Artistic Endeavors Archives | Page 39 of 55

Artistic Endeavors

Art

oil painting | what I’ve learned so far (pt 1)

One of the things that has been so enjoyable about the 100 meadows project, is how it’s pushed me to learn a medium that, quite honestly, intimidated me. Oil painting seemed so serious, technical, and with strict rules. It’s for the real artists, not the aspiring ones. And if you can even get beyond all of those notions and put brush to canvas, how do you clean up the palette, paints, oil mediums, and solvents? I stuck my toe in the oil painting waters when I was back in PA and my “art friend”, Katie, who is a trained artist (and a very talented one), walked me through some of the basics. When I moved, though, I was nervous about picking it back up again on my own. I figured it would be one of those things I got excited about for a brief time, but didn’t continue to pursue.

October 4, 2017 44 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

100 Meadows Project | No. 1-20

If you’ve been following me through my Instagram Stories, you have seen my progression as I’ve been working my way through painting 100 meadows in oil. The project was created by Michelle Wooderson, someone who has been a constant source of inspiration for me artistically. After taking a hiatus during my move, I wanted to start painting again. This was just the kind of challenge I needed to push me into picking up a brush… Well, one other than a 2″ angled sash! So, I started. I am painting on 4 x 6″ piece of canvas, cut from a canvas pad. They are pre-gessoed pieces of canvas and painting on them somehow seems less intimidating than a stretched canvas. I am using artist-grade oil paintings in a few different brands, mostly Utrecht and Windsor & Newton, although I just order a few other brands to try. I have a glass palette,

September 27, 2017 31 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

100 meadows

Even though I’m still relatively new to “fine art” painting, I feel a pull to it on a regular basis. I love the creative muscles I can flex when I’m working on my home, but there is something different about putting something on a blank canvas or piece of paper. I hope to one day create a lot of art for the walls of my home and maybe even officially claim the title of “artist”. With Lucketts and moving and settling in, I haven’t had a lot of time to paint. There were other priorities. And even when we moved out of our last house and I figured I would have all of this time to devote to art, I didn’t. I was just too drained and life was too chaotic. Now that the boys are in school and this home is feeling more like home and we’re starting to

September 10, 2017 50 Comments

All Things Home

studio transformation | part 4

We’re almost there! The studio is nearing completion and I am so excited to be able to start using this space now that it’s insulated, climate-controlled, and the walls are back on! Today, the wall around the mini-split went up and it looks so good! Of course, it still needs to be painted, but that will be happening this week. A few of you have asked about the mini-split. It’s a Mitsubishi unit that heats and cools, similar to something you might find in a hotel room, except this one is actually quiet! I have found myself putting my hand over it to make sure it’s working. It is, though it’s just a quiet little thing. It’s also a lot more not-ugly than I thought it would be! I realize that’s a poorly structured sentence, but I was just expecting it to be an eye-sore. It just blends in and

September 6, 2017 55 Comments

All Things Home

studio transformation | part 3

Today, I wanted to share more detail on the “window walls” of the studio. I was so excited about all of the natural light that comes in from not just one, but two full walls of windows. This room is flooded from sunrise to sunset. Fortunately, though, it’s not direct light until late afternoon, so I don’t have to deal with sunbeams in my face all day. I will have to add some window treatments to diffuse the light, when needed, though. I’m thinking I’ll make some simple linen shades that will just tie up. The old hardware store cabinet is really the focal point of the room. I bought it off of craigslist earlier this year and it’s the one large counter I decided to keep from my last studio space. It was tough to sell some of those beautiful antique counters, but I felt like this one was

August 30, 2017 40 Comments

All Things Home

studio transformation | part 1

Believe it or not, we’re not trying to get the entire house completed in two weeks! We are making a push, though, to get a bunch of big things checked off the to-do list. One of those big things is painting the studio…all of it. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, the trim. Buckets and buckets of paint. And painting like that is better done with help. But first, this is a room that wasn’t insulated or climate controlled. That’s just not going to work when it’s 2 degrees outside. The climate control is coming, but earlier this week, we had it insulated. The floor and ceiling were both easily accessed, but the walls under the window had to be removed, insulated, and replaced. This may have been a more advanced DIY project, but we decided to hire it out, so it was done quickly and professionally. The wall on

August 11, 2017 74 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

Dash & Albert Rug Design Competition | design process

As I shared in my last post about the Dash & Albert Rug Design Competition (click the link to see what it’s all about), I used an antique coverlet as the starting point for the designs. This one, to be more specific… When I was initially asked to join the competition, these designs, which I had already worked on for a different project (I didn’t end up using them for that), seemed perfect. Prior to submission, I clarified with the competition organizers that reworking antique designs was permitted. They not only said yes, but told me the designs in their existing lines that are based on antiques are often the most popular. So, the design process started out with taking choice pictures of sections of the coverlet. They needed to be sections without stains or holes (or with the least amount) and I had to capture enough of the design to create

July 13, 2017 8 Comments

a slice of life

documenting the ordinary

So, I’m basically a stalker now. I’ve shared about Michelle Wooderson’s watercolor class (on Jeanne Oliver’s Creative Network) and how inspirational I find her Instagram feed. She’s one of my “click-overs”. ** In addition to inciting art supply envy (in the best possible way), she has been sharing a watercolor journal project. It’s a 1920’s diary she is working through – reading the entries and adding a sketch or watercolor to each page. The thing that struck me more than the loose and free art added by Michelle, is that these entries are mundane. The diary was just about documenting the ordinary…the everyday things that happen in life. Weather, errands, chores, visits, etc. And I want to see what Cora, the diary author, is doing each day! There is an attraction to the ordinary and the simple and I think it’s easy to forget that as a blogger. I know I

June 28, 2017 43 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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