Today I listed my Western Tanager on Etsy. I’m still learning how Etsy works and how to get my work more visible and seen there. Any advice? I noticed that there is a way to link your work to Pinterest, but I don’t know anything about Pinterest either. Please take a look at my Tanager on Etsy and if you have any advertising advice I’d love to hear it.
I sold my 2 Quail paintings locally and removed them from Etsy.
A friend who is organizing a charity auction asked me to paint a birdhouse for the auction. When she first asked me a few months ago I was hesitant because I’ve never done anything like it. Finally I said I would try and would paint birds on it. That is what got me painting birds on little canvases, I was practicing for this. But then I quickly realized that people were really interested in the little 4 and 5 inch bird painting so I did more and branched out into other wildlife. They were a huge success at my holiday show/sale. The size and price point appealed to people. I’ll have to thank my friend for helping me discover this niche.
I’m excited to share with you all that I have some original pieces on Etsy ready to go. I’d love for you to check them out!
I’ll write more about my show on Monday. It was great!
Have a great weekend!
Progress pictures of my foxes today. 4×4″ Fun to paint. This is my process, I sketch with burnt or raw umber, whichever tube I find first. And then paint from dark to light. Then background. It’s not always the same, but when I work wet on wet “alla prima” this is what I typically do. But sometimes I do the background first and scrape out the image.
I promise I didn’t paint all these today. I did this little Mountain Bluebird (which is the Idaho state bird) the other day, I don’t think I posted it. My kids get a kick out of it because it’s so skinny. 4X4″
So in response I painted this fat Mountain Bluebird 4X4″. I like the little post he’s standing on. Tomorrow I’m going to paint the female bluebird, she’s brown.
Who knew how much I would enjoy painting jackrabbits. This is my third one. 4X4″
I painted this little fox today and my daughter tried to buy it from me. 4X4″
I sold these 2 little bluebirds about an hour after I painted them. 4X12″
I stated this painting when we are up in the mountains during Thanksgiving break. This is our friends cabin that we stayed at. She asked me if I would paint it for her since she is selling it and building a new cabin that’s right on the lake. The cabin is adorable inside and out. I hope I did it justice, there are sooooo many trees and it was soooooooo cold standing outside painting it. I was shaking, I drank about 3 mugs of hot chocolate, but I did it. I put the finishing touches on in my studio. I love it, especially the baby swing. It’s so warm and happy looking. Even though it was about 20 degrees. Brrrrrrr.
And that’s a wrap.
I’ve sold quite a few of my little 4X4″ wildlife paintings. I enjoy painting that size and like trying different simple compositions. I have a new goal for the new year, I’ll share that soon. Thanks for looking! I’ll be on Etsy soon selling my little original painting. But if you see anything you’d like before then, please let me know.
Buenas noches!
This is my very favorite bird. I’m not much of an animal person, unlike my boys who live for wildlife, but the burrowing owl is pretty charming. There used to be one at the zoo here in Boise and it was about the only animal I enjoyed seeing. My oldest son was the resident zoo expert and probably could have run the place at age 5. He was very excited that I painted this owl. 4×4″ oil on a tiny canvas
4X12″ oil on canvas
I’m getting back into the swing of running after a string of running related injuries. This morning I went running with some of the gals in our group and didn’t discover how far we were running until we were started and on our way. I may have chickened out if I’d known in advance, but I got through it. That’s downtown boise waaaay out there behind us. I was the one with a camera so I was in charge of the selfie. I always take my phone and take pics along the way. It was a little gray today so none of the foothill pics I took are great. But the selfie was fun. These women are TOUGH. And super nice and smart too.
(That’s me in front in blue, if you’re curious)
Jill Millward Artwork 