Karen Marvin Barth/Heartstrings Custom Art

Just finished this colored pencil commission last week. I don't think there was a moment I wasn't holding at least 25-30 pencils in my left hand at one time! This customer lives in Arizona. All communication was done online. It is a simple process with a quality, digital photo. The finished piece went from Indiana to AZ in just two days after I was done. If you are interested, please message me. People or pets!

Haven't had a colored pencil in my hand since May, 2023. Warming up for some commissions. I practiced some with watercolor, and I will still play with it, but these pencils just call to me. This is in honor of all the sweet little chickadees that surround my porch and squawk at my cats during the winter months. :)

Not much time for art this summer, but here's a little doodle I fit in. Working on my realism. I've decided I can't be splashy (loose in my water color style), no matter how I try. Just don't think I am wired that way. 😏

A couple of rainy days makes me feel not so guilty for painting instead of work. Just finished!

I never really have enjoyed doing anything floral in colored pencil, although I have done a few. BUT, in watercolor, I sure am having fun! My last 3 are for sale if interested. Am taking them to be framed on Thursday. I think I might eventually make them into prints/cards. Now to go plant the REAL thing! God is a much better artist. 😇

Hope you all are enjoying the warmer weather. Probably my last painting for a while. I need to go outside and work on the "real thing." FYI, my work is for sale. 🙂 This is a 9"x12" before framing. PM me if interested.

Thank you for following my facebook Art page!

The deer always eat my tulips/bulbs. They won't get these (although my dog who likes to chew up my watercolor paintings might!). These tulips are my watercolor journey into something a little bigger.

My first watercolor rose. Now that was fun! Hopefully I will be able to do a vase full one day. :) I am not very fast, but it is faster than colored pencil.

This is truly the first watercolor I have been comfortable enough to say I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. I think I am starting to 'get' it. Never give up! ☺️

Loose (I call messy) watercolor practice during the past week. I don't know if I have it in me to go from realistic colored pencil drawings to loose watercolor, but I am going to keep trying to
find my niche in this watercolor world. May you have a blessed Holy Week and Easter!

Why do I find watercolor so hard? Well, I am a perfectionist for one thing and these ARE NOT perfect, but it would be so easy to do a line drawing and just paint it in...and I think many who do this create beautiful work. No judgement here. It is a style choice. But learning to move around the water and color into an object is my skill quest. I have literally spent hours studying and reading about watercolor and watching tutorials that make me drool at the artists' profound abilities. I will eventually get out of the butterfly stage! 😉

Something new! The month of February, 2023...attempting watercolor for the first time. I have never been so frustrated and artistically challenged. I have watched tons of tutorials, but painted very few. Sitting myself down at my drafting table with a paintbrush in my hand has been torture. I have no style, technique and most the of the time no clue, but I am slowly understanding how to push the color and water together. Start out slow and easy, but at least start! 🙃

Thank you to all who came to my art exhibit at Heartland Art Gallery in January, and to those who visited my gallery page, and to those who have given me encouragement! This is my latest commission of this beautiful young lady. I am accepting portrait orders, pets and people!

Here is the link to my art exhibit at Heartland Artist Gallery in Plymouth. It is 3 pages, so be sure to click on the numbers at the lower right hand side of the page. There will be a reception at the Gallery on Sat., Jan. 28 from 1-3pm. These are photos of the artwork. All of the drawings are matted and framed. Thanks for looking! 🙂

Karen Barth - January 2023 - Heartland Artists Gallery KAREN BARTH COLORED PENCIL   JANUARY 2023 ABOUT THE ARTIST INVENTORY & PRICING Stacked Pumpkins & Clay Pitcher Lilacs & Tea Christmas Donkey Red Highland Deer Cardinal with Big Snowflakes Look Up Big Brown Bear Violin, Candle & Book Silly Wabbit Prince Cardinal & Holly Cardinal Pair on Stump Grey E...

Building up my inventory for January at the Heartland Art Gallery!

Just finished this Bluebird. It sold before I finished it! Hope you are all enjoying your summer! 😊

Here is my latest portrait I did a month or so ago. Forgot to post on this page! It was for a sweet friend who recently lost her husband. God be with you, Lynn!

Having been consumed by a project with an author friend, I am back doing commissions now that I have finished. My sweet college roommate from many years ago, asked me to do these two dogs as a gift for a dear friend. We did this all by facebook communication. It really is easy with great photos. Cropped a few up, we picked one, and voila! Message me if you are interested in having a drawing done for you. ☺️

I haven't posted here in a while. Have a big project I am working on for a wonderful author friend creating an image from one of her books. Check her out! "Exit Unicorns Series" by Cindy Brandner. Amazing, talented author! Here are my latest drawings. David Gilmour for Pink Floyd fans, my 2nd rendition. And this Beary Hairy Bear, framed and for sale if interested.

I love to draw portraits! Here is a handsome little guy a client had me do for her. I have drawn all of her grandchildren so far. If you are interested, please message me...it is as simple as a fun photograph you can send me from your phone. This is done in colored pencil and pan pastels.