July Nibblefest Art contest 'Animals in Hats' -- "Catness EverQueen"

Ends tomorrow! Sorry I'm late to blog.  Actually I haven' kept up  on my blogging lately but I will try and get my Nibblefest entries blogged each month.  This months theme is "Animals in Hats".  My entry is a beautiful white cat in Victorian dress and a green hat sitting in a red chair.  Inspired by the painting , "Portrait, Princess di Saint" by Francesco Hayez (1840) .  

Catness EverQueen

9x12x1 3/8"

acrylic on canvas

wire hanger on back.. No frame needed!

Varnished

Painting continues on sides

Auction HERE

My entries searchable on eBay by "NFAC Sims"

ENTER MY GIVEAWAY

ends soon!  

4x4" matted print of Strawberries: Polish Pottery LXXIV

matted to fit 8x10" frame

http://tinyurl.com/qg3g2s9

Would  you like to be on my making list with my entry link each month and coupon codes for Etsy?   Message me your email or subscribe here:

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Email Address  *

First Name

Last Name

    Email Format

   

• html

text

   

   

   

December Nibblefest, Polish pottery painting and upcoming painting challenge.

My December Nibblefest entry on eBay for the theme, "Sweet as sugar" is a 6x6x3/4" still life on canvas. Sides painted black.  Ready to hang, no frame needed!   All entries start at 99cents and end on the 27th of each month.  I do send a newsletter with news and coupon codes each month.  Want to be added?  Message me your email and I'll add you! :)

My entry this month on eBay

Mints: Polish Pottery LXIX (69th in the series!)

6x6x3/4" acrylic on canvas

sides painted black

ready to hang

Listing here

Mints: Polish Pottery LXIX

Stay tuned!  I'll be back to daily blogging on January 1st when I start the '30 paintings in 30 days' challenge!  Many artists are signed up and I LOVE a challenge.. so very fulfilling and when you are done, a great feeling of accomplishment!   Challenge here

  I will do Polish Pottery still life's small as 4x4's, 5x5's, etc. I will also incorporate mini pet portraits..  Do you have a pet you'd like me to incorporate in a daily challenge?  Message me!   4x4' paintings on canvas,  I'll price at $38 each + actual shipping costs (i do only charge actual shipping cost ,NO handling), 5x5's at $49 each+ actual shipping.  I will work with you!   Message me before I'm filled up ,TODAY!

Here is an example of a pet portrait I did last year in a painting challenge, 4x4" on canvas

"Ace"

4x4x3/4" on canvas

 Stay tuned! :D

my email: Heather@heathersims.com

June Nibblefest + Black Forest fire charity auction.. Polish pottery 65!

What a week!  Last week as the fire broke out in Black Forest (where I live).. I thought for sure it was far away and that it would be contained quickly because of all the homes here and the access that the firefighters have. WRONG!  Due to extreme low humidity and winds. the fire got SCARY.. really scary.. I told my boys to do a practice evacuation and to pack.  For some reason I believed it was really just a practice. I did laundry, showered.. but in a few hours as the smoke was everywhere and the sky got scary I realized we needed to leave.  We packed up.. my husband and I, my 2 boys, 2 dogs and 3 cats and left.. It happened so fast I was able to leave a bunch of food and water for my chickens and just left.   As we left the forest to go to a friends house you could see the red from all the trees burning. Very surreal!  If it was so frightening for me how scary was it for the people's homes that burned?  I can't imagine the chaos and fright as people evacuated, 2 people lost their lives in this and 509 homes burned + homes partially lost.  The fire was a mile of so away from my house but didn't jump the street to my neighborhood.  Thank you firefighters!   What mixed emotions to feel grateful to have a house while knowing friends that lost everything?  This is not the Colorado I remember in all the years living here.  I hope it goes back to a more 'normal' summer.   In 2009 when we built our chicken coop we were rained out every afternoon.  I WANT that again!  All these fires burning and the haze tonight is just stressful.  Ugh!  Happy to say that my chickens were fine..and my home while close to this never got in real danger. Did i say we were just lucky?  very lucky.. I don't think I've let it sink it yet what has happened to the area that I live in and love. I love Black Forest.

