Celle Castle in Winter

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 Celle Castle in Winter 

SIZE: 30 in. x 22 in. - 76 x 56 cm (full imperial sheet)

PAPER: FABRIANO ARTISTICO 640 g/m²
COLORS:  DANIEL SMITH extra fine watercolors   

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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For my work, I decided on the western facade of the castle, which is rarely or not at all shown in paintings. This is completely hidden behind trees in summer and you can hardly see the castle. But in winter, and especially when there is snow, the moated castle character of the facility comes into its own. Celle Castle was built around 980 as a fortified tower with the attributes of a water castle.

 Otto the Strict continued developing the building in 1292. Remnants of this era are the cellar vault and the lower floors of the watch tower. The current Celle Castle has its first documented mentioning as “Castrum Celle” in 1315. ... for more information: Celle Castle

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The festive Jacobite Steam Train - Hogwarts Express

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The Festive Jacobite Steam Train - 

Hogwarts Express

SIZE: 60 x 60 cm - 24 in. x 24 in.

PAINTING GROUND: CRADLED CANVAS 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH + SCHMINCKE SUPER GRANULATION WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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This has been created on a cradled canvas primed with Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground and I love the granulating effects on this priming. 

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Through the Eyes of a Child - First Christmas 1959 with my Teddy

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 Through the Eyes of a Child - 
First Christmas 1959 with my Teddy 

SIZE: 20 cm x 20 cm - 5,5" x 5,5"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH + SENNELIER

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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This painting is done after an old toddler photo taken by my dad on Christmas Eve 1959. It was such an unforgettable memory and my beloved Teddy's first Christmas with me. 

Ich wünsche Euch von Herzen ein Frohes Weihnachtsfest mit unvergesslich schönen, harmonischen und friedvollen Augenblicken und der Muße ebendiese genießen zu können und für das Neue Jahr einen glücklichen Wechsel und viel Positives und Lebenswertes in 2023.  

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” 

 Charles Dickens 


I want to thank you from my heart for your so kind interest in my work, 
for your supportive comments and your wonderful friendship during all these years blogging here. 

I wish you Merry Christmas for you and yours
and a fantastic, creative, healthy and peaceful 2023!!  

Cordially yours,

Isabella 

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Secret Santa for Maria Rosado Garrido

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Secret Santa for Maria Rosario Garrido

SIZE: 20,3 cm x 25,4 cm - 8" x 10"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH extra fine watercolors

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YES!!! Our last challenge for the year with @aligator_watercolor_community is by far my favorite of the year - a Secret Santa where we paint a portrait for one of the other artists in the community.

My muse for Christmas 2022 was Maria Rosario Garrido's @mrosariogarridocasado  lovely granddaughter. It was such a pleasure and joy to paint her.

  

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Winter has come!

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Winter has come!

SIZE: 15,7 in. x 15,7 in. - 40 x 40 cm
PAPER: GUARDI ARTISTICO - TORCHON 300 g/m²
COLORS: SCHMINCKE SUPER GRANULATION WATERCOLORS and DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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With this post I would like to thank the two art schools of Jean Haines and Ali Cavanaugh for their inspiration, support and encouragement this year 2022. It is enriching and wonderful to be supported so well. I feel lucky and privileged to be a part of it.

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If I shouldn't be alive

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If I shouldn't be alive

SIZE: 15,7 in. x 15,7 in. - 40 x 40 cm
PAPER: GUARDI ARTISTICO - TORCHON 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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If I shouldn't be alive

When the robins come,

Give the one in red cravat

A memorial crumb.

If I couldn't thank you,

Being just asleep,

You will know I'm trying

With my granite lip!

by Emily Dickinson

inspired again by  Jean Haines Online Art School  

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The first gift of Christmas

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The first Gift of Christmas - 
Santa's Sleigh Bells

SIZE:  20 cm x 20 cm - 5,5" x 5,5"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND CLAYBORD 3 mm primed with DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLOR GROUND GOLD

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH extra fine watercolors

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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"He stood, holding the bell high above him, and called out, “The first gift of Christmas!”

  

  

Chris Van Allsburg, Author of "The Polar Express"

It was an experiment and I was really surprised at how well it worked. The golden primer is a gorgeous decision for Christmas paintings.

By the way, this is the 1.100th post on this blog, and I'm impressed by myself with this number. 

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In the Christmas forest

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In the Christmas Forest

SIZE: 15,7 in. x 15,7 in. - 40 x 40 cm
PAPER: GUARDI ARTISTICO - TORCHON 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Es treibt der Wind im Winterwalde
Die Flockenheerde wie ein Hirt,
Und manche Tanne ahnt, wie balde
Sie fromm und lichterheilig wird;
 Und lauscht hinaus.
Den weissen Wegen
Streckt sie die Zweige hin – bereit,
Und wehrt dem Wind und wächst entgegen
Der einen Nacht der Herrlichkeit.


 Rainer Maria Rilke, Schmargendorf, im Dezember 1897.

inspired again by  Jean Haines Online Art School  

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Giving

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Giving

SIZE: 24 cm x 30 cm - 9,4 inch x 11,8 inch

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH extra fine watercolors

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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No one has ever become poor from giving. 

