Quote for today

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.
Carl G. Jung

Country Sunflower Quilt Farm

Country Sunflower Quilt Farm

Here are some pictures and information about how I created this watercolor painting.
First, I come up with a design. Then I draw it on paper or sometimes I use my drawing tablet in photoshop program on my mac and then transfer it to paper.
Once the drawing is transfered onto watercolor tablet I erase the drawing so only a light pencil mark remains as a guide. Next, I chose the colors that I want to use and set them out onto my pallette. Then I apply a light wash of each color waiting in between for each to dry so that they do not mix/spread into each other.

First layer of light yellow wash is being applied to the sunflowers
with a round brush.

I like to use a small round sponge dipped into yellow to paint to add highlights on trees that already have a base coat of light green.

Roof tiles are painted with brush and black watercolor paint.

After the First coat of watercolor applied as a light wash. Then I go over it again with same color but stronger in areas that I want to be darker, bolder, or highlighted.

I use a flat square brush to add second coat of paint to hill tops for a bolder deeper green.

This is the finished watercolor painting.

Tulips and Hearts House Blessing Sampler Outline

This is an outline that I created for a new sampler folk art painting I am working on 12 of these types of outlines at the moment. I hope to finish them this week so that I can get onto painting them.

"Tulips and Hearts House Blessing Sampler" by Cheryl Bartley

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My samplers are for the most part on acid free watercolor paper that is treated with a special technique to look like an old linen sampler. Then I apply the watercolor and sometimes acrylic paint. I do all lettering and additional outlines by hand once watercolor dries. I also incorporate letters of the alphabet, numbers, geometric designs, and verses into the designs.

The inspiration for these sampler paintings comes from historic antique embroidered schoolgirl samplers. Each motif that I add to the sampler holds symbolic meanings as did the antique school girl samplers. Many of the motifs that I incorporate are similar in meaning to those used in traditional Samplers. I think that the reason that I was drawn to creating these types of paintings stems from my early childhood. During those years I spoke French so when I started school I use to draw pictures…motifs… to communicate.

I call my sampler paintings "Folk Art Spirit Samplers". Each one of the motifs that I incorporate into one of my designs holds a deep spiritual meaning that I want to express to the world. I also incorporate some of the motifs because I like their shape and colors. These motifs do not hold any deeper meaning except for the fact that I like them! In the folk art spirit sampler painting that I created below you will see both the motifs with deeper meanings and those that I like just for shape and color.

Birds in tree= Love of nature
Cat = Rest
Rooster = Watchfulness
Dove with olive branch = Charity, mercy, peace, love, humility, simplicity and meekness
Flowers = Family unity
Fruit Tree = 15 Apples.. symbol of love and fertility, temptation and evil
Tulip = Perfect love, a declaration of love
Star and Flag = Patriotism and Bravery
5 Pointed Star = birth of Jesus
Sheep = Gentleness and charity
Cow = Naïve
House = Childhood memories Grandmothers farm house
Red Barn for animals = virtues and vices
Two Tall Green Teardrop Shaped Trees = Enduring faith

PRIMITIVE STAR BIRD FARMHOUSE

Wine Chocolate Art Amore..Sounds like heaven to me!

02/05/2010 to 02/05/2010

The Artist @ Whiting Mills

My "Folk Art Spirit Studio" in conjunction with The Artist @ Whiting Mills will open their studios and gallery to the public during the "Bubbles and Truffles" event hosted by The Friends of Main Street. Chocolate, Wine, Art......sounds like a heavenly evening to me! I am so inspired by the thought of all this chocolate, wine, music, and art... I am envisioning a folk art painting.....To be continued...

I will be posting some photos of these events so please check back again.

Wine Tasting/Chocolate Extravaganza

--Friends of Main St. Winsted - Whiting Mills, 210Holabird Ave., Winsted, CT 06098. On Friday evening, February 5, 2010 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM the Friends of Main Street Winsted will sponsor the fourth annual Wine Tasting and Chocolate Extravaganza, a wine and chocolate event and silent auction. The Artist @ Whiting Mills will also have open studios. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. Proceeds from the event will benefit downtown revitalization. Further information call 860-738-3351.
ARTWELL

Evening of Amore'

Artwell Gallery, 19 Water Street, Torrington, CT.
will sponsor the 2nd Annual Valentine's Day event "Evening of Amore'". Admission $15.00- $20.00 couple. Couples canvas painting, champagne, refreshments, and chocolate, ...for a small donation chair massage, flowers, drawing for romantic gifts. Jazz Music 20s thru 50s by "Blue not Blue" Priscilla Newcombe soprano and Adrian Untermyer. Fundraiser for "the love of artwell". For more information 8604825122 artwell@sbcglobal.net http://www.artwellgallery.org/

Atlanta Gift Show

Friday January 15, 2010



I attended the "Meet and Greet Artist" sponsored by Lang Companies LLC at the Atlanta Gift Show, Atlanta, Georgia.



Here I am with my new "Country Sampler" Lang calender at the Atlanta Gift Show Meet and Greet the Lang Artist at Lang Companies booth building 2. It was so exciting to see my samplers on a calendar that will be sold worldwide!!


