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may 1 original art sale preview

It is time for my next original art sale!  You would think I would be painting less during a kitchen renovation, but it’s been a bit of a relief and escape for me, so I’ve ended up painting more.  The house is a bit of a mess (the guest room is loaded with the kitchen contents, the garage is storing the appliances, and the dining room is acting as our make-shift kitchen), so I’m a bit limited as to other projects I can work on.  I’ve been doing some gardening, trimming, priming, etc., but going to the studio to paint has been my favorite way to be productive and deal with the noise and mess. So, I have almost 30 paintings in this sale, which is the largest original art sale I’ve had.  I will likely sneak a few more in over the weekend and I will add them to

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April 28, 2023 15 Comments
Art

my birthday art supply bag

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m always dabbling in new things.  I like to learn, grow, and find new ways to express my creativity.  I’ve been that way for as long as I can remember.  You may also know that I take a lot of art classes and read many art books so I’m learning a variety of techniques and styles from various artists.  I tend to lean towards being tighter and more traditional in my work, both in decorating and art, so I like to expose myself to creators who are totally free spirits.  They slosh around their paints with abandon.  They scribble and play and end up creating something that I find myself attracted to.  It’s not really my style or the kind of artwork I want to make, but it’s a kind of play that can help loosen me up a bit. So

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April 17, 2023 10 Comments
Art

best art book series | for beginners

You may have noticed that I like my books.  Art books, specifically, are my favorite with design and decorating books as a very close second.  I have amassed quite a collection over the past few years and I have most of the books in my library listed in my Amazon store HERE.  With 357 books on the list, though, I know it can be overwhelming to find the book recommendation you’re looking for.  Since I’m asked with some regularity, I thought I would do a few posts with my top books from specific categories.  Today, I’m sharing the top ten books from my collection that I picked for beginners. This was really hard to narrow down because the book that is best for you depends on your interests, what mediums you want to study, which subjects you want to draw or paint, how you learn, and your starting point.  So,

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April 6, 2023 9 Comments
Art

March 27 original art sale preview

I have been busy painting away since my last original art sale and I’m excited to announce the date for the next one – Monday, March 27, 2023, at 1:00 EST.  As with other online sales, this post is a preview of the paintings that will be in the sale so have the chance to window shop and decide if any of these paintings need a home with you. Before I share the collection of paintings, here are a few tips on shopping the sale… The sale will go live HERE.  Paintings will not be visible until 1:00 est on Monday, March 27, 2023.  The paintings are first come first serve. There is only one of each and they typically sell quickly. For faster secure checkout, set up an account and sign in HERE before the sale starts. The paintings are not reserved in your cart.  They are only yours once you pay,

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March 23, 2023 7 Comments
Art

two sketchbook tours | artistic endeavors

As I have shared in a few posts recently, I made the commitment to draw and/or paint daily in 2023.  Daily-ish.  And I’d say I’ve done pretty well given the number of paintings I have produced and that I’ve finished two sketchbooks that had been languishing in my studio unfinished for a while.  I have already started on three new sketchbooks (I’ll share why I work on more than one later in this post), but I set these aside to do two sketchbook tours together.  Sharing these sketchbooks accomplishes a few things for me.  First of all, it’s a record that I keep for myself in case these sketchbooks are ever damaged or lost.  Second, there is some accountability in knowing that I will be sharing them.  Third, as with everything I share, I hope the sketchbook tours will be an encouragement to someone.  Maybe seeing my creative play, my

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February 16, 2023 7 Comments
Art

new art prints available on Society6

The upside and downside of pieces of art are each work is one of a kind.  That’s why it makes it special to own one.  But, one upside of a painting is that, unlike a piece of furniture or an antique I’ve fixed up, prints can be made of painting!  So, those who loved the original and weren’t able to snap it up, can get a print.  A few of the paintings I launched in my last sale have already been picked up for licensing (to be produced and sold in stores), but it can take about a year for a piece to go through the entire manufacturing process and end up in a retail shop or website.  While the paintings are fresh in the minds of those who were interested, I wanted to make them available as prints (and a few other products) on . I’ve sold on for

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February 15, 2023 25 Comments
Art

friday’s art sale preview

I’ve had a few flash sales on Instagram to clear out some paintings, but I haven’t had a proper original art sale since we moved!  But, as I shared yesterday, I’ve been painting most days with the intention of having a lot of original paintings to offer in a sale and that sale is happening this week. Since my furniture days, I have been a fan of showing what will be in an upcoming sale along with prices, so potential buyers can have some time to think about it and make sure they have the perfect place for what catches their eye.  It also helps to know if there is a piece you want to make a beeline for! Before I show you the works, here are a few tips on shopping the sale. The sale will go live HERE.  Paintings will not be visible until noon est on Friday,

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February 7, 2023 8 Comments
Art

testimony to practice | encouragement

It wasn’t a formal commitment or challenge explicitly set out, but I decided after Christmas that I wanted to try to paint and/or draw every day.  By every day, I mean most days, regularly.  And, with just one or two exceptions, I have been at the easel and/or in my sketchbook every day.  Some days, it’s just doing a few sketches on the sofa when we’re watching TV in the evening. Most days, though, I take the time to work at my easel, so I can consistently produce oil paintings to sell the originals and provide digital copies for commercial clients to make prints.  Even in these few weeks, I am feeling the momentum and seeing improvements. Over the weekend, when I was taking some time to paint a still life, I noticed the paint caked along the edges of my easel.  It reminded me of when I first bought

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February 6, 2023 13 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.

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