Studio Magic: Four Paintings, One Flowing Fortnight

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Happy weekend, everyone! This has been one of those magical painting stretches where everything just flows. In the last two weeks, I managed to push forward on four different artworks at once — and I’m honestly buzzing with how much got done. I thought I’d share a quick roundup so you can see where each piece stands.

Nancy Wake – “The White Mouse”

She’s officially complete (minus final signature and varnish)! I finished the fourth canvas edge yesterday and it’s now complete. Once that last edge is dry, I’ll sign her, apply varnish, and she’ll be ready for photos and the product page! Painting her felt like channeling pure courage — the wanted poster, the cigarette glow, the brick-wall texture… she’s intense in the best way. I can’t wait to show you the final varnished version soon!

Glass Lake – Cover Art for My Sister-in-Law’s Short Story

This one is wrapped! The watercolor version of the dreamcatcher/ancestral-reflection piece is done and ready to frame. The soft blues and greens, the way the dreamcatcher hangs in the foreground, and the subtle emergence of the ancestral face in the water turned out even more emotional than I hoped. My sister-in-law has seen the progress shots and she loves it as much as I do — this was such a meaningful collaboration!

Amazon Warrior – Still in Progress

This 30×30 oil is where I’ve been pouring most of my energy lately. The blue-skinned guardian standing in the misty swamp is coming alive — I spent the last week rendering the foreground flowers (pinks, oranges, blues) and the midground landscape surrounding her, and it’s really starting to frame her beautifully. Next up: mid- and background details (more muted greens and dappled light through the canopy) and final touches on her jewelry and person. I’m having so much fun with this one — she feels powerful and mysterious at the same time. I worked on her during Wednesday’s livestream.

And speaking of collaborations… I’m excited to share that I’ve begun working with my sister-in-law again— this time on cover art for her novel Resilient. Instead of watercolor, this one will be an oil painting on canvas (30×30 like the Amazon). I’ve already laid down the first two layers to block in compositional elements. This new painting will be featured on next Wednesday’s Livestream. Be sure to save the date and join in! Stay tuned for updates!

Juggling four pieces at once keeps me energized — each one feeds the others in little ways (Nancy’s drama, Glass Lake’s emotion, Amazon’s fantasy and Resilient’s message). It’s a reminder that creativity doesn’t always move in straight lines. What about you? Which piece are you most excited to see finished? Drop a comment below — I read every one. More updates soon — including varnish photos of Nancy and Amazon progress.

Thank you for following along. Your encouragement keeps me in the studio!

With paint on my hands and gratitude in my heart,

Stephanie

MidLifeArtist