"The Apple Gatherers" - 5x7 - Acrylic on board sold

"Behind the Screen" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board sold



Amidst all the hustle and bustle of my various projects the last several months as well as new ones currently going on, I felt compelled to return to painting small works again, and managed to find some time to create this latest mini painting. This kitchen window belongs to an old farmhouse that, sadly, no longer exists. Last fall, while taking my occasional backroad drives, I was eager to revisit the lonely house that I so often looked to as a source of inspiration - only to find a bulldozer sitting in its place surrounded by the fields, that, once so recognizable, now seemed alien and strange without the old withered structure. Even the drooping old willow that veiled it in mystery for God knows how many years had vanished along with it, as if the whole familiar scene had been nothing but a figment of my imagination all along. The house, the tree, the beaten down old shed in the back, are old friends never to be seen again except in my mind's eye. Like the namesake of its first portrait, it lives in memories past, a reminder of the temporary existence of all things on earth.

Wine Label Artwork

I thought I'd offer these two originals for sale. Each was an illustration for wine label packaging that I recently illustrated and designed along with a series of travel posters. You can see the final result of their usage, and read more about all this on a past post at my other blog here). Enjoy!

"Sailing" - 5.5" x 7.5" - Acrylic on board sold

















"Wine Country" - 8" x 14.5" - Acrylic on board sold

A Big Hello!

Greetings, everyone! I know it's been a while since I've posted any new "Mini Paintings." It's been a busy, exciting, super last few months for me and my work. New large paintings, shows, events, travels, and illustration work have been consuming nearly every waking moment since my last post here. If you haven't already been checking it out all along, all my latest news has been updated regularly at my main blog, Andrea Kowch Illustration & Design. So if you haven't been following that one, check it out to see all the latest things that have been going on. LOTS of new stuff!

But, every now and then between my last few projects, I have been feeling the need to take a minute from everything and just paint so. . . . here's a new mini painting! There's no telling whether or not these will be happening more frequently, as I'll be devoting my time to building my freelance illustration business now, as well as my major works to find gallery representation. Nonetheless, I will post a painting here when time allows - so don't go anywhere just yet!

In addition, I have plans to begin selling limited edition prints that will be available for purchase in the near future. I will keep you all posted as to when it all will be available! My thanks to everyone for the kindness and support you've given me and my work over the last year. I appreciate it so much! Hope you enjoy this latest one.

"Road's Edge" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board sold

"China and Lace" - 5" x 7" - Commission (NFS)

"Memories Past" - 8" x 10" - Acrylic on board sold

Another beautiful, haunting structure that I came across down an old farm road here in my home state. There's just something about these weathered houses that forever continues to captivate me. It's one thing to see these American relics in books and photographs, and something completely different to see, touch, and listen to them one on one. The soft creaking boards sound like small distant voices that are trying to tell a story of days gone by. It makes one wonder what once went on behind these now fragile walls, which, in spite of their condition, still stand proud against the wide horizon. Recalling the cool, crisp day when I found it standing all alone, I felt that I needed to create a larger painting than usual. I wanted to capture the emotions I felt as I began my way up to the house, which, upon my approach, looked as if it was shying away, trying to seek refuge behind the unkempt foliage that guarded it. Please click on the image to see a larger view.

"Poole's Farm" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board sold

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! May you all experience joy and happiness in 2008!

"Grandma's Homemade Apple Pie" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board sold

"Nectarines" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board sold

"Fallen Snow" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board sold

"Windswept" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on board sold
 

This painting is another result of my wanderings up in northern Michigan this past weekend. We were hit with about 12 inches of snow here on Lake Huron's coast, and standing in the very spot that's depicted in this painting took a bit of stamina, as wind whipped snow into my face and created waist-high drifts all around. It was cold! Despite the fact that winters can be fairly brutal in Michigan at times, especially in its north parts, there's nothing like walking through the woods after a winter storm has passed. It becomes so silent, that you can almost hear the last few lingering snow flurries falling amidst the sound of your boots crunching through the snow. Every branch of every tree becomes weighed down with sparkling white, and, looking around, you find yourself standing in a magical world where everything around you is alive, quiet, and listening. I'm working on another piece from this little excursion of mine as we speak, and will post it by tomorrow evening. So more to come. . .

