A quick– and untimely– post for you all:

Blonde Grizzly has moved to their new location, and their first group show in the new [...]]]> Hello again my humble handful of followers! I’ve been away for quite some time; both vacationing on multiple sandy beaches and working very hard behind the scenes. My week has been terribly busy!

A quick– and untimely– post for you all:

Blonde Grizzly has moved to their new location, and their first group show in the new space features a collection from various artists in a tribute to the Star Wars saga.

Drawn to her pretty face and ornate costuming, I chose to paint Queen Amidala.

She was painted using oils on wood with gold leaf for the flourishes down her robe. The plank itself measures about 12×23 inches, with each edge wrapped in gold ribbon.

I also couldn’t help myself and for the first time in a while, drafted up a new Apricot Ink™ card:

A handful of ewok cards and the original Queen will be for sale tonight during gallery stroll. The show is open all month, so if you aren’t seeing this post the night of Friday May 18th, be sure to swing in and see it now that you know!

Star Wars: Blonde Grizzly style
213 E 300 S
SLC, UT
5.18.12 – 6.8.12

(All images can be clicked to view at a larger [...]]]> I was asked to do a commission piece not long ago, the content of which at my preference. I had an immediate idea, but my mind was envisioning all types of species and I couldn’t decide what to settle on. So, I made a few.

(All images can be clicked to view at a larger size.)

I thought of painting vine snakes with regional flowers, as there are many types of vine snakes in many places. This first one is of Oxybelis fulgidus and Passiflora alata; or a Green Vine Snake and Winged-Stem Passionflower, both from South America.

I also painted Oxybelis aeneus, the Mexican Vine Snake or Brown Vine Snake and Plumeria.

Finally, and my favorite of the bunch, an Oriental Whipsnake (Ahaetulla prasina ), found in South Asia and Southeast Asia with Hibiscus.

Vine snakes are slender, elongated creatures hardly a half-inch in diameter. They can grow to 6.5 feet long, are equipped with rear fangs and mild venom. They are slow-moving, active in both the daytime and at night, feeding mainly on young birds and lizards. If threatened, vine snakes will puff up the front of their bodies, in turn revealing vivid coloration usually hidden under scales, and they open their mouths wide. They lie amid the branches of forest trees; proportions and coloration making them almost indistinguishable from creepers and vines. A frightened snake may also sway from side to side like a stem in the breeze.

All three of these pieces were completed in watercolor on arches paper and measure 8×10 inches in size. They were supplemented with hints of gold acrylic ink in a few appropriate places, making certain highlights shimmer at angles. They will also be available for sale soon. (Anyone can certainly contact me for more details.)

I’ll be back later!

A one-inch tall beautiful girl is born from a magic summer flower before being abducted by toads, flown to freedom by a swallow, betrothed to a mole, and finally wed to the Prince of the flower spirits.

But somewhere in there.. somewhere near the middle, Thumbelina spent a [...]]]> We all know the story of Thumbelina.

A one-inch tall beautiful girl is born from a magic summer flower before being abducted by toads, flown to freedom by a swallow, betrothed to a mole, and finally wed to the Prince of the flower spirits.

But somewhere in there.. somewhere near the middle, Thumbelina spent a summer on her own. An entire, unwritten summer where her days were used foraging for food and exploring the foreign world far from the safety of her mother’s garden. A wild world.

In my opinion, Thumbelina thrived. She wasn’t delicate, helpless and afraid. She was resourceful, clever, lionhearted!

And although H.C. Andersen didn’t tell us much about that summer, I’ve been thinking a lot about it.

Alongside some other things I’ve been working on back here and not writing about as I should, creating these images of “Tommelise” are at the forefront of my thoughts and are coming quite along, so far in bits of sketches and many, many notes.

More soon!

(It’s true, you know. All of those little organs wound up inside snail shells like that.)

Sweet dreams, world..

I’ve been away for quite some time.. but the shops are now back! All plumped up too and ready for last minute holiday cyber shoppings.

There are loads of new prints available– the guilty party responsible for my absence– and the best selection is available in my BigCartel shop.

I rounded up some original artwork that is [...]]]>

I’ve been away for quite some time.. but the shops are now back! All plumped up too and ready for last minute holiday cyber shoppings.

There are loads of new prints available– the guilty party responsible for my absence– and the best selection is available in my BigCartel shop.

I rounded up some original artwork that is seeking a new home, and have marked everything way down in order for it to get there. Never a better time to acquire or give an original piece! Find those in my BigCartel shop as well.

PS Use discount code CYBERJEAN for 15% off your entire order [here]. The code is an extension from all the “Cyber Monday” hubbub, and will expire at midnight on December 1st. It applies to already discounted items as well!