Mixed Media Painting | French Roses
There are moments when I layer prose into my paintings. Amidst the layers of ephemera, inks, watercolors, and acrylics, I nestle words of encouragement, whispers of hope, and expressions of gratitude. I like the idea of hiding within each piece of art, a secret letter of love, that maybe some will see and others will feel. I scrawl my thoughts in French, since it’s considered the language of love and it’s appearance is beautiful. “I am thankful for family who is generous with love and compassionate in heart. I am grateful for friends who are loyal, who forgive easily, and who never leave. I pray good blessing will fall upon all, gifts will emerge within, and love will embrace you in its wings.”
Acrylic Painting | Mystery at Midnight
I followed a YouTube tutorial by Lucy Brydon, a Gel Printing master, to create this abstract-type, midnight landscape. It consists of many different layers of transparent colors. I used golden open paints, a Gelli plate, brayer, and Posca pens.
Mixed Media Painting | Penelope Bloom's Ballerina Bunny
Penelope Bloom has been on my mind again, along with her beloved toy bunny, reminding me of the purity and innocence of childhood. For a brief moment, I saw a Penelope Bloom bunny come to life, dancing in the light of the moon, free of everything that would weigh her down as she moved without constraints. Perhaps someday we will do the same.
I painted this on a 16 x 20 inch canvas using Daler Rowney Acrylic Inks, Stabilo Pencils, Golden Acrylic Heavy Body and Open paints, Ephemera, Pan Pastels, Oil Pastels, and Winsor Newton Artist Oil bars.
Mixed Media Painting | Girl at Dusk
I recently completed an Ivy Newport class on abstract painting, which I loved!!! There I learned a whole new way of expression through art. I am drawn to the mystery of it all, with its implied stories and unique interpretations.
In this mixed media painting, I first used charcoal, inks, ephemera, Inktense pencils, acrylics, and then Procreate. 
#GirlatDusk #IvyNewport #AcrylicPainting #CreateWonder
Mixed Media Painting | Bokeh Girl
I almost…almost threw away this painting. It’s ugly stage lasted way too long, and I thought it was not salvageable, especially since I was trying out some new art supplies to go along with an art course, She blooms in Ink, by Tamara Laporte. Refusing to give in, I doggedly persisted. I have to admit, I like how she finally turned out.
For this painting, I used Tombow watercolor markers, Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers, Dylusions Inks, Tim Holtz Distress Stains, Daler Rowney Artists Ink, Caran d’ache pencil crayons and watercolor crayons, Faber Castell Gelatos, acrylics, and ephemera.
My hope for you all this year is this: May your days would be filled with vibrant color, freely given love, and unending compassion!
HAPPY NEW YEARS ALL!!!
Watercolor Painting | Impressionistic Girl
I recently completed a Fancy Lassies art class by Kate Thompson. This is my first attempt at painting a fancy lassies whimsical girl. It was fun to lay down paint in an impressionistic style.
Mixed Media Painting | Fluffy Puppy 2
My daughter and I tackled another mixed media painting together, after she asked me to paint her a second puppy portrait to place on her bedroom wall. She drew this image over top of a mixed media, ephemera-rich background. I used inks, Caran C’ache Neocolor 2 crayons, golden acrylic paints, Winsor Newton Oil Bars, oil pastels, Posca Pens, Gelatos, and a Stabillo pencil to complete this look. We both like how she turned out. 
Mixed Media Painting | Fluffy Puppy
My daughter and I collaborated on this painting. She drew the puppy which I then painted using inks, acrylics, gelatos, neocolor 2’s, oil pastels, and oil paints. Her excitement as she watched it come to life was contagious. We will have to do it again.
I cannot begin to tell you how much fun it is to paint freely and forget all the rules. This abstract painting was inspired by Juliette Crane’s, “Wild and Free” course. It makes me think of winter, traveling, and the colors of Christmas. 
