a good book

It's been forever since I've had the time to sit back and enjoy a good book. I just bought The Happiness Project and am very excited to start reading. Has anyone read it? I'm curious your thoughts. My all-time-favorite books ~ that I highly recommend ~ are the four below. I would love to know some of your favorites as well, so please share :)

new camera!

"Santa" gave me an early present ~ a nice new camera (canon rebel T1i EOS 500d)!
Cannot wait to play & learn more! Here are two of our adorable cat, Miss Leo.

I'd love if anyone has some tips, tricks, or pointers I should know about my new canon :)

a few winter owls

first .. THE cutest card on earth - from my sweet boyfriend...

And, I just now realized that our tree is overflowing with birds.
There's a hummingbird, a penguin, a dove, and of course, three owls!

two new digital pieces

These are both available in custom color schemes, various sizes, and can be personalized upon request.  Simply email me.  Standard prints, cards, and framed pieces are available now - click below.

You Hue...

Honeysuckle has been announced as the new hue for 2011 (Pantone 18-2120 TCX). Find articles, photos, and videos at the wall street journal or visit Pantone's website to learn why they say honeysuckle is the Courageous-Confident-Vital new hue.

winter-white treasures

Christmas is just around the corner and with my wishful snowfall mood today, I thought I'd share some sweet winter-white treasures I've recently stumbled upon.  

cocoa via eva lindh  -  candy cane pops (DIY tutorial) via hostess  -  pastel cookies via hostess

winter white table by my home ideas

sweet treats via amy atlas

lovely wreaths via allegra

delicate displays (i  <3 this owl) via the lollipop ladies

donut drinks via love the day

white wrapping via wedding designs

top viewed last week...

Thanks everyone! "Pinks and Browns" was my 'top viewed' last week on FineArtAmerica - and the latest viewer was from Moscow ~ very cool.  This was a consignment piece I painted in 2004. The couple looked through my portfolio and said which styles they liked, then I did a home visit to see the specific wall needing artwork.  I pulled inspiration from items and artwork already in the room to create this new custom piece. If you are looking for custom artwork for your home, or perhaps as a gift, please send me an email, I'd love to create something just for you.

new art sales!

I'm excited to say that yesterday I dropped off three new original paintings now for sale at the Inn Store at The Boar's Head.  Here are two (I still have to upload my third photo).

I am also happy to say I sold two framed Gemini Font Art pieces today (for twin sisters).
They make great holiday gifts!

top viewed last week...

Thanks everyone! "Nature" was my top viewed last week on FineArtAmerica. It's an oldie, but a favorite of mine. I would consider selling the original (18" x 24") if anyone is interested or if you'd prefer a custom painting in a similar style, simply email me.

new painting "Daughters"

I just finished another assignment!  This one was suppose to be semi-similar to the style of Jacob Lawrence and express a significant story, memory, or moment from our childhood ... so, once again, my focus includes the Florida Keys. 

My Statement:

I chose to paint a portrait of my mother, sister, and I in the midst of the Florida Keys.  When thinking about my childhood and artistic development, my mom and sister are present in nearly every memory.  In this piece, we are standing amongst palm trees and greenery with our summer vacation condo faintly in blue behind us.  In the simplistic style of Jacob Lawrence and also to better depict the feeling of a memory, I chose to paint in a much different manner than I’m use to.

My mother is an incredibly talented, although modest, artist, and I have always amazed by her drawings.  As a child, I would spend hours carefully turning the pages of her old sketchbooks and unrolling the beautiful artwork that was curled tight. I remember feeling as though I were touching treasure.  She was incredibly motivating and encouraged my me and my sister to pursue all forms of our creativity.  While in the Keys, I remember countless runway shows in the living room, hours upon hours in a ceramics studio, and afternoons building sandcastles on the beach.

The sunglasses, although minor details, are also very symbolic for me.  My sister and I are night and day.  She’s less than two years older, but has blonde hair, green eyes and fair skin.  I received mom’s Italian skin tone, dark hair, and dark eyes.  Her favorite childhood sunglasses were stars, while mine were hearts, and as silly as it may sound, in our grown up lives and personalities today, these shapes still suit us perfectly.

