Thursday, December 26, 2019

Thursday Art Date: Merry Christmas! and Paint Party Friday

Bugs Kringle (Prismacolor Pencils and Sharpies)

Hello Friends! ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š

Welcome to Thursday's Art Date, today our theme is Merry Christmas! How was your Christmas? Are you out shopping for Boxing Day specials or do people do that anymore? I remember the days as a teenager, lining up outside my favourite record store "Sam The Record Man"...just hoping to get some good deals on music! Of course that was well before mp3's existed...back then we could "touch" our music so to speak!

A Peaceful Mountain Christmas (watercolours)

We had a lovely few days and we are now digesting and resting! :) I'll post all of the food photos and recipes on Sunday! It rained a lot and it snowed a little, which made for a quiet Christmas in this village of loud snowmobile tourists!


I started a new tradition this year, Christmas Eve bags! I got the idea from Kristina over at Pioneer Woman At Heart.  Her and her hubby exchange new pj's every Christmas Eve and I thought it was a wonderful idea. I decided to sew us some pj pants but I went a little further. I also bought us new slippers and some socks. We watched "Home Alone" in our new pj's, socks and slippers and sipped on Brandy Alexanders and munched on cookies! It was fun...next year I may try to sew some flannel robes!


On Christmas morning, we sat in bed with coffee and homemade crescents (I'll post the recipe on Sunday!), watching Home Alone 2.


I painted this for Alex's Christmas card - my first owl!


I got Alex a tobacco/pipe pouch - he loved it! Now he can bring his pipe smoking supplies out when we leave the house.


Alex got me another Australian outback hat! It's an "Akubra Tablelands", I love the dark brown colour! I think that makes 8 hats for me, four Akubras! ๐Ÿ˜Š


I drew this charcoal as a gift for Alex too, it's based on a photo we took when we were doing a photo shoot for his album artwork. He loved it! I love doing charcoal drawings, but I'm not a fan of the paper I have - it's very grainy. I hope to get some better quality paper soon. I'm going to spend the winter learning more about every facet of painting and drawing - especially with charcoals and watercolours.

Christmas was such a buildup and so much fun...now it's time for another nap. A long winter's nap would suit me just fine!! ๐Ÿ’ค

By the way, comment moderation is now on permanently on all three of my blogs due to obnoxious bot spammers!

So that's all for now folks! But please check out the link widget below to see more Merry Christmas artwork! And please join me on Sunday for my food and pets post. ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿพ


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

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The Moon rises as it transforms day to night (Waxing Moon February 2019).

January 2nd: Next Thursday's theme is Transformation. 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! ๐ŸŽจ

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

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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55 comments:

  1. Wonderful post Rain. Sounds like you all had a fun time. Love the new PJs, great way to get comfy and warm. The new hat is great, enjoy! And Alex's pipe pouch, too. The charcoal drawing and the owl are both fabulous. Have a great day, have fun, hugs, Valerie

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  2. hello Rain.
    You did the right thing at Christmas, so I made it just as comfortable with my life partner. No hectic or anything. Time for a walk on the beach and enjoyed.
    Nice your sewn new pj's!Great the pipe equipment I like men with whistle that smells so cozy
    Your painted snowy owl is fanatic, so beautiful!!!THe Bunny is sweet!!!
    how pretty you like the hat, you have a large collection of them grinning
    great your charcoal drawing, I also used to draw charcoal drawings,
    I could try again.
    Have fun trying out with charcoal and watercolor.
    I wish you a nice Christmas with Alex and Dogs and cat
    greetings Elke

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  3. Rain,

    Your Christmas sounds peaceful and sweet which is my kind of Christmas! ;) Your artwork never disappoints. I love Bugs Kringle! I'm sure he's the only Santa's helper who actually prefers carrots to cookies. Your peaceful mountain Christmas watercolor design is beautiful! Your first job with a snow owl is great! What a cute idea to exchange Christmas PJs and you made yours which is even better! :) I've always wanted to do the Christmas pajamas but never have for us. I think I did buy the kids matching pjs when they were small once. We lounge around in sweats which are far warmer than flannel pjs but part of me still wants to do this, maybe next year I'll get creative like you. ;) We watched a lot of romantic Christmas movies this holiday season but I do like the Home Alone movies. Those are great fun! We did watch a movie that made me think of this movie series that you might like, CHRISTMAS BREAK-IN. If you have Netflix, then that's where we watched it. The year is ending soon, let me say a special thanks for hosting this fun weekly challenge, my friend. May God's blessings of health, happiness, and success be with you in the coming new year!! xx

