Category Archives: Vicki Achard Natures Best Artist

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

“Make a Card with Vicki / Get Well & Sympathy Cards”

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I had fun making these four Get Well cards. I used my Shape Cutter Plus by Fiskars to cut and frame the design on the card. I cut it on an Alvin GBM1824 self healing mat.

I used my oval and rectangle shapes for all my designs.

This photo is just showing you what one card looks like before I put color on it and adhere the design. All these designs are from what I call my “decorative art collection” or papers that for some reason or other didn’t make it to the final print stage. Sometimes they were printed as a “trial run”. Nothing gets wasted in my craft room and I love making cards with these papers to create designer handcrafted meaningful cards for your caring and sharing.

I used a piece of burlap behind the sentiment and used a Tim Holtz Distress ink pad – color, Tea Dye and Memento Rich Cocoa for color. I use a stencil to make the leaves by Stampendous called Etchling stencils ET019 Ivy NR, I bought it years ago. I used Memento Bamboo leaves for color on the leaves.

My four completed Get Well Cards. Stamps Used: Get Well Soon had no name on it. getwell SOON is from Studiog.

I also made five sympathy cards the same way. Stamps Used: With Deepest Sympathy by Stampabilities, May you find comfort in your loving memories. by inkadinkado, You’re in my thoughts and prayers by Stampendous. I buy all my stamps from Michaels or JoAnn Fabrics.

These handcrafted cards will be posted on our SHOP page on our website. (Give Tom a little time to get them posted.)

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the Summer!

Until next time,

Happy Creating,

Vicki Achard

Completed Paintings / Sunset on the Beach & Carnations and Leaves

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I wanted to show you my finished paintings I started on my video posted June 23, 2021 – Materials & Tools I use to Paint in Watercolor. I started the paintings and talked about some materials I was going to use to complete the paintings. The video was made to give you some ideas as to what tools and materials you could use to paint in watercolor.

Sunset on the Beach, Frankfort, Michigan and Carnations and Leaves painted in Watercolor by Vicki Achard / Nature’s Best Art

I hope you can watch this video on my Artist Blog or YouTube channel to help you start your watercolor journey as well as my video posted May 26, 2021, Paints, Palettes, Brushes, & Paper.

Until next time,

Happy Creating,

Vicki Achard

Materials & Tools I Use to Paint in Watercolor

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Watercolor is such an exciting journey. Since I started painting, 2015, I have picked up various tools and supplies to get the end result of a painting I have in mind. In this video I talk about using masking fluid, toothbrushes, sponges and lots of other materials. I hope this helps you to accomplish how you’d like your painting to look like. I also show you what I found to help squeeze that last bit of paint out of your tube paints.

I will show you in this video what I will use to begin these two paintings in progress. I hope to complete them in about two weeks and will post the end results on my Artist Blog.

Until next time, Happy Creating,

Vicki

Glass Bottles in Watercolor / Painting In Progress

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Painting glass is fun and challenging at the same time. Painting in steps is key. I set up a still life, changed the colors of two of my bottles, added masking fluid to keep some of the highlights, put my first glaze on, added the shadows, then painted deeper darker colors of the bottles, took the masking fluid off, and put in a few more highlights – that’s it! This is my second painting using my new Winsor/Newton Cotman student grade paints. They did well, however it was my first time using my “hot” press paper (not rough, but smooth) and couldn’t quite figure out at first if it was the paints or paper that didn’t like a lot of lifting. I came to the conclusion that it was the paper. I plan on painting a lot more glass now and then. Maybe I’ll try my cold press paper instead to see if I like painting the look of glass on that better.

Final painting – “Glass Bottles”
My sketch is finished, I painted the furthest bottle with the first glaze, put masking fluid on the bottles to save highlights, and added some green on the two bottles to have the look of a reflection.

Until next time,

Happy Creating,

Vicki

“How to Make a Color Chart with Your Watercolor Paints”

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Color is an awesome thing. I love making my paintings with brilliant, rich color. Making color charts with my paints helps get rid of the guess work knowing what two colors would mix well for the color I am looking for while I’m painting a design. In this video I show you how to make a color chart with Winsor & Newton Cotman student grade watercolors. I mention organization of your designs and other tips, as well as talk about other color charts I have made.

Happy Creating,

Vicki

“Workout With Vicki Achard / My Fitness Journey” – Part 3

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So happy to share my 25 minute total body workout with you. I feel so loosened up and ready for the day after I do this. Exercise is so important for the mind, mood, and body. So happy I started exercising fifteen years ago.

Please check with your Doctor if you are going to do these exercises.

I wish you much success with your fitness journey!

Happy Healthy Heart and Happy Exercising,

Vicki

“How I lost 57 lbs. & Foods I Eat to Lower Cholesterol” – Part 2

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So happy to take the time to share with you how I lost 57 lbs. and ways I’ve tried to reduce my cholesterol for the last 15 years. I go into a lot of detail, share a few recipes with you and have a good “chat” about other stuff happening in my life. Come join me in my kitchen and have fun while trying to loose a few pounds.

“How I Reduced My Cholesterol, Lost 57 lbs., and Dropped 5 Pant Sizes”

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I’m so excited to share with you my Fitness Journey. This is the first video of a three part series. Jan 20, 2020 I reached my goal weight. Covid hit last March and from then on I gained 5 lbs., (who didn’t?) however I lost those 5 lbs. and hit my goal weight Dec 19, 2020. I’m encouraged, inspired, and enthused to encourage all who are struggling with those cholesterol numbers. Please share this with a friend if they are struggling also. Because of Covid, I also couldn’t share these videos with you due to my oldest daughter and I not being able to get together to film my last video, sharing my exercise total body work out with you. I have decided it’s time to do these videos and Tom, my husband and I will film that video. Besides loving art, crafting, nature, cooking, God and family, I love thinking of all things healthy and sharing this with you is a long time coming.

“25 Tags Till Christmas” / 2020 – Week 5″

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Our last week of the season making Christmas tags. This will give us 25! So happy I did this again this year, this is so fun for me and hope you have gotten some ideas for your tags if you make them. Gingerbread men are so fun as tags for your gift bags. I think my grandchildren will enjoy these. Christmas is less than two weeks away.

Happy Christmas and Happy Creating!

Vicki