Snow Friends Holiday Ornament Project

 

These sweet ornaments are something I've been making for years - but every time I make them - I add a little twist! :)

I've always been a fan of watercolors - even years ago before they became the primary medium for my children's book illustrations.

In order to make these sweet Snow Friends Ornaments, you will need:

- Chroma Blends watercolor paper

- Chroma Blends watercolor pencils

- OOLY Dot-A-Lot craft paint

- a pencil, permanent marker (thin tipped), eraser, scissors

- paint brushes

- hole puncher

- string

- a mug or glass to trace

Trace around the rim of a mug or glass with a pencil in order to make a perfect circle. Add a little handdrawn loop on the top as the 'cap' for the ornament.

Next, add a cute character inside your holiday ornament. Polar bears and foxes are a great choice for the holidays - and are somewhat easy to draw, as you only need the 'bust' or top half of the animal.

Trace around your pencil drawing with permanent pen and erase the pencil lines.

Next, comes the really fun part! Add some color using watercolor pencils. I love these colored watercolor pencils from OOLY because they offer a wide variety of colors, and it's easy to get precision within your artwork when using them. 

The concept pictured above is to use three similar colors blended together to achieve a stormy winter background.

After you're happy with your fully colored ornament, add some dimension with what I like to call 'puff paint'! OOLY's Dot-A-Lot neon colors are perfect for adding 'snow' and sweater embellishments to these sweet characters. 

(This step was the 'twist' I tried this year ;) )

After your art is completely dry, cut it out and add a hole and string for hanging on the tree!

As always, I hope you enjoy the ideas on this blog, and would love to see your creations on social media! Don't forget to tag @LinzerLane and @weareooly if you do decide to try out these sweet ornaments!

x

Ashley

Linzer Lane's Newest Character Revealed!

 Our lives have changed dramatically this month - we left our one room loft apartment in Jersey City (a town my husband and I called home for over ten years), and moved into a winter house rental in Belmar, NJ. We now have access to nature, (and tranquility!), on a daily basis. Leon hasn't skipped a beat, and thinks that his new home is just peachy.

Instead of daily fire alarms, non-stop high-rise construction noise, and concrete plazas, he now has a garden to run in, and the beach two blocks away. The pandemic certainly pushed us into this situation with both of us working from home - but it's been a blessing in disguise!

The day we pulled up to our new home, there was a rabbit out front - and we all agreed that was a good sign!

As the weeks of progressed, one rabbit in particular comes to greet Leon and I every single day, and so we've given her the name of 'Pinecone'. 

Pinecones are a'plenty here in this quaint beach town, and her fur mimics their hues perfectly.

I find her so absolutely endearing, I knew I had to create a special character in her honor for my Linzer Lane series! Here is the first sketch of her below. 

'Pinecone the Cottontail' will be a seasonal character that runs a Christmas Tree stand during the holidays at the Linzer Lane Chriskindlmarkt. Pinecone loves gingham outfits and grabbing gingerbread to go from Iggie the Hedgehog. 

For more adorable art, don't forget to visit my web shop > Linzer Lane.

XO Ashley

PS - Know someone that could use a cute pick me up? Share this with them!

A Week in Pictures

Handmade ornament greeting cards - because I ran out of my printed greetings!

After thinking about it this morning, I realized a lot of little things, yet very special things happened in just one tiny week... Here are some pictures & captions to accompany them below. I hope you enjoy! 

The first snow day of the year. It was beautiful.

Adding tinsel to the windows.

I bought this magazine based solely on the cover!

Beautiful and vintage decorations at South House in Jersey City. My husband and I visited here on the snow day.

The Top 9 images people liked on my Instagram account during the year 2017.

A handmade gift for my niece who turned six years old this week.

Nature in the city.

Beautiful artwork by one of my new private art lesson students.

Our holiday meal at Hudson Hall - a giant pretzel, mushroom fries & a hummus platter. 

My favorite advent gift (so far!)

I hope you all are having a very special week!

xo Lady Lucas

Newest Whimsy City Revealed!

I had such a fun time creating whimsical artwork for two of my favorite cities - Jersey City & New York this fall, I was super happy to get the opportunity to recently create another skyline illustration. 

During the Jersey City studio tour I met a fellow picture book artist named Patricia Keeler, who offered to display some of my work during her Open House this coming weekend. Since Patricia's studio is in Hoboken, I thought it would be the perfect time to continue creating artwork for a city I've always loved: Hoboken, NJ.