Anyway..  So after our evacuating we came back sooooooooo very grateful and thankful to have a home and really weird feelings to be so happy about it as others are grieving.   Never felt anything like this before.  I left one painting on the easel I was almost finished with.. I did pack up some of my favorite paintings.  Oh so hard to pick and choose.   Now that we are back. I had a day to get my Nibblefest piece together, theme "Kings and Queens" Yesterday  I did a small 5x5" painting of a Chinese Crested dog with a crown.  Available for eBay nibblefest now here: 

Coronation: King Buttercup

5x5x1.5"

Acrylic on canvas

2013

Patterns: Polish Pottery LXV

11x14x3/4" canvas

optional free FRAME

50% proceeds to go Red Cross Pikes Peak Chapter that aids in the Black Forest Fire

Also. please throw me a virtual Facebook 'Like' on my "Sink Bubbles: Polish Pottery LXIV" painting on the June BoldBrush competition page.. I LOVE this painting so entered it into that competition also!. just won Member's Choice and Clouds award..  Like from the BoldBrush site here: 

16x20x1.5" Award winning painting

Original still available for sale on eBay here:   (10% going to Black Forest Animal Sanctuary) 

Cat commission painting, "Mayflower"

My latest pet commission is, Mayflower.  She is painted on a 12x12x1.5" canvas with acrylic.  No need to frame!

contact me if you are interested in having me  paint your pet!


Here is a collage I did from reference photo, work in progress pics to final painting. Sides painted black.



Mayflower
12x12x1.5"
Acrylic
2013


Check my Website for Commission prices.  I have 2 lists.. one for Still life commissions and another for Pet/Misc commissions.   Prices are a ball park depending on complexity. :)

www.heathersims.com

paintings, prints and more painting. :)

My Sink Splatter painting ends tomorrow night!  Get it before it's gone!    Highly detailed painting.. I really enjoy painting water and glass and of course the Polish pottery!   This morning while jogging on the treadmill I had an idea for another still life so plan on doing that a few paintings away.

Here's Sink Splatter auction.. with my unikat Polish pottery pieces.
**print also available on EBay and Etsy!**

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140949318517?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

print listing here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140950038825?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
I also added a print of this painting matted on EBay too!  5x7 print
listing here:  
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140953266825?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I'm back at the easel.  Up next a special dog portrait of a black lab named Pearl.  :)

Sink Splatter: Polish Pottery LXII 16x20 original painting on canvas by Heather Sims

Polish Pottery 62..  Set this still life in my sink and plan to do a mini series of these paintings.  

Painting listed  on EBay here:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/140949318517?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


8x10 matted print listed on Etsy and Ebay !

Etsy print listing:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/128548618/polish-pottery-still-life-62-sink?ref=shop_home_active

EBay print listing:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/140949332500?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Nibbefest Ends today! plus Polish Pottery work in progress

I LOVED the 29 Faces challenge I did in February and plan on participating for the next 29 Faces challenge.   One of the things I really enjoyed about the challenge is trying new things.  Typically I paint still lifes, pet portraits and such.  29 Faces was fun because I got to experiment and try made up faces and even a fun creature I named Larry.. He was so much fun, in fact, I plan to paint more with Larry and he sold immediately when listed on Etsy.  I got a lot of positive feedback on him which made me want to experiment and try some new things with my paintings.  I'll still continue with my still lives but this is fun to mix it up too.  Pet portraits will always be fun.  I also would like to tackle a realistic face. maybe paint Darrell from Walking Dead?  Was thinking about that as I watched last Sunday's episode. Love Walking Dead!