You may click on the image for a larger view.

"For Santa" - 12" x 9" - Acrylic on canvas SOLD


















In the spirit of the holiday season, I decided to paint a larger daily painting here. The classic tradition of leaving out milk and cookies for Santa was something I always looked forward to each Christmas as a kid, in hopes that I would find my heart's desire under the tree the next morning. For me, the best part of this painting was being able to eat all the subjects afterwards! Hope you enjoy, and warm wishes to all of you this holiday season!!

You may click on the image for a larger view.

"Powdered Donut" - 5" x 5" - Oil on board SOLD

"The Sitting Room" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on board SOLD

Well, I figured I'd squeeze in a small daily painting, even though I'm taking time to work on large pieces right now. This scene was captured while touring an old farm house earlier this summer. Seeing this just made me picture what it would have been like to live in days gone by. Beautiful, timeless, and steeped rich in our history. Hope you enjoy. Please click on the image to see a larger view.

"Mariner's Treasure" - 16" x 20" - Acrylic on canvas
E-mail me to purchase, akowch@gmail.com















This is another larger painting that I created a while back, that is for sale. It is painted on a 16" x 20" canvas, that will arrive ready to frame. If you are interested in purchasing this piece, or have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. You can see a larger view by clicking on the image.

"Green Apple" - 24" x 24" - Acrylic on canvas SOLD

This is a large painting that I created a while ago, that I am offering for sale. It is painted on a 24" x 24" Gallery Style (wrap-around) canvas, so It could be displayed either with or without a frame. The image is continued all around the sides so that if displayed without a frame, it will still look great. You can see a larger view by clicking on the image.

"Memory Keeper No. 2" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board SOLD














This is another painting of the farmhouse I came across last month up in Northern Michigan. To read more about it, please see my August Archive to read my August 5th blog entry on it, and feel free to click on the above image to see a larger view.

"Blueberries" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Apples" - 2" x 3" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD
ACEO Art Card/Pocket Painting

"Time" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board SOLD

"Farmer's Pantry" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

"His n' Hers" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD


















Click on the image to see a larger view

"Memory Keeper" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

I came across this old farmhouse while driving down a road on Northern Michigan's west coast a few weeks ago. I've loved farms since I was a child, so growing up here in the Midwest keeps me surrounded by inspiration. Old forgotten back roads, endless fields, endless skies. . . there's an aura and mystery about it all that fascinates me. This particular place, however, touched me when I saw it; so much that I pulled over and got out to look around.

The lonely emptiness that filled the abandoned house stirred various thoughts and emotions in me, and I couldn't help but begin wondering about its past: Who once lived in it? What were all these empty rooms onced used for? Was it ever filled with a family? Who were they, and what did they look like? Imagine all the countless things that this old, dilapidated stucture witnessed and experienced. All the different memories it holds. It's moments like this when you wish walls could talk!

It was amazing to walk around and see it from all sides. The grass was almost waist-deep in certain spots, and I always had this fear that I would fall into some kind of deep hole! But there was nothing like that sweet smell of the tall grass on that summer day. Most of the windows had no glass, so I was able to look directly into the lower level of the house. Everything seemed like it was on the verge of collapsing. All of the original curtains still hung, and because many of the windows were open, a tattered one was completely twisted around the branches of a nearby tree. The roof was rusted, and the walls were dry and brittle when I touched them.

I could have sat there for hours just thinking and sketching if it wasn't for the constant traffic roaring just within feet of it. It was located right on a small intersection, so I couldn't leave my car for very long. Thank goodness I had my camera with me. I could only shake my head at the gas station and billboards that were beginning to sprout up around it. Though there were working farms several acres down, I knew that with its location, and the sale sign in front of it, that someday soon this house won't be here anymore. It may not even be here now. No doubt that commercial development will soon swallow it up. It truly makes me sad when I see these little pieces of our history begin to disappear. Quiet, rural areas are fast becoming parking lots. I can only hope that things will slow down and places like this house will be preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy. (Click on the image to see a larger view)

"Bowl of Apples" - 5" x 4" - Acrylic on canvas (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Sliced Pear" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on board SOLD

"Out of the Oven" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Breakfast Time" - 5" x 4" - Acrylic on canvas SOLD