Just like in my past 'Whimsy City Illustrations', every building and character has some sort of significance to my life.

This brownstone building is a rendition of one of my favorite homes on Hudson Street. I pass it every time I walk down that street to teach private art lessons.

Nothing says 'Hoboken' to me more than the clock tower, and my husband and I stayed at the W hotel after our engagement in 2012. It is a beautiful hotel and adds so much to the skyline.

My favorite new store in Hoboken is 'Little City Books'. They offer books for kids and adults and sell lots of cute things like cards and gifts as well.

Zinnie holding a cake from Carlo's Bakery - it is based on the one my husband ordered when I turned 30.

'Hoboken' and character art prints will be available for sale at Patricia's Open House on November 5. The 4" x 6" size is only $10 for a framed print- so stock up for Christmas! 

Additionally, you can purchase the art online here.

 

Can you spot Iggie Sinatra? ;)

Here's the info for Patricia's Open House this weekend - come on out and see her great books and art!

xo Lady Lucas

Whimsy City Collection : New York City + Jersey City

They're finally here! My completed watercolor paintings of New York City and Jersey City. 

Ideally, I'd like to add many more cities to the list - but I thought I'd start with two places I know very well. See if you can spot Iggie, Zinnie & Zoe in both paintings ;)

Both 'Jersey City' and 'New York City' are available on Fine Art America as art prints, totes and more -  and as greeting cards at Card Isle kiosks.

xo

Lady Lucas

Happy August

Happy August Everyone! I made a new wreath for my door this week - and thought I'd share the 'how to' in case you'd like to try one out too.

First, I doodled some nautical beings with watercolor and pen on a watercolor pad.

After they dried completely, I cut them out with a pair of small scissors.

Next, I made a loop with soft gold wire and covered the sharp parts with masking tape.

Lastly, I hot glued the nautical drawings to the bottom of the wire wreath (covering all the wrapped tape in the process). I also added some small seashells and a pearl for an added detail. At the top, I looped some bakers twine so I could hang it on the door.

Please let me know if you liked this - or try it out yourself. Your comments keep me going!

xo Lady Lucas

PS - If you dig nautical things, I think you will also love my Nautical Coloring Book.

Linzer Lane's Whimsy City Collection

Iggie as a New Yorker ;)

I have really enjoyed creating some new watercolor artwork during the last few weeks. While walking to the train in Hoboken after teaching last week - I realized it would be even cooler to combine lots of different watercolor elements into landscape illustrations depicting cities I've lived and worked in or traveled to - thus the new 'Whimsy City Collection'.

I'm starting with Jersey City and New York City - but I'd also like to create a works of art for Hoboken, Lancaster, PA and Miami. All cities that I know quite well and love.

Putting some ideas together while sitting in Newport, Jersey City

Of course the common thread in each piece will be special appearances by my alpine Linzer Lane Characters: Iggie, Zinnie & Zoë. As you can see, I had fun turning Iggie into a fashionable New Yorker above :)

Newport Light House

Zoe as the Statue of Liberty!

The fountain in Van Vorst Park, Jersey City

NYC art lovers will recognize this building!

An ode to my family's grocery and lunch business from the 1930's in Jersey City- but modernized with a food truck theme. My mom has been telling me stories about Victoria's Lunch since I was a little girl.

I plan to finish my Jersey City cityscape first - and it will feature some of my favorite elements of the city. One entire half of my family is from Jersey City (my mom was born here and her parents as well) so it's great fun sticking in some references to them and their past businesses and endeavors.

Stay Tuned!

xo Lady Lucas

New Watercolor Collection

I've been starting a new practice of creating artwork before 'computer work' and 'teaching work' every day. I know it sounds like a no-brainer for an artist - but this is new for me!

 All of my new work is inspired by my Linzer Lane characters. Of course I can visualize Zoe as a sassy fashionista - and Zinnie as a calm and happy gardener.

I was inspired this month after visiting New York City gift and card stores, to create something new, colorful and fresh. All of these designs are available as 'print on demand' items and I hope to add them to my greeting card range too.

Shop the New Watercolor Collection

Is there a certain subject you'd love to see me paint? Comment below! I'm happy to give it a go during my next painting session...

xo Lady Lucas