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  4. Love your owl and the beautiful present you got for Alex. YOur drawing of him is spot on! So good....you're amazing! Love the hat too and your p's! On to New Years!

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  5. i'm so glad you guys had a great xmas! you put so much work into it! the xmas pj's are such fun idea. the pipe pouch is perfect too! the charcoal of alex makes an even better album cover than the photo. it looks more mysterious than the pic! merry xmas once again!!!

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  6. I love your new hat. I have about 5 hats, but don't wear them anymore. Maybe, I should. Looks like you had a fabulous Christmas. Before you know it, 2020 will be upon us.

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  7. What a blessed Christmas you had! We have been scurrying around here in Florida, and will be happy to get back to our calmer pace on the ridge, but had a wonderful Christmas, regardless! Love your new hat. It looks sassy! Lol! Have a wonderful week, Rain!

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  8. Bugs is looking sharp for Xmas! Beautiful owl card for Alex. Your charcoal work is amazing.Those darn spammers. Have a wonderful Boxing Day and thanks for hosting.

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  9. Sounds like a nice Christmas ANDDDDD I love the new hat. It looks fantastic on you.

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  10. Beautiful art and beautiful gifts! And a Christmas full of love! Delightful!

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  11. Bugs is cute. I like how you paint the tree in 'A peaceful mountain Christmas.' I love pj's, I can't make my own like you though. I'm thinking now we should all spend Christmas morning, day or night in our pj's.

    Even though I don't join in as much as I like, I think you're doing a good job hosting, so thank you!

    Have a lovely day.

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  12. "...lining up outside my favourite record store "Sam The Record Man"...just hoping to get some good deals on music! Of course that was well before mp3's existed...back then we could "touch" our music so to speak!"

    This year I gave my hubby a record player. We have old records from those stone-age days, but had nothing to play them on! Remember Shaun Cassidy? Da do ron ron, da do ron ron. ๐Ÿ˜€

    I gotta say-- your photo in the hat is FABULOUS!

    Happy Boxing Day ๐ŸŽ

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  13. Love the PJ pants! So glad you enjoyed doing the exchange. Love the gifts too. Merry Christmas!

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  14. Well of course, Pajamas on Christmas Eve is the best ever. We used to let the kids open one package on Christmas Eve and yes, you guessed it, they were always new jammies so they would look cute for their Christmas morning pictures. Not so much anymore ... with just three old poops here at home this year, there were no pictures to be taken. That said, we did have an enjoyable Christmas together and thankful to all still be here to celebrate. The picture of you in your new "Outback Hat" is gorgeous ... Now you should paint a version of that to put with Alex's picture and hang them on the wall somewhere to remind you of what a wonderful couple you make. Like you, today is lay back and rest day (note that I am not posting until 2PM), and I am not sure one day will do it for me as I am the doer on Christmas Day. And I have to tell you that I love your owl ... Snowy Owl, I assume. I have for years volunteered at a Raptor Center so I have a big place in my heart for Owls, Hawks, Falcons and yes, even the Turkey Vulture, who is, believe it or not, a playful companion :) So Happy Day after Christmas, Rain and Happy New Year's Eve ... will see you next week on a transforming New Years Day.

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  15. Looks like a great day was had. And I will say it again, you have grown so much in your art!!! LOVE it all.Great job.

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  16. Rain, You are so pretty in your new hat. I like it too. I love your art works. You are very talented. Plus you can cook. :) Blessings to you and your sweetie for a great new year, xoxo, Susie

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  17. Rain ~ wonderful gifts you got each other ~ and fun times for you both ~ Your artwork is marvelous ~ my favorite is that awesome owl!