"From the Orchard" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on canvas (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Cup O' Joe" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on canvas (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Farm Fresh" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on canvas (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Red Apple" No.2 - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on canvas SOLD

"Red Cherry" - 2.5" x 3" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD
Pocket Painting/Art Card

"Apricot" - 3" x 2.5" - Acrylic on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

I discovered an interesting concept online the other day known as "Art Cards." Here is a quick summary about them, which I have taken from the website, http://www.art-cards.org/:

The History of ATC's

Art Cards have a very long and very interesting history.
Art cards or miniatures where the rage in the 16th century. They were mostly portraits and they were sold, not traded or given away. They were the first wallet "photos". Men would have nudes painted of their mistresses on art cards (without their wives knowing)--usually by the same artist that would do the big family portraits of their wives. Miniature Portraits would be used for exchange when rich people arranged marriages. In fact, this caused a big problem for poor Henry the Eighth, when the artist who painted his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, took a little too much "artistic license". Poor Anne was not up to standard and Henry divorced her.

The French artists were the first to come up with advertisement on the art cards. It wasn't until the mid-1700's that the English picked up on the idea of using the Art cards for advertising. The Art Cards of Europe are slightly larger than ours as is their standard deck of playing cards is much larger than ours.

During the Impressionist Age artists traded art cards among themselves to study each other's style and techniques. They also traded or sold the art cards as necessary for supplies, food, and lodging.

In 1887 "baseball" cards started to appear. These early cards are now very rare and it is uncertain what they were made of. They were not mass produced. During the period 1902 - 1935 baseball was in its golden years. Cards during this time were usually sold with bubble gum, chewing tobacco and cracker jacks. As they were marketed with different size products, baseball cards were different sizes and it was not until the 1960s that the modern 2.5 x 3.5 size was standardized.

Today there is a resurgence of hand made art cards for sale and trade. Happy Collecting!!!

The image above is approximately the original size, though the original is slightly larger. Makes a great little painting for your pocket!

"Walk Along the Beach" - 5" x 7" - Oil on board SOLD

Another painting taken from an afternoon I spent on Lake Huron up in East Tawas, Michigan. One of the elements of this painting that I loved painting the most was the little girl, with her happy little step. The day was prime, with full sunlight and blue skies -- ideal for a painter's palette. That day, my camera was going nonstop, and I couldn't wait to sit down and paint the images I saw! You can click on the picture to see a larger, more detailed image. More beach paintings to follow!

"After the Swim" - 5" x 7" - Oil on board SOLD














What struck me about this scene when I saw it in real life, were the colorful swim suits these three girls were wearing, and that awesome candy cane towel. The gracefulness of their poses was a dream to paint, and I truly had a blast with this one. Click on the picture to see a larger, detailed image.

"Caribbean Shore" - 5" x 7" - Acrylic on board

E-mail me to purchase, akowch@gmail.com

I decided to paint this scene today after looking back at some photographs from a trip I took to Mexico a few years back. No where on earth can anyone find water that has blues like the Caribbean. It's time to get into that summer mood! Hope you enjoy :)

"Honey-Covered Biscuit" - 5" x 7" - Oil on canvas SOLD

"Three Pears" - 5" x 7" - Oil on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Seashell" - 3 1/2" x 5" - Oil on board
E-mail me to purchase, akowch@gmail.com

"Red Pepper" - 5" x 3 1/2" - Oil on board
E-mail me to purchase, akowch@gmail.com

"Lemon" - 5" x 4 1/2" - Acrylic on board
E-mail me to purchase, akowch@gmail.com

"Dates" - 3 1/4" x 8" - Oil on board
E-mail me to purchase, akowch@gmail.com

"Scones" - 4" x 5" - Oil on canvas (Click here to bid) SOLD

"White Onion" - 7" x 5" - Oil on canvas (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Teapot" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic & 18 kt. gold on canvas (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Orange" - 5" x 3 1/2" - Oil on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Pear" - 5" x 3 1/2" - Oil on board (Click here to bid) SOLD

"Presque Isle" - 7" x 5" - Acrylic on board
E-mail me to purchase, akowch@gmail.com

"Spring" - 7" x 5" - Oil on canvas SOLD