Happy New Year Cards 2015

Goodbye 2014 and Welcome 2015

Its the last weekend of 2014. and a new calendar year will begin shortly. Ring in the New Year~ grab the new opportunities and don't worry about what you couldn't achieve this year and instead focus on what 2015 has in store for you!

                                                       Celebrate 2015 by sending New Year wishes to your loved ones through these beautiful hand painted Floral Greeting Cards. This lovely collection includes vibrant and warm colorful designs which are perfect for your expression of love to your near and dear ones. I know sending and receiving cards makes you feel wanted. The joy it brings when you get a card from someone can't be explained in words. Check out my Happy New Year Cards collection which I couldn't resist sharing with you all.

               Blue Iris Happy New Year Card

Elegant Blue Irises are the most popular type of garden flowers. Iris is considered to be the flower of the Greek Goddess Iris who is the messenger of love. They come in many colors, shapes and sizes. 

                Yellow Floral Blooms Happy New Year Card

I personally feel that Yellow Floral Blooms are always the eye catchers. You simply can't miss them. They convey a message of friendship,the promise of a new beginning. They are a popular choice at workplaces.

                        Large Pink Flower Happy New Year Card

The boldness expressed by this graceful Large Pink Flower card conveys happiness. Go ahead and spread affection.

              Floral Tree Vine Happy New Year Card

I love this Floral Tree Vine design against a white background. The soft pinks and greens add to the beauty of this card.

               Poppy Flowers Happy New Year Card

These popping Pink Poppy Flowers are my favourite, although, it is a far more simple design. Good enough to make you feel special. I think, their color brilliance is captivating. 

              Pink Carnations Happy New Year Card

A bouquet of fresh Pink Carnation Flowers indeed makes a beautiful New Year card. They are most preferred by florists around the world and are predominantly found in shades of pink and peach.

This Winter Landscape card radiates the warmth of your sentiments.  

Celebrate this auspicious occasion and make it extraordinary. If searching for original hand painted cards then, make use of these cards and impress everybody. 

Have a wonderful New Year!

Cheers to 2015! 

Season's Greetings

A big hello to all my lovely readers...

Hope you're having a fabulous festive week so far. Here I am with another post on Christmas Eve. I know all of you must be busy with last minute Christmas shopping but I thought why not take this opportunity amidst the festive mood to show you my latest paintings for Christmas. Enjoy!

Pine cone

Candy cane

Christmas wreath

Snowman and the Christmas tree 

All these small christmas paintings when displayed together on a wall will tremendously enhance the decor of any room. They can also be hung separately or can be sent as greeting cards. Share the love with near and dear ones and make them feel special.

Do let me know in the comments below. Looking forward to hearing from you all...

Have a Merry Christmas everyone  <3

Watercolor Tips For Beginners

                                                   My friends have been asking me often to show how a beginner should proceed when using watercolors. Undoubtedly, a watercolor is a difficult medium to work with. Hence, here is my post to assist the newcomers / budding artists and make this artistic journey easy and enjoyable for them so that they don't get disheartened and give up in the initial stages. Here are a few tips to wade you through ~ 

                                            First and foremost the novice artist should feel enthusiastic about this whole process and take small steps before taking big leaps. By this I mean that the apprentice should select a simple composition to start with. Once, the basics are learnt such as mixing of colors, handling of water in the brushes (moist / dry), harmony in the painting as a whole etc. Later on, fine techniques can be developed and applied. The whole idea is to start from simple and then proceed to complex details. 

                                                  

Secondly, remember never use a pure paint directly from the palette. Always mix it with some other color or a closer shade in order to give depth especially while painting nature and landscapes / sky scenes / leaves / trees / flowers.  

Thirdly, don't load your brush with too much color. For transparent effects use lot of water, taking care that you don't make puddles on the paper.

                                                     Another tip is to keep one's brush moist. Dry brush will soak all the color that you have mixed leaving nothing for the next brush stroke. Always keep a tissue paper handy to absorb the extra water and to lift the extra color from the paper. 

                                                    Practising art is very important. Art can't be learnt in a day. The more you practice, the better you become. Be consistent and paint often. Basically, give yourself time to play with colors. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Allow yourself the freedom to falter. Each practise session will build your confidence and make you strive for better results. This will help you in honing your painting skills. Here are a few easy singhroha art watercolor paintings that you can use as a reference material to start with ...

