Day Six: "A Painting a Day" to Benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center

Je t'aime Paris

"Je t'aime Paris Trio"
Upper Left: 3" x 4"   Upper Right: 4 x 6"
Bottom: 7" x 5"
Prints on Parchment Paper in Antique Zinc Finish Frames
Click here to bid

Paris has been an inspiration for me for many years. For today's
 "A Painting a Day" selections
I decided to offer reproductions
of a few of my favorite pieces!

"Eiffel Tower Detail"
12" x12" Glossy Metal Print
Click here to bid

Day Five: "A Painting a Day"

"Cubs" Series

Congratulations to our very own Chicago Cubs! 2016 World Series Champs!

While watching the Cubs celebration parade, I couldn't resist the temptation to paint a couple of my favorite meme from this years World Series! ENJOY!

"Madden's Cub" by Stephanie Toral
Watercolor   7" x5" image framed in slim black 10" x 8" frame
Click here to bid

"Fly the W" by Stephanie Toral
Watercolor  7" x 5" image framed in slim black 10" x 8" frame
Click here to bid

Day Four: "A Painting a Day" to Benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center

Keep It Simple

"Dragonfly Monotype" by Stephanie Toral
10" x 8"
Click here to bid 

I find that most often, less is more and that is certainly true in the case of today's piece, "Dragonfly Monotype."

"Simplicity

is the ultimate sophistication."

- Leonardo da Vinci

I chose to focus on one of my favorite subjects, but this time attempting to create a powerful image with just the essentail details.  I wanted the piece to have a strong graphic quality 

so I chose to use a monotype

print technique.

This piece is available to bid on until 11 p.m. on Sunday, November 6.

Day One: "A Painting a Day" to Benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center

"Musical Palette: Cello" 
Available - contact stephanietoral@comcast.net

"Musical Palette" Series

"Musical Palette: Guitar" 
Available - contact stephanietoral@comcast.net

My "A Painting a Day"  project begins with a series of four small, 7" x 5" watercolors depicting a cello, guitar, piano and violin in joyful, primary colors!

There's no better way to begin this endeavor to benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center than with a series of paintings celebrating music and highlighting the wonderful music instruction programs and concert series offered by the DAMAC all year long!

"Without music,

life would be a 

mistake."

― Friedrich Nietzsche

"Musical Palette: Piano" SOLD

"Musical Palette: Violin" SOLD

I wanted to create a colorful series that expresses the joy we all feel from music and to celebrate the young students and dedicated instructors at the DAMAC. I gave these compositions a strong, graphic feel and chose to paint this series in exuberant watercolor.

The perfect gift for the musician(s) in your life. Bid on one or the entire series.
All pieces are matted in a single white mat. Framing is available, see the auction listing for each piece for all the details!

1" Slim Framing in Black, Red or Green
is available. Bright White Double Mat.
10" x 8" Frame size. 

Day Three: "A Painting a Day" to Benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center

"Feather" Series

Today's series of watercolors and monotypes was inspired by a feather I found while out and about gallery hopping in the city with a friend. I thought I would be most inspired by the art we had seen that day, but instead, I was fascinated by a feather I found in a home decor shop. I was drawn to the graphic spots and soft vanes that created new shapes each time I bristled them. I had no idea that this simple object would spark my imagination in so many ways.

"Brave Soul" by Stephanie Toral
7" x 5" Watercolor on Paper
Sold Framed as Shown
Click here to bid

"Feather Trio" by Stephanie Toral
Watercolor on Paper   Image Size: 10" x 8"   Framed Size" 19" x 16"
This piece is sold framed as shown in a 
"Seville" Bronze frame when the bid meets the BUY IT NOW price
Click here to bid

"Gentle Spirit" by Stephanie Toral
7" x 5" Watecolor on Paper
Sold Framed as Shown
Click here to bid

"Kind Heart" by Stephanie Toral
7" x 5" Watercolor on Paper
Sold Framed as Shown
Click here to bid

First, I created the watercolor, "Feather Trio." These three feathers
are painted on hand-made paper that is infused with gold metallic ink.

Next, I created the series of smaller paintings, "Gentle Spirit,"
"Brave Soul," and "Kind Heart." These are also watercolors painted on handmade paper. I love the soft way in which the paper absorbs the paint .