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

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  18. I just love your art.
    Christmas sounds fabulous.
    Love your PJ's
    Your new hat is fabulous - it does suit you.

    Enjoy the coming weekend and my good wishes for the coming New Year.

    All the best Jan

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  19. What a great way to have spent Christmas Day, Rain. Our holiday was spent on the road traveling to visit family. Next year I have already said that all I want for Christmas is to stay home and have a live cut tree๐ŸŒฒWe also watched holiday films and that included all 3 films in the Santa Claus trilogy. What a sharp looking hat you received and nice that you modeled it for us. Also slippers and a pipe pouch were great gifts, but that snowy oil and charcoal portrait were the best.

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  20. What a wonderful Christmas you had, Rain! So happy for you. We had my family over on boxing day instead of the 25th. It was such a nice get together.

    My gosh, I haven't thought about 'Sam The Record Man' in ages! So many memories with that music we could 'touch' back then.

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  21. Thanks Valerie :) I love the pj's!!! That flanelette fabric is so soft! I love the new tradition! My hat is wonderful, all of my others are beige colour, this is the first dark brown! :)

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  22. Thanks Elke :) That's nice that you had a quiet holiday with your partner. I remember days when I used to stress myself out trying to visit everyone and drive in bad weather...too much money spent...I LOVE our cozy holidays at home with the pets!!!

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  23. Thanks Cathy :) Oh yes, it is MY kind of Christmas...no stress, no driving, no excessive spending and best of all no getting dressed except for the fancy pj's! LOL! I just looked up Christmas Break-In, it sounds funny, reminds me of the Home Alone's! I always love Danny Glover too! And you're so welcome! I'm happy to host the weekly challenge since Michael stopped his! I'm loving it! :)

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  24. Thanks Sam :) We exchanged really cool gifts this year! I love my hat! Goes so well with my pj's lol! :)

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  25. Thanks Joyce :) He LOVED everything as we thought he would!! I do love that charcoal...I can't wait to get better paper and more techniques...maybe I'll learn more about digital art too this year!

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  26. Thanks Gigi :) I do love wearing hats! Usually I have my outback or western hats on all of the time, all day at home in the house too. And I have a bunch of knitted hats for the winter. It's rare that you see the top of my head lol!

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  27. Thanks Laurie :) I figured some of my Canadian friends would remember Sam the Record Man!! Gosh how things have changed huh? Actually the last of the "video stores" as I call them, I guess they were all DVD's though...anyway, the last one in this area closed down last week. Everything is digital now, I don't know how to feel about that!! My grandpa used to smoke a pipe too, so did Alex's grandpa, so I got him his pipe two years ago, he loves it, and I really love that aroma! I'm going to continue the pj tradition each year for sure now! We rarely get dressed anyway so we need a lot of pj's lol! :)

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  28. Thanks Dino :) I like sassy!!! :)) I'm sure you can't wait to get back to the ridge, have a little more quiet time!! I can't wait for the tourists to go back to the city!

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  29. Thanks Christine :) Yeah, I got hit with the hundred or so spams too, but thankfully they attacked old posts and I had the setting on moderate after 4 days, so I could delete them all in one fell swoop.

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  30. Thanks Nicole! I love my hats!!! :)

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  31. Thanks Debra :) Yup...lots of love in this house!!! :) That's the most important part isn't it? :)

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  32. Thanks Lissa :) I hope you find time to join in more, your art is lovely. :) Oh, I agree, pj's ALL THE TIME. We are lucky though, I don't work and Alex works from home so we never really need to get dressed, we call it a "pajama lifestyle"!!! :)

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  33. Thanks Sandi :) Hope you had a wonderful holiday! Oh that's kind of cool...a record player, I wonder if young people know what that is? LOL...we have an old stereo that Alex's grandma left to him when she passed away. It has a record player in it and we have to put a dime on the handle to keep it from skipping on the records lol...those were the days. Oh YES I REMEMBER SHAUN CASSIDY and I remember Da Do Ron Ron Ron!!! I had his "best of" CASSETTE. :) Thanks for bringing me down memory lane!!! :) He was a dream... :)

