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Oil Painting
Art

how I use AI as an artist

A couple of years ago, I signed up for a trial to use an AI photo generator.  I was curious to see what kind of reference photos I could create with it.  I thought it might be a good tool for generating reference photos of subjects I don’t regularly have access to, in order to take my own reference photos.  I decided to start with traditional fox-hunt scenes.  Oh my.  The photos created were comically ridiculous and completely wrong.  Wrong in strange ways that would never work as a photo reference.  I canceled the trial membership and set that idea aside. A few months ago, though, I learned that I had a subscription to Google’s AI program, Gemini, through my Google Drive & Storage membership.  I know AI has come a long way in a couple of years, and it might be worth revisiting, especially since it’s free.  I wouldn’t

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October 29, 2026 No Comments
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

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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

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October 19, 2026 10 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

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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

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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

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September 28, 2026 14 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

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September 8, 2026 20 Comments
Art

what I’ve been up to lately…

If you’ve been a regular here on this blog for a long time, you may have noticed I’m not as consistent in posting this year as I have been for the previous 15 years.  (Something that’s sort of funny is I wrote this post on Monday, got busy with other things, and realized Tuesday I never hit publish!)  Posting less wasn’t something I planned, but as this year has unfolded, I find myself having to drop “write blog post” off my daily to-do list more and more.  Writing the blog post has always been a top priority, but as traffic and income from the blog dwindle (I talk about that in detail HERE), it falls lower on the priority list.  While I am a “creative type” and a dreamer, I am also pragmatic when it comes to my business.  I am willing to look at the profit and loss reports

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August 27, 2026 11 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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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.
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