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Artistic Endeavors

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five things | antique & vintage art supplies

Antique and vintage art supplies have become one of my favorite things to shop for and collect. As I’ve hunted for them, I’ve learned that they are not the easiest thing to find! I think that makes the hunt even more exciting, but it can also be frustrating when you’re hoping to find something specific. I have managed to acquire some beautiful pieces recently, so I thought I would share those as well as five things I’ve learned about shopping for antique and vintage art supplies. Warning: If you’re an art supply addict, as I am, prepare yourself for some gorgeousness… one | look often & everywhere I think this philosophy is true any time you’re shopping for antiques. You just have to look everywhere and look regularly. You never know when you’ll trip across some antique paint box that someone dropped off at the thrift store or an estate

October 22, 2020 24 Comments

Art

pear platter, prints, & tips on licensing artwork

When I first started painting, I wasn’t planning on selling my original works or prints. I just didn’t think my work would be “good enough.” I figured it was something I would do for my own enjoyment, as a side hobby. Well, if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I have a knack for weaving just about any creative endeavor into my business in some form or fashion. It is a trait that has allowed me to pursue things I’m curious about and include them as a productive part of my day. Painting has become another part of my business and I’m excited to share that some of my prints and products are hitting the market! I also wanted to share some tips on licensing for those who are curious about the process or interested in licensing their own artwork. The tricky thing about licensing your

October 20, 2020 37 Comments

a slice of life

needlework & crochet | it’s a winter thing…

I was crocheting almost every day since I learned how to make a simple hat at a women’s event at my church last October. I finally had an excuse to buy yarn and I dove into that endeavor with gusto! It was also great therapy for my hand, which had been hanging lifelessly at the end of an immobilizing sling for about a month. (I had shoulder and bicep surgery last September.) I found it difficult or almost impossible to write, type, draw, paint, take pictures, and do most of the creative tasks I enjoy, so needlework and crochet came into my life at just the right time. I was able to loosely hold the hook or needle in my right hand and do most of the work and movement with my left. I crocheted hats, mittens, glass cozies, pot holders, and a sizeable stack of dishcloths. I made tutorials

October 15, 2020 29 Comments

All Things Home

picture ledges for pigment bottles in the studio

My studio continually evolves as I use and finetune the space. A couple of weeks ago, I was doing some reorganizing and realized I could utilize the space to the left of the large hardware cabinet. Some picture ledges would give me a little more storage and would also be the perfect place to display my bottles of pigment. What was hanging there before was a pinboard with color swatches. While I enjoyed looking at them, I didn’t really use them, so changing it out made sense. Sienna Counterweight Studio Easel | | painted checkerboard floor | Hare art print I purchased shelves from Target for $15/each and hung them in that space. The dimensions were absolutely perfect for my collection of bottled pigments. | | antique palette I bought the bottles from Hobby Lobby, but I wasn’t able to find them on their website. They are in the glass

October 6, 2020 25 Comments

a slice of life

the work of gardening gnomes & painting peonies

My typical gardening routine each year is to start enthusiastically and then fizzle out as the weather gets hot and beds are overwhelmed with weeds. A part of that is I was battling beds filled with rocks, deteriorating weed-blocking fabric, and plants I didn’t like. There wasn’t a lot of incentive to care for it until we did an overhaul. This spring, we did a complete overhaul of the beds. It was a lot of work, but I’m enjoying gardening so much more now that I’m tending to plants that I like and we addressed some of the problem areas. We’ve even been giving our grass more attention! You can see how our garden beds have progressed in these posts… Front Garden Reveal Tending to the Back & Side Gardens (before & afters) Patio Makeover Reveal We planted a bunch of Annabelle Hydrangeas, I split and relocated some hostas, and

August 10, 2020 26 Comments

All Things Home

live painting class | grazing cow painting

Well, this is my last live painting class post for a while. I have enjoyed it so much, but I need to clear my plate to focus on some other projects for a while. It has been a learning experience for me and a great source of joy during these tough times! I really appreciate everyone who participated and sent me pictures of their work, notes, and e-mails telling me about their painting journey and how this class has been a bright spot for them, too. I can’t tell you how many people started painting along with me simply because they’ve always wanted to try it. I can tell from the work I’ve been receiving that there are a lot of people who found a talent they didn’t know they possessed. It makes my whole year to hear that! This isn’t the end, though. I’ll be back when my schedule

June 17, 2020 13 Comments

a slice of life

the antique french paint box

One of the things on my shopping wish-list when I went to Europe last fall was a paint box. Most of the items on my list were, in fact, art supplies… a silver ink well, a blotter, a tabletop easel, a fountain pen. As you may have noticed, antique and vintage art supplies have been a favorite of mine lately! I was really hoping to find a wooden artist’s pochade box in France or Italy, and I did come across a couple, but just not the right one. I almost talked myself into buying one particular box, but it really was too new. It didn’t have the soul and patina I wanted. So, I’ve been browsing Etsy and eBay now and then for antique and vintage pochade boxes. I’ve gotten so far as to put one in my cart only to abandon it. After all of my years of buying

June 10, 2020 49 Comments

All Things Home

live painting class | still life with flowers & glass

Last week was absolutely packed! Jeff took the week off, so I cleared my schedule as much as I could to take advantage of our time to work on projects together. We installed the picture frame molding and chair rail in both the sewing room and master bedroom and got a ton of work done in the yard. We did a “family workday” on Saturday to get all of the big stuff done (hauling mulch, edging the beds, putting down weed-blocking fabric, etc.) We have some small things to do when it cools off later this week, but the yard is really coming along. I also still have caulking, priming, and painting to do in the master bedroom and sewing room. I’ll be sharing my progress and process on these projects starting this week, but first, I wanted to post about the live art class from a couple of weeks

June 8, 2020 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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