Artistic Endeavors Archives | Miss Mustard Seed

Artistic Endeavors

Art

Original Art Sale Preview | May 20, 2026

I typically post my previews a few days ahead of an original art sale, but May has been so busy that this sale snuck up on me! The next original art sale is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers. If you subscribe HERE, you can shop the sale before it opens to everyone else. (This isn’t a blog subscription. You will only receive emails with presale information for this and future original art sales.) In this original art sale, I have pieces ranging from some Index Card Art Project landscapes ($65) to a 12 x 16 black lab portrait ($650). This collection includes still life paintings featuring clementines, blueberries, and cherries. There are landscapes from Maryland, South Carolina, and England. And I have a few animal portraits available, including Cotswold cows, sheep, and a couple of dogs. As usual, this

May 19, 2026 1 Comment

Art

learning charcoal

A few weeks ago, I was thinking to myself, Marian, you simply don’t have enough hobbies. You should pick up another one. Okay, not really. I have hobbies coming out of my ears. In actuality, I just found myself thinking about charcoal as an art medium and felt a pull to it. I struggle with drawing, specifically with a pencil or pen. I am much more comfortable working with paint, where I can focus on shapes instead of lines. Charcoal is a drawing medium that seems to lend itself to that approach, so I decided to give the medium a good, solid try. I would watch tutorials, read books, test out different hardnesses, brands, and types of charcoal and paper, and see if I find something that resonates. Fortunately, I have a plethora of art supplies to get me started! I shopped the studio and found different types of charcoal,

May 12, 2026 9 Comments

Art

Lucketts Spring Market Preview (available original paintings)

As I shared a couple of weeks ago, I’m heading back to the Lucketts Spring Market as a semi-vendor. Since my business has changed so much over the past eight years, I’m just testing the waters to see how my original art will sell at that venue. I’ll be there just one day, Friday, May 15, from 1-4 pm, to do a bit of painting and be available to say hello. I’m also bringing along some of my original oil paintings to sell. As is my custom with Lucketts (and my online art sales), I’m posting a preview of the items I’m bringing along with measurements and prices. I do this so potential buyers have an opportunity to consider the piece without the rush and pressure of the market. They can consult their significant other, if necessary, their budget, and make sure they have the perfect spot for it. Since

May 11, 2026 5 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

my first nikon mirrorless camera | nikon zf review

My suggestion when it comes to camera gear (or just about any creative tool) is to upgrade when your skill level outpaces your tools’ capabilities. Basically, you’ll know when you’re ready. There is no need to buy a $3000 camera if you only know how to use a point-and-shoot, you’re not super picky about clarity, and you’re not interested in getting the most out of the bells and whistles that accompany the high price tag. So, years ago, I started with a low-end amateur Nikon DSLR camera. (Well, my first Nikon N65 was a film camera, but we won’t go back that far!) I got to the point where I was frustrated with some of the limitations and upgraded to a high-end amateur Nikon (Nikon D7000), then to a low-end professional full-frame Nikon DSLR (Nikon D800), and finally to an updated full-frame Nikon DSLR (Nikon D810) with better video

May 6, 2026 5 Comments

Art

growth

Growth doesn’t usually happen in leaps and bounds. It’s something that sneaks up on you; it’s masked by time and embedded in the act of showing up every day. One day, you look up and realize you’ve traveled a great distance, closing the gap between where you want to be and where you were. It was done in increments so small they were barely noticed. You hope for it, catch glimpses of it, and feel like you’re making some progress, but you don’t really know how far you’ve come until you take the time to measure. I had the chance to do that last week, and even though I know I’ve grown a lot as an artist, I was still pretty excited at the tangible evidence. This was the second commissioned dog portrait I painted. I had painted Sebastian and the cats and was toying with the idea of offering

May 5, 2026 26 Comments

Antiques

A return to Lucketts Spring Market

Quickly, I wanted to highlight that today (April 28) is the last day to join Pup Club Prints as a founding member and receive the beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer fine art print. Pup Club Prints is a fine-art snail-mail print club for animal, art, and analog lovers. It’s just $10/month for a quality 5 x 7 giclee fine art print, and you can cancel at any time. As an inaugural member, you’ll also be entered to win an original 8 x 10 oil painting (commission) from me. You can sign up and learn more HERE. When I moved back to the mid-Atlantic region in 2022, one of the most frequently asked questions was, “Are you going to sell at Lucketts again?” (If you’re new here, you can head down the Lucketts rabbit hole HERE.) I was so excited to be close enough to participate in some form or fashion,

April 28, 2026 5 Comments

a slice of life

Bronzino & the Medicis

As I shared in THIS POST, the self-portrait gallery was the highlight of the Uffizi Museum for me, but another exhibit was a very, very close second. I mean, they are virtually tied, and I think you’ll see why. As my mom and I meandered through the light-filled U-shaped corridors of the Uffizi, a portrait of a woman and her child hung high on one of the walls. It was too high for me to lean in and appreciate the details, but the rich green backdrop and the woman’s intricate dress caught my attention. What I didn’t know at the time was that this portrait was just a preview of more Brozino paintings I was just about to see from a much better vantage point. Five Bronzino portraits of members of the Medici family were hung together in a stunning exhibit. The pictures do some justice in capturing the vibrant

April 22, 2026 6 Comments

Art

Pup Club Prints | fine art prints for dog & art lovers

Thank you to everyone who is trying to subscribe! We had some technical issues, but it’s working now! Also, I decided to offer a big thank you to those who sign up for the first month’s print. Founding Pup Club members will be entered to win an original 8 x 10 commissioned oil painting (animal, still life, or landscape), a $300 value. I am so excited to finally launch Pup Club Prints, a monthly art subscription I’ve been working on in the background for a few months. I’ve ordered dozens of prints to find my favorite paper and printing option so I can offer fine art giclee prints directly through my new online shop and on a subscription basis for those who are interested. I’ve been testing stamps and stickers to label the official prints. I’ve ordered envelope samples and seal stickers so I can have all my ducks in

April 21, 2026 1 Comment

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

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