Little Watercolors. Springtime!

April 29, 2025 Natalie Wargin

I like watercolors and I haven’t done any for quite a while so here are two little paintings. One dark, one bright. I don’t grow poppies because my garden is very shaded and poppies need sun, as you probably know. They are interesting and showy and I’ve paired them with the least showy birds. Sparrows. I’ve heard disparaging remarks about sparrows so I always try to take their side. They are tough little birds that stick around all year and if you live in a northern climate like I do that’s saying something. The wild roses and honeysuckle in the second painting are flowers that I do grow. The little brown wood frog was a recent discovery. I’d never seen one before this year. A bit like the sparrows he is simply brown and unassuming. I liked this fellow immediately.

“Sparrows and Poppies”
Watercolor on Fabriano Hot Press Paper
6 x 6 inches
$275

”Wood Frog”
Watercolor on Fabriano Hot Press Paper
6 x 6 inches
$275

These paintings are available in my shop where I’m running a sale.
20% off any purchase from today through May 2.
You can find them here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4296893568/original-watercolor-painting-sparrows?ref=shop_home_active_2&logging_key=29a50e8cc240af728eee5fd889414710beb378e5%3A4296893568

Thanks for taking the time to take a look!

Two Small Botanicals. New Work.

October 6, 2022 Natalie Wargin

I find the most interesting plants growing in the woods and along the wetland edge. Here are small watercolors of two that I see, depending on the season: Bloodroot and Buttonbush. Bloodroot gets its name from its red orange roots that resemble carrots. Yes, I pulled one up so I could see for myself. The roots can be used to make ink or dye. The leaves are big and curvy, the flowers are smallish and white. In the spring, in the woodland shadows, this plant spreads and beautifully fills a lot of space. The second plant, Buttonbush, grows in wet areas and also appreciates shade. In the spring the blossoms are like little green balls that each open into dozens of tightly packed small white flowers like the globe you see here. The foliage is dense and dark and in the fall the “buttons” become red and copper colored. Both of these plants are quite dramatic.

I haven’t done any watercolors in a while and it was a pleasure to work on these two. They are small, as I say, and working on small pieces was also a nice change. I’ll be back to larger work soon.

Both of these originals are available in my Etsy shop where I’m also offering free domestic shipping on all orders through Sunday, October 9. Here are the links:

“Bloodroot”
5 x 6 inches
Watercolor on Fabriano Hot Press
$90
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1318491625/original-watercolor-painting-bloodroot?click_key=6d824a8df84af158ef00b08fb3a00f0133c480d6%3A1318491625&click_sum=7bca4747&ref=shop_home_active_2

“Buttonbush
5 x 6 inches
Watercolor on Fabriano Hot Press
SOLD
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1318500245/original-watercolor-painting-buttonbush?click_key=f24f7649d7317fc42c19a9d7951b9b5884f25ffb%3A1318500245&click_sum=d04f1daa&ref=shop_home_active_1

You can also find prints of these paintings in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatalieWargin?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Thanks so much for taking a look at what I’ve been up to.
It’s most appreciated!

Hello! The shop’s open with new work!

March 19, 2020 Natalie Wargin

Hello again! Little did I realize when I was working on this bright piece that a splash of bold color might be just what we all need. Especially this spring. I hope you’re all taking care and keeping well.

You may remember that last year I put in a peony hedge. Surprisingly it was kind of a success. I cut some blooms, red ones and white ones, and took some photos to work from. Here I've featured only the red and deep pink flowers in a bouquet, and I will admit that in this painting I got a little carried away with red. I thought for a minute that I'd use up all of my red paint. I really worried a little. In the upper corner I opened a window for some relief and there was a pink house with an impatient woman in the window watching a very happy black dog. The woman might be me. I don’t recognize the dog.

“The Pink House”
12 x 16 inches, watercolor on Fabriano Hot Press.

Here’s a second piece finished just a week or so ago. The little yellow building is a Quaker chapel in the woods next to a trail. The trail, you can see it on the right, starts with a rocky section that's not difficult to negotiate unless it's rainy. Then be careful please.