Mixed Media | When Starlight Dances
When starlight dances,
It bequeaths pure light,
Empowering fireflies,
And princesses alike.
It whispers of magic,
It resonates might,
It sings in the darkness,
And transforms the night.
Mixed Media Painting | Wanderer
This painting captivates me. I find myself contemplating the untold story within its layers, only to grapple with the feelings it evokes, ones of sadness, intrigue, and wonder. The forest looms, yet is beautiful. The princess appears to be lost and alone, yet is accompanied by her faithful friend (the bunny). Her bunny seems trapped, unless it climbed onto the branch to nestle in the crook of the tree’s arms, to better appreciate the lush wilderness of its surroundings. Layers. This painting itself took many layers over several weeks to create, starting with acrylics on paper, and ending with fingerprinting in procreate.
Acrylic Painting | Camping at Dusk
I tried my hand at creating something a little different this week, compared to my usual splashy, color-filled paintings. Having recently learned some new skills from the great Lucy Brydon, a master Gelli print artist, I decided to experiment with my supplies to create an image which has been floating around in my mind. Using muted tones, I created a landscape scene using a Gelli plate and open acrylic paints. Drawing into the background after it dried, I added additional details using a variety of acrylic paints, Posca pens, Derwent Inktense Pencils, Caran D’Ache Luminance pencils and neocolor 2 crayons. It may look somewhat simple, but it was fun.
Acrylic Finger Painting | Girl in Forest
I had a vision of a girl standing between the trees with her bunny, staring out at the world. She was neither happy nor sad. Accepting, I think. Maybe somewhat lost and alone. But ultimately, I knew that she belonged in this forest of light, where peace, love, and beauty abound.
Girl in Forest, Janna Vanderveen 2017
Acrylic Painting | Magical Forest
I recently stumbled across Canadian painter, Melissa Mckinnon’s artwork. I have long-loved incorporating finger-painting into my artwork, as evidenced by my previous paintings, and felt inspired to try and paint my own birch/aspen tree. I completed this painting on an 8 x 10″ piece of 140 lb. watercolor paper and used a variety of acrylic paints as well as modeling paste for texture.
Mixed Media Painting | Tamara Laporte Style "Flower and Ink Girl"
One of my favorite on-line art teachers is Tamara Laporte from willowing.org in South England. An accomplished artist and soon to be author, she has mastered the craft of creating whimsical characters on paper. She recently completed a series of paintings using only a few Tombow markers and some Caran d’ache neocolor crayons. I was intrigued by the simplicity of her supplies and the complexity of her pieces, and thought that I’d try to emulate her work. I had to improvise on my supplies, since I do not own Tombow markers (they are on my bucket list of art supplies to someday own), and used a variety of watercolor paints, inks, and pencils instead. Overall, I think my whimsical girl turned out pretty nice.
Watercolor Girl | Patriot's Heart
This is the second, in a series of three watercolor thank-you cards, featuring my whimsical princess with her bunny. I love painting sunsets and valleys reflecting the beauty of life all around. I used a combination of artist grade MaimeriBlu and professional grade Winsor Newton watercolor paints on this 5×7 card.
Watercolor Girl | Patriot's Heart
This is the first, in a series of three watercolor thank-you cards, featuring my whimsical princess with her bunny. I love how it turned out. I used a combination of artist grade MaimeriBlu and professional grade Winsor Newton watercolor paints on this 5×7 cards.
Watercolor Painting | Diving Deep
No matter how deep you fall, or to what depths you dive, I am there. I descended to the depths to be with you, but I didn’t stay there. On the third day, I rose and took you with me.
Watercolor Painting | The Princess and the Pea
I completed this 9″ x 13″ watercolor illustration on 140 lb. watercolor paper using Winsor Newton and Maimeri Blu watercolor paints.
Watercolor Painting | Waning Sun
Even when the sun wanes,
You are not alone,
For in darkness,
My love shines brightest for you.
