December Special, Printable Gift Tags

The Holidays are a time for sharing, so during the month of December all orders will qualify for a FREE GIFT from me to you.  

When you make a purchase you will have a choice of 1 of the 4 different FREE printable holiday gift tag designs... Pixie Elf, Holly Boot, Snowflake Stilettos OR Christmas Wreaths.
Once a purchase is made I will email you the pdf printable file of your choice... Pixie Elf, Holly Boot, Snowflake Stilettos OR Christmas Wreaths. When you buy through my etsy shop ErinGoPaint you can leave a message to seller with your choice of FREE printable tag page.  








If you make a purchase at Praline Pixies EGP or the GF Illustrator on Zazzle you can contact me on my Facebook at ErinGoPaint, let me know what you bought - and then I can email you your printable gift page.







Happy Holidays to all, 

and to all a good night!

Praline Pixies

After receiving many requests for my princesses, super heroes, and fairy tale characters on t-shirts I have created a place just for that.  

Introducing Praline Pixies... 
"Here you will find my original watercolor illustrations of young african american and multiracial girls as princesses, super heroes, and fairy tale characters. I am inspired by my daughter who at 3 thought all princesses and beautiful girls had yellow hair and peach skin. I started creating so she - and many others - can see that beauty is not confined to one look.

I believe they have a very positive influence on how young girls see themselves. I have been told by so many clients that their daughter thinks the painting is them. So they get to see themselves reflected as the beautiful princess, instead of a constant stream of images that look nothing like them. 

Life is certainly not all about beauty, but if young girls can grow up appreciating who they are and the beauty that they have, it will help them to grow into strong and confident women. "

My art prints are collected by buyers worldwide, hoping that the t-shirts and fun products available will find homes all over the globe.

Hanging on to Possibility...

Got thrown a bit of a curve ball today... and on a dreary rainy day like this I could have justified curling up in a ball on the couch with a big blanket. Maybe even with a big box of cookies.

Instead I painted...

 "Beach Baby" in progress, watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

  

I painted joy, beauty, imagination and endless possibility. 

And, that feels even better than a big soft blanket and all the cookies in the world!

Beach Baby, sketch

"Beach Baby" rough sketch, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Our little girl is most definitely a beach baby!  She believes that the beach is the greatest place on earth, well, maybe second only to an amusement park!

But, a day at the beach for her is really like going on vacation.  The water, the shells, sounds of crashing waves, the planes going by pulling ad banners, the bright umbrellas, all the kids, and last but certainly not least... the potential for sand castles!  

I think when she first approaches a new beach she imagines great big elaborate fantastical castles... with moats, towers, windows, and flags flying!  She never quite gets there, as that rhythmic, pounding surf continues to call her in and away from that castle of her dreams.

No matter, there is always next time!

Red Hot Kitchen - Red Hot Peppers

"Red Peppers, Balanced Diet", watercolor & ink on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

I love painting peppers!  They are so sculptural, curvy, and yes - sensual!  Quite often resembling a body stretching, bending or relaxing. And, absolutely vibrating with color!  They almost glow in the sunlight... and that is natural antioxidant color.

Gorgeous, crisp and refreshing.

This illustration was bouncing around in my head for a while before I gave it the opportunity to be born on paper. (not sure why I hold them in so long sometimes).  But, once it burst to life on paper it made me want a red kitchen.

I put together this fun collection as I dreamed of what my crimson kitchen might look like...

              

'Red Hot Kitchen' by  eringopaint

Vintage Red Apron with White... CoffeeKlatch $18.00	vintage Dutch canister set, ... AtticAntics $85.00	Red Pink Vintage Handmade Wo... PearlsVintageG... $22.00
Vintage Tomato Slicer dovetailvintag... $9.00	Food Buy It With Thought Vin... 3LambsIllustra... $26.50	Star Home Decor / Whimsical... CarriageOakCot... $25.00
Heirloom Tomatoes Art print ... TheJoyofColor $21.00	Red blue nuno felted blouse,... jezek $112.00	Organic Jam Gift Basket of F... Northernlodge $25.00
CIJ SALE Crochet Strawberry ... FrejaToys $4.25	Red and Brown Floral Oven Mi... madebyemily $22.00	Vintage Metal TV Tray Marchi... TwoStoryVintag... $28.00
Red Apple Sugar Cookies guiltyconfecti... $21.00	CIJ SALE. Linen table runner... JBworld $18.99	food photography tomato &quo... sixthandmain $14.00
2 Small Pyrex Milk Glass Des... FoxandHoundsto... $8.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Color Inspiration - Azure (#1)

The other morning I was struck by the beauty of the crisp clear blue sky as I went for a run.  A gorgeous blue sparkling in contrast to the bright, fluffy white clouds.  That color got stuck in my head for days.  It is a color, when paired with white, that seems to announce summertime!

Azure. Cerulean. Lapis Lazuli... ok, I know, too light to be Lapis but that name is lilting and magical, and I just had to use it.  

I have been collecting, noting, snapping photos of this color everywhere...

Bright and playful in a park.