Finally, I chose to do something a bit bolder and more graphic with the image so this time I decided to create monotypes. Monotype is a unique process in which a combination of printmaking and painting techniques are used. To create these one-of-a-kind pieces, I painted the image with water soluable printmaking ink on a plexiglass plate. I then transferred the image to paper by using a hand-held metal press.

The term monotype is used to describe work developed on top of an unaltered plate,
utilizing its flat surface.

"Indigo Feather I"
by Stephanie Toral
5" x 7" Monotype
Click here to bid

"Indigo Feather II"
by Stephanie Toral
5" x 7" Monotype
Click here to bid

Day Two: "A Painting a Day" to Benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center

"Sepia Butterfly" Series

Update: These pieces are available to bid on until Saturday, November 4 @ 12:00 midnight.

Today's "A Painting a Day" series is inspired by my fascination with butterflies.

I am obsessed with their intricate detail, beautiful colors, and ethereal aura.

I never tire of drawing, painting and printing these delicate creatures!  

Everyday I am able to look out of my studio windows to view my garden. Earlier this spring I spied two butterflies hovering around the beautiful allium blooms and have held that image in my mind. I did a few quick sketches and today those sketches have been developed into the three pieces offered today! 

I also love vintage ephemora, 18th & 19th century botanical illustration and handmade papers. For this series I decided to to take all of these elements and combine them to depict my favorite garden visitors. The images are painted with watercolor on beautiful hand made paper. Pen & ink was added to heighten the detail. The larger piece was painted on paper that is subtly block printed with script in gold metallic ink. 

Simply click on the link below each image to view more details and to place your bid. Each piece is sold separately. 

"Sepia Butterfly I"
4" x 6"
Click here to bid

"Sepia Butterflies"
11" x 14"
Click here to bid

"Sepia Butterfly II"
4" x 6"
Click here to bid

Art makes a unique statement. Looking for an unforgettable gift this holiday season?

Gift the gift of art!

"The purpose of art is washing the dust off our daily lives."

- Pablo Picasso

The David Adler Music & Arts Center

The David Adler Music and Arts Center is dedicated to promoting music and the arts as an integral part of everyday life. Its year-round activities are designed to foster critical thinking and interpretation, participation, entertainment, and achievement in music and the arts for the people of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
The David Adler Music and Arts Center maintains and interprets the historic home of architect David Adler, which is the base of its activities, and a visual image of the harmony between music, the arts and daily life.

The proceeds from the sale of all "A Painting a Day" works help to support the DAMAC, so bid generously!

"A Painting a Day" Special Preview

Week One

There's no better way to begin my "Painting a Day" project to benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center than with a series of paintings celebrating music and highlighting the wonderful music instruction programs and concert series offered by the Center all year long!

I wanted to create a colorful series that expressed the joy we all feel from music and to celebrate the young students and dedicated instructors at the DAMAC. I gave these compositions a strong, graphic feel and chose to paint this series in youthful, primary watercolors. This series is titled, "Musical Palette."

"Musical Palette" by Stephanie Toral
Series of four 7" x 5" Watercolors on Paper

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence." 

- Leopold Stokowski

Each painting in the series will be offered individually on my auction site on Monday, November 1, 2016. A perfect gift for the musician in your life!

Other Works Offered This Week

"Sepia Butterflies" by Stephanie Toral
11" x 14" Watercolor on handmade, block-printed paper

"Kind Heart" by Stephanie Toral
6" x 4" Watercolor on handmade paper
in a 7" x 5", antique zinc finished frame

I am very inspired by the nature that surrounds me. Everyday from my studio I can view my lovely garden and earlier this spring I caught a glimpse of a butterfly hovering over the fragrant allium in bloom. I have been holding this image in mind and finally put it down on paper! My love of vintage ephemora and 18th and 19th century botaincal illustration clearly influenced this piece from the series I created for Day 2 of this project which I titled, "Sepia Butterflies." The work is a watercolor that is painted on handmade paper, block printed with gold metallic script. I chose a warm autumn palette to give the piece a antique feel.

Day Three will offer a series of watercolors inspired by a feather and the piece shown here is one of a series of 3 paintings. It is titled, "Kind Heart."

I hope you have enjoyed this "sneak peek" of some of what's in store this week and all month long as I begin my "A Painting a Day" project! Check back often for more posts and previews. Feel free to send me your feedback by posting a comment below.