New Print - 'Ginkgo Leaves on Gray Stones'


First official one from my new camera.  Took the photo out in my backyard from leaves I gathered on a walk.  Altered it a bit (also new to PhotoShop Elements 10--used one of the new texture effects on the stones).

We went on a pilgrimage of sorts to Portola Redwoods State Park.  This is one of the California State Parks scheduled to be closed in September, due to budget cuts.  I wanted to make sure to visit this incredible place again while I could (I have inner ear trouble that makes the winding roads leading to it difficult but it was worth it).

It's difficult to convey the magic of a redwood forest.  The trees are immense.  I remembered this place as being particularly wild and primordial.   It reminded me of those old gaslight authors, such as Blackwood, who wrote stories about Nature taking back over in such places.

While walking through the trees, we made our way along the stream, having to cross it now & then.  I still need to get a walking stick so we passed Steve's back and forth as necessary.

We chose the trail (coincidentally, the Iverson Trail) that led to tiptoe falls, a lovely waterfall cascading down a hillside (only the last section was visible to us but we could hear it). Resting a moment by this pool, you could imagine that, if the old pagan gods are still around, this is one place they are.

I'm looking through my treasure trove of photos of which ones to use as a basis for future paintings.  Look for them in my Land Gallery.

Big Sale on Big Prints! I know a lot of you have been wanting big prints. Here are specials on giclee canvas prints (ready to hang) in larger sizes:

30" x 40" only $149!

24" x 36" only $119!

24" x 36" only $119!

Limited time only! Other prints available at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/laura-iverson.html

Balinese Cat at Hakone giclee print on canvas (ready to hang) for only $45!

Special promotion this week...Get an 8x10 print of Siamese Cat in Purple Moonlight on stretched canvas, ready to hang, for only $45!

Went for a walk in downtown Saratoga and saw this fantastic saltbox house at the end of the street. I vintaged up the photo, like I like to do, and called it The Empty Swing:

Found some time to make pendants today. One was for a custom order but, since I had the clay out, I also made one of the new painting, Alone in the Treetops:

Green Shutters:

A historic house with green shutters. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph, in tones of sepia and green. The original photo was taken in Santa Clara. I cannot say why it appealed to me so much. The sunlight glinted a certain way and I liked the way it peaked through the pine branches. The border hearkens back to TTV (Through the Viewfinder) vintage photography. The scratches and imperfections give the piece a Victorian Gothic feel. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.

Lost and Wandering:

A gnarled oak tree on a hill. This California landscape, from the Eternal Wanderings series, is offered as a print on fine art paper (soft, matte finish) from an artistically enhanced photograph, in tones of sepia and purple. The original photo was taken at Arastradero Open Space Preserve in Palo Alto. The border hearkens back to TTV (Through the Viewfinder) vintage photography. The scratches and imperfections give the piece a Victorian Gothic feel. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual print.

Bayou Peace Tree

The full moon illuminates green Spanish moss hanging on gnarled tree branches. The tree branches have arc'd to form a peace sign. Blue dragonflies dance in the night sky, which is in shades of lavender, deepening to purple. This meditation piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (visionary landscapes in a surreal Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in purple acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

New peace tree, Blue Dragonflies in the Spring

The rising sun illuminates blue dragonflies and blossoming tree branches, covered in cherry blossoms. The tree branches have arc'd to form a peace sign. Some of the petals are dancing in the Spring morning sky, which is in shades of lime green, deepening to a rich emerald. This hope-filled piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (visionary landscapes in a surreal Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in purple acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

New commissioned painting, Abby and Caesar in the Spring:

Abby, a beautiful Calico cat, and Caesar, a handsome gray tabby, gaze at the luminous Springtime moon. Cherry blossom petals dance in the lime green sky, and a purple dragonfly flits in the upper corner. This visionary landscape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in purple acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.
Being commission, this piece is sold, but prints are available.

New ghost painting, Lenore in the Breaking Dawn:

In her prettiest ballgown, the ghost of Lenore casts a final look at the raven, before the day breaks and she fades. The rising sun illuminates the haunted cemetery, casting light of pink, deepening to magenta. Cherry blossom petals dance among the tombstones. This Gothic fantasy landscape, inspired by the "The Raven" poem by Edgar Allan Poe, is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in black acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

Peace Tree in Golden Glow Original Acrylic Painting:

The setting sun illuminates blossoming tree branching, arcing to form a peace sign. Some of the cherry blossom petals are dancing in the sky, which is in shades of glowing yellow and gold. A couple dark red dragonflies dance in the sky. This hope-filled piece, part of the Zen Mandala modern art series (visionary landscapes in a surreal Asian style), is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in burgundy acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

New zen painting, The Moon in a Teacup

A blue dragonfly lands on an earthenware yunomi (Japanese teacup). The luminous full moon is reflected in the green tea it holds. Steam rises from the black tetsubin (cast-iron Japanese teapot), which is sitting on a woven mat. In the background, a couple more blue dragonflies flit among the green bamboo forest, twilight turning the sky lavender. This zen landscape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in black acrylic)--no need to frame.

This is one of those paintings that's been on my mental "to do" list for I don't know how long.

On Sale Now...Spring Morning Meditation, original green Buddha sakura painting from my Zen Meditation series. Regularly $650, only $119 today!

New painting, Summer Sunset Meditation. Features a Native American woman meditating with a bobcat or lynx.

New painting, "Spring Morning Tea":

The morning sun rises through the green bamboo. A beagle dog curls up on the ledge of the teahouse window. Steam rises from a black tetsubin (Japanese cast iron teapot), a cup sitting nearby, waiting to be filled. A few daisies sit jauntily in a purple pottery vase. Inspired by the Japanese tea ceremony. This zen landscape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in brown acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

New painting, Lenore in Lavender Moonlight:

In a white empire gown, the ghost of Lenore drifts among the tombstones of an abandoned cemetery, forgotten by all except the raven. The full moon illuminates the ghostly landscape of cypress trees and clouds. The night sky is in shades of lavender and purple, dotted with stars. In this haunted graveyard, calla lilies and red roses replace the flowers that were once brought. This Gothic fantasy landscape, inspired by the "The Raven" poem by Edgar Allan Poe, is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in purple acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermarks on the image do not appear on the actual painting.

In a white empire gown, the ghost of Lenore communes with a raven (inspired by the "The Raven" poem by Edgar Allan Poe, "...when, with many a flirt and flutter, in there stepped a stately raven from the saintly days of Yore."). With a touch of the steampunk, her necklace has a silver key dangling from a chain with burgundy glass beads. The full moon outside the open window illuminates the ghostly blue landscape of distant cypress trees and drifting clouds, the night sky dotted with stars. In this haunted Victorian parlor, calla lilies climb the striped wallpaper. This Gothic fantasy landscape is an original acrylic painting on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas (the 3/4" sides are finished off in red oxide (sort of an orange-brown) acrylic)--no need to frame. It has been lightly varnished to protect the paint and preserve the lustrous colors. The copyright watermark does not appear on the actual painting.