Painting by Niya Christine | Niya Christine 365

by niya christine

Social Lives of Country Canaries

#103/365 Paintings

Unlike the city canaries, the country canaries don’t need fancy escape strategies for sunset happy hour. These particular country folk only cage the animals that might eat them or be in danger of being eaten. The canaries… they come and go freely and their songs are heard in every direction. The thing is, if you look closely, compared to the city bunch… well, there are fewer of them. And, are some of them napping? They do seem a bit more laid back as canaries go. They also seem to raise the color frequency around them. Those canaries!

in April | Cows & Canaries / Project 365

by niya christine

A Dr. Seuss Flying Fish Kind O’ Day

#62/365 Paintings

Because sometimes even Dr. Seuss characters get bored and must find the largest fish kite they can and show off in front of children play-sword-fighting in front of pink and yellow houses. I’m happy I got to practice my run on sentences at the end of a long and very fun day. Between the Chocolate Festival, learning how to use new art materials and a fabulous performance of “My Fair Lady” I want to go fly a fish myselfLots of them, with a shark or two to keep it interesting.

Project notes: Explorations abound. I had no idea what I was doing. I had a box of new art supplies for a class I begin next week on mixed media flower art. This piece started with cracked eggs shells from my breakfast this morning and graphite. I played with water soluble markers, collage, cut outs of old oil paintings in the garage, watercolor and charcoal. Today was jam packed time wise, so there was no turning back. It was amazing when it actually started to look like an image of some sort. Endlessly fascinating this art stuff. Happy Sunday folks! I look forward to more mixed media surprises this month.

in March | Fabric & Flowers / Project 365

by niya christine

The Bottomless Yum!

#59/365 Paintings

This post is about the inextricable relationship between our theme, love and character when it comes to food.

Have you ever noticed how much character something yummy grows with every bite? By the time you’re done, it’s a freggin genius. The best human, non-human you’ve ever met! Until an hour later when you want to barf. Still… you’d do again in a second.

This post is dedicated to two people I know who meet more characters like this in a day than I might in a month. Shauna and Daniel Prince in Portland Oregon. Foodies and Oh-So-In-Love-with-Each-Other after years of marriage (incredible passion in this duo). Love you two! You know how to live!

in Feb. | Love & Character / Project 365

by niya christine

Vintage Dress — Music of Fabric

#57/365 Paintings

The vintage dress has fascinated me for years. It was formed at a when musical theatre lead with sound and narrative followed. The dress itself appears to architect itself after musical notes.

Though the vintage dress is named an antique, it has loads of modern sass and charm. The celebs of course, but also the comfort of and practicality of re-use/sustainability. For a dress form that began in a time when narrative didn’t lead the stage, it seems that this story is one that rewrites itself over and over again — indelible music through the ages.

in Feb. | Love & Character / Project 365

by niya christine

Critter Character

#55/365 Paintings

This baby animal (freckled bunny? long eared leopard?) is fresh into the world and waiting for her story to begin. I think she might become the best friend of Restless Rosie—main character in a current children’s book in the works. Rosie would get impatient with this one’s calm and wonder. Yup, this would be a very good ally/teacher for Rosie. Thanks for listening. : )

in Feb. | Love & Character / Project 365