Category Archives: Enjoying Nature

New Design – “Alphabet Animals”, I love painting!

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I started painting animals A – Z and was going to make a string of “Alphabet Animals”. I was making it for my grandchild for Christmas. I had so much fun! I started to think how toddlers and children a little older than that would love this as wall art. They would be able to see this every day and it would be such a good learning tool for them.

Original watercolor not available - available in limited edition Giclée matted prints - 16x20 for $45
“Alphabet Animals” – limited edition matted prints

I collaborated with Tom, my husband and he arranged all the animals in order, created this beautiful border and alphabets on the bottom. I thought displaying the whole alphabet would be so beneficial to the child, also I wanted the space filled up! Inside story – I had mentioned an animal to the right of the letters would look great. I had to go on an errand, and as I was driving I thought, hmm, that alligator I painted would also be nice on the right side of the letters, but it’s painted the opposite way of how it would look good by the letters. So I gave up that idea. How nice though I thought, the alligator starts with the beginning letter of the alphabet and the zebra would be on the right, the animal that starts with the ending of the alphabet. When I returned from my errand, Tom had done exactly the same thing I was thinking of, and also he was able to turn that alligator around! I was shocked we had the same idea, but didn’t communicate that to each other! I can’t wait until Tom mats and frames this!

I love working with Tom, it’s been a lot of fun since 1998, 3 years after I started Nature’s Best. What has been best for us working together is staying in communication. I know because sometimes it gets so busy it’s hard to do, and then that’s when trouble comes! I have learned patience, another key element in working together.

My grandchild (don’t want to spoil the surprise and tell you which one in case my children are reading this), but I decided to give at a different time. I actually painted something else as a Christmas present for this grandchild, and can’t wait to give this other painting to my grandchild and family.

I love Christmas and making gifts and giving. I hope you are having fun preparing for this holiday.

Happy Holidays!

Vicki

Remembering Past Trips

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I’m ready to start traveling again, aren’t you?! Let’s get this Pandemic over with and start traveling again!

Original watercolor - $95 image; $120 matted to fit 16x20" frame - 10¾x14¾ image on 12x16" cold press watercolor paper, signed in pencil
220 “Beach House” – Frankfort, MI – Original watercolor & printed 5×7″ greeting cards

This is our beach house we stay at on our trip “Up North” Michigan. Just around the beach house is Lake Michigan and every night we walk to the lake to see breathtaking sunsets. I can’t wait to make this trip again!

“Fall Leaves”

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I can’t believe the color and beauty of the trees in Michigan this year, or is it that I’m taking more walks outside this year due to Covid. I think they are staying on the trees longer, it’s been magnificent! I just had to take the time to paint some leaves. I could probably paint another picture of orange/yellow ones if I have the time, but these are what I painted this past week.

I like using my watercolor pencils to draw or trace leaves, then I will paint them with my brushes and watercolor paint. Using watercolor pencils to draw them will not leave pencil lines, something in this project I like to leave out.

Hope you are enjoying the beautiful color in your area.

Happy Creating,

Vicki

“Let’s Paint Clematis in Watercolor”

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Hello Everyone, I love this time of year and what the garden brings. Our three year old Clematis plant has finally taken off this year and growing flowers up the trellis everyday. We have three of them in our yard, I love them.

It’s wonderful to be able to capture favorite flowers in the garden as a painting. Painting sure makes the time go by very quickly and I look forward to what the next day can bring.

Happy Creating,

Vicki

“Let’s Paint a Vase of Lilacs in Watercolor”

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Hello Everyone, It’s a wonderful time of year to get inspired to paint those beautiful flowers, or whatever else you can see and enjoy around you. I’m so happy I captured these Lilacs in a photograph as they do not last very long on the bush.

Lilac bush and Watercolor picture

Hope all is well with you all and you are enjoying your surroundings and can dive into a project. I’m finding the hours fly by when I can look forward to accomplishing something I’ve never tried before.

Happy Creating,

Vicki

Visiting the Stage Nature Center in Troy, Mi – enjoying the memories.

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Hello Everyone,

Our recent trip to the Nature Center in Troy, Mi. held many memories. Three of our four children grew up spending many Saturday’s there learning about nature, attending kindergarten through fifth grade as Junior Naturalists. How wonderful to remember the many hours spent there and the wonderful people we met.

This past Saturday was a special day there, a fund raiser for the Nature Center. It drew a huge crowd.  Art was displayed for the fund raiser, there were activities for the children, and ice cream was enjoyed by many.

On our walk through the trails with our daughter and family we found what we thought was one of our son’s Eagle Project he completed years ago – a boardwalk for the trail. I was remembering and could picture all the excitement hauling the wood there and the many boys and parents who had helped him. As it turned out we were looking at the wrong boardwalk. My son and Tom looked up his old records and saw that wasn’t the one. Next hike there, we will go with our son so he can show us the location of the boardwalk.

On our walk there were many peaceful scenes of lush forest, rocks and water. We were happy to spot a deer. After a brisk walk we stopped to take a look at my Pressed Floral design, “Pink Lilies” displayed for the fund raiser.

Hope you also have time to enjoy the many beautiful sights of nature that is all around us.

Vicki