Category: Prints and Paintings

Art prints and paintings by Elizabeth Ruffing

Posted on by

Elenora, New Original Watercolor Kitten Painting on Claybord

“Elenora” is all painted and I have a print of her on Ruffing’s our website and in my Etsy shop. She is a companion piece to my “Henry the Owl” who is also in the shop and on our website.

Henry and Elenora are also available as a print set, as “The Owl and the Pussycat“, a childhood poem that I love. I think I even had a record of that poem being sung or read aloud, when I was little.

I also love the grainy way the paint settled. It formed a beautifully soft and interesting texture on the Claybord I used.

I still have to film a short intro for a video to put at the beginning of my time-lapse photos of me painting Elenora. You may notice in the video, once it is completed, that the color of the original painting is slightly different than the color in my print. I wanted her to go well with Henry, and so the print (shown in this post) is more to gold and purple, while the painting is more champagne and blue. Both were very pleasing to my eye. (Update: the video is now here.)

I’m a little behind putting things in my Etsy shop, etc. Our computer has been attacked by viruses four times in the past two weeks or so. We got our computer cleaned up by Norton. Malawarebytes Anti-malware also helped a lot. We had been using Windows Live OneCare, and obviously it wasn’t catching the viruses. It’s also a good idea to back up all your files externally, have copies of your programs on discs with their key numbers, and make sure your security system is up to date. It’s not the most fun you can have, certainly, but I’m so glad it all turned out okay.

Posted on by

I got myself painting

And it wasn’t easy. This is my pussycat from way back when, finally in progress. She is a companion for my owl.

I have been putting off painting for some time now. This morning, I made myself do it. Although it is probably hard to imagine, I really do have times when I sit down to paint and I think that I have no idea what to do. By that I mean that I think I have no idea how to paint, even though I should know by now. I sat there feeling like I was just pushing paint around, while my camera flash went off every thirty seconds so I could record a time-lapse version of my self-predicted complete lack of progress. I’m not sure the added pressure of filming myself was helpful or not. It did make me stay there.

Painting, like sewing, allows you to have enough mental space left over to, potentially, dwell on each insecurity you have and its corresponding source, whatever negative experience spawned it in the first place. For me, lately, that is usually some jerk thing somebody said. But the camera kept flashing and I kept painting. Thankfully, it finally looked like a kitten! Whew. Part of me said, “I knew I could do it!” and another part said, “Wow. It’s magic!” Either way, I’m just glad it looks like a kitten.

Hopefully, I will complete my kitten without any problems, and then I can put together a video. I sure would like to dwell on happy thoughts next time I paint too. How did Bob Ross do it? I guess everyone has, or has had, their off days. I still think the very best thing to do, when faced with a mental/creative block, is to go ahead, and paint anyway. I think it is important to give yourself a head start by being well rested, well fed, and calmed down first too…anything to help yourself stay focused. Then take a few deep breaths, and do your best.

Posted on by

I was pretty good

I corrected one of my kitten drawings, traced it, and transferred it onto Claybord. I have a newer kitten drawing I plan to paint on canvas, but I’ve been asked where this other kitten wandered off too. I thought I should circle back and finish what I started. I usually work in circles, mentally. I do a bunch of things at once, then go back to where I started. That’s just how my mind works.

Check out my previous post for more on transferring a drawing.

I feel very excited about working on several projects right now, but today is Wednesday, and I promised Max I’d help edit doll photos and make up ads. Oh, take a look at this blog post called “Elizabeth Ruffing Rocks“. Thanks, Shel! That’s so sweet. I totally love that anyone thinks I rock…but some credit is due Max because Max rocks too. People tend to think we are all one person over on Ruffing’s, but it’s actually a shared site, even though I am “the webmaster” 😉 Some dolls are mine, but many are Max’s, including the new dogs. I’m always happy to pass a compliment along though!

Posted on by

Then the light bulb came on

I traced my drawing, preparing to transfer it to my canvas with transfer paper, when I got an idea! Why not just print my drawing right on my canvas with a digital printer! Why didn’t I think of that in the first place?

Here is the stapling order, which is in the video, in case it goes by too fast, or you want to click on the photo to get a bigger picture.

And here is a photo of the two tucks in the corners that you make when you do a gallery wrap, which means the staples are around the back instead of on the sides. Again, you can click on the photo to make it bigger.

So much easier!