016: Attacus Atlas Moth

This moth is huuuge! I think I would freakout if it fluttered by me!

365 Days of Animals
016: Attacus Atlas Moth
Watercolors

015: Argema Moth, AKA the Comet Moth

I wonder how that works out, breeding animals or insects in captivity. I assume (hope?) they release them back into the wild eventually to build back up the numbers in their natural habitat, but I wonder how it effects their behavior/lives... 

365 Days of Animals
015: Argema Moth, AKA the Comet Moth
Watercolors

Sammy Narwhal

Sammy Narwal in his magical place.

Hello and Happy Friday to you. I have a new painting to share! I've been trying to paint more these days, and get myself away from the computer (not that the computer is a bad thing, but you know, paint!) I am pretty excited about this print, as it gives me a little bit of spring fever, even though all the blooms are underwater. I really would love to go scuba diving someday and find a magical colorful place like this. Anyways, a print of this painting is available and Sammy Narwhal is eagerly awaiting Spring just like me (Daytime savings is this weekend! Don't forget to change your clocks forward!)

Print is available in the shop here.

Framed version

An in-progress photo, laying down different color washes.

VeganMoFo: Happy Halloween!

Super-happy about this charity project this month!  I've raised $310 so far for the sanctuary!  Thank you SO MUCH for all the kind words, comments, enthusiasm, and to everyone that has helped out this month.  All the remaining painting will remain in my shop and I will donate the money as they are sold still.  Cupcakes for everyone! 

Happy Autumn is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes, from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

 So the end of MoFo is here, with sadness of course, so I decided to go all out with super-orange and pumpkin goodness.  Oh, and Happy Halloween!  I didn't dress up or really do much, as we had a freak snowstorm here (seriously, we have so much strange weather here this year...earthquake, hurricane, heat wave, snowstorm in October...).  Nik and I hibernated all weekend, watching scary movies, carving pumpkins, and baking up lots of pumpkin goodness.  Perfect!

Pumpkin Pancakes, from Vegan Brunch

I was going for a cute bear, on the left, but the bottom line kinda looks like a mouth instead of the bear's muzzle. Oh well!  Nik made a super-scary one!

It looked like this outside on Friday...

...And like this on Saturday!

Miles was confused too.

VeganMoFo: Apple Cider and Bear Claws

Angry Bear is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

I've been loving apple cider* season lately. Buying a gallon every weekend at the farmer's market, and savoring every sip.  Someone told me recently that apple cider is not a universal thing, and that the cider in Seattle tastes like apple juice, but they still call it cider.  What!  I hope that this not true, because that would be really really sad.  The cider here tends to be really thick (you can't see through it!) and strong (and sooo good warmed up!), but NY is a big apple-growing region so it's taken pretty seriously.  Apple cider is so much better than Apple juice (gross! reminds me of hospitals!) They filter all the good stuff out!

*not the alcoholic kind, because Wikipedia tells me that "cider" in Europe refers to the hard stuff. And that makes me sound like a lush, buying a gallon a week. :)

I have this wonderful vegan diner near me, called Champs, that is pretty amazing. Like, if you are coming to NYC to visit, you should go out of your way and go there (and it's not really out of the way at all; Brooklyn is the best anyways!)   I go there a lot, 1. because they are awesome and 2. because they have really great baked goods, and 3. they serve breakfast all day, and finally 4. they have really tasty sammiches (and I love sammiches.)

I picked up a bear claw the other day AND IT WAS FILLED WITH MARZIPAN.  Pretty much making it the best bear claw ever.  On the weekends, they have gigunda magical cinnamon buns and sometimes they have vegan almond croissants!

I have lots of love for Champs.

VeganMoFo: Happy Sammiches

Happy Sandwich is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

Bean Nut Burger

Let's talk about sandwiches.  I'm obviously a fan (I mean, who isn't?) of the wonderful act of stuffing tasty morsels in some magical carb-y goodness.  So when Celine and Tami asked me to test for their upcoming Vegan Sandwich book, I did a little happy dance and got this sammich party started.  These ladies have come up with some of my new favorite spreads and creative flavor pairings for sandwiches to date.  Here are a few of the sandwiches that I tested, and if you are looking to find out more, search each of their super-amazing blogs for "sandwiches" for some photos and recipes that they have been teasing us with lately.

Croissants! mmm flaky goodness

French Tofu Salad on Croissants

Monte Christo

Peanut Butter Banana Bacon

Peanut Butter Brownie (whoa man)

Unfishwich

VeganMoFo: Seitan and Mushroom Empanadas

Marvin the Hedgehog loves doughnuts and empanadas the best. 

