Artistic Endeavors Archives | Page 3 of 55

Artistic Endeavors

a slice of life

the Gibbes Museum

When we planned our Charleston outing for our anniversary, we were going to visit a few antique stores and then have a nice dinner. My aunt’s proposition changed that, though. We knew we would be transporting two large paintings in bulky frames home, so space would be at a premium. (We won’t mention all of the shells I was bringing home, too!) For that reason, we decided not to go to the antique store. I have a knack for finding impossibly large items at the most amazing prices when I don’t have room to get them home. So, let’s not even tempt that scenario. Instead, we decided to visit a local bookshop and the Gibbes Museum. I never would’ve pegged Jeff as someone who would do anything more than endure a museum visit, but he has come to appreciate and even enjoy them. In truth, I had to learn the

April 7, 2026 8 Comments

Art

criticism & what makes you an artist

I received a critical comment on social media a couple of weeks ago. It happens when you share online, and after over 15 years of posting, I’ve gotten used to it and generally have a healthy perspective. Most of the time, I can shrug off the comment. It’s from a stranger on the Internet, and in many cases, it’s not even about me at all. My inbox, DMs, or comment section is just where someone’s frustration, hurt, or bad mood landed on that particular day. I usually don’t respond unless it’s necessary and seems like it would be productive. I can’t recall the last time I responded to a private, critical message publicly, but this comment has stuck with me, and I felt it was important to write about it. The gist of the message was this: the commenter felt compelled to tell me I wasn’t a real artist. She

April 1, 2026 46 Comments

a slice of life

my favorite part of the Uffizi Museum

We are back in Florence, Italy, in today’s blog post, but this story will circle back to Charleston and then to my house in a beautiful, serendipitous story about art. It started with my favorite part of the Uffizi Museum. Let me start off by saying that I loved most things about the Uffizi. The U-shaped building with light-filled halls was spectacular, and the art collection might be my favorite of any museum I’ve visited to date. It’s big enough to keep you busy, inspired, and interested, but it still can be toured in a day. I loved the Brozino exhibit, but I will share about that in its own post. I will quickly say that it was breathtaking, and will, I think, forever impact me as an artist. The exhibit that captured my heart, though, was the self-portrait gallery. I love portraiture and seeing how artists see, interpret,

March 30, 2026 17 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

Spring Break Paintings

Painting really is like any other skill or strength-based activity. If you step away from it, even for a few days, there is a bit of dust to knock off when you get back to it. For this reason, I wanted to try to fit in some painting while I was at the beach. Not only is it good practice in general, but it’s good practice to get better at painting when away from my studio. I feel pretty confident in saying that I’m much more comfortable as a studio painter, but I do want to improve when it comes to painting in a new environment with different light, and pared-down tools and materials. It’s also a nice way to fill the time when the sun is too intense for me to be on the beach. I painted on the covered porch at our rental house when the weather was

March 23, 2026 8 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

King Louis & Sky Miles | IOP Dog Reunions

Each morning, as we walk and collect shells on the beach, there is also a dog party happening. At Isle of Palms, dogs are allowed off their leashes to run free for a few hours each morning, and both owners and dogs take advantage. Dogs are running in the surf, chasing balls, playing with each other, greeting all the other beach-goers (who are there for them, naturally), and jogging alongside their owners. It finally occurred to me in 2024 that it was the perfect opportunity to gather reference photos of dogs! I did it secretly for a couple of days, pretending to photograph the beach, clouds, and surf, while also capturing a dog trotting in the water after a tennis ball. Finally, I got a little braver and asked the owners if I could photograph their dogs. Everyone I asked was happy to oblige, and most even helped me get

March 17, 2026 7 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

what makes you an artist

This is a quote from Junot Díaz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, that I wrote in my notebook years ago. I’ve probably shared it here before, but I thought I would share it again. “A writer is not a writer because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, or because everything she does is golden. A writer is a writer because, even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of progress, you keep writing anyway.“ As I was reviewing my manuscript, some of my own words hit me afresh. ‘You are the thing when you do the thing.” Sometimes we hesitate to call ourselves something, especially if we’re new at it, we do it for a hobby, or we feel like we aren’t good enough to claim the title. But you are a writer if you write. You are a painter if

March 4, 2026 9 Comments

Art

my painting style

When you first start a creative endeavor, you’re just trying to do the thing, and you aren’t too worried about what bucket or genre you might fit in. As you grow and start to find your style and voice, you do start to wonder where you fit. When people have asked me to define my art style over the years, I haven’t really been sure how to answer. I like the impressionists, but my work clearly doesn’t look like a Monet or Degas. My paintings are more “impressionistic”, though, in that I avoid getting too far in the weeds with detail. I try to say as much as I can with what I need and no more. I also usually paint what I see and want my art to look like a painting of a real subject or place. Even with all the studying and reading I’ve done about art

February 24, 2026 8 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

My new book | Cover & Title Reveal

I am so excited to finally reveal the title and cover for my new book – Move Slow & Make Things: Pursuing the Delightfully Fulfilling Creative Life. This book was born out of hundreds of conversations I’ve had with people over the years, in person, in small groups, and online, about creativity and what it means to be an artist. Sometimes, the conversation starts with a question from someone seeking to make more room for creativity in their own life: How did you start painting? How do you grow as an artist? When did you consider yourself a writer or an artist? How do I make time in my life for creative endeavors? Sometimes, the conversation starts with a remark that often stems from the assumption that certain artistic abilities are an elusive gift bestowed on only a few: I wish I could paint. I’ve always wanted to do fill-in-the-blank.

February 16, 2026 15 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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