Artistic Endeavors Archives | Page 8 of 55

Artistic Endeavors

getting past the gatekeepers

When I first started oil painting in late 2017, I really didn’t have any plans for it. For a long time, I had envisioned myself painting at an easel, holding a palette, working in oils, and producing paintings I might want to hang on my walls. I didn’t even know if I would like it enough to continue beyond painting the 100 landscapes I committed to. I wanted to give it a good, honest try and see where it led. I guessed it would probably lead to a nice side hobby. I was surprised when people wanted to buy some of my earliest efforts and shocked when a few of my early still-life paintings were licensed for reproduction. It helped tremendously that I already had an established customer base and a licensing agent for design work. That gave me a big leg up. But what I’ve come to appreciate even

February 11, 2025 20 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

the ongoing battle in my studio

I love my studio. It’s a little creative sanctuary for me. But, in this sanctuary, there is an ongoing battle that followed me from my last studio. It’s the push and pull between wanting a tantalizing buffet of books and art supplies in view and wanting room to work and white space to foster new projects. This side that is almost always winning is the former and lately, I’ve been feeling it. Maybe it’s because I wedge a cat tree in a free square foot of floor space next to my desk (the kitties do love it) or that I have piles of papers and books on most available flat surfaces, but it feels like a tidying-up is called for. Maybe even some rearranging, rethinking, and, yes, purging. It seems the more I embrace being an artist, the more I become an artist, playing right into the stereotype of being

February 5, 2025 32 Comments

Art

January 24, 2025, original art sale preview

The last time I had an original art sale was last April! Ack. What happened?! Well, I know that I was writing, working on a book proposal, gardening, working on house projects… I did some commissioned pieces and a lot of sketching and studying, but I didn’t have many finished works last year. My goal is to have ten this year, but we’ll see how that goes. In this original art sale, I have pieces ranging from 5 x 7 ($75) up to 11 x 14 ($400.) Most of the paintings were completed within the past few weeks, but there are a few abstracts from my last sale, a painting of Esmé I did in 2022 (I’m going to paint another one), and a few I painted earlier in 2024 (including some winter/Christmas themed paintings for commercial clients.) It’s a nice assortment of my favorite subjects – still life, animals,

January 20, 2025 3 Comments

Artistic Endeavors

my next big project(s)

After working as a creative entrepreneur since 2008, I have learned that projects come in seasons. Sometimes those seasons last for years and sometimes they are brief, fleeting. Some seasons I repeat, in new ways, over and over again because I enjoy them so thoroughly and feel called back to them. Some seasons are experienced and then come to an end. I’ve written and published two books, both in their seasons. Both were a part of my growth, my story, and my body of work. While both were about home, they were not a part of a series or a pair. They were standalone books, chronicling my two previous homes, my work on them, and how they built into me. After the first book, Inspired You, I thought that might be it. I wasn’t only an author/writer. I did many other things and wasn’t sure how writing another book would

January 15, 2025 37 Comments

Art

slow and steady artistic growth

For many years, I have championed the idea that practice makes better. I recently saw something to add to that from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. “Two simple rules: 1.) You get better at what you practice. 2.) Everything is practice.” Sometimes, with my art, I wonder if I’ve improved and, if so, how much. There are days when I feel like I’ve grown in leaps and bounds and other days when I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten how to paint entirely. But knowing that it’s all practice is such an encouragement, Even the paintings that go directly to the trash are practice. The sketches, studying, reading, and observing all add up. My animal painting improves my still lifes. My still-life painting improves my color mixing. My color mixing improves my landscapes. And everything I do from photography to writing to decorating to gardening is all a part of practice.

January 8, 2025 19 Comments

Art

Society6 prints & paper sale

For those interested in prints, wrapping papers, and cards, I added a few new designs to my Society6 shop and most of my products are currently 50% off! One of my newest prints is this pair of rabbits… I didn’t add any new paper designs this year (time got away from me), but papers I designed in previous seasons are still available and are on sale for $10, which is 60% off the regular price. You can find all of my wrapping paper designs HERE. Society6 wrapping papers come in packs of five 20″ x 29″ sheets and are the perfect weight for wrapping presents or even using for craft projects and handmade gifts. It’s thick so it doesn’t tear easily and isn’t see-through, but it’s not so thick that it won’t hold a nice fold. I hope to add some more patterns this year. I really love pattern design,

December 9, 2024 4 Comments

Art

Artist Reference Photos | Portraits & People

We have been adding a bunch of new photos to the Artist Reference Photos site each week, including some lovely new still-life vignettes and landscapes with barns, cows, and sheep. I’ve always collected photos for myself, but it’s been fun to be more intentional about it and collecting photos to share on the site. As a recap, Artist Reference Photos is a free, reference-sharing site for artists. All images on there are either taken by me or donated to the site through our contributors, so you never have to look over your shoulder wondering if it’s okay to sell a painting made from one of our pictures. I hope this library will grow from the thousands into the millions so it can be a great resource for artists all over the world. There was one category we haven’t listed photos in yet, though – portraits and people. This category gets

October 30, 2024 4 Comments

All Things Home

Feels Like Home | three year anniversary giveaway

This giveaway is closed. The winners are Naomi B, Gail J, and Judi Y. Congrats, and thanks to all who entered and celebrated this book birthday with me! Feels Like Home is still $11.99 on Amazon if you want some extra inspiration for making your house feel more like your home. Can you believe Feels Like Home turns three this week? It was released on October 12, 2021, and we can’t let this book birthday pass without a little celebration. (There’s a giveaway at the bottom of this post, so don’t miss that!) This book is honestly one of the creative projects I’m proudest of. Typically, when I’m in the thick of a project, I hit difficult and slow-going patches. I question if it’s even a good idea any longer or if I’ve exhausted the energy I can give to it. I used to be discouraged when I hit that

October 17, 2024 331 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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