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Art

Art

spring sky challenge

I shared a few days ago about my deep dive into landscape study, drawing, and painting again.  You can read about some books and artists that have inspired me in this endeavor HERE.   On a whim, I also joined in on the Spring Sky Challenge hosted by Erin Spencer on Instagram.  A painting challenge issued on Instagram was how I started oil painting in the first place (that was the 100 Meadows Project), so it seemed a fitting way to push myself to paint landscapes daily for a month. We have had pretty miserable spring weather so far with lots of cold, rainy, gray days, so I haven’t been outside to paint as much as I would like and I’ve been painting off of photos.  Most of the photos were taken recently as I’m out and about, but a few of the photos are old ones that I wanted to

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Art

my recent favorite art books

Earlier this year, I tried to paint a few landscapes and they all ended up being wiped off the panel.  I felt like I had completely forgotten how to paint a landscape, which was strange because that’s where I started.  I think it had more to do with the fact that I was growing in other areas artistically.  The light in this house had pushed me in a new direction with my still-life paintings and I could see how much I was improving.  When I switched over to paint a landscape, it would feel flat and forced and I wasn’t happy with the results. So, I dove into studying and practicing.  I’ve been reading books, observing nature through photos and sketching, and I’m taking a few new art classes focusing on the landscape, trees, and skies.  (I took or am taking online classes from Erin Spencer, Julie Davis, and Scot

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Art

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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