 

                    

Maintain a sketchbook in which you can practise small isolated components / parts that will form together a whole painting at a later stage. For example- If you are planning to paint a landscape then, you can practise each component separately like trees, birds, houses, river, sky, clouds etc. The sketchbook is actually a mirror of your progress. It shows your evolution as an artist. 

 

                                                                Never discard your old paintings or which you don't like since you are not pleased with the end result of your art piece. Other people may find it interesting and view the same in a different perspective, with an altogether different new approach.

Beginners should watch live painting by other artists. This will enhance their knowledge and aid in fastening their learning process. Nowadays so many videos are there in the market, giving detailed stepwise instructions with which one can paint side by side simultaneously. Simply, search for video lessons on You Tube.

Painting is a gradual ongoing learning process. With each new painting you grow as an artist. You derive immense pleasure and sense of achievement from the very fact that you have created such a pleasing art piece with your own hands. Your self esteem gets a boost by the appreciation of your artwork. Recognition and appreciation are stimulants to keep one motivated. It has been confirmed by the scientists too, that painting acts as a form of therapy for patients. It serves as a stress buster when you are completely engrossed in the process of creating something structural and also invokes a sense of achievement. At times, simple doodling is also helpful. Painting helps you loosen up and express yourself.    

I think that's enough to keep you motivated for now. Enjoy Painting!                                                   

                               

Design Spotlight: Seema Hooda (Special mention at the Greeting Card Universe website)

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Design Spotlight: Seema Hooda

DECEMBER 11, 2014

tags: singhroha art

Our Design Spotlight falls today on Seema Hooda of Singhroha Art, a new artist who joined GCU in October of this year. Let’s all say “hi!” to this talented artist!

_________________________

Hello fellow artists! My name is Seema Hooda and I’m a watercolor artist from India. For me, painting is synonymous with self-discovery. I was in teaching profession for the last few years. I quit that to pursue my artistic dreams.

Since childhood I have been very passionate about painting. I have worked almost in all media, but watercolor is my favourite medium. I simply love the free flow effect created by the blending of colors, each time producing a unique pattern. I believe I have an obsessive compulsion to paint something new every time. As a matter of fact, it is good because that’s how creativity is retained.

I enjoy making greeting cards. And I feel that sending and receiving cards is an emotional affair as lots of thoughts go into the process of selecting an appropriate card.

You will find that most of my artwork and paintings are mainly florals. Actually, flowers fascinate me! I just can’t resist painting florals as I’m constantly intrigued by their beauty. Flowers are the most wonderful creation of God.

Please visit my blog to see more of my artwork.

 Have fun designing!  :)

Garden Inspired Bouquets

This series on #garden bouquets is a little effort to awaken the sense of appreciation for our mother Earth and to value the beauty around us. If you pay attention these magnificent floral creations of nature will certainly awe you by their colorful palette.

"Purple Dianthus Bouquet of Blooming Wishes"
(12" x 16")

This watercolor painting of gorgeous purple bouquet is comprised of the vibrant lacy edged blooms. They are commonly referred to as 'pinks'. Moreover, they are available in lots of shades like pink, white, red, purple etc.

 "Flowers are like human beings... they thrive on a little kindness" 

The above quote by Fred Streeter is undoubtedly, true and holds the ground firmly against all related arguments. Don't you think so? Flowers: has been a favourite subject especially with the poets. And numerous poems have been composed describing their beauty, romantic effect that is created by these blossoms n number of times. A few call them as our 'silent' friends, who teach us human values such as gentleness, endurance and sacrifice. 

"Pink Carnation Bouquet"
(7" x 10")

A fresh bunch of brightly coloured pink carnations is ideal to convey your feelings to someone special. The breathtaking beauty of flowers in a garden is revealed when you take a closer look or hold them closely and make an effort to understand their language.

I strongly believe that flowers are indeed, inspired by life. Although, it depends upon one's own perspective; how he or she may think at a particular moment. They spread happiness, joy and are sources of hope in difficult times like a flower springing from the cliff of despair. 

"Handful of Roses"
(8.5" x 12")

And here's another one for the #Garden Inspired Bouquets Collection. This lovely painting of roses has been done on handmade paper. Flowers are the symbol of hope. Blooming flowers do lift one's spirits. Looking at the spring flowers in full bloom is such a cheerful sight!