  

  

Anne Frank 1929 - 1945

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Meet you under the Mistletoe

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Meet you under the Mistletoe

SIZE: 15,7 in. x 15,7 in. - 40 x 40 cm
PAPER: GUARDI ARTISTICO - TORCHON 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH and SCHMINCKE WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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What better could be than a Christmas love!

inspired again by  Jean Haines Online Art School  

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Fisherman Gnome at Christmas - North Sea

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Moin! Moin!
Fisherman Gnome at Christmas

SIZE: 15,7 in. x 15,7 in. - 40 x 40 cm
PAPER: GUARDI ARTISTICO - TORCHON 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH and SCHMINCKE WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Oh, it wasn't easy to catch him for a portrait, he was so very busy during this heavy blizzard. He had to help the lighthouse keeper so that all the other fishermen can find their way home for Christmas. Catching a delicious fish for Christmas dinner, so I had to do a really quick job and PLOP!! he disappears!

my participation to  Jean Haines Online Art School  #Internationalgnomechallenge

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November Girl

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 November Girl

SIZE: 13 cm x 18 cm - 5,1" x 7,0"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH 

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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My contribution to @aligator_watercolor_community  challenge #76 ALI'S EARLY PALETTE. Surprisingly, one can paint so well by only using BURNT SIENNA, BURNT UMBER, and PAYNES GREY. Since I haven't these colors of QOR, I've used my DANIEL SMITHs.

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Christmas Gnome by the Lake

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Christmas Gnome 
by the Lake

SIZE: 15,7 in. x 15,7 in. - 40 x 40 cm
PAPER: GUARDI ARTISTICO - TORCHON 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH and SCHMINCKE WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Oh my, what a busy day, but I couldn't resist watching the tutorial and trying my first attempt. I love, love, love this theme so much. Great fun and I can't wait for the weekend to paint more Christmas gnomes. Jean Haines Online Art School  

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Roaring 20th Beauty

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Roaring 20th Beauty

SIZE:  15 in. x 22 in. - 38 x 56 cm (half sheet)

PAPER: SAUNDERS WATERFORD ROUGH 425 g/m²

COLORS:  MAIMERI watercolor - Sepia 

2022© ISABELLA KRAMER

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one more for the #nostalgia #39 challenge at
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@aligator_watercolor_community

  

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Rural Winter

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Rural Winter

SIZE: 18 in. x 12 in. - 41 x 31 cm
PAPER: SAUNDERS WATERFORD ROUGH 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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November 2022 Challenge at the Facebook Watercolour Group - Watercolour Art on Paper

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Violet

 

Violet

SIZE: 12 in. x 9 in. - 30,5 x 22,9 cm
PAPER: YASUTOMO STONEPAPER 150 g/m²
COLORS: MAIMERI WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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And more experiments with stone paper. Great surface!! 

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Young Frida

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Young Frida

SIZE: 12 in. x 9 in. - 30,5 x 22,9 cm
PAPER: YASUTOMO STONEPAPER 150 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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My first presentable try on Yasutomo mineral paper  and it's an awesome surface for experiments and training for more spontaneity and looseness. 

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Le Mont-Saint-Michel

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Le Mont-Saint-Michel

SIZE: 18 in. x 12 in. - 41 x 31 cm
PAPER: SAUNDERS WATERFORD ROUGH 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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It was really time for a landscape painting. Do know this feeling that you MUST paint something from deep inside your heart? I only know the British version of this gorgeous location in person, but the French version is very high on my bucket list. 

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Candy Stick - first signs of Christmas

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 Candy Stick
first signs of Christmas

SIZE: 20 cm x 20 cm - 5,5" x 5,5"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH + SENNELIER

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Looking for #candy inspirations for @aligator_watercolor_community last challenge #74 got me in the mood for an early Christmaspainting 🎄🎅⭐️🎄 Too early 🥹😀 ??? I don’t think so, Christmassy people like me have always Christmas in our hearts 🎅🎄⭐️🎄
 

 

 

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In Garlic's Heaven

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In Garlic's Heaven

SIZE: 15,7 in. x 15,7 in. - 40 x 40 cm
PAPER: GUARDI ARTISTICO - TORCHON 300 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH and SCHMINCKE WATERCOLORS

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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WOW!! I've never thought that painting garlic is such a gorgeous thing. Inspired by Jean Haines Online Art School  

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The Musician

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The Musician 

SIZE: 20 cm x 20 cm - 5,5" x 5,5"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: SENNELIER Turquoise Green and SCHMINCKE Heliotürkis 

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Inspired by the very talented musician Noah-Benedikt 

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Autumn Still Life - three

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Autumn Still Life - three

SIZE: 20 cm x 20 cm - 5,5" x 5,5"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH + SENNELIER

2022 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Finding the first chestnut of the year is always a very exciting moment and I can't resist putting it into my pocket. Touching and feeling it is something very special, nearly magical, a real candy. 

 My submission for #74 CANDY Challenge at @aligator_watercolor_community

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