Artistic Endeavors Archives | Page 16 of 54

Artistic Endeavors

maud earl pointer study in oils

One of the best parts about being in this transition is that I am finally getting “free time” after all of the preparations and packing that dominated my time the past couple of months. I’ve been doing restful things like watching TV, finishing some knitting projects, and doing lots of drawing and painting. I just have a small rental house to take care of, so I have been a lady of leisure! Well, I’m still working, but my work is enjoyable and I’ve been able to have a lot more flexibility in how I spend my time. That means I’m getting around to painting subjects that have been in my “to paint” file for a long time. Pictures from the beach, landscapes I’ve done sketches of but never painted, and master studies. One of the master studies I have been itching to paint is Head Study of an American Pointer

June 21, 2022 12 Comments

Art Supplies

antique combination sketchbook & palette

One of my observant blog readers noticed that I wrote “I bought art boxes” instead of “I brought art boxes” in yesterday’s post. We both had a laugh at it, but the truth is I have still bought a few things here and there. Some of it was timed to arrive before we closed on our house and some of it has been shipped to my parent’s house. I mean, what are parents for if not to get your mail and store stuff in their garage? (And ask them for your inoculation records when you’re in your 40s. My mom actually said, “You are in your 40s and I have no idea where your inoculation records are.” Valid.) Anyway, in our final week in our house, I received one of my last-minute purchases – an antique combination sketchbook and palette that I just couldn’t resist even in the middle of

June 15, 2022 11 Comments

Art

my temporary studio

As we were looking for an apartment or home to rent for the month between moving out of our house and driving out east, we had a few requirements. Number 1, we didn’t want it to be outrageously expensive and, let me tell you, renting furnished apartments by the month can get absolutely crazy. I was not prepared! The second thing is that we wanted to have enough space so we wouldn’t feel on top of one another for four weeks. That would be three bedrooms so the boys could each have their own personal space. The final thing is that I needed a place to work…a temporary studio. My work can pretty much be done anywhere. I just need my laptop and wifi and I can be productive, but I knew that I would really want a space that felt conducive to writing, painting, and creative work. When I

June 14, 2022 14 Comments

Art Supplies

antique artist’s paint box

Before I no longer had a permanent address, I snuck in a few final purchases. One of those purchases was this antique artist’s paint box. Sniffing out beautiful old boxes online has become a favorite hobby of late and I’m building a nice little collection. I do try to be choosy, though, and select antique art supplies that I will actually use in one way or another, and that isn’t like another piece I already own. I clicked the buy button on this particular antique artist’s paint box without hesitation. The thing that made me smitten with it immediately was the palette… Isn’t that just a lovely collection of color blobs? I will likely hang it on the wall in our new studio because it is certainly art in and of itself. I also imagined using it as color inspiration for original works. I also love the crusty linseed oil

June 8, 2022 9 Comments

Art Supplies

victorian box easel

As I shared earlier this week, packing up the studio has been the hardest part of the move. (You can read about why we’re moving HERE.) feel like I can cook anywhere. I can do laundry anywhere. We can have family pizza movie night anywhere. I will miss our bed and bedding, but I can sleep in any reasonably decent bed and quiet room. But I have wondered about creating in a space other than my studio. There is nothing magical about a particular room, but it is designed specifically for me, the way I work, and the way I want a creative space to feel. I’m used to the light and I know where everything is. I know I will miss that until I can create a new studio wherever we land. I am doing what I can to make my “portable studio”, which consists of bins, bags, and

May 19, 2022 11 Comments

Art

the porcupine by ray french

As I shared in the tour of my great aunt and uncle’s home in South Carolina, they have acquired a lot of interesting art pieces over the years. I wanted to highlight one specifically because it’s a neat piece by a known artist, but also because of a special inscription. The work is the Porcupine, a 1949 engraving by Ray French. At first glance, you might think this is just a framed print, but when you lean in and look… You can see that this is engraving 5/25 and the Porcupine is signed in pencil by Ray French. One cool thing about this particular engraving is that another engraving in the series of the Porcupine was exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in 1949. And you can see that the engraving hanging in my aunt’s house is inscribed “To Marian.” Of course, I wasn’t around in 1949, so I’m

May 9, 2022 12 Comments

Antiques

georgian paintbrushes

I’m going to share more about packing and moving soon, but let’s just take a minute to admire some antique art supplies. Specifically some amazing Georgian paintbrushes. Between getting a house ready to sell, traveling, packing, and being sick, I haven’t had anywhere near as much time in my studio, playing with all of my favorite little things. While I won’t be in my studio, I do hope to take a lot of gear with me so that I can paint and create while we are nomads for the summer. We’ll knock around, stay with family and go to Airbnbs while we’re waiting to see where we land. It’ll be hard for me not to have a home to care for, but I do see potential in the extra creative time I might have. I plan to take advantage of it. So, let’s talk about these beauties. When texted me

April 27, 2022 10 Comments

Art

new art course | alla prima

I was going to post more large pieces for sale in my blog post today, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Today, I have something to share that I am super excited about! Earlier this year, I created and filmed another online art course for Jeanne Oliver’s website and this project was definitely on my list of favorites. I loved thinking through the content and creating it. I’m proud to announce Alla Prima, an online art course focusing on still life painting in oils, is now open for early registration. Here is a video preview of Alla Prima to show the projects and skills we work on in the class… When I was creating this class, I knew I wanted to focus on painting still life. It is a painting practice that can sound a little boring and academic, but it’s an important part of growing as an

April 18, 2022 17 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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