"Country Sampler Calender" by Lang Companies LLC will feature my folk art samplers for calender years 20011, 2012 and 2013.


Jim Meserve (my agent Next Day Art) and I at "Meet and Greet Lang Artist" at their showroom.


Me and my husband Russ at the show

Charish the Arts

I created two chairs for this art chair tour and auction.
The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council has launched a region-wide public art event to support arts education and the Council. The event, titled CHAIRish the ARTS, is an art chair tour and auction, the proceeds from which will be divided among the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council and three beneficiary organizations that provide region-wide scholarships to students to study the visual, performing and literary arts.
October 17th
Mohawk Mountain Ski Lodge
Cornwall, CT
Click here to see all the chairs.

#75 "Take a Stand… Take a Seat"
by Cheryl Bartley & Priscilla Newcomb

The chair before I stenciled on the words.

This is the outline that I created for the chair. We were going to
paint it but then we decided to have Priscilla make a digital image from Rosa's mug shot. She made it with one side white and one side black as you can see on the finished chair. From that point we decide to glue it to a painted blood red wooden board and then coated it with gloss finish.

#74 “Untitd”
by Cheryl Bartley

Primitive Oil Portraits

I create primitive early American style portraits. Some are commissioned and some I do just for fun!



I recently finished this portrait for a client of their child on a rocking horse.


This is another portrait that I am working on. First I start with an outline that I create from photos that client sends me. Once the outline is finished I send it to the client for approval. Once approved I start the painting. As you can see I have placed the childrens heads onto early American style clothes and background. When I finish the final painting I will add it to this blog.

Licensed jigsaw puzzles

These are my folk art images from my original paintings that have been licensed to Bits and Pieces for 500 piece jigsaw puzzles. They range in size from 16 x 20 to 18 x24. Click Here to see Puzzles by Artist Cheryl Bartley


Christmas Eve Shopping Village 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45624
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

Come one come all, down to the village to celebrate the joys of Christmas. Two festive 500 piece Americana jigsaws by artist Cheryl Bartley. This puzzle measures 16" x 20".

CLICK HERE to purchase.


Santa Christmas Village and Fudge House 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45623
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

Come one come all, down to the village to celebrate the joys of Christmas. Two festive 500 piece Americana jigsaws by artist Cheryl Bartley. This puzzle measures 16" x 20".

CLICK HERE to purchase .


Set of 6: Fun In The Country 500 Piece Jigsaws
Item #: 45858
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

This item contains following puzzles:
- Country Tag Sale
- Summertime Spirit Village
- Summertime Fun Oceanside Village
- Brookside General Store And Fine Victorian Gifts
- Winter Skating Party
- Winter Moon Quilter Village

Artist Cheryl Bartley captures the joy of country living with incredible color and detail. Enjoy each of these playful scenes in 500 pieces measuring 16” x 20”.

CLICK HERE to purchase.





Winter Skating Party 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45854
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

Click Here to purchase.



Summertime Fun Oceanside Village 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45853
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

Click Here to purchase.



Winter Moon Quilter Village 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45857
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

CLICK HERE to purchase


Brookside General Store And Fine Victorian Gifts 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45856
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley
CLICK HERE to purchase


Halloween School of Witchcraft 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45376
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

CLICK HERE to purchase


Country Tag Sale 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45852
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

CLICK HERE to purchase




Summertime Spirit Village 500 Piece Jigsaw
Item #: 45855
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

CLICK HERE to purchase




Set of 2: Christmas in the Village 500 Piece Jigsaws from Bits and Pieces
Item #: 45625
Puzzle by Cheryl Bartley

CLICK HERE to purchase

This item contains the following puzzles:

-Santa Christmas Village and Fudge House
-Christmas Eve Shopping Village

Come one come all, down to the village to celebrate the joys of Christmas. Two festive 500 piece Americana jigsaws by artist Cheryl Bartley. Each puzzle measures 16" x 20".

CLICK HERE to purchase
These are my folk art images from my original paintings that have been licensed to Master Pieces Puzzles 300pc Puzzles :: Town & Country EZGrip.
Click here to see puzzles by Artist Cheryl Bartley.


Town & Country 300pc EZGrip - 4 Pack
NEW SKU 51011
Ships 1 each of 4

25% Discount If You Buy All Four
for retail customers Artist:Cheryl Bartley
Pieces:300pc
18"x24"

CLICK HERE to go to Masterpiece Puzzles



Vegetable Garden
NEW SKU 31007
Artist:Cheryl Bartley
Pieces:300pc
18"x24"
Click here to purchase.

Kites, Quilts and Lemonade
NEW SKU 31010
Artist:Cheryl Bartley
Pieces:300pc
18"x24"
Click Here to purchase.


Fisherman Cove
NEW SKU 31009
Artist:Cheryl Bartley
Pieces:300pc18"x24"

Click Here to purchase


Calico Quilt Show
NEW SKU 31008
Artist:Cheryl Bartley
Pieces:300pc
18"x24"

Click Here to purchase.