Annie's Current Paintings: January 2011

Thursday, January 20, 2011

TNNA Needlepoint Show 2011 Tropical Reef New Hand Painted Canvases

I was happy to attend my very first TNNA Needlpoint Show with the other JellyBeanStock Artists. We all started our Art career at JBI a seating company that does the whole package for Fast food Franchises. Barb has been a life long friend, mentor, and best art buddy in the business. She encouraged me to paint this series of Tropical Reef fish, and wants me to paint more. I used to Scuba Dive, and snorkel among the fish on the California Coast, and also got to see some beautiful underwater life while snorkeling in the waters of Cancun. I will be painting some smaller canvases, and some detailed miniatures. It's amazing what a stitcher can do to indicate shells, coral, barnacles, and all the other large and small varieties of life under the sea. A woman was stitching at Fleur de Paris booth a simply stunning underwater scene on the body of a fish. There is so much creativity in every human being yearning to come out and be expressed. Needlework is a collaboration between the imaginations of many, and that includes the people who just make the threads and beads. A woman could get addicted to beautiful flosses, braids, threads, and silks. I'm fast becoming a floss-ahollic!?!!

Here are the Latest Canvases with a Tropical Theme:

I hope all is going well in your world, and that you are taking a moment to smell the roses. Life is so short, and I feel the chill of winter coming on. Take good care of yourself, and enjoy your needlepointing, designing, drawing or painting or whatever avenues your creative spirit takes you on. Write when I get work, and be sure to tell me some of your accomplishments and triumphs. Going to the TNNA Trade Show was one of mine, and I miss the people the excitement and the joyous atmosphere we all shared. I better get back to work, my painting and the dishes and laundry are calling to me.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

TNNA Needlepoint Canvas Tropical Bird Painting

While at the TNNA Needlepoint show I painted on a canvas of tropical birds I had started at home. I brought along many unfinished, and just started canvases to show how I work. I also brought along original watercolors to show how I let my watercolor painting inspire my needlepoint designs. I enjoy stitching my unpainted needlepoint canvases while looking at the original watercolor and choosing my DMC floss colors based on my painting. The canvases I paint for the needlepoint community are painted while looking at my original art that inspired the canvas. Other times with canvases like the Peacocks or the Mardi Gras Masks the art work it self speaks to me and dictates how it is to be painted. In other words I don't start out to paint a black jester, or a Aztec Warrior these "characters" much like protagonists in a book declare themselves as I paint. Then they refuse to go away, and demand to be finished. This is why on some of my prototype canvases the holes get filled in, after I've tried to make a picture with a light skinned human being with blond hair and blue eyes female, and the "face" demands to be darker, masculine, bearded etc. Who knew art could be so recalcitrant and demanding.

Enough about the masks. Here is a photo of the Original Art of the Parrots and Birds of The Crowned Jewels, and the almost completed canvas painted at the trade show. A big hello to Wendy at Aristeia in Santa Monica who was so enthusiastic about my paintings and the Rhino. You do have a fantastic, beautiful, and incredible new store. I don't know what the old store looked like, but this store looks like a very elegant, fun, and well stocked with threads home. What a wonderful place to shop, visit, take classes, and needlepoint. Aristeia at 200 26th Street in Santa Monica California is a must visit and see for all local and out of towner Needlepoint Aficionados. I am also going to put up my Gorilla Painting for I think it is Amanda Harwood who loves to stitch primates? If I'm wrong then you know who you are, and this painting is for you.

This is the original Gouache Painting unframed that inspired the Needlepoint Canvas of the same name "Crowned Jewels" Copyright: Chabrier HouseofChabrier Anne E. Shoemaker-Magdaleno 2010 All Rights Reserved

The Needlepoint Canvas has been adjusted so that their is a little more space between the birds, and the Peacock's back is a little more defined. The final version is going to have a little more neck on the African Crowned Crane, and a little more space around the hummingbird. I design differently for the Needlepoint Industry trying to make more space for decorative Needlework, and counted thread space between the birds or animals. I don't like only one or two stitches between the different birds.

The top image is the original gouache opaque watercolor painting of an Indian Rhino on 2ply Illustration Board, and the bottom canvas is the Rhino I originally painted and Displayed at the TNNA Trade Show in the Long Beach Convention Center 2011. This canvas is designed to be a big pillow for a Black or Brown Leather Couch in a TV room or den. I usually picture the artwork in a room when I design it, and this series is for all the people who love to watch Nova's Nature, Animal Planet, and the Discovery Channel. I love animals and nature and that's why many of my designs center around the natural world.

As promised the next two images are primates. The first is an Old Silver Back male painted in Gouache on Illustration Board, and the second is a watercolor of a lemur painted on Arches watercolor paper.

