Thursday, December 12, 2019

Thursday Art Date: ☕ Cozy ☕ and 🎨 Paint Party Friday 🎨


Hello Friends! 😊

Welcome to Thursday's Art Date, today our theme is Cozy. A warm brandy, a roaring fire, a comfy blanket and a good pair of soft slippers...Bugs Bunny knows how to be cozy! You could switch me for Bugs actually, that's how I spend a lot of winter evenings!!


Speaking of brandy, we had some in our egg nog the other day as we munched on homemade cookies and trimmed the Christmas tree. The pretzel bar I'd planned for dinner was a success! I'll post the photos and all of my recipes on Sunday!


This is our 7th Christmas together and we have had the same red lights and decorations every year. I really love Christmas lights, it makes the house very cozy and welcoming!


The stockings are hung over the fireplace, for us and the furballs. πŸΎ  I usually make some kind of fudge or candy as stocking stuffers for me and Alex. The pets get homemade chicken treats.


Alex surprised me with an early Christmas present. He said he wanted me to enjoy it now during the build up to Christmas. I have Dancin' Santa playing non-stop, I know all of the lyrics to Holly Jolly Christmas by heart now lol...  What a hoot, I love this! Does anyone know the television show Frasier? If you do, you will understand how disgruntled Frasier was every Christmas when his dad brought out Dancin' Santa. Anyway, we saw that episode last summer and I said to Alex "I WANT THAT", and he got it for me! Now I want an entire shelf of them!!


The gentle glow of a lantern on a snowy winter night is a cozy image to me. Here is my painting in watercolour.

I played with my charcoals again during the last week. I tried to follow a six and a half hour tutorial (no, that's not a typo!)...but I had ants in my pants so I stopped it and tried to wing it after the first four hours. I thought this image of a mother lioness and her cub cozying up to her was really sweet! But honestly, this one was very difficult for me. I was kind of relieved I'd finished it.

That's all for now folks, please check out the link widget below to see more Cozy artwork! And please join me on Sunday for my food and pets post. 🐾🐾🐾


I'm also linking up with Paint Party Friday tomorrow!

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At the Christmas Tree Farm.
Alex and I wait until December 10th to bring our tree home and decorate it. If we get it any earlier, we get too tempted to exchange Christmas gifts early and it takes all of the fun out of it! In 2014 we made that mistake and exchanged gifts on the 19th of December. When Christmas rolled around, we actually felt disappointed! We know better now!

December 19th: Next Thursday's theme is Holiday Stories, Carols and Lore. Click on the link for ideas and inspiration! Remember it's all about creating. You can showcase your paintings, drawings, photography, sculpting, baking, poetry...whatever you like! 🎨


Thursday Art Date With Rain. Click on the link for a description of the art date as well as a list of upcoming themes. Check out the themes for 2020 here!

Don't forget to add the URL link to your post (not your blog) to the link gadget below to share your wonderful creations! The link gadget expires Sunday at noon (EST).

⚡⚡⚡⚡  Be forewarned ⚡⚡⚡⚡ If you include a link that doesn't follow the art date theme, it will be removed! Thanks for your understanding and for respecting my fellow artists who put their minds, hearts and souls into creating art for the themes!

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65 comments:

  1. hello rain
    !You showed the cozy in your postings, it is very Christmas and love whether human or animal!that is very nice the Bunny! The lions are painted so beautifully. You have a great Christmas tree, yes it has snow with you, which is missing from me.
    I wish you a nice Christmas time
    Elke

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  2. Hi Rain. I enjoyed seeing all of your cosy pictures and ideas. You really need to feel cosy with so much ice and snow around. Love all of your art, the lantern painting is amazingly beautiful, Light on a cold, dark night is pure cosy for me! Bugs Bunny is keeping warm, too, in an armchair like mine, and with a blanket! The charcoal drawings are totally fabulous, wow! You have talent! Your decorations look great fun, too, and I love that your furry friends get filled stockings, too. Wonderful, glowing tree, what a delight! And a dancing Santa to crown it all - enjoy! Have a happy day! Hugs, Valerie

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  3. That is a cozy painting...my favorite theme! What a cute display of your foods for "decking the halls". I still have to get eggnog and some spiced rum to put in it. If I get it now it won't last until Christmas. Love your tree. I wanted a fresh one but it's a lot of work for me and I have plenty to get done before Christmas as it is. YOur art work just gets better and better. I too would have a hard time sitting through a 6 hour tutorial! LOL! Enjoy the lead up to Christmas! The dancing Santa is cute and I love Holly Jolly Christmas!

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  4. Beautiful cozy painting! Love your other art too. Even watching for 4 hours is amazing. Cute santa.

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  5. as soon as i saw bugs i thought...that's rain! what a magnificent tree! now if i could just get some of your snow!

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  6. I love the lantern in the snow painting and the drawing of the lions. Both are beautiful. I've never thought of decorating a tree in all red lights. That looks very warm and pretty too.