The yellow chapel is sometimes used for weddings and is beautifully simple inside with benches arranged on the square, an open area in the center of them. Here are all of the woodland creatures I've grown accustomed to along with spring flowers -- day lilies, daffodils, fragrant mountain laurel.

I've added several foxes, mostly red, one gray. The grays are unusual here and after eleven years I've only seen one. Foxes are true survivors and should we finally destroy this planet of ours cockroaches and foxes will live on. Foxes are supremely adaptable. Social in a skulk or solitary they can live practically anywhere and they can eat practically anything.

“Fox Chapel”
18 x 24 inches, acrylic on board.

My Etsy shop is open again. I’ve added some new prints and some new originals and from March 19 through March 26 all prints and original work is 20% off.

You can find my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatalieWargin

The “Red Peony” painting is here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/770512022/original-watercolor-painting-of-red?ref=shop_home_active_4

And the “Fox Chapel” painting is here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/785439255/original-acrylic-painting-woodland?ref=shop_home_active_7

Thank you for following along!

Blue Hydrangea in Watercolor

October 24, 2019 Natalie Wargin

Maybe this was the case where you’re located too but for some reason the hydrangeas were startling in color this spring. My neighbor's pink hydrangea was brighter than I've ever seen it and my blue was a shocker. I cut one head and show it here in the popular little blue vase. The small arrangement is based on photos that I took. The wallpaper design is from a pattern I made a while ago and the marquetry table top is pure invention. This is the latest in the series of floral watercolors that I’ve been painting this year. I hope to continue to add to the collection. The original watercolor has been claimed by a woman who has memories of her mother growing hydrangeas. I know this is how it is with flowers. Not only are they beautiful, they also conjure memories.

Prints of this painting are available in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/741177205/art-print-blue-hydrangea-spring-bouquet?ref=listing_published_alert

Also, 20% off on any purchase from today, October 24 through Sunday, October 27.

Thanks for following along!

Moonlight and Snowfall

January 17, 2019 Natalie Wargin

Finishing up a morning run I turned the corner into my driveway and there was a buck. I didn’t startle him in the least but he surprised me a little. He was very big. He looked at me and calmly kept on foraging. I can go most of the year without seeing many, or any, bucks but there he was. I’ve put him here, in a slightly different scene. Here it’s nighttime, the moon is full, and snow is beginning to fall. I’ve added a doe. The green house is mine. The red barn is not mine although it seems to make regular appearances in my work. The helter skelter arrangement of my neighbors homes is fairly accurate, typical in a rural setting. No straight lines or right angles here.

This is a watercolor painting on Fabriano paper, 17” x 13”. The original painting has been sold but prints of the image are available in my Etsy shop. I’m offering FREE SHIPPING on any order, no code needed. The offer runs from January 17 through January 22. You can find prints of this image here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/674690645/art-print-original-watercolor-moonlight?ref=listing_published_alert

Happy Holidays!

December 11, 2018 Natalie Wargin

I realize that Lily of the Valley aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the holidays but I was in the mood to paint some flowers. I picked these in the spring and put them in the mottled blue vase and took some photos for “future” reference. It turned out that November was the “future.” I like this little vase, a gift from long ago that comes in handy for small things. The wallpaper is loosely based on a pattern design that I created in Illustrator. I don’t know where the red tiles came from but I think they look alright. Maybe a little Christmas-y.

Thanks to all of you for your continued interest in my work. I am grateful. I wish all of you the happiest of holidays, whatever those may be.

“Lily of the Valley,” watercolor, 10” x 12”, on Fabriano paper.

Prints of this painting are available in my Etsy shop.
FREE SHIPPING on every domestic purchase through December 21.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/665131253/art-print-original-watercolor-lily-of?ref=shop_home_active_1

Blue Heron Blue Snakes

April 22, 2016 Natalie Wargin

When I walk down the trail along the Cottekill swamp a flying blue heron is a fairly common sight. I might initially glimpse one sitting on a limb or a fallen tree but once the bird sees me it usually takes off. They are very shy. I've exaggerated the bird's blue coloring in this painting. The true color is more subtle, more of a gray, better camouflage. To me they remain a startling sight when they fly off. They are large and ungainly and their long thin legs stretch far out behind them. Beautiful nonetheless.