"California Poppies Bouquet"
(12" x 16")

Next in this collection series is the yellow California poppies bouquet painting. These deep yellow flowers create a brilliant display in the open fields. Isn't nature wonderful? You will be surprised by the brilliance and intensity of colorful blooms that the nature offers to us. 

"Mix Poppy Bouquet"
(9" x 12")

I've decided to include the above mix poppy bouquet painting in the Garden Inspired Bouquets series. It features the lovely poppy flowers in orange and pink colors creating some beautiful hues together. Indeed, flowers do make us understand the value / worthiness of life besides, invoking a feeling of contentment within. It would suffice to say
"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into"
                                                                                            ~ Henry Beecher

 Please feel free to add a link to photographs of flowers growing in your very own garden in the comments section. I would love to add yours too in this collection.
Thanks for reading.
Have fun! :)

"Flowers are heaven's masterpiece" - Dorothy Parker

The above nature quote is so true. Being inspired by the beauty of flowers, here are a few of my small floral paintings ~

Majestic pink gladeolus flowers

They are also known as "sword lily" and are mostly used in floral arrangements as they are available in wide range of colors.

Yellow rose buds

Rose is the June birth flower. They are considered as the symbol of love. The rose buds are painted in loose style.

Poinsettia Flower

Welcome the holiday season with Poinsettia. It is considered as the traditional Christmas plant and the December month birth flower.

Yellow Hibiscus

The exotic yellow hibiscus flower is designated as Hawaii's state flower. The flowers are quite large and bright.

Undoubtedly, one can never get tired of admiring the beauty of flowers. The blooms during Spring and Winter are simply out of this world. So pretty that it can't be described in words. The flowers seem to spread joy around. We, human beings should learn to enjoy the nature in its purest form without disturbing the ecological balance. 

Small Sized Watercolor Paintings

Small sized watercolor paintings are perfect gifts for all occasions. These bright small versions would certainly lift the recipients spirits conveying your thoughtfulness, showing how much you care. Here are a few nature scene paintings from my collection. Few I've made into greeting cards as well.
With holiday season approaching, its time to send warm Christmas greetings across the miles to your near and dear ones with this beautiful winter scene card.

And the card featuring Poinsettia is just ideal for a Christmas Party invite. Call over your friends and have memories that can be cherised for the years to come.

Share with your loved ones the happiness and joy of the festive spirit. This time of the year is all about spreading cheerfulness and wonderful memories spent with friends and family.
Here are a few more mini paintings that would make for a great holiday gift ~

{Beautiful Landscape}

Take a break from your sternous routine and spend some quality time with your family members in the lap of nature. We should open ourselves to the beauty of nature surrounding us.

{Pond with cat-tails}

{Autumn hues: Colorful Trees}

There is healing in the trees for tired body and mind. These paintings encourage us to appreciate the beauty of mother Earth. Someone has stated so beautifully "Lose yourself in nature and find peace".

Twin Flower Series Collection

Today, I would like to share paintings from my "Twin Flower Series Collection". These watercolor paintings were painted a few months back. The focus in thses paintings is the positioning of the two flowers.

1. Title: "Floral Romance"

Size: 7" x 10"

(This is an angular composition of two red Hibiscus flowers)

2. Title: "Charming Pink Lilies in Harmony"

Size: 6" x 6"

3. Title: "Identical Twins"

Size: 6" x 7.5" 

(Two yellow lily flowers)

4. Title: "Blooming Delight"

Size: 7" x 9"

(A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms)

5. Title: "Purple Twins" 
 (Iris flowers)
Size: 20 x 40 cm

Flowers everywhere... 

Enjoy your day! :)

Purple Poppy Flowers

Off to a wonderful start this November ~ ~
Gud morning folks, and what a lovely morning! Bright sunshine seeping in through the curtains bringing in a new day and rays of hope. I can't wait so long ... to get started. I have to paint something... I always choose a colorful palette before I pick up my brush and then draw a few doodles. Finally, I've made up my mind about what today's painting will be ...probably poppy flowers ... but not the usual red colour

Here's the final piece of art in watercolor ~

Purple Fantasy

The purple colored poppy flowers are looking good to me and I'm pretty happy with the title also.
Thats all for today ...
Have a nice day!