Koala purple hazed wildlife art with a twist

Inspired by the smoke haze floating over the Gippsland countryside, for many days in late April. The planned burn left a purple blue touch to everything. It got me thinking of those poor koalas in the fog of choking smoke. The interesting hues influenced my decision to experiment with this haze of purple and to push my boundaries using bright non standard colour on this interesting and iconic Australian animal. 

I took a further risk and added touches of orange to the eyes and around the animals face to echo the beautiful flaming autumnal leaves and of course those fires. I have a thing for koalas they have an innocent quality but behind the cute face they can be quite feisty when they need to be.

This piece of artwork, I hope will make the viewer think about the plight of animals subjected to unpleasant smoke inhalation during burn offs.

This experimental acrylic painting is currently for sale on boxed canvas (20cms x 20cms x 1.5cms). For best price contact me directly or you can purchase from me via Saatchiart. If you want your own print check out my koala art on Redbubble.

Going green

Colour company Pantone has declared green as its colour of the year for 2017. The colour, aptly named Greenery, is described by Pantone as a "tangy yellow-green that speaks to our need to explore, experiment and reinvent". 

It seemed therefore fitting to go green whilst taking a more relax approach to a bit of watercolor art, I produced for my little eden weddings store. 

I started with some loose foliage forms then added splats of paint by gently flicking the brush in a controlled way to give the work more vitality, interest and life.

I then decided to grab a pot placed in the center of my paper and produce another piece of art in a wreath design using the pot as a circular template.

I was quite pleased with my little painting session, although I did color adjust the artwork to match and be a little more green with the tone of the greenery theme.

My new greenery wedding set now available at www.mylittleedenweddings.com just in time for a spring wedding. See the whole set here













I also have a few other hand painted greenery collections for weddings in www.mylittleedenweddings.com store. 

Spring greenery leaves watercolor art wedding
by Sarah Trett for mylittleedenweddings
Green Oncidium orchid wedding
by Sarah Trett for mylittleedenweddings
Green catkins willow watercolor art wedding
by Sarah Trett for mylittleedenweddings

The wonders of a new Spring in the UK

Having returned back to the UK from Australia this was the first UK Spring for me in over five years. It has been a delightful revelation to see the transition from the miserable dullness of winter, to the amazing mass flourish of green leaves and pretty flowers. Despite being time poor and still without space to produce my art. I managed to complete a few paintings of the blooms that really caught my eye this spring here in Dorset, England and I have taken plenty of sketches and photos for potential future works once I get more time and space to work again. Below is links to my new Spring watercolor artworks, designed to work on various products including wedding invitations, cards, gift papers and fabrics.

Pink tree blossom watercolor wedding
by Sarah Trett

Spring snowdrops, primrose, bluebell art flowers
by Sarah Trett

Camellia pink wedding
by Sarah Trett

Yellow catkins willow watercolor art wedding
by Sarah Trett

Dollying up dolly

Original  first draft sketch

Just finished my latest artwork of a cute rag doll loosely based on my daughters cherished rag doll, Kate.

I even remembered my blog and finally got out my camera to record several stages during the drawing and painting process for you to see the progression of this piece and how I as a artist work.

I needed to buy a new pink watercolor tube for this painting. Pink is one of those colors in watercolor that is best used strong to keep it vibrant. I am delighted with my new opera rose Winsor & Newton tube. Opera rose proved to be well worth the investment giving the painting a lovely vibrancy to the pink and purple tones.

The biggest challenge I found on creating this artwork was the woolen hair, one the changes I made from the original doll. I guess that is why I left it until last to do? As always my completed dolly art prints are available from my stores on a variety of products, ideal for any little girl who like my daughter loves dolls.

Second draft in my sketch book

Redrawn on watercolor paper with paints used

Working on drawing in and painting up the hair

Kate with her caricature

If you like this doll art you can get your own personalized copy on various items sold by Zazzle is my doll collection

Horsin’ around on a whimsical rocking horse

I have been busy horsin' around in pan watercolors to create my latest rocking horse artwork. This cute whimsical artwork was produced for my daughters bedroom initially. However I decided to scan this little rocker and create various products for other little girls whom love toy rocking horses to enjoy too.

Picture shows my artwork at the finishing stage and the paint pallet and brushes I used. Here are just a few of the products and color variations I produced from this cute watercolor painting.

Rocking horse kids nursery poster
by my little eden
Purple rocking horse name wallet
by my little eden
Rocking horse nursery name clock
by my little eden

Pink rocking horse baby blanket
by my little eden
Aqua personalised birthday gift wrap
by my little eden
Wishes for baby postcard
by my little eden

Abstraction with an Ember Glow Haze

My latest paintings is certainly on a much larger size than I am used to! This modern art abstract painting is entitled Ember Glow Haze in warm scarlet red hues with a soft smoke haze painted overlay.

