Painting in Wyandotte Today!
Sent: 5/16/2026 5:20:12 AM

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Crocuses, Cranes, and Celtic Love Knots

Crocuses-Radial-Sparklingwatercolor

Hi Subscriber,

Lots to unpack this Saturday morning, so here goes...

Crocuses

Today is the closing reception for the exhibit, "We The Flowers" at

River's Edge Gallery, 3024 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte, MI.

Thanks to all the art loving friends who offered suggestions last week for the demonstration I'm doing there. I've got about 20 of these little "Try it with me" cards.

As I'm demonstrating, people can try their hand at the sparkling watercolor 'Shirleygigs,' one at a time while the demo cards last.

If you're in the area, stop by and see the show, watch all the artists' demos from 3-6pm, and/or enjoy the after-party from 6-9pm.

Cranes

Ron's Rye Crane Family

-photo reference

My brother Ron Cicotte, is a wildlife photographer extraordinaire!

He has commissioned an oil painting based on one of his favorite images of a Rye Crane family.

I prepared a linen panel for it because...well...I just love the luxurious smooth texture of linen and the natural feel of it.

This painting begs it.

I've got it sitting on my new STRADA easel, gifted to me by my sister, Lois.

I'm ready to start the underpainting Monday morning.

Celtic Love Knots

A very dear young friend is getting married end of May. Her parents have asked me to paint a wedding scene live at the reception.

Since her beloved is a musician in a Celtic band, I thought how fun it would be to paint a Celtic love knot border around the deep outer edge of the painting.

Celtic love knot variations

I started researching and found so many variations it numbed my brain. Some were so elaborately crafted that I couldn't tell where they started or stopped...which, of course, is the point of a knot symbolizing two lives divinely intertwined into one.

The image here shows a few of the simpler ones. It'll take a bit of a learning curve, but I'll try (TRY, mind you) to create my own, being part Irish myself. I could just copy one from a free image source, but where's the fun in that!?

So while I spread some sparkly cheer this afternoon, start painting Ron's Rye Cranes this week, and begin untangling the mysteries of the Celtic love knot, I promise to take a moment or two to breathe.

And with that, I bid you Birdsong!

Jan