I have always been intrigued by the fact that although we are both my mother’s daughters, and although we were exposed to nearly all the same artistic and creative activities as children, we have always had incredibly different artistic styles and outlooks.  She has always preferred the mathematical, analytical, and representational work. I have always preferred the abstract and emotional approach. She chose architecture for her career path, while I chose graphic design (and now art education). We do, however, share one common theme and passion with our artwork – the Florida Keys.  And we both have our wonderful mother to thank for so many years of memorable experiences there together.

more owls!

I think my boyfriend is picking up on my new owl obsession. This was drawn on the whiteboard on our fridge! Too cute & so sweet!

by andrew

new digital "word art"

cool quote & wahoo 1,000 visits

(via itookadeepbreath)

pretty cool! reached 1,000!

since Oct. 27, 2010

grad school art piece

I'm currently working on my Masters of Art in Art Education (through Boston University's online graduate program) and thought I'd share the piece I did for our "Adolescent Journey" assignment.

Circle Key, Mixed Media Digital Artwork, 2010

Reflecting on my childhood and artistic growth, I see a reoccurring focus on nature with particular emphasis on water and movement. I recognized my passion for art at a very young age, and for as long as I can remember have been exploring creativity. Throughout childhood and adolescent years, I spent a month each summer with my mother, sister, and grandparents in the Florida Keys. Since my teenage years, the trips have become a bit shorten and more infrequent, however I am certain these memories and moments surrounded by nature’s beauty have greatly influenced me artistically. My family has also moved numerous times, and I feel these trips to Florida acted as my constant - the one place I knew I would always have.

For this piece, Circle Key, I choose to work with mixed elements from my past and present. The photographs of my sister and I were taken in the Keys. The colorful abstract image that spreads across the entire frame is a painting from 2003 entitled Earthly Elements (shown below). It is meant to depict waves crashing, driftwood, sunshine, and hibiscus flowers. Interestingly, I've realized most of my abstract work, new and old, has included similar bold marks with broad curved motions. I have realized that similar to the presence of motion, circles have also appeared intentionally and unintentionally throughout my work. I chose to include two black and white photographs from 2007 entitled Curvature and Froth (shown below). One focuses on bubbles while the other was taken from beneath a circular, winding staircase. Circles surround us in ways that are obvious and hidden, and to me, represent continuity and longevity.

I believe there are countless influences that mold an artist into who they are, and there are often various meanings behind what seem to be even the most basic concepts. Nature and circular movements are strong elements present in my artwork throughout my adolescent journey into today. In order to fully grasp where an artist stands today, I feel it is important to acknowledge where they were in the past. Beauty is achieved when art not only touches the life of a single individual, but also extends itself to a wider audience and offers a lasting relationship. I believe art should always look to the past, reach toward the current time and last beyond the future.

DIY hanging poms ... and more owls

<3 these little hanging pom poms ... and the best part is there are tons of tutorials out there so you can customize them for any room in your home or any special event! It's a bit funny that almost all the tissue paper pom poms I found credit a tutorial from good ole Martha Stewart (bottom pics). Or, if you'd rather make fabric ones, check out Once Wed (top photos).

Then, when looking at these neat little poms, I discovered the cutest little nursery featured on Chic & Cheap Nursery! The theme.... OWLS.  As I mentioned just a few weeks ago, owls are stalking me but I have to say, they are quickly becoming my favorite random little animal. This nursery is absolutely adorable with such a refreshing color palette - beautiful work Jen J!

owl shadow box - diy tutorial

all photos from Jen J's nursery - visit her blog for tons more pictures & links.

Jen J's cute little bookshelf owl (pictured above) was found on April Foss's etsy shop.  Soooo cute! Here are a few others i <3...

happy hump day

my favorite type of art... cute & quirky

"so very happy" by studio mela