Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Art

Art

five lessons I learned from filling a sketchbook | video sketchbook tour

I know you’re not all my “art people.”  Some are my art people, some are my home people, some are my furniture people, and some are my everything & anything people.  But, the art posts are not just for my art people.  There is so, so much I’ve learned from art that can translate to so many other areas of life!  So, today, I want to give you a tour of my second completed sketchbook (yep, I’ve filled a second one already) and share what I’ve learned from filling two sketchbooks so far this year. the old Roman gate in Barga, Italy | pencil & watercolor sketchbook lesson no. 1 | practice makes better I’ve been learning this through my whole art journey – practice makes better even in drawing and painting.  It’s easy to recognize that practice is important when it comes to sports and instruments, but we often

Read More
Art

creative play | sketches with Calvin

Calvin has expressed an interest in art off and on for the past few years.  He’ll ask to paint with me or request that I buy him some art supplies or a sketchbook, but he hasn’t stayed motivated in that arena.  But, anytime he asks, I say yes.  I can see he has a natural inclination for it and I think his mind is well suited for creative work in some shape or form.  So, when he asked me if we could take an illustration class together, I pulled out my laptop and we started watching course trailers immediately. We found a class on Domestika – The Art of Sketching; Transforming Your Doodles into Art and it has been so much fun working on it together.  He took notes as the instructor was going over his influences and wanted to make sure we had all of the right tools to

Read More
Art

the atelier | working with a limited palette

Through February and March, I was working on creating and filming and it is now open for preregistration!  The course is The Atelier | Creating with a Limited Palette. Here is what Jeanne Oliver says about the course… And this is the synopsis I wrote for the course… In this class, Marian Parsons, a paint enthusiast and lover of color, will show you how to mix beautiful shades for landscapes, still lifes, and portraits with just four colors. Together, we’ll create color studies, sketches, and finished, frameable works in several paint mediums – oils, water-soluble oils, acrylics, and watercolors/gouache to discover harmony in your work when transitioning from one medium to another (or working in your favorite mediums.) This class is about the discovery and exploration of mediums and limited colors to include in your palette for the purpose of clarifying your aesthetic as an artist. Techniques Taught in this

Read More
Art

Original Art & Used Art Supplies Sale Preview

I spent several hours yesterday on getting all of the original art and used art supplies listed for the sale on Thursday!  It is a big project that I was happy to check off my list.  But, I’m happy to share that I have a nice mix of paintings and supplies that will be included in this sale. A few things…  First of all, I have upgraded my server, so the site won’t be crashing while you’re trying to check out.  I know that was so frustrating for those who were trying to shop the sale last time, but I’ve had many sales on my site and have never had that happen!  We’re are ready for it this time, though.  Second, items do tend to go quickly, so I wanted to share a preview of what’s available in the hopes that shoppers can make a beeline for what they want

Read More
Art

Online Painting Classes

If you haven’t guessed, I almost always have an ambitious list of things I want to accomplish each year.  Some things end up getting kicked down the road simply because I only have so much time and I have to focus on things that are a higher priority.  My little pet projects are the ones that typically get neglected.  One of the pet projects I wanted to finally do this year was to offer online art classes.  This included making new ones, but also putting the free art classes I made last year into a format that was easier to navigate.  I am happy to report that I did it! The first new class available is a master study of Fabritius’ Gold Finch! Here is my version that I did for the class… I absolutely loved working on this painting and filming it for the class.  I review all the

Read More
All Things Home

charcoal, a glass dip pen, and a Victorian watercolor box…

It’s time to share some more antique and vintage art supplies!  Obviously, I haven’t bought any this month because of “no-spend February”, but I bought an antique Victorian-era watercolor box with some Christmas money in January and I received a few little things last week as a gift. An antique dealer from PA who used to buy things for me to resell sent me a few art supplies she picked up as a part of an auction lot.  It was a total surprise and so sweet of her to think of me! She sent me a box of vintage Flair vine charcoal… I love the label on the box, but was even more delighted to see it was full of vine charcoal sticks!   And she also sent a glass dip pen!  It has the most interesting nib.  I haven’t had the chance to use it, but I’m looking forward

Read More
Art

Rufus Porter Style Mural & My First Paintings

A part of organizing this month has been scanning old documents and photos (I’ll share more on that in another post) and uploading old photos that were saved to a disc to an external hard drive.  At first, I didn’t even know if I had a way to scan a disc onto the drive!  I remembered that we had an external disc scanner, so I was able to get everything uploaded.  While photos and videos were uploading, I worked on organizing some of my computer folders.  Oh, man!  I need to do some serious sorting on my computer.  At first glance, it’s pretty organized…everything is in folders, my desktop isn’t cluttered with a bunch of documents, but my photos are all over the place!  It’s from years and years of taking thousands of photos.  So, I’ll slowly chip away at that when I have the time. Anyway, as I was

Read More
Art

creative play | sketchbook tour

I’ve shared in the past that I have a hang-up when it comes to sketchbooks.  Several hang-ups, actually.  I always want to be the person who is filling up stacks of sketchbooks, making notes, sketches, and drawings, capturing thoughts and ideas, practicing.  I’ve gotten much better about it over the past couple of years and I actually filled a notebook with a journal and did several paintings and sketches when I went to Europe in the fall of 2019.  I’ve been more consistent with getting my sketchbooks out to draw quick thumbnails before starting a painting, to make notes when I’m reading books or taking an art class, or to doodle. Here are some of sketchbook hang-ups… I feel like there is a bit of magic that happens with certain paintings that is difficult to repeat.  Some paintings just end up being very special.  What if one of those paintings

Read More

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

Now Available for Preorder

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.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest