Handmade Store: ColourArts by Karen Rudniski

Creativity is a way of life. Drawing, crocheting, cooking and gardening have been very important parts of my life and have come in and out of prominence as my life changed with babies, toddlers and kids and teens. When my children were little we whiled away hours drawing pictures, We wrote and illustrated stories, drew 'serious' pictures abstract and geometrical pictures and lots and lots of funny, silly pictures.

When gardening with small children I would explain to them how plants grow, what they need to be happy, and how all of nature is an interaction between all things. I found myself thinking of plants like children. These images were born out of an occasion recently when I sent out a batch of thank you cards. I wanted to send something from my heart, but was constrained by time, so I drew bright happy flowers in different poses. Eventually, I began to imagine these flowers interacting with their world with all of the curiousness and awe of a child. The pencil crayons which started out as a gift from a friend several years ago, quickly became invaluable as without the time or space to paint, I could use pencil crayon for colour, with minimal cleanup and with the added bonus of being able to draw and colour at the kitchen table with my kids. I quickly fell in love with the quality of the colours, I find that they work really well with these images.

These cards are all one of a kind. I scan my original ink drawings then hand colour each card taking time and care to get the colours right, something that cannot be reproduced by printing. I do take custom orders. For designs that are in my portfolio and are close to 5.50" x 8.50" in size, prices will be the same as for those cards advertised. For new designs or designs at different sizes, prices will vary.