Artistic Endeavors Archives | Miss Mustard Seed

Artistic Endeavors

Art

Join the Waitlist | Pet Portraits in Oils for Beginners

As I’ve shared my pet portraits over the years, the question I’ve been asked most is, “When are you going to teach an online class on pet portraiture?” I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but I wanted to refine my process and get even more hours at the easel behind me before I tackled filming an online course. Well, that time is finally here. While I will always have new things to learn, and I hope I’ll continue growing in skill, knowledge, and confidence as an artist, I felt ready to offer an online course on painting pet portraits, specifically for beginners and those new to oils and/or painting animals. If you’re interested, the waitlist for Pet Portraits in Oils for Beginners is now open. The course launches in early December, but waitlist members will receive an exclusive discount, so it’s worth signing up if you’re considering purchasing

October 20, 2026 No Comments

Antiques

Lucketts Fall Market 2026

Mom and I left early Friday morning to get to Lucketts in time to set up my paintings, books, and prints before the gates opened at 8:30. Jeff and I drove down the day before to drop everything off, but we left everything packed in plastic bins under a tarp. Not only was the weather iffy, but I was sharing the tent with the lovely ladies from Twin Oaks Tavern Winery again, and they hadn’t arranged the furniture yet. We coordinated through text and, when mom and I showed up, they had arranged everything perfectly. They set up their roped-off area to keep the alcoholic beverages contained while putting me in an accessible, visible spot for people milling by. We learned during the Spring Market that I was a little hard to find when tucked farther back in the tent, so this was a great solution. The Lucketts Store furnished

October 19, 2026 9 Comments

Art

Lucketts Fall Market 2026 Preview & Details

Bringing a few paintings to potentially sell at the Lucketts Spring Market was a test to see how my art would do there. Of course, after years of being a vendor at Lucketts, both at the markets and in the store, I had a good grasp of what would do well, but I never showed up with a booth exclusively full of art. The test went well, and I sold all of the originals and most of the prints. So, that left me with the question: should I commit to my own booth for the Fall Market? I waffled and weighed and, in the end, decided I had too much going on to attempt to fill an entire booth with originals. Not only did I question my availability to produce 30+ framed works, but I no longer have my tents, folding check-out counter, and portable displays. I have a few

October 6, 2026 5 Comments

Art

custom cut plywood art panels

When I first started painting with oils, I bought a smattering of substrates to test. I painted on stretched canvas and linen, canvas and linen panels, oil paper, and gesso board. Over the years, I learned that I didn’t like the bounce and fragility of stretched canvas and linen. I didn’t like the texture of canvas panels, but I’m okay with the texture of a fine Belgian linen panel. I also learned that not all gessoed plywood, MDF, and hardboard are the same. Some are rough and grippy. Some are slippery, and the paint almost resists the surface. Doing “the thing” is the best teacher, and through doing, I learned that my favorite surface was plywood panels I gessoed (primed) myself. (THIS is the gesso I use.) I like that they are easy to store in my studio, inexpensive to ship, rigid and unlikely to be damaged, and have a

September 29, 2026 16 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

moving fast & moving slow

I intended to share more on the blog over the last couple of weeks, but my days have been busy! On top of a full plate at work, we’ve had to fit car shopping into the schedule. (If you missed why, you can read about it HERE.) I wish I could say car shopping was super fun, but it’s depressing how much a five-year-old minivan with 90k miles costs. We ended up getting a Honda Pilot (SUV), but we hit a bit of a snag with that. It’s all working out in the end. The issue is being resolved, and we’ll pick up the car later this week. It’s just been disruptive, and my last couple of weeks have felt a little clunky. As I rush to get everything done, it’s not lost on me that I am in the thick of promoting a book titled Move Slow & Make

September 28, 2026 14 Comments

Antiques

Country Living Fair, here I come!

It is not lost on me how cool it is that I get to wake up each workday and decide what I want to do. Some of that is dictated by deadlines and commitments to clients, but since 2008, I’ve been able to jump into working on my house, refinishing a piece of furniture, doing a photoshoot, writing a blog post, or painting at the easel. In addition to getting to do creative work as a profession, I have been invited to do some pretty amazing things over the years. I’ve been to New York City twice for guest appearances on TV shows; I’ve been a mainstage speaker at the Toronto Home Show and other home & blog conferences, and I’ve been able to teach creative workshops in Italy. And a few weeks ago, I received another exciting invite – to be a part of a speaking panel at the

September 21, 2026 16 Comments

Art

perfection vs. personality

Most of the time, when I’m working on a project that requires something of me physically, but allows my mind to wander – gardening, painting, cleaning, drawing, walking – I put on music or listen to a podcast or audiobook. But sometimes, I give my mind quiet to see what thoughts bubble to the surface. One day, as I was painting in a quiet studio, I thought about Vincent Van Gogh and his struggle with draftsmanship. He was on my mind a lot lately since I had been listening to a marathon audiobook biography on his life. (I finally finished it a couple of weeks ago, by the way!) He received a lot of criticism for his out-of-proportion figures, clunky faces, and wonky buildings. He knew it was a struggle, and he practiced fanatically to improve. He started using the grid method, but since he painted from life, he used

September 8, 2026 20 Comments

a slice of life

Move Slow & Make Things x An Acre of Land Giveaway

I was meandering through Instagram one day and came across An Acre of Land. I was immediately drawn to the photography, the styling, and the layers of feminine, generously gathered skirts. I pressed the follow button. For months, maybe even years, I would admire the clothes, which are just my style. It was the appearance of a cyanometer, though, which made me realize the creative minds behind An Acre of Land were my people. A cyanometer is a scientific/art instrument used to measure the color of the sky. I tripped across their existence in a book in 2021 and fell in love immediately. I haven’t seen one referenced anywhere else, though. (I still have my cyanometer, hand-painted in oils, in my studio.) The use of blue in An Acre of Land’s Blueprints Collection further piqued my interest. Their featured collection when I started following the account consisted of black, cream,

September 4, 2026 8 Comments

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

August 13th, 2026 at 1pm EST

NEW ONLINE ART COURSE

Paint a Pet Portrait You’ll Love

Learn to paint pet portraits in oils with confidence, even if you’re a beginner. In this new course, Marian will guide you step by step through creating expressive animal portraits filled with color, personality, and your own artistic touch. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when the course opens.

Now Available

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.