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  34. Thanks Kristina and thanks for the idea!!! :)

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  35. Thanks Andrea :) I hope you spent Christmas in pj's lol...I definitely did! Oh what a great idea, I need to try a charcoal of myself...I have a lot of practicing I want to do to hone in my skills in 2020! Yes! It's a snowy owl, though more colourful I think. I think it's wonderful that you volunteer for birds, they are beautiful animals. Interesting about the turkey vulture!! I wouldn't have thought that! Stereotypes right? :)

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  36. Thanks so much Pam! :) I really appreciate you saying that!!! :)


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  37. Thanks Susie :) Blessing to you and your hubby in 2020, all the best to you! You're sweet. :)

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  38. Thanks so much Carol :) I've had trouble painting birds before but I just let myself go for the owl and I'm so happy how it turned out!

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  39. Thanks Jan :)) I love my new hat...I have a growing collection that's for sure! Good wishes to you too for 2020!! :)

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  40. Thanks Dorothy :) Staying home, for me, is the best way to have Christmas, but then it's just Alex and me. We don't have family to visit, so it's easier to do it! Oh I watched the Santa Clause trilogy too in the last week!!! The first is always my favourite though! Tim Allen is hilarious. And thanks! I'm really trying to take my time with the charcoals now, I'm learning a lot of techniques and I'm so pleased that I'm able to have the results I like! Glad you enjoyed my art! :)

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  41. Thanks Martha :) You and I could very well have been at Sam the Record Man at the same time you know!! Imagine? All of my old vinyls are long gone, which is a shame. I wish I took better care of them. I remember my first '45 was Copacabana lol...I'm glad you had a nice Boxing Day Christmas! We ended up having our Christmas dinner on the 27th because we had so many leftovers!

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  42. strange, I thought I commented on your post :(
    Love the beautiful christmastree in your first image. It is like a new world in the entire tree :)

    Happy New Year to you. :)

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  43. Thanks Monica :) You may have already commented...I got so much spam, I tried to just delete the fake comments, I hope I didn't delete REAL comments!! That's a nice way to look at the tree!! Happy New Year to you too! :)

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  44. wow where to start. First off - that charcoal drawing of Alex is so cool and he has albums - wow, would love to hear something from it. PJ's good idea - I like that. Your art love it - that mountain scene so pretty ... And your hat - you are a cutie in it. Good look for you.

    I'm behind everywhere because of a few power outages. Our mountain towns are resorts and the big one up here is a four season one so the traffic is unbelievable over the two weeks of Christmas holidays. We have learned the right time we can go out on the rim hwy to either go up farther or down the mountain from us. I'm always so happy when middle of January comes and we can get out all we want without traffic accidents and tourists trash all over.

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  45. Thanks Sandy :) Oh I can totally sympathize with you about the tourist traffic! I used to live in a town, not far from here, where I couldn't go grocery shopping on Sundays because of the tourist/ski traffic. Mid January sounds nice to me! :) We still have lots of tourists in this village and it's too loud for me!

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  46. Loved the bugs as santa dear Rain ,this is my favorite one

    your owl is MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! loved it

    thank you for the selfie :) you look serene and confident ,wishing you more shower of peace and joys in days ahead my friend!

    wow the painting copied by Alex's image is amazing ,i always adore your wonderful skills ,great beautiful job :)))

    hugs!

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  47. Thank you Baili :) I'm very proud of that charcoal. I practice very day now, it's a lot of fun. I'm learning new techniques too. I love that owl too! Though I've never seen one in person!

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  48. Your charcoal drawing of Alex is wonderful, Rain! You captured him beautifully! And the Akubra hat suits you! Your Christmas season celebrations are genuine and relaxing (after you put all the prep in)! We had a fun family time in Breckenridge and then quiet times together at home. Perfect!

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  49. LOve the owl painting and the charcoal of Alex is great.

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  50. Thanks Louise :) I spent so much time on that charcoal! I love my hats! Those Akubras are amazing hats.

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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