from these same cultures too.

Sneak Peek Latest Drawing

Here is a sneak peek at my latest drawing. :)

Voteetsy Green Capelet Contest TODAY!

This pretty capelet is by my friend at lilyandlulu. It is entitled "Elizabeth". She does such beautiful work! :)

Today voteetsy is featuring a contest I submitted! Every morning part of my morning ritual is to go to voteetsy and vote in the contest of the day. It is a fun way to support fellow Etsians. Last week I saw they were taking submissions for contests and I thought, "Cool this will be fun!" The contest theme was inspired by my friend at lilyandlulu and her lovely "Elizabeth". Please go to voteetsy and cast a vote! Good luck to all the pretty capelet knitters and I hope they get lots of new customers from the free publicity! :)

Blog Award

Wendy is a Peach and nominated my blog for this lovely award. It is a cool chick (as my husband would say) don't you think? Anyway, I like the illustration. Also, like that it looks like a postage stamp (my Father is retired from the US Postal Service he he).

Here is the deal, anyone who is currently following my blog and has a blog is eligible for this blog award. Because, let's face it, you all Rock! So, if you like this cute, chick, stamp, award thingy and you would like to display it on your blog, it is yours, do so proudly.

I am not naming names because well, someone might get inadvertently left out and have their feelings hurt (which I would like to avoid) and someone may not agree that this is a really cool looking award. In which case I would hate to give it to someone who didn't want it or appreciate it. Also, some may not like the obligations associated with accepting the award (nominating others and informing them) which I seem to have avoided but seem to be taking just as much time to write this post! lol

In conclusion, did I mention how much I adore Wendy and all her Fab cross stitched items in her shop? I adore the ice cream cone pin and the puppy dog key chain I bought from her as gifts for my daughter (saving for Christmas don't tell!). Also, I really enjoy following her on Twitter and tweeting back and forth! She is very sweet and fun as her profile picture implies! :)