Snakes live along the swamp's edge. They can be big and startling as they slither quickly into the water. Even shyer, I think, than the herons. Maggie is intrigued but I quickly shoo her away. I haven't learned yet which snakes are poisonous. Since it's early in a cold spring there's not too much growing yet. Mostly just the gorgeous emerald swamp cabbage.

This painting measures 7 x 9 inches (15 x 23cm).
It's available in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/276304442/original-watercolor-blue-heron-blue?ref=shop_home_listings
Prints of this painting are available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/290195037/art-print-original-watercolor-blue-heron?ref=shop_home_listings

A Bright Bouquet with Two Sparrows

March 31, 2016 Natalie Wargin

There's a small but very special shop one town over. It's the perfect place to find a gift or to get a wildly colorful bouquet and I was lucky enough to receive some of their fancy flowers for my birthday. Scarlet poppies, purple-indigo delphinium, lime-light hydrangeas. I thought I'd paint them even though the arrangement was a bit more colorful than my usual palette. Here they are. Somehow a couple of sparrows got into the picture. If you know me at all you know that I can't just leave things alone. Birds and animals tug at my sleeve every time I pull out my paints. I happen to have a soft spot for sparrows. Small and unassuming, quietly colored, they are hearty and tough. I had some space so in they went.

This is a 9 x 12 inch watercolor and gouache painting. It's available here in my shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/286217601/watercolor-painting-original-bouquet?ref=shop_home_active_2
You can find prints of this painting here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/274048834/art-print-watercolor-painting-original?ref=listing-shop-header-1

A Riotous Painting + Free SHIPPING

March 10, 2016 Natalie Wargin

Spring is coming, that's for sure. I look out my window or ride down a road and flocks of birds are gathering and singing like it's some big happy family reunion. Dozens of starlings flying in an abstract formation that thins and swells and curves. Dozens of robins in my yard, hopping and pecking at the grass and filling the yet to bud flame bushes. Driving down 209 recently I looked over to the fields where Gill's Farm has been growing exceptional corn for decades and I saw hundreds of geese. Hundreds. I have never seen so many birds all in one place. Maybe they were resting or maybe there was something tasty that geese just love left over from last season. All I know is that it was an impressive sight.

I've painted a version of what I saw and I admit that I took some license. The geese I saw were still and if there were other animals I didn't see them. I've moved the creek. The Esopus is actually a couple hundred yards away. I haven't seen any turtles yet this year. And these geese are flying which would probably be a wise decision if there were foxes around.

This is a watercolor and gouache painting, slightly horizontal, 13" x 12".
You can find the painting and prints of the image in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/270709027/original-watercolor-painting-100-geese?ref=shop_home_active_1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/271423948/art-print-original-watercolor-painting?ref=listing-shop-header-0

And get free shipping, today through Sunday March 13, with this code:
FREESHIP

New Watercolor, Winter Nest

February 26, 2016 Natalie Wargin

One of the best things about having a nosey dog is that she makes me wait. While I don't like to let Maggie spend an eternity sniffing the same spot I do feel that since the walk is for her as well as for me she should have some time to explore. She noses around, I look around. A couple of weeks ago we were on the road near the Cottekill and Maggie stopped. I looked up at the tall bushes in front of me on the edge of the creek and saw a small nest. It was abandoned, of course, almost lost in the branches and I would have missed it but for the dog. On the ground were some hydrangeas, dry and papery, a pretty straw color.

Here's the nest, caught in a tangle against a clear blue sky, hydrangeas below.
This is a small painting, 4.5 x 6 inches.
It's available in my shop.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/269730526/original-watercolor-painting-winter-nest?ref=shop_home_active_1

New Painting + S A L E

February 12, 2016 Natalie Wargin

In a way this is a study for a larger painting that I'm planning. I've been wanting to paint sleeping deer ever since Maggie and I discovered the place in the woods where several of them sleep. We were walking beyond the ridge behind our house -- there are hundreds of wooded acres back there -- and we found a well-sheltered spot with eight hollowed ovals in the snow. I figured out what they were fairly quickly and the realization was accompanied by my usual "Wow!" There were trees all around, tall pines that blocked the sunlight. In fact, the soft light filtering through the needled branches almost looked green.
The place was secluded and felt safe.

Here they are, the resting deer, protected by the rare red tree. The fancy house in the background is inspired by Sunnyside, the home of Washington Irving here on the Hudson River. The Hudson banks were favored by many influential people, close enough to the city but just far enough away to be a retreat.

This is a small painting, watercolor and gouache, 5 1/2 x 6 inches. It's available in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/267191746/original-watercolor-painting-early-snow?ref=shop_home_active_2
You can find prints of "Early Snow" here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/267252295/art-print-original-watercolor-early-snow?ref=listing-shop-header-0

I am having a big birthday on Sunday. A milestone. I invite you to join in my celebration.
I am offering 25% off anything in my shop including original art.
This sale will run from Saturday through Sunday, February 13 -14.
Coupon code: MILESTONE

A Room With A View + Free Shipping

January 29, 2016 Natalie Wargin

I have to face it. This winter here in the Hudson Valley is a dud. I know, I know, there's still more winter to come but I can recognize a pattern when I see one. This one says "No Snow." And I love snow.

Recently I was out with Maggie in the gray afternoon thinking a pretty bouquet might lift my funk when I realized that I didn't have to go over to Green Cottage for flowers. I could pick an interesting assortment of drying things; leaves of red and brown, gray-brown Queen Anne's Lace, and some of those other things, all appropriately decomposing like my mood. But I felt my mood improving. You can see in the photo of the things I chose that they made a pleasing arrangement. I took them home, took that photo, and was about to place the weeds in a vase when I noticed all the little dust and seeds falling. I began to sneeze wildly. The bouquet ended up back in the woods but I had an image and an idea for a watercolor.

The drying bouquet is hanging, as you can see, tied with a ribbon. I added the falling dust and seeds just for fun. There are goats in my vicinity but not right next door. The view out the window of goats in the snow is wishful.

The original watercolor is 11" x 14" and available in my Etsy shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/265830673/watercolor-painting-original-a-room-with?ref=shop_home_active_1
Prints of the image are available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/265937368/art-print-original-watercolor-a-room?ref=listing-shop-header-1

And shipping is free on any order with this code, good through January 31.
FREESHIP

Two Bears and Homeopathy

December 17, 2015 Natalie Wargin

"Grandparents of the Forest" website header art

I've been busy lately developing some characters for a website and a future children's book. The client is an herbalist and therapist who specializes in behavior disorders in children. She's chosen a bear couple, bespectacled Nicolas and Lila, as the stars in a story about how herbs, natural remedies, and nature itself can help children to lead calmer lives. The author wants to show children the wonders of nature and how turning to nature can be helpful and healing.

The bears are mythical medicine makers – community herbalists. The female is a shaman, the male is a scientist although there is some fun and play in this as they switch roles often. They complement each other. The bears have a cave to retreat to – deep in the woods. It’s a classic underworld cave with mystical writing and drawings on the walls. Lila talks to the plants, rocks, animals and birds, listening for their reply. She is the personification of the Mother, warm, welcoming, kind. Nicolas is a scientist who knows a lot about plants and animals and he likes to dabble with potions and medicines. The book will tell of Lila coming to know that there is a need somewhere amongst the children of the village. She'll look for the right plant to help.

That's it in a nutshell. I'll let you know how things progress.

I want to wish all of you the happiest of holidays.
Thank you for following along with my bits of news.
I'm planning lots of new work in the new year.

