Three Kings following the Star

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Three Kings following the Star

- Page 17 in my 2025 Christmas Sketchbooks - 

SIZE: 14,8 x 21 cm

PAPER: CANSON® SAUNDERS WATERFORD® Art Book 300g/m² cold pressed

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH watercolors 

2026 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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inspired by a fantastic tutorial by Tom Shepherd in 2025 

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We Three Kings

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We Three Kings

SIZE: 20 cm x 20 cm - 5,5" x 5,5"

PAINTING GROUND: AMPERSAND AQUABORD 3 mm

COLORS: DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS 

2024 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Time for Paper Lanterns

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Time for Paper Lanterns

SIZE: 14,8 cm x 42 cm
PAPER: ARCHES GRAIN FINE 300g/m² 

COLOURS: Daniel Smith and Mijello Watercolors 

2024 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Autumn is near and the time for paper lanterns walking is here. 

To outwit the darkness that creeps across the country earlier and earlier in the autumn, children make lanterns with colorful luminous paper pictures or hollow out pumpkin and sugar beet heads and parade through the streets with them. Parading through the dimly dark or foggy streets with a brightly shining moon, a shining sun, a happy animal face or a monster-faced lantern is fun.

In some areas, the 'lantern parade' begins as early as September, and reaches its peak in the first days of November and on St. Martin's Day. Everywhere you see bright strings of lights parade through the streets in the evening. It looks beautiful. It helps us forget the darkness a little, and we look forward to the pre-Christmas period with its mysteries and celebrations.

from about ca. 1851 

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Autumn is near and the time for paper lanterns walking i.s here. 

Autumn is near and the time for paper lanterns walking is here. 

Anything but Hope

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Anything But Hope

SIZE: 11,7 in. x 8,3 in. - 29,7 x 21 cm
PAPER: CANSON COLD PRESSED 300 g/m²
COLORS:  DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS

202 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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"You don't need anything but hope. The kind of hope

 that flies on silent wings under a shining owl moon." 

 - Jane Yolen

The background wash was done as a color testing piece for "Winter has come!" and I was very pleased with it. Today I'd a second look at it and I discovered an owl waiting for me there. 

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Winter City

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Winter City 

SIZE: 19,6 in. x 25,5 in. - 50 x 65 cm

PAPER: HAHNEMUEHLE ANDALUCIA DOUBLE FACED 500 g/m² - matt side 

COLORS: SENNELIER Watercolors + DANIEL SMITH Watercolors 

2021 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Santa's Dodge

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 Santa's Dodge

SIZE: 15 in. x 15 in. - 38 x 38 cm

2020 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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I love oldtimers and I'm sure Santa loves them too and maybe there're some days when Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen are so tired from flying in one night around the whole world that they need a little rest and Santa must take his Dodge pickup.  

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Scop Owl - Zwergohreule - Otus scops

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SCOP OWL - ZWERGOHREULE - Otus scops 

PAPER: HAHNEMÜHLE LEONARDO ROUGH 600 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH extra fine watercolors 

SIZE: 9,4 in. x 12,6 in. - 24 x 32 cm

2020 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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It's owl month at Jean Haines's Online Art School www.watercolourinspiration.com and so I'm addicted to painting owls and owls and owls. I hope I don't bore you all...

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NYC times square at night

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NEW YORK CITY - TIMES SQUARE AT NIGHT

SIZE: 11,8 in. x 15,7  in. - 30 x 40 cm

2020 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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Yes, this shot is an absolute must for New York tourist and so I've done it too. In 2013 during my first visit to this marvelous city, we had a great theater night at the broadway and of course, we took a walk to the time square. 

This painting is my second attempt to NYC city night scenes and I will try to do larger versions from this. Do you know this feeling, that you have millions of ideas in your brain, but no time to do it?  

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Night falls on Westerhever

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NIGHT FALLS ON WESTERHEVER 

SIZE: 15 in. x 15 in. - 38 x 38 cm

2020 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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The lighthouse Westerhever is a really well-known lighthouse in Germany, but for me, it is too a symbol for wonderful relaxed days at St. Peter-Ording and the beautiful seashore there. For years I've painted it during the seasons and this is a winter painting, but without snow. The one with snow is planned for the future. 

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Christmas Market Celle

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CHRISTMAS MARKET CELLE 

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

PAPER: SAUNDERS WATERFORD ROUGH 425 g/m²
COLORS: DANIEL SMITH extra fine watercolors

2016 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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part of: AQUARELLE EN BRENNE CHALLENGE DE PEINTURE  this month with one of my photographs as impulse 

What a year - I've posted 120 painting during 2016, really a large number for me. 
I want to thank you from my heart for your so kind interest in my work, 
your supportive comments and your so wonderful friendship 
during all this years blogging here. 

Wish you a fantastic, creative and peaceful 2017!!  
Cordially yours,


Isabella 

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"Ich gehe mit meiner Laterne ..."

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"ICH GEHE MIT MEINER LATERNE ..." 

 (CHILDREN WITH LANTERNS) 

SIZE: 41 x 37 cm - 16 x 14,5 inch

2016 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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this is my yearly lantern painting, even an exercise for more practice in wet-in-wet technique. 

The nights before and on the night of Nov. 11, children walk in processions carrying lanterns, which they made in school, and sing Martin songs. Usually, the walk starts at a church and goes to a public square. A man on horseback dressed like St. Martin accompanies the children. When they reach the square, Martin’s bonfire is lit and Martin’s pretzels are distributed.[3]

In some regions of Germany (e.g. Rhineland or Bergisches Land) in a separate procession the children also go from house to house with their lanterns, sing songs and get candy in return.

The origin of the procession of lanterns is unclear. To some, it is a substitute for the St. Martin bonfire, which is still lit in a few cities and villages throughout Europe. It formerly symbolized the light that holiness brings to the darkness, just as St. Martin brought hope to the poor through his good deeds. Even though the tradition of the large, crackling fire is gradually being lost, the procession of lanterns is still practiced.

by wikipedia

During my childhood, we often went at the late autumn afternoon with our lanterns through the streets and sang. In Germany there are many songs which are specially composed and have been written in ancient times. One of them is "Ich gehe mit meiner Laterne" 

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Autumn City

AUTUMN CITY

SIZE: 30 in. x 22 in. - 76 x 56 cm

PAPER: LEONARDO HAHNEMUEHLE MATT 600 g/m²
COLORS: SENNELIER, MIJELLO, SCHMINCKE, WINSOR & NEWTON

2016 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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This was my first painting during a Viktoria Prischedko's watercolor workshop, 07.10. - 09.10.2016 in Trier, Germany. 

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Christmas Eve

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May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter and goodwill, 

And may the year ahead be full of contentment and joy. 

Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! 

isabella 

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"Christmas Eve" 

watercolor - 48 x 36 cm * 18,9 in. x 14,2 in.

Mould-made Watercolor 600 g/m²  

veredit@isabella.kramer 2014

... das gleiche Motive habe ich vor vielen Jahren (1996) schon einmal gemalt. Da es mir besonders gut gefällt, wollte ich ausprobieren, wie ich es heute umsetze. Ich hoffe, dass es euch die aktuelle Version genauso gut gefällt, wie mir.

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Opera Hannover

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 OPERA HANNOVER

SIZE: 14,2 in. x 19,6 in. - 36x 51 cm

PAPER: ARCHES GRAIN FIN 300 g/m²

2016 © ISABELLA KRAMER

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