The concept for this work came from the coal fire that burnt during the summer in Gippsland, Australia. It was my way of expressing the warmth given out from community at what was a very difficult time.

My one year old daughter gives you a idea
of the scale of this art piece, prior to hanging 

I painted this work outside, soon after the coal face burning disaster, it is painted on a very large canvas with Liquitex acrylic paints. It was very liberating to be painting outside and embracing the smoke free fresh again, which I hope I expressed in the softness and strength of this work.

A canvas print is now available to purchase from several of my outlet stores, the art print can also be purchased on other products.

Ember Glow Haze art canvas print
my little eden zazzle store
Ember Glow Haze art throw pillow
my little eden zazzle store
Ember Glow Haze
art tote bag
by Sarah Trett on Redbubble

Mum's working from home (or trying too)

Platapus T

Can you really be a mum and work from home?

Is it possible to work from home and produce an income from your artwork. This is my story so far:

I was happy working full-time as a senior graphic designer for Page Media Group, in Essex UK. I then fell pregnant, worked as close as I could to my due date and had our wonderful son. So after 4 months as an at home mum, I had to return back to work. My parents kindly had him whilst I worked. Well all seemed good but I missed him terribly when I worked. My parents had done more than enough for us and I felt I should let them enjoy their retirement more.

We had a dream to go to Australia. The weather is warm all year in Queensland and at the time we could have almost been mortgage free, allowing me to stay at home and be a full-time mum.

My parents had talked about going to Australia for most of my life and what with one thing and another put it off and now they regret they have missed their chance. We decided not to be the same. 

So after a very along and expensive process we finally got our permanent resident's visa's gave up our jobs (gulp) sold our house, we had spent 10 years lovingly restoring and took the biggest decision of our lives to move permanently to Australia.

Oh my, what a rollercoaster this has been... First the exchange rate dropped like a stone thanks to the financial crisis. Second the "in demand" job skills my husband used to get our visa was not so in demand when we got to Queensland. I got some work in Brisbane temping as a graphic designer to keep us afloat. It was so very hard moving all this way to have nothing.

Soccer/football mug

When I was not working, I decided to start on some things for my son. We didn’t have much in Aussie dollars so this gave him something to do on our limited budget. I did some word searches and made up some kids writing sheets. My first thought was to produce some playing cards. We used two packs of cards and played with the concept and started to illustrate it. I still haven't finished it... (another thing I must do!)

How to use your artistic skills to keep sane and current?

I was surfing one day when I stumbled on a link to Redbubble, http://www.redbubble.com/people/sarahtrett it was Australian so I had no worries about tax laws etc.

Redbubble is a supportive community, where artists meet and share art and writing. Redbubble also has a print on demand (POD) service so you can sell your work as prints, sticker and cards.

Portrait of a Fox card

I had lots of artwork that I had brought to Australia (unfortunately I also left alot behind!) so I got uploading what I had (still have more to scan, another thing I must do!). The best thing was I got to see all my artwork together and I got to show it to the world. After all what is the point of painting if no-one gets to enjoy it.

I started working on some characters, dinosaurs and animals working closely with my son. This works well most of the time, but he does insist on some strange decisions sometimes!

After 6 worrying months my husband finally got the avionics job he wanted, the downside it was in colder Victoria and rural Victoria at that! It was the perfect job for him and I knew he needed to take it, or we would have had to start thinking about returning back to the UK.

Now hubby has full-time work, I'm now stuck at home, and going slowly mad. I decided I needed to up my game (or get a paper round or something!). I noticed that zazzle had a better sale rate from other redbubblers and the range of products you can create is excellent.

It's free and easy to create an online store on Zazzle to sell your art on t-shirts, posters, mugs, business cards, shoes, skateboards, tote bags, hats, posters, badges, keyrings and more.

I needed an income even if small to help with the day to day bills and to do my bit. So I started mylittleeden
http://www.zazzle.com/mylittleeden*

So now I’m working on more products, I have met people who have 17,000 products. But for me I have standards to keep. I need the work to be professional. So I’m happy to work just on quality and hope that that is going to be enough? I do hope so.

So far I have sold one mug! So I guess I have a long way to go...?

http://www.zazzle.com/mylittleeden/gifts?cg=196103273515783329

You can keep up to date with my progress on my facebook page, likers always welcome. I'm learning blogging at the mo. This is my first attempt.

There is so much I still have to if I want to be successful but it keeps my mind active and creativity running through my veins. I don't think I could have been just a mum at home, so for me this is an ideal solution.

During the day my son enjoys sitting on my lap and reviewing with me other artists work (although I do choose child friendly stuff!), this helps get your work noticed by others and is good to get more links back to your profile.

I do hope I have inspired you to give it a go if you are creative or if not just to pop over to my site to enjoy the art I produce.

Art may not make you rich but it helps to keep you sane! Well almost...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/my-little-eden/163215617069609

Sarah Trett - artist, illustrator, designer and mum

http://www.sarahtrett.com/