70 - A Walk in Spring

A Walk in Spring 6 x 6 Acrylic on Gessobord - Buy it here

I would dream of how my walk through the woods would be like in spring. I would walk in the briskly shade of tall ancient trees with a nice aromatic scent of rich earth. I'd turn and something bright caught my eye, the bright fuchsia pink and violet petals from the distance. The scent would be so intoxicating that time went by minutes to hours as I carelessly smile and bask in all the sunlight. Such joy to be in nature as it's a wonder how beautiful it is with its divine algorithm of life that is beyond our understanding. So serene, calm sea of grass, birds singing its songs, leaves dancing in the warm wind, I'd lie down in the tall grass and flowers and look up to the moving gentle clouds forming around the shining sun. Thanks to the sun for all life that it brings and hello spring!

69 - Pekingese Pups

Pekingese Pups 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.


These are the youngest of the seven Pekingese my family owns. They are a brother and sister. Nelson and Dahli. Dahli is adorable and full of spirit. She's always doing something out of curiosity and is very playful as if she's still a little puppy. They will be two this July. Nelson on the other hand is slightly bigger than his sister, he's very calm and loyal. He loves to nap by your side. Dahli on the other hand won't sit still unless she's tired herself from chasing wild animals and wrestling the other pups. I love them. :)

68 - Wooden Bridge

Wooden Bridge 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.


Found this beautiful wooden bridge in Evergreen, Colorado. I love its wild wild west and cowboy feel when you visit this extravagant outdoorsy place.

67 - Blazing Sunset

Blazing Sunset 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.


Who doesn't love sunsets? We all need the sunshine and light to rejuvenate our souls. Its beauty is unmatched anywhere on Earth. Those pink clouds sure makes this life dreamy and nostalgic but in a fresh way. Good bye sun and good evening moon!

66 - River in Finland

River in Finland 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.


Imagine walking through a forest with moist moss and tall earthy trees. Then you notice the sound of a roaring fresh river nearby and the aroma of lavenders and other spring flowers. Then you tip your toes into the white water and it is cold but refreshing! That's what my trip to Finland would be like!

65 - White Deer

White Deer 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.


All creatures are noble, and have profound messages to share with us. However, those animals that are white can be some of our most powerful teachers.

The Native Americans believed the occurance of a white animal was a huge sign of prophecy – a sign from the great spirit that a major shift in their world was to come.

Beautiful creatures that I'd be honored to witness. Hear the bubbles and water splashing gently with a sparkle every now and then. The green moss has a sweet young scent of earth. 

63 - Springtime

Springtime 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord SOLD

At last the fragrant blooms have come,
And the year’s first scent of new-cut grass,
A yellow butterfly goes in and out parked cars,
Remaining puddles laced with sun.

Feel the warm wind blowing in my hair,

The gentle lilacs and grass dancing, 

Springtime is here.

I love the vivid blue-purple colors of the lilacs in a field. The shining sky looks so magical and warm. I can feel the wind and smell the soft fragrant breeze when I look at this painting. Beautiful and gentle. 

62 - Winter Morning

Winter Morning 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.

Briskly cold vapor escapes my breath
Crunchy reflecting crystals on every step
Bright pink sunrise warms my rosy cheeks
Hear an eagle cry over the horizon
Oh here comes a new beautiful day
for me to explore and learn anew

- I

Found this beautiful stock photo from Deviantart.com by the name of "Eirian-Stock". I love the glow I made around the trees and it definitely makes my face warm seeing it. So peaceful and cool. Looks like a good day to hike out by the snowy woods. :)

61 - Autumn

Autumn 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

Email me at ivyoswaldart@gmail.com

“He was summer.
His eyes brought warmth
and light,
shining through the calming breeze
exhaling from his lungs.

He was autumn.
His smile blossomed
red and yellow and orange,
whistling warm colors that pale
in comparison to his laughter.

He was winter.
His voice gave chills
and foggy breaths,
providing a sense of serenity
amongst the pale snow.

He was spring.
His laughter allowed buds
to grow into flowers,
sprouting off thousands of colors
wherever he goes.”

— Seasons of Him (NJ.)

I loved the previous painting so much I wanted to try again in different colors. I wanted to make it look like autumn with warm falling leaves. 

59 - Dawn in Scotland

Dawn in Scotland 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.

“I love abandoned things. Dilapidated, old structures left untouched by the hand of man. Something, while weak and decrepit, is so unapologetically unruly. Like a refusal to bend under the ever changing will of man, it stands as a time frozen. Tragedies like Pompeii and Chernobyl, how often it takes a disaster of this size to remind us natures power over our own and a serve as a testament to how life will continue despite our absence.”

—	Jamie Lovley ©

When I started painting this, I got really obsessive with the blending of the sun's rays and looking back at it, it looks almost psychedelic. To be honest the ruin on the hill does look funny to me and but it is what it is but I had fun making the lighting!

