My Sister & I Painted These Together

My Monkey Princess

While I was on vacation, my sister Melanee Herrera I painted together. I owe her my eternal gratitude, because she was the one who suggested I start painting again after many years of ignoring my Muse. I stayed at her charming, country, farm house in the woods of South Williamsport, PA during my recent vacation. We painted together almost everyday.

Melanee Herrera in her studio, creating Mythical Creatures with me.

Boy Swan by Melanee Herrera

She loved my mythical creatures, so I showed her what I learned in a class taught by Karen O'Brien. Melanee's style is Folk Art Primitives, so this isn't exactly her cup of tea. But one great thing about learning techniques is being able to adapt them to fit your personal style and taste. Before I left, she started four more of these in more vintage looking colors. As of this post, she had not finished the images to adhere on each canvas board. I'm excited to see what she comes up with and will post them here if you'd like to see them as well.

Boy Lion by Melanee Herrera

We each completed two 9"x12" canvas boards, but one of mine didn't turn out, so I'm reworking it. Please check out Melanee's Mixed Media Folk Art Blog here. The vintage male face in Boy Lion is actually a distant relative of one of my radio listener's.



This is an 8"x 8"x 1/2" wooden picture frame with Golden paint and vintage text collage. The center is empty, but you can place any 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" photo in it. A wood peg comes with it, so it can be propped up on a desk or you can hang it up on the wall. The sides are painted, so it doesn't need a frame. My sister made two of these in different shades of blue. I'm planning to make a lot more of them in different colors. This one IS for sale. Just email me at Nreeba@aol.com if you're interested.
Since my sister, Melanee, loves things that look old, I knew she would love this style of painting. I learned it from Julie Prichard's online class, Layered Love. Find out all about her class on her blog. It's really a fun way to paint.

Me working in Melanee's studio creating the second layer of our Texture Paintings. See below what I made.



Melanee's Smile

This is a mixed media painting done with Golden paints and mediums on a 9"x12" canvas. (It's not for sale.) I named it Melanee's smile, because we were both smiling the whole time we painted together. It really means a lot to me and inspires me to keep learning and growing and most of all to keep painting. (I have one more to show you, but haven't scanned it yet.)




Textured Painting by Melanee Herrera

I learned this style of painting from the wonderful artist, Chris Cozen. Melanee doesn't usually paint with such bright colors, but loved the process of making it.

Textured Painting #2 by Melanee Herrera

Melanee does not want to sell these, because she said on her blog, that she cherishes them for the time we spent together creating them. Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. ~Nina/Ruthie~

My Sister's Antique Consignment Spaces

This is my youngest sister, Melanee Herrera, of Williamsport, PA. I stayed with her for one week on my recent vacation. It was mandatory to drive 30 miles south to Lewisburg, where she has three consignment spaces in two locations.


In addition to selling antiques, she's an artist. She made the teddy bear on the small red chair, as well as the needle punched, oval framed cat picture hanging on the hutch next to her. You can see it better in the photo below. She loves to create art pieces which look old and worn. She also makes dolls, mixed media art pieces and assemblages. Check out her blog when you get a chance.

She loves nothing better than going to flea markets, garage sales and any place people are getting rid of their old treasures. She loves anything vintage, which is also charming, unique, interesting and old.

She loves antique furniture, dishes, clocks, typewriters, phones, picture frames, kitchen stuff, pottery, dolls, books, clothes, dishes, toys, figurines and anything that might be collectible. She's well known for getting people to find something they love so much they want to start a collection. Melanee gave me an old Bakelite radio years ago and I've always wanted to start a collection and will one day when space allows.

If you're in the Lewisburg area, please stop in to the The Silver Moon Consignment Barn. It's at the site of the former drive in theater. Here's a link to her blog showcasing early PA folk primitives, quilts, furniture and more.