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  7. Your tree and drawings are amazing!

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  8. Rain,

    Bugs looks completely cozy sitting there in his easy chair snuggled in his pjs and lap blanket sipping on his evening drink that's sure to warm him from the inside out in front of a blazing fire while the snow falls outside. :) The lantern in the snowstorm scene is beautiful! Can you believe it, we got some snow the other night! It was nearly melted away by Wednesday morning, though. It was lovely. Have a happy Christmas season, darlin'!

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  9. I love your watercolour lantern in the snow! And go, Dancin' Santa, go! I remember that Frasier episode too, now that you mention it, LOL!

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  10. Rain, these are all lovely "cozy" pieces. You are so talented in what ever you create.

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  11. So Rain is your real name? 😊 What is the story with that?

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  12. my favorite today are the lantern piece. I really love that one :)

    I´m not celebrating Christmas much but you will find Santa in my post :)

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  13. Hello Rike,
    your post is full of Christmas feeling and illustrates warm thought of the season.

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  14. Thanks Elke :) The lions were not easy for me! It's very cozy here at home these days. I think that Christmas lights really make the place so comfy!

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  15. Thanks Valerie :) You're right, it gets so cold here that I try to make my home a place I never want to leave! Or get out of my pj's!! :) I really like that lantern watercolour too, it was the first time I used a masking liquid, it worked out really well! Happy PPF to you too! :)

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  16. Thanks Sam :) We really decked the halls this year - food and drink-wise!! I make egg nog for Alex but I can't drink it because of the yolks - they make me horribly ill. I buy the store bought kind and it's really yummy. I bought two of them because I knew I'd drink up the first carton fast!

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  17. Thanks Christine :) I can't believe I sat through 4 hours to be honest. It was interesting to watch but my attention span isn't the greatest!

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  18. Thanks Joyce :) I love the tree and the whole tradition of getting it! It smells so good too! And lol..yup, Bugs is living vicariously through me! :)

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  19. Thanks Henny :) I enjoyed the watercolour so much, I am a big fan of lanterns. The tree is so brilliant! One year we may switch to another colour, but we're not sick of the red yet!

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  20. Thanks Cathy :) Bugs is very comfy...I know that feeling! :) Oh snow! Was there enough for a snowman? Maybe a little mini-snowman? ;)

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  21. Thanks Debra :) The Dancin' Santa is the best gift I've ever received!! I love it! Still not sick of it hee hee!

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  22. It's funny Sandi, I've been asked that often and there really is not story behind it lol! Many people don't believe it's my real name, but yup, that's me! :)

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  23. Thanks Monica :) I think my favourite is the lantern too. I love the orange/yellow glow against the blue!

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  24. Thanks Sirkkis :) I try to make everything cozy at home and reflect that on my blog so I can share with everyone! :)

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  25. Rain ... This is an awesome post on so many levels. I love Bug's idea of Cozy. I would trade places with him in a flash if I could. A Red Christmas tree ... you never cease to amaze me ... and Dancin' Santa, what a hoot. You are so much fun. Your husband must praise the day he met you :) And last but not least your charcoal lions are splendid ... so well done and I can't believe you learned it on a partial tutorial. Your talent comes from within and a touch of guidance is all you need to blossom. Love it all, Rain :)

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  26. Andrea you are so sweet, thank you! The support of friends like you keeps me motivated to do more, seriously. And that's very nice what you said about Alex, I'll remind him lol! ;) I LOVE my Dancin' Santa!!! :)

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  27. LOVE your cosy images, and am in awe of your lioness and cub.
    Christmas here is hot, sometimes very hot, fires and snow are the stuff of fairy tales...

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  28. Thanks Elephant's Child :) The lions were not easy for me! Took so long and I had to do a lot of correction but it was a really good practice! I guess you are approaching mid-summer! I'm thankful for a snowy Christmas season I admit!! :)

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  29. Bugs bunny has the right idea. Lovely watercolour painting.

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  30. Thanks Linda :) Yeah, I'm with Bugs during this cold weather!! :)

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  31. Hi Rain, oh it is soo cosy your way, loving all the atmosphere here and your lantern is totally magical!!!
    That charcoal piece is stunning, so full of love and warmth, you did a fantastic job! It feels so smooth, I can feel their soft silky fur and feline beauty that shines out here, beautiful!

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  32. SO cozy. You'll find me in front of the tv, with a snuggly blanket, sewing every evening! Alex sounds like your match! Great artwork Rain, the charcoal captures a lovely gesture. Love bugs... waskily wabbit.
    LeeAnna

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  33. Thanks so much Kat :) I like how you described the lions. I really had a hard time with it, but it was a very good learning practice! Cozy is my way of life! :)

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  34. Thanks LeeAnna :) Ha, Bugs is definitely waskily. He's my hero lol! Alex and I are definitely a match. Feels good. :) I guess adding a brandy to your evenings might make for some funny sewing projects lol! ;)

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  35. The dancing Santa! HAHA So cute! What a lovely surprise. It looks so cozy and inviting at your place. I'd want to hibernate all winter and forget the world exists!

