Creating an Angel Card - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All

"Angel from Xanadu - Mystic Visions" ©Mary Montague Sikes

For quite a long time I have painted an angel for Christmas each year and then made cards using the new image. For 2016, devising the right painting to share was especially hard for me. Negativity covered our land and although it became a prevailing wind over which I had no control I continued to try.

After creating my first angel image that I liked, I discovered my new painting on canvas would not work as a card. The colors didn't resonate for Christmas, and the painting actually looked best when paired on the studio wall with another new painting created during the summer.

"Angels Maybe" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Back I went to the studio to try making a new watercolor painting on Yupo--"Angel Wings-Mystic Visions". While I really love this dramatic painting, I soon realized it would probably not work well for a Christmas card. Once again, it was back to the studio.

"Angel Wings - Mystic Visions" ©Mary Montague Sikes

This time I decided to include a more traditional angel in my painting, "Angel from Xanadu - Mystic Visions". This, too, is watercolor on Yupo. However, the angel is painted with gesso and acrylic paints.

Because I am fascinated with the idea of a magical place in a fantasy universe that I call "Xanadu", this will be part of my new series of paintings. I'll be writing more about the mysterious and colorful planet of Xanadu during 2017. I will also create additional paintings about a place in space where peace and beauty reign.

What do you think? Do you believe in mystic visions?

Merry Christmas!