Making a lively theater ensemble.

even an ordinary hydrant becomes charming.

and a fabulous garage tucked away just leapt out at me.

Not sure yet how I will be using this color, but it is certain to show up in something new as it swirls in and around me.

Purple Hydrangea

"Purple Hydrangea", watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Our area is a riot of color with the Hydrangeas in bloom!  
Lush, abundant, heavy with color and petals, they are spectacular.
Truly a feast for the eyes.
I love June in New Jersey!

Showing Up

Sunset over Puerto Vallarta, acrylic on Canvas, 24x36, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Sometimes I get lucky... lucky to go on an amazing vacation, and watch night after night of incredible sunsets.  And even years later, I close my eyes and I am in that hot tub on the beach, cocktail in hand, with my husband, watching the greatest show on earth.

Sometimes I get lucky... by setting up and showing up - out pours a painting as if by magic!  And I am purely the go-between that is mixing and moving the paint.

This painting literally exploded out of me. 

Last night it left me exhausted and conflicted.  

This morning I saw it with fresh eyes and attitude.  I went back to the easel this morning and painted from the heart, from what I felt, from the experience... and less from the literal.

I finished.  

I am pleased.

I feel very lucky indeed.

The Suffragette

"The Suffragette", 8x10 watercolor and ink on paper, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

The newest addition to my ongoing Vintage Closets series.  

A tribute to the women who marched before us... and for us! 

They marched encumbered by layers and layers of clothing, and certainly not the most comfortable shoes.  Many shoes to keep her feet going.

They stood for what they believed.

And, they changed the world!

Fairy Dreams

"Fairy Dreams". watercolor and ink on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

What do you see in the shadows?

Hold fast to your dreams - and your imagination!

Wildfire

"Wildfire" watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Wildfire, my newest watercolor, and I was singing the song from 1975, the entire time I was painting - which certainly influenced the intensity of color!  The more the song looped the more vivid she became.

That amazing, glossy coat like fire in the late day sun.  The more orange, gold, and reds I used - the more I could deepen the shadows with eggplant and aubergine (which beg to be used because both their hues and names are so wonderful!)

I captured her energy just in that moment before she bolted - and ran wildly, happily free!

A Girl and her Doll

The late afternoon sun is casting long warm shadows through the window.

"A Girl and her Doll", watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

The child sits in a moment of rare quiet and stillness.  Tenderly holding her favorite doll.

Whispering quiet secrets to the doll… her baby, her best friend, sister, confidant ... Changeable at a moments notice.  But, always steadfast and sweet.

The secrets will forever be safe with her.

Passion in the History

A lot has been said on following your passion, and creating what you love.  When I think back to school and was studying Fashion Design my absolute favorite course was Fashion History!

 "Retro SwimSuits 1920s", copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

I could not wait to go each week.

I was consumed by it. 

I was so interested that most of what I learned 30 yrs ago is still fresh in my memory. And for each Period we studied we got to create a garment of our own design from that period.  

Illustrated and rendered in watercolor, which is when I learned to adore, and respect, watercolor.  I could have taken this course over and over! 

I am smiling ear to ear while writing this as I remember that time.

 "Flapper's Closet" copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

This kind of project brought me nothing but joy!

So, I am revisiting it now... And am loving every minute of it! 

The research, sketches, inking, painting - and immersing myself in the time period.

"Edwardian Corsets" copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Thinking of the history, the social norms - and restrictions, of the time… and how fashion played a part in all of it.

Total joy creating this art, and truly thankful to be in my present where I am free to live the life I live, and create the art that I love. 

Looking for some sunshine...

Yesterday was grey and gloomy. 
Today we face another murky morning.  
Right now the sun is struggling to break through, but so far the clouds are winning that battle.  I am rooting for the sun- and brightness and light and warmth!   All that good stuff!


This time of year I crave sunlight.  A few gray days in a row really get to me.  So I am searching for sunshine wherever I can find it!

from My Home Ideas

I could cozy up in this kitchen in a heartbeat!!  I can almost feel the sun coming in those windows!!  And, while I'm dreaming... how lovely would it be to make my coffee in this kitchen and then curl up into this window seat....  ahhhh!

from Houzz.com

Me and my rhino would fit right in!!

"Green Rhino", watercolor on paper, 5x7, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Wishing you a sunny yellow day!

No Roses Please

The first time I told my husband I didn't want roses for Valentine's Day he thought it was a test.  Like, you say you don't want them but you really do and I am supposed to buy anyway kind of a thing?  or what?
Nope, not a test. Just no roses for me. 

But - what I would like is Calla Lilies or Gerbera Daisies.
Not that I have anything against roses but I LOVE Calla Lilies and Gerberas!  Love them! 
Inspired by them!

Calla Lilies for their sculptural shape, sleek lines and sophistication.

Gerberas for their color, their joyfulness.

And, if you can't find them for Valentine's day - a week later is okay.  Or as in the vase pictured above a random day in January he surprised me one evening!  Those are the best kind!

Happy Valentine's Day!  

May your day be filled with love and light and color!