Porcupines at the Mohonk Preserve

August 26, 2015 Natalie Wargin

I went for a hike at the Mohonk Preserve with my friends Raedel and Mary Grace. The Mohonk Preserve is in the Shawangunk Mountains or Gunks, as they are affectionately called around here. The Gunks are part of the long ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, known early on for logging and mining but now known mainly for recreation, most notably for rock climbing and hiking. As with many areas like this the trails vary in difficulty. We were on an a fairly easy trail, a good walk and conversation being our intent. It was a perfect morning for it. As we neared the end of our hike we rounded a bend and Mary Grace, who was in the lead, almost stepped on a porcupine.

I had never seen a porcupine outside of a zoo and it was all I could do to get out my phone and start snapping pictures. Although the porcupine was clearly moving away from me it wasn't running and I was able to get some decent shots. I doubt it was worried about me because once it got to an overgrown area it stopped to grab and eat a bunch of leaves. I thought it was very beautiful. I did wonder about those quills though. Do they shoot them in self-defense? Later I looked it up and found that porcupines do not shoot their quills but will charge and impale a predator with multiple barbs.

Here is my portrayal of the porcupine we saw, munching in the foreground and then calmly retreating. It really was an attractive animal with many many quills that almost looked soft. Almost. I've added the orange day lilies that line the roads here in the summer.

The painting is available in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/243853269/original-watercolor-porcupines-at-the?ref=shop_home_active_1

And prints of the image are available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/243854559/art-print-original-watercolor-porcupines?ref=shop_home_active_2

Here's a back-to-school special: 20% off any purchase, good until September 3rd:
FALL20

Dogwood and Deer

July 28, 2015 Natalie Wargin

This spring was a good one for the dogwoods here in the Hudson Valley. While other things, my honeysuckle for example, failed after the terrible winter the dogwoods were as full of blooms as I've ever seen them. Branches heavy with perfect pinkish white flowers that stopped me in my tracks more than once. I thought I'd make a canopy of them. The deer and rabbits beneath are actually a study for a larger acrylic painting that I'm planning. They do seem at home here though, silent in the cool dark wood. I've finally gotten some cattails into the mix, there in the foreground. And a few spiderwebs higher, in the tree tops.

This is an original watercolor and gouache painting of three deer and a few rabbits under a blooming dogwood. The painting is 7 x 10 inches (18 x 25 cm).
You can find the painting here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/240400084/original-watercolor-painting-dogwood?ref=shop_home_active_1

And prints of the image here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/241120525/art-print-deer-and-dogwood?ref=shop_home_active_2

Three Black Hens in clover

June 23, 2015 Natalie Wargin

Out for my morning jaunt I rounded a familiar corner and spotted what I thought were three crows. As I got closer to the birds I realized that they were not crows at all but shiny black hens with scarlet heads. I stopped for a moment to take a closer look. What beauties! Such colors! It's not so unusual to see groups of hens and roosters roaming around but I'd never seen any like this before. Now I see these three here and there, close to where I saw them first but never in the same spot twice. "Free range" I suppose. I wonder what color their eggs are.

I placed the hens in a barn yard which is fairly accurate but I added a very small image of a church that's not anywhere near where I spotted the hens. You can see it in the background on one of the hills. This particular church is Dutch Reform and very old & colonial in design. They tell me it's the most frequently photographed church in New York. I had the pleasure of hearing some scary organ music there a few Halloweens ago while waiting for the cemetery tour to begin.

The painting is 7 x 10 inches (18 x 25 cm). The paper is Arches 100% cotton watercolor paper, smooth finish. The painting is signed and dated on the front, titled on the back. You can find it in my shop along with prints of the hens in various sizes.

And please take free shipping on any order with this code: FREESHIP
The code is good until June 30.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/236594981/art-print-watercolor-painting-original?ref=shop_home_active_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/236596301/original-watercolor-painting-black-hens?ref=listing-shop-header-1

Work in Progress -- Herons

June 5, 2015 Natalie Wargin

I've been asked a few times if I could show my progress on a painting so here goes. This first image shows my light sketch and the beginning of the painting. I've learned from experience that I should start on the important parts -- in this case the herons -- because if I'm not happy with the stars of the piece I will need to start again and I'd hate to throw away more work than I need to.