This was a stock image thanks to Wyldraven. You can look at it here: here: http://wyldraven.deviantart.com/art/Ruin-On-The-Hill-STOCK-147402348

58 - Stone Spheres of Puerto Rico

Stone Spheres of Puerto Rico 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord - Buy it here.

One of the strangest mysteries in archaeology was discovered in the Diquis Delta of Costa Rica. Since the 1930s, hundreds of stone balls have been documented, ranging in size from a few centimetres to over two meters in diameter. Some weigh 16 tons. Almost all of them are made of granodiorite, a hard, igneous stone. These objects are monolithic sculptures made by human hands. The spheres number over 300. The large ones weigh many tons. Today, they decorate official buildings such as the Asamblea Legislativa, hospitals and schools. You can find them in museums. You can also find them as ubiquitous status symbols adorning the homes and gardens of the rich and powerful.

The stones may have come from the bed of the Térraba River , to where they were transported by natural processes from sources of parent material in the Talamanca mountains. Unfinished spheres were never found. Like the monoliths of the Old World, the Costa Rican quarry was more than 50 miles away from the final resting place of these mysteries.

- source

Very strange indeed. I put together a beautiful stock background with the stone spheres incorporated into it. I love mysterious things because it makes everything beautiful and interesting. It always left me in such wonder like a kid who doesn't understand gravity or lightning. 

54 - Blue Flower

Blue Flower 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

This was a native flower grown in Nova Scotia. It looked like a blueish purple white daisy. I went for the blocky paint-strokes and added some bright colors to the background to make it interesting.

53 - Crimson Sunset

Crimson Sunset 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

This was from a beautiful stock photo taken by Eirian at Deviantart. It was taken in Lahnajärvi, Finland. What a beautiful sunset! I love how I made the dry brush technique in the waters and sky. I would love to visit the northern Europe because not only of their beauty but also they have the midnight sun! What that means is that for a certain time of the year, they have sunlight 24 hours a day hence the name, midnight sun, because there would be sun at midnight! Imagine that! "What a beautiful day, oh! It's time for bed...good night." Ha. Someday....Who knows?

52 - Dandelion Meadow

Dandelion Meadow 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

Another dry brushed painting! I love the way the bright fuchsia pops up from behind the paint. This surely feels like it would be a hot day somewhere in late spring or summer.

51 - Birdhouse

Birdhouse 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

This is one of the birdhouses me and my younger sister made. It was originally a jewelry prop stand used back in the 90s. Necklaces would be laid over it. My sister found in in the barn my dad was cleaning up and decided to repurpose it for what it was supposed to do! I'm really happy with the way it came out with the dry brush strokes revealing the bright red/orange background paint.

49 - Purple Moon

Purple Moon 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

Moonlight

Little silver rays
pirouette and parade in
through the window
to dance on your soft skin.

Whispering a gentle lullaby
they kiss your sleepy eyes,
filling you with
airy yawns and sighs.

Cuddling close in the night,
I kiss your nose
as the little rays of moonlight
make me, too, begin to doze.

-source

I love looking at the moon and see the clouds blanket the glowing full moon. That's when the moon appears the brightest I think.

47 - Mystic Forest Glow

Mystic Forest Glow 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

“The forest cries out to me,
time to come home.
Wander, 
take inspiration, 
and write about my beauty it says.
Come home my child.
The birds will sing for you, 
leaves will rustle, 
and the wolves howl. 
Come home, 
and I will heal you.”
- source

I used a lot of blacks which is a mixture of alizarin crimson, phthalo green (blue shade), and ultramarine blue in equal amounts then I used titanium white to make the glow. I wanted the glow to have a purple hue by using more of the alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue with titanium white. The teal color is always brighter than light ultramarine blue. To make teal, mix ultramarine blue with almost equal amount but a tad bit more of phthalo green. I love the mystical glow and I got this stock from deviantart here.

46 - Daniel's Horse

Daniel's Horse 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

There's a park near where I live called Daniel's Park. Next to it are pure breed buffalos and some horses in large patch of land with a fence around it. This horse looked majestic and I wanted to paint in a multi-colored, slightly geometric way, why not? I like how I used the blues and greens to darken the shadows instead of dark red.

45 - Moonlight Sea

Moonlight Sea 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

Yesterday
I saw the moon
and the wind
whispered
to me
I saw your face
in the stars
And your voice
chase me through
the night
and it still chases me
this morning
- source

I'm drawn to the moon, glowing objects, mysteries, interesting light sources, and bodies of water.  Beautiful. I used one the beautiful stock photos at Deviantart here.

44 - Mermaid

Mermaid 6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord $50 - Buy it here.

I chose to paint a mermaid because I love mysteries and fantasy. The glowing lights are meant to be in the water although it looks like it's a reflection of the night sky. I tried to make the mermaid look like she's glowing but I realized that wouldn't work unless the mermaid itself is brighter than the glow. I'll keep that in mind next time I try to make something glow. I also realized using the bright teal color is a better glowing color than the typical white. The white actual dulls the brightness. That's what I learned. Despite the mistakes, I love this one!