Jezibaba, the Goat-Eyed Old Woman Gathering Sticks.

Jezibaba, The Goat-Eyed Old Woman Gathering Sticks. By Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler.

Jezibaba, the Goat Eyed Old Woman Gathering Sticks

Work in progress today.

Jezibaba, the Goat-Eyed Old Woman, Gathering Sticks

Work in progress today.

Jezibaba, the Goat-Eyed Old Woman, Gathering Sticks

She will need a forest, of course.

Witch Bottle

Ta-da! Finally finished my Witch Bottle, my little Baba Yaga caught in the net.

You can get a closer look at Witch Bottle, but don't tap on the glass! My Good Babushka. Art. Jewelry, Needlework

Witch Bottle

Laboriously layering up the texture and weave of the rope. About halfway done. The idea for this painting came about when I was relating the story of the witch bottle recently found in England to my sons. My oldest son remarked that it would have been really cool if the witch had been inside. I agreed.

You can see how this painting- Witch Bottle- turned out at My Good Babushka. Art. Jewelry. Needlework

Witch Bottle

The Witch Bottle painting continues. I've just got to sort out all this rope!
You can see the finished piece- Witch Bottle at My Good Babushka. Art, Chainmaille Jewelry, Needlework

Baba Yaga

Here you can see my finished Baba Yaga painting in my etsy store. My camera broke, so I missed some of the progress pics toward the end, but you can get a nice view of Baba Yaga and Her Children at My Good Babushka.

Baba Yaga and Lace Knitting

Finally getting to the Baba Yaga in my Baba Yaga painting. I put her in a full peasant skirt and apron. It's modeled after an old picture of a Shetland knitter. Our hard-working Baba Yaga has a basket on her back, and it's yet to be filled!

I have some cotton yarn that I thought I'd knit into a some lace. This is "old shale" pattern. This yarn is really ropy and cylindrical. I'm not sure how it's going to turn out. I plan to use it as a dresser topper.

Baba Yaga

Working on my Baba Yaga painting, still. Working up some of the underbrush. Soon I'll have to tackle those spindly trees on the right.

Baba Yaga

Maybe it doesn't look like I've done much since yesterday, but those pine needles take a lot of care. I have to get them just so.

Baba Yaga

Sharpening up and defining the needles on the downward sloping boughs of the pine tree. With a liner brush. One at a time.

Baba Yaga

Progress on my lovely little sunlit path through the pine trees. Into the heart of the Baba Yaga's woods. I frequently use red, green, and gold. I think it's my favorite color combination. Here I am, using it again.

Baba Yaga

More progress on my forest painting which I intend to complete with a Baba Yaga. Maybe one that knits!

Baba Yaga

Now I feel like doing a forest painting. And it's been a while since I've done something witchy. Every forest should have a witch, a dark mystery, a devil. That's what I think.

The Path to Baba Yaga Day 3

I had to take this outside and stand on it to get a good picture. All the pictures I take in my kitchen come out yellow, even when I'm standing near the same lamp I used to use in my studio at the old house. Weird. This picture keeps wanting to curl up, too. As you can see, I've started to put the skulls on pikes. This painting will replace my last "Path to Baba Yaga" painting that was on wood. The wood grain was getting in the way of making successful prints.

The Path to Baba Yaga, Day 2

More leaves, light, and leafy bits.

The Path to Baba Yaga Day 1

I had a very successful print of skulls on stakes along a forest path, but I decided not to get any more prints made of that particular painting. The original painting was on a wood panel and the wood grain didn't translate very well in this print. I decided to do another one that I would be happier with. Here is the start.