Artistic Endeavors Archives | Page 2 of 55

Artistic Endeavors

my first nikon mirrorless camera | nikon zf review

My suggestion when it comes to camera gear (or just about any creative tool) is to upgrade when your skill level outpaces your tools’ capabilities. Basically, you’ll know when you’re ready. There is no need to buy a $3000 camera if you only know how to use a point-and-shoot, you’re not super picky about clarity, and you’re not interested in getting the most out of the bells and whistles that accompany the high price tag. So, years ago, I started with a low-end amateur Nikon DSLR camera. (Well, my first Nikon N65 was a film camera, but we won’t go back that far!) I got to the point where I was frustrated with some of the limitations and upgraded to a high-end amateur Nikon (Nikon D7000), then to a low-end professional full-frame Nikon DSLR (Nikon D800), and finally to an updated full-frame Nikon DSLR (Nikon D810) with better video

May 6, 2026 5 Comments

Art

growth

Growth doesn’t usually happen in leaps and bounds. It’s something that sneaks up on you; it’s masked by time and embedded in the act of showing up every day. One day, you look up and realize you’ve traveled a great distance, closing the gap between where you want to be and where you were. It was done in increments so small they were barely noticed. You hope for it, catch glimpses of it, and feel like you’re making some progress, but you don’t really know how far you’ve come until you take the time to measure. I had the chance to do that last week, and even though I know I’ve grown a lot as an artist, I was still pretty excited at the tangible evidence. This was the second commissioned dog portrait I painted. I had painted Sebastian and the cats and was toying with the idea of offering

May 5, 2026 26 Comments

Antiques

A return to Lucketts Spring Market

Quickly, I wanted to highlight that today (April 28) is the last day to join Pup Club Prints as a founding member and receive the beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer fine art print. Pup Club Prints is a fine-art snail-mail print club for animal, art, and analog lovers. It’s just $10/month for a quality 5 x 7 giclee fine art print, and you can cancel at any time. As an inaugural member, you’ll also be entered to win an original 8 x 10 oil painting (commission) from me. You can sign up and learn more HERE. When I moved back to the mid-Atlantic region in 2022, one of the most frequently asked questions was, “Are you going to sell at Lucketts again?” (If you’re new here, you can head down the Lucketts rabbit hole HERE.) I was so excited to be close enough to participate in some form or fashion,

April 28, 2026 5 Comments

a slice of life

Bronzino & the Medicis

As I shared in THIS POST, the self-portrait gallery was the highlight of the Uffizi Museum for me, but another exhibit was a very, very close second. I mean, they are virtually tied, and I think you’ll see why. As my mom and I meandered through the light-filled U-shaped corridors of the Uffizi, a portrait of a woman and her child hung high on one of the walls. It was too high for me to lean in and appreciate the details, but the rich green backdrop and the woman’s intricate dress caught my attention. What I didn’t know at the time was that this portrait was just a preview of more Brozino paintings I was just about to see from a much better vantage point. Five Bronzino portraits of members of the Medici family were hung together in a stunning exhibit. The pictures do some justice in capturing the vibrant

April 22, 2026 6 Comments

Art

Pup Club Prints | fine art prints for dog & art lovers

Thank you to everyone who is trying to subscribe! We had some technical issues, but it’s working now! Also, I decided to offer a big thank you to those who sign up for the first month’s print. Founding Pup Club members will be entered to win an original 8 x 10 commissioned oil painting (animal, still life, or landscape), a $300 value. I am so excited to finally launch Pup Club Prints, a monthly art subscription I’ve been working on in the background for a few months. I’ve ordered dozens of prints to find my favorite paper and printing option so I can offer fine art giclee prints directly through my new online shop and on a subscription basis for those who are interested. I’ve been testing stamps and stickers to label the official prints. I’ve ordered envelope samples and seal stickers so I can have all my ducks in

April 21, 2026 1 Comment

Art

the business of art vs. the art of art

There is an anecdote about Vincent Van Gogh that I’ve heard and even repeated myself. Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime. It’s often used as an encouragement to struggling artists. If his work, which was so unique, brilliant, and beautiful, wasn’t appreciated, then you’re in good company if you find yourself in the same boat. I’ve shared in my Four Things posts over the past few weeks that I’ve been reading THIS BOOK on the life of Vincent Van Gogh. It’s a massive book, and it’s taking me forever to get through the audiobook, even though I’m listening to it on walks and at the easel. I still have over 25 hours left. But I’ve been taking notes and thinking a lot about Van Gogh as I’ve been listening to the story pieced together from records left by the family chronicler, people who knew him well, and

April 20, 2026 10 Comments

All Things Home

styling pet portraits in interiors

I received a question a couple of weeks ago about how to style a pet portrait in a room without it looking like a shrine to your dog, cat, hamster, or horse. Good question! I’m so glad you asked. Let’s talk about animal art in interiors and how to make it work with your decorating. First of all, let me say that there really aren’t rules when it comes to style, art, decorating, or aesthetics. I mean, there are rules (like the rule of thirds, the golden mean, complementary colors, etc.), but people break them all the time with outstanding results. There are always exceptions. Hang a portrait of your dog in any room of your house in any way you want. But, since the question was asked, I will offer some practical tips and lend my opinion on the matter. This first picture is of animal portraits currently hanging

April 14, 2026 5 Comments

Art

Move Slow & Make Things Book Bonuses Available!

I am so excited to share that the preorder bonuses for Move Slow & Make Things: Pursuing the Delightfully Fulfilling Creative Life are now available! If you’ve already ordered the book, thank you! You can enter your order information on THIS to claim your bonuses. If you haven’t preordered the book yet, you can do that HERE. I will be released September 1, 2026, so you still have plenty of time, but I learned through the release of Feels Like Home that preorders have become an important part of a book’s success in the current market. Preordering is one of the best ways you can support an author and champion their work. It tells booksellers how much interest there is in a book, helping them determine how many to order for their physical and online stores. It can also put books on bestseller lists once they are released. So,

April 13, 2026 7 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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May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

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