Marvin is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

So that seitan and mushroom stuffing that I used for the stuffed mushrooms? SO GOOD.  Nik and I were invited to a Dominican-themed Birthday party last Saturday, in which I was the only vegan (or even vegetarian) in attendance.  I used this as a perfect excuse to make something I have never made before out of Viva Vegan, to bring with me, and empanadas won out (I have no clue why I have never made them before!)  I made them in mini version so that they were potluck-friendly and they were a hit!  Also, they're pretty!
 

VeganMoFo: Stuffed Mushrooms

Happy Mushrooms and Snail is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

The mushroom lady at my local farmer's market had some really nice (and huuuuge) crimini mushrooms last weekend that were practically begging to be stuffed.  So stuff I did.  I made the filling from the Seitan and Mushroom Empanadas, out of Viva Vegan, because I thought it would translate well into a stuffed mushroom (and into my tummy!), and because I had a dinner party full of omnivores to go to this Saturday, and it was a test run to see if I should bring the empanadas (I did!) Holy delicious!  It's the Kalamata olives that do it, I'm sure of it. It's a great unexpected salty twang that I just loved.  Also, I could eat stuffed mushrooms everyday. 

VeganMoFo: Seitan

'Lil Weiner Dude is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

Simple lunch of sauteed seitan, mushrooms, broccoli, and fresh tomatoes. Everything is lightly seasoned with olive oil/salt/pepper. 

Okay, I admit, I mostly made seitan because I wanted to draw a dachshund (but they're so cute!)  I don't make seitan that often, but when I do, it's great because it lasts for days and I can make a whole bunch of meals out of it (you'll see! I have more posts on it this week!)  My go-to seitan recipe nowadays is the red or white ones out of Viva Vegan.  They are super-simple, easy to add/subtract different spices and flavors, and always turn out great.  Win all-around. 

Happy Monday!

VeganMoFo: Mac 'n Cheese

Bird Family is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

This is totally another Mom-meal, some mac 'n cheese.  Granted hers was baked casserole-style, and this is my super-lazy-oh-my-god-I'm-hungry version.   I mix mine up right in the pot the pasta was boiled in.  I add in a healthy dose of nooch, a splash of unsweetened soy milk, about 1-2 TBS of earth balance, a clove or two of garlic, and some salt/pepper.  I stir until creamy, adding more earth balance or soy milk if need be, and wha-la, the ultimate lazy mac 'n cheese.  I added some broccoli into the boiling pasta water in the last minute so that I had some green in my meal.  If I'm feeling fancy, I'll add in a sprinkle or two of Daiya if I have any on hand (there is a bit of Daiya mozzarella in this bowl.) Yay Mom-meals!

Happy weekend friends!  :)
xo,
Michelle

VeganMoFo: Ode to Summer Tomatoes

Tomato Love is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

I get so sad when tomato season comes to an end. They are probably my favorite seasonal fruit or vegetable of all time. I think strawberries are a strong second.  No more fresh tomato sammiches with a little veganaise on crusty bread. No more freshly chopped up tomatoes over pasta. No more eating them plain with a little salt and pepper sprinkled over them.  Goodbye tomatoes; see you in 9 months!

This is a tofu scramble that is lacking in the tofu department...

VeganMoFo: What bear doesn't love pie?

I want to say THANK YOU to everyone so far!  I donated $100 this morning to For the Animals Sanctuary, and I'm hoping to donate more at the end of the month.  Completely warms my heart.  This has been super-fun painting everyday too.  It's been awhile since I have regularly painted and I think I might want to stick with this habit after the month is over too.  Oh! And did you see there is a giveaway up today to win either two of my prints or some of Jeanette's amazing pottery??  Super-great!  

Bear with Pie is for sale here

Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Size: Approximately 5"x7" (image size is 4"x6")
Will fit in 5"x7" frame! Signed on back.

Note: I am doing a painting-a-day challenge for VeganMoFo, and will be creating a new painting of rescue animals or vegan food throughout the month of October, and placing them for sale. All proceeds (minus shipping) will be donated to For the Animals Sanctuary, because they are a pretty super-great non-profit animal rescue and sanctuary, in Blairstown NJ, and are vegan owned and operated. Feeding, housing, and taking care of these animals costs a lot of money, and as a non-profit organization, they rely entirely on donations. Hopefully (with your help!), I'll be able to make a size-able donation at the end of the month!  You can check out all the paintings I have created so far that are still for sale here! 

Lemon Mousse Pie

Now, onto some pie.  I'm pretty psyched for Isa and Terri's Pie book to come out!  I was a recipe tester for them, and having pie around all the time was downright awesome.   I posted some pies earlier, but here are a few more of my faves (Lemon Mousse wins for the all-time best pie in the world!)

Peanut Butter Brownie Cheesecake

Chocolate Hazelnut Tart