I didn't paint much in 2012 or really even 2011..  I guess just a slump.  I think all artists go through that.   2011 was the last time I painted a Polish Pottery Still life.. Sad!  I really love my Polish pottery still life series and will definitely be continuing that after I've received inquiries when I'll be painting new ones.  Now!! The series is back underway! Yay!! :)

So I have Polish Pottery 62 underway.. I'm super excited about it..think it will turn out well..  Here's the Work in progress photo..   It's 16x20 which feels huge after all the 4x4's I painted in February for 29 Faces... Stay tuned.. Hoping to have this finished later in the week.. LOTS of detail and much to do! :D

My Nibblefest entry ends today!!  I blogged about it on March 20th.. Check it out..  Bunny Foo Foo likes to bop mice on the head and the good fairy warns him 3 times or she'll turn him into a goon.. (Check my last blog post if you want to read the nursery rhyme) Years later.. as he sits on the park bench with his bloody mallet he's still bopping those mice.   The good fairy isn't happy and she's casting her spell.   Look out Bunny Foo Foo.. see the mouse on back with his own mallet out for revenge?  LOL..  I really had a great time painting Bunny Foo Foo.. and it ENDS tonight! grab it while you can.. it's a bit dark humor and cute too! :)

AUCTION here!! :D http://www.ebay.com/itm/140938196554?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Or search EBay for "NFAC Sims" and you can find my monthly Nibblefest entries.  Contact me if you'd like to be included on my mailing list.  :D

Face 22.. Ace- Yellow Lab portrait Feb 22, 2013

Face 22 is a portrait of Ace a yellow lab owned by a friend.   I loved this pose and the big lab smile! :D I added his name on the name tag.


Acrylic on canvas
4x4x3/4"
sides painted black
SOLD

Face 21 Jack Russell Terrier, Eddie Portrait Feb, 21, 2013

Face 21..  Meet Eddie. Eddie is was adopted by his owner from National Mill dog rescue.  Lynde uploaded a bunch of pics for me to choose from to paint and i picked the reference to use with this giant smile on his face.  Ok many of the pics he had that smile but I loved that pic.  I painted him and added his name to his bone dog tag and there he is.  Look at that face!  What a happy dog!


Acrylic on canvas
4x4x3/4"
sides painted black.
Sold

Face 19.. Mr. Comb over.. Feb 19, 2013

Face 19..  I decided to have a little fun and paint a real character.  Notice the one hair swirled on top?  The stench radiating behind? crumbs in his beard..  Ladies.. may need to clean him up before bringing him home to mom and dad!


Acrylic on canvas
4x4x3/4"
varnished sides painted black.. perfect addition for you creepy guy collection of paintings. :D

Etsy listing here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/124101283/face-19-in-29-faces-challenge-meet-comb

Face 18 Cat portrait Feb 18, 2013

For face 18 I painted my new kitten Sergio.  We got him in December and he's such a sweet boy.  Has transitioned into the family very well.

Etsy listing here:https://www.etsy.com/listing/123997338/face-18-in-the-29-faces-challenge-my


4"x4"x3/4" canvas
sides painted black
varnished

Face 16 Feb 16, 2013 Pig painting

The 16th painting I asked an artist friend if I could use one of her photos to reference and paint her cute new pig, Wilbur!  He's soooo cute! Love this guy!  What a fun face to paint!

13 faces to go! :D


4x4x3/4" acrylic on Canvas
ready to display
Etsy listing here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/123805562/face-16-in-the-29-faces-challenge-wilbur

Day 14.. Feb 14, 2013 Collie portrait

My 14th face is my white sable collie, Gator.  He's about a year and half old and still has the puppy in him..   I'm always saying "Drop it, Gator" "Don't eat that Gator"  LOL.. but he has personality galore and quite the love.   He and my other collie, Gumbo are best friends.  I love watching them run and play together. What sweeties!