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  36. Me too Martha! I just want to stay in my pj's and sip warm drinks and eat good food! :)

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  37. I love your lions in charcoal, Rain! And your dancing Santa is pretty cute. :) We have a "Jingle Rock" Santa that our youngest especially enjoyed over the years.

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  38. These are certainly very cosy and comfy! I think I might look like Bugs tonight :)

    The lioness and her cub is amazing, you did really well. The lantern is really really beautiful!!

    Thank you so much for hosting!

    Happy Holidays!!
    -Soma

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  39. Love dancin Santa, Rain! Love your art, too! Hope your week is a good one! Christmas is so festive, isn’t it?

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  40. Happy you dropped by my blog today Rain

    Much🎨love

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  41. Oh my-where to begin??? I think we are kindred spirits! I could surely be Bugs Bunny in your charming illustration too-love red wine, and a cozy fire and blanket- and my nickname is "bunnies":):) My favorite color is red so it is a given how much I love your tree. The dancing Santas (including this exact one) and dancing fishes were a huge trend in my parts back in the ....eighties?And YES I know that and most all the Frasier episodes so very well!!! My very favorite sit com and i still watch it over and over since the day it all aired:)
    Your lantern watercolor is just beautiful. Thanks for all the lovely thoughts and smiles. Happy PPF!

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  42. Your art days always fill my heart, Rain. What a gorgeous tree!

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  43. Thanks Becki :) I just looked up the Jingle Rock Santa and I WANT THAT ONE TOO!!! :)

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  44. Thanks Soma :) I want to be like Bugs every night during the winter! The charcoal was definitely a challenge, but I'm pretty happy how it turned out! :)

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  45. Thanks Dino! :) I LOVE this time of year! It is very festive but it's over too quickly!!

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  46. Hi Linda :) Could we have been separated at birth lol? :) I LOVE your nick name!!! That's so cute! Oh my gosh those dancing fish...was it the singing bass I'm thinking of? I would love some of those, and I think you're right they were really big in the 80's! LOL...Oh the eighties...we LOVE Frasier too. Alex downloaded the entire series and we watched it last summer. We'd seen them all before, but my gosh they're so funny. The Crane brothers are such great characters lol...such snobs! Would you be a Jack Benny fan by any chance? So nice to read your comment today! How fun that we have so much in common!! :)

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  47. Thanks so much Louise! :) The tree smells so nice! I love having a live tree in the house!

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  48. Lovely artwork ~ love the snowy one ~ and very festive home and cozy Bugs Bunny ~ ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  49. Thanks Carol :) It's very cozy at home! :)

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  50. What a wonderful post! Your charcoal drawing is really wonderful! I love it! Happy PPF!

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  51. Thanks so much Tammie :) I'm loving using the charcoals! :)

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  52. Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    your bugs bunny filled my soul with sooth and coziness indeed dear Rain :)))

    from where i can get words that might have ability to praise your talents :)
    such a perfect painting ,honest expressions are always straight from heart and goes down right into heart that encounters :)))

    your lantern in snow is ENCHANTING!!! and the lioness is GORGEOUS ,peace in her eyes reflects the serenity of your soul so beautifully :)))

    thank you for being INSPIRATION ALWAYS !!!

    loved your image while choosing Christmas :) you look excited indeed, it happens to all of us ,we learn by the time for best
    exchange of gift is most wonderful thing about festivals and celebrations ,we approach our love through what we choose to give :)
    wishing you more and more happiness in days ahead my friend !
    hugs!
    oh yes I LOVED LOVED LOVED THAT SANTA :)))

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  53. your post brought back memories of going to the Christmas Tree Farm when the kids were little. Great photo of you picking out the tree. always love whatever art you post.

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  54. Thanks so much Sandy! :) The tree farm visits really are memorable!

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  55. Thanks so much Baili :) I'm so glad you enjoyed the art today! :) Isn't that Santa fun? I'm so happy that Alex remembered my little comment from last summer that I wanted one! Christmas is a lot of fun here, it's exciting to get gifts, but I really love giving gifts! And I love all the food and sweets that we eat during this time too! It's a magical time! :)

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  56. Lovely beautiful cozy painting, and I love your other art too :)

    All the best Jan

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  57. I have a mug that says, 'my favourite colour is christmas lights'! I Love christmas lights too, especially sitting in a dark room with only the tree lights.

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  58. That's fun Jenn :) We never put the living room lights on anymore, the Christmas tree is all the lights we want to see!

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❤ Thanks for your comment, I love hearing from everyone! ❤ Why not join me and my fellow artists every Thursday for TADD? That's Thursday Art and Dinner Date! It's a lot of fun!
Love,
Rain