I pass this pond on my daily rounds. It's very close to a section of the rail trail that has a swamp with the most amazing array of birds, frogs, turtles, and snakes. And beavers. I usually see a single heron at the swamp without fail but one morning I saw this pair on the pond. I had never seen a pair before and certainly never on the pond which is also close to a somewhat well traveled road. It was early morning and still quiet and there they were, the happy couple. The people who own the pond have planted dozens of daffodils. The purple phlox is wild. It's everywhere, the rocks too. I added the dashing squirrels because I love to watch them flying through the trees.

This is a large painting for me, 12 x 18". It's watercolor and gouache. You can find it in my shop, together with prints of the image in various sizes:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/234865593/watercolor-original-painting-herons?ref=shop_home_active_1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/234866381/art-print-original-watercolor-herons?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Pink Tulips & Peepers

May 19, 2015 Natalie Wargin

Pale pink tulips are my favorite and here it is, spring at long last, and I have been indulging myself with near weekly bouquets. And since it's spring the peepers are singing in the marsh behind the house pretty much non-stop. When I did the sketch for this painting it was raining and three of the tiny frogs hopped onto the french doors next to my work table. They stuck there on the glass. I love when I get to see them so close up, no larger than a quarter with a gorgeous copper ring around their eyes. I could see their little hearts beating so fast. They begged to be included.

This painting and prints in various sizes are available in my shop.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/232415560/watercolor-painting-original-tulips-and?ref=shop_home_active_2
https://www.etsy.com/listing/232454525/art-print-original-watercolor-tulips-and?ref=shop_home_active_1

New work -- Cardinals & Flame Bush

May 8, 2015 Natalie Wargin

There are birds galore here, as I've mentioned before, and I've painted a number of them: sparrows, bluebirds, crows, turkeys, phoebes, jays, owls. Here are a pair of cardinals. Since it's finally spring in the middle Hudson Valley I first thought to pair the cardinals with forsythia but red and yellow as a palette didn't do it for me. Red and red seemed like more fun. So even though it's spring and the flame bushes are far from their flashy autumn scarlet this is where I ended up.

This is a colorful painting but cardinals, the males at least, are very bright, and now that I think about it, unusual around here for their color since most of the birds I see are fairly subdued. Oh, there are a couple of other exceptions: jays and bluebirds. And I see touches of red on a blackbird's wing or a woodpecker's breast but overall muted earth tones prevail. It's survival that's important and these little birds have a lot to deal with. So how to explain the brilliant cardinal?

This painting, as well as prints in various sizes, are available in my Etsy shop.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/232229077/watercolor-painting-original-cardinals?ref=shop_home_active_2
https://www.etsy.com/listing/232215449/art-print-original-watercolor-cardinals?ref=listing-shop-header-1

Two Dogs on the Hudson

April 20, 2015 Natalie Wargin

I was asked to do a painting of two dogs in a Hudson Valley setting. I have always loved dog portraits, especially old master formal pieces. You know, the hunting scene with the dogs large in the foreground, horses and riders in their "pinks" in a tangle behind them. Or better, the stiff profile of a dog standing in the foreground of a country scene; river, hills and woodland always in the background. I admit I was a bit nonplussed by the request. I have never thought of myself as a portraitist but the opportunity intrigued me. I was provided with a number of photos of two handsome creatures. This is the result. Like so many of the old portraits I placed the dogs front and center. The requested Valley landscape -- Hudson River, Catskills, red barn, farm animals, foliage -- are present and also mimic the old portraits. But instead of a stiff traditional pose with the dog oblivious of the viewer, I have these two looking straight at us. Less formal. More like the dogs I know.

Prints of this painting are available in various sizes in my Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/230363174/art-print-original-watercolor-painting?ref=shop_home_active_1