Gator
painted on 4x4x3/4" acrylic on canvas
sides painted black

10th Face.. Sprinkles the Rooster. Feb 10, 2013

The 10th face in the 29 Faces Challenge is my rooster, Sprinkles.

He's a black copper maran rooster .. really pretty but not so nice.  He runs at me when I walk near the run to check for eggs.   He forgets I saved his life this summer when he was near death.  Talk about ungrateful.  He recovered with a vengeance and I think i created a Super rooster!

Anyway, Meet Sprinkles.  He is sure fun to paint.

4"x4" 3/4" acrylic on Canvas

Etsy listing here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123240284/rooster-painting-29-faces-challenge-face

Face 9, Feb 9th, 2013

For face 9 in the 29 Faces challenge. I painted my bantam silkie hen, Blindey.  No she's not blind but as a chick you couldn't see her eyes so my boys named her Blindey.  At first I didn't like the name but now I'd say it's one of my favorites we named our chickens.  Currently i have 12 hens and 1 rooster.  I do really enjoy painting chickens and have painted my rooster a few times.. In fact he's my next portrait.  I'd like to paint the rest of my pets too.  Really enjoying this painting and it's helping me get my painting groove back.  Yay!  I was in a slump too long but now am feeling so excited to be back to it.

anywho..  Here's Blindey.

Painted on 4"x4"x3/4" acrylic on Canvas.

Listed on Etsy here:   https://www.etsy.com/listing/123153138/29-faces-challenge-face-9-silkie-hen

Face 8, Feb 8th, 2013

For the 8th face in the 29 Faces Challenge.  I decided to paint a portrait of my cat, Milton.  I took this photo with my cell phone and thought it was a purrfect photo to paint from.   Milton is a maine coone mix with tuxedo.  Very sweet.. I adopted him in 2009 from a rescue group with his brother Simon.  

I really enjoyed seeing Milton come to life in this painting!

Acrylic painted on Canvas
4"x4"x3/4"
sides painted black

Listing here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/123076483/29-faces-challenge-face-8-cat-portrait

Face #7 Feb 7th 2013

Face #7..

I wanted to try and paint black hair this time and add a little expression.  Painting black hair isn't easy but I am working to improve.  This is so different for me it's the charge I think I needed as I was in a major painting slump in 2012.. really even the year before that when my husband deployed to Iraq..   2013 I plan to really churn out painting and this challenge is helping me start with a bang! :)

So here's my girl..  Taking suggestions on names.. here or on my FB art page.. anywhere.  Usually deciding the next day on a name since she can't be nameless too long!

Ok.. here's my attitude girl

4"x4"x3/4" on canvas
sides painted black

Etsy listing here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/122957359/29-faces-challenge-face-7-big-eyed-art

Face #6 February 6th, 2013

Face #6,,,  I thought I'd do a girl with a high ponytail and blonde hair. I'm having fun experimenting with the eyes and I particularly love how her eyes turned out.

I need name suggestions again..

She's painted on 4x4x3/4" canvas.   I really like this size. I bought some mini easels (you can find them at Michaels) and put them on that as I do them and they look really cute! I'll have to get a pic of one on a mini easel.

I listed her on Etsy here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/122860584/29-faces-challenge-face-6-big-eyed-art

Sides painted black

Face #5 Taylor Feb 5, 2013

My 5th Face is a red head.   I picked the name Taylor since a friend suggested if I paint a red head to name her Taylor.. so Taylor it is.

I really like her and having so much fun!!

24 Faces to go!!! :D

Listed on Etsy here:

Taylor Etsy listing

February 4th, 2013 Face #4

For my 4th face I decided to paint one of my roosters.  I've painted him before calling it a "Cluck Shot" but this time wanted to add background and his criminal record number to his sign.  Bad Chirpy!!

This was a fun one.. I plan on integrating a few animal faces throughout this challenge..  Too much fun! :D

25 faces to go! :D