The top watercolor painting is of another Lemur and orchids, and the bottom watercolor is the companion piece that hangs with it in my hallway. These are done in transparent watercolor, and eventually may turn themselves into a Needlepoint canvas for your stitching pleasure. Thank you for the lovely emails, and kind words you have been sending to me and to Jellybeanstock. We look forward to providing varied art of the highest quality for years to come. Thank you for sharing my day and my blog. Write when I get work. Have a day full of satisfying work, quiet moments, good company and good food.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

TNNA Needlepoint Show 2011 Floral Pillows and Bell Pulls

I introduced only a few floral designs at the TNNA Needlepoint Show 2011, but I have quite a few offerings drawn up and ready to paint. I live on an acre, and love flowers. I used to buy bulbs by the 100's and plant them religiously every fall. Here in southern California bulbs sometimes bloom with the advent of winter rains, and Iris bloom summer, fall, winter, spring. My roses are blooming now after all the winter storms we had. Obviously, I love gardening and love flowers. I plant for the bees, the butterflies, the birds, the lovely scent, and the color to please my eye. The flowers I draw for my Needlepoint canvases are the flowers I grow. I have huge pots out front my brother Robert gave me, that I'm growing Plumeria, Roses, Gardenia, and Cactus in. Here is what I painted for the Jellybeanstock booth, and for my own artistic and gardening pleasure.

I had these Lilies planted by my kitchen window for years, and though I have Calla Lilies and other colors these pink Oriental Lilies are still my favorite. They just can't take the digging done by German Shepherd puppies, and inquisitive dogs looking for a cool spot to lie on in the summer heat.

This and all my hand painted canvases can be purchased from your local Needlepoint Shop, or by having them contact http://jellybeanstock.com/index.html

I have many more Floral canvases drawn up, designed, and ready to paint. As soon as my orders from the TNNA 2011 Show are painted and filled I will be working on my new series of canvases. Yes there will be new Masks, florals, birds, animals and scenics. There are all kinds of birds and animals clamoring for my attention, and longing to be on a Needle Point canvas for you to bring them to life. Write when I get work, and thank you to Jane at Chilly Hollow for your warm welcome and kind words.

Monday, January 17, 2011

TNNA Needlepoint Show 2011 Venetian Mardi Gras Mask Series

Woman and men at the TNNA Needlepoint Show in the Long Beach Convention Center seemed to really like my Venetian, Mardi Gras, and general Masks. These started to design themselves because I wanted to stitch with my Kreinick and Rainbow Gallery threads. I love all the glittery, beautiful, shiny, and varied textured threads that are available to stitch with. I just wanted to stitch something exotic and glamorous, and the idea of masks and feathers called out to me. In my younger days I loved to stitch sequins and beads to velvet, fur, and satin. Malibu Feathers and Ostrich Plumes were an all time favorite of my misspent youth. Now I can't wear the bling, but I can always stitch, and I have my memories. Here are my offerings of Glamor and Beauty for your stitching pleasure. All of these images can be bought at your local Needlepoint store, or if they aren't carrying them yet, go to www.jellybeanstock.com and they will direct you to a store in

These are all the Large Images I designed for Pillows or Wall Art. I will put up some of the smaller Masks I designed for Pillow Inserts, Tote Bag Art, or whatever you want to use them for. I really think of this art form as a jumping off place for your Needlepoint mastery and your own creative imagination. I found it thrilling to see what Needlepoint stitching artists could do with art, and how much further their skill could take a painted canvas. Needle pointing is like a collaboration between Canvas designers, and the skill, expertise, and imagination of some very talented Needlepoint artists who take our ideas and art many steps further than we ever dreamed. It's an honor to be a part of such a fascinating industry. Write when I get work, and now I'm off to painting the canvases ordered at the TNNA 2011 Long Beach Convention Center Trade Show.

Friday, January 14, 2011

TNNA Needle Point Show Out of Africa Series

Some of my favorite canvases to design for the TNNA needlepoint show are the Out of Africa Series. It started with my Indian Rhino Gouache Watercolor Painting which has nothing to do with Africa. Then I just wanted to paint a Lion and the whole series took off from there. The border came into being because I love borders, and then thought why not have the animals racing around the border. That brought in the Masai from the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and this series was born featuring the Kenya Game Reserve and all its animals. I still want to design a Wart Hog, Cheetah, and Buffalo canvas, but I will get to that later. Here are the canvases that were shown at the TNNA Needlepoint Show at the Long Beach Convention Center in my Out of Africa Series.

Copyright: Chabrier HouseofChabrier Anne E. Shoemaker-Magdaleno 2010 All Rights Reserved
All of these canvases can be had to Needlepoint on in 13ct, 14ct, or 18ct Zweigart Mono Canvas and hand painted by me in acrylic. I am also doing belt, and headband designs with my border design for your stitching and wearing pleasure. All designs can be seen at http://www.jellybeanstock.com and you also can see designs hand painted by other artists and designed for your stitching and giving pleasure.

I hope you like this new venture of mine, and enjoy viewing these canvases. I've enjoyed painting them, and can't wait to see how an experienced stitcher embellishes them with different stitches. I loved meeting and viewing the art of the different artists who attended the TNNA show. Write when I get work, and if you show me your work I will be happy to share mine with you. Keep on painting, and keep on stitching. I will put up some more canvases tomorrow. Thank you for following my blog and commenting on my work. If you have a pet or something else you would want me to hand paint on a Needlepoint canvas for you write and I will be happy to help you!! Custom is my middle name!