Introducing My 2016 Watercolor Art Print Calendar -- A Garden Year

I just realized that although I shared my design and printing process, I never shared my completed 2016 calendar.

watercolor calendar, art print calendar, botanical calendar, Anne Butera, My Giant Strawberry

I'm so excited about how this year's calendar turned out.

watercolor calendar, garden year, art prints, watercolor prints, Anne Butera, My Giant Strawberry

The twelve paintings I chose to illustrate the months are some of my favorites from the previous year. There's a lot of variety from month to month, too. From the simplicity of August's single nasturtium flower

watercolor calendar, garden year, art prints, watercolor prints, nasturtiums, august, Anne Butera, My Giant Strawberry

to the complexity of February's digitally designed, heart-shaped collage of roses.

watercolor calendar, garden year, art prints, watercolor prints, Anne Butera, My Giant Strawberry

Each painting was chosen because of an association with the month, usually because of what's going on in the garden (inside and out), to make it seasonally appropriate.

The calendar as a whole will take you colorfully and joyfully through the year. Plus, each month's illustration is designed as a framable 4"x6" print, extending the calendar's life long beyond 2016.

watercolor calendar, garden year, art prints, watercolor prints, Anne Butera, My Giant Strawberry

For a mass-produced calendar $25 might be expensive. For a hand-crafted calendar, it isn't. The materials, ink and paper, are of exceptionally high quality. Creating the calendar is labor intensive. To make the calendar I scanned each of my paintings, resized them, designed the text and layout for each month. Next I made proofs of the pages and tinkered with the design and painting choice until I was happy with it. I made proofs again to test the layout, color and general harmony. When I was satisfied with the design I printed the calendars. I print the months two to a sheet and those two months need to be trimmed apart. To make the pages special I trim the corners so that they're rounded. Finally I package and ship each calendar. This is probably the last year I'll offer them at $25.

watercolor calendar, garden year, art prints, watercolor prints, Anne Butera, My Giant Strawberry

Here's what one repeat calendar customer had to say:
"My second calendar from Anne! They are beautifully done and great quality. Will continue to buy each year."
                              --L.T.

It's available now on my website and in my Etsy shop.

As long as you're visiting my shops, take a look around. I've added a lot of new paintings and prints. For now my Etsy shop is stocked with prints, print sets and original paintings priced under $100. My website is stocked with originals that are $100 and over. Don't see what you're looking for? Drop me a line and we can work on something special just for you (to learn more about the custom painting process, see this post).

Not ready to buy? Sign up for my newsletter and you'll receive two free gifts including a downloadable art print of this illustration:


Enjoy your weekend!

Comments

  1. I can see the hard work that you put into all that you do Anne. Everything from the painting right through to the packaging and presentation is of exceptional quality. I love the photo of the pages all pegged up. Beautiful! Have a lovely weekend. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Simone! I hope yours is lovely, too!

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