Flowers against that beautiful September sky! Monhegan Island (Maine) has always been a place of beauty. Quiet days (in September), the bluest skies, and wildflowers growing in abundance.
Looking back through photos gets you through until the next visit!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Arriving Quietness by Eric Merrell
Eric Merrell. His paintings never cease to amaze me. They’re so different, so striking, both in color and subject matter. They aren’t just a replica of what is seen, his paintings include the feeling of where he’s at. I have to say there isn’t one of Eric’s paintings that I don’t absolutely love. Rare for me, I usually hone in on a painting or two that really stands out, but wow.
Eric has a fabulous palette… How does he do it? How does he make a painting evoke feeling and sense of wonder with not a lot of color (in these instances). In his paintings that have color, his color is different. It stands out to me, not in a way where the color is too bright, or exactly what the scene is that he’s painting, it’s so much more. Who knew color could show so much feeling and mood of the area?
Eric is a cool guy and a fabulous artist. Do not miss watching his video – it is FABULOUS. My favorite quote in the video: “When night falls in the desert, it almost becomes an entirely new world. A lot of the shapes lose their definition, the edges become blurred together, it becomes more abstract. And sound becomes much more prevalent, you can hear little things scurrying around through the sand. It’s hard to tell where the facts end and fiction begins”. This video is so well made – don’t miss it!
Journey to the Oasis by Eric Merrell
The light at night is spectacular. The shadows are so wonderful. It’s obvious that Eric loves the desert. I have never personally been to the desert, never walked around in it, so it amazes me. There is such beauty out there! In the video just released, Eric takes you into the desert, explains his process, it’s such a well-made video, you’ll want to watch it more than once, and then share it. His demeanor is so genuine, his paintings are beautiful, it’s no wonder he’s such a success!
Be sure to check out Eric’s Blog, 2016 Workshop List, and Exhibitions!
N O C T U R N E S | The Paintings of Eric Merrell
(Produced and directed for The Los Angeles Review of Books by Alec Ernest)
Read a bit about Eric, from his website:
As a native Californian, Eric Merrell spent his formative years on both East and West Coasts. Early art classes in Northern California preceded art school, which he attended first in Philadelphia and later in Pasadena. Though he graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Art Center College of Design, his goal was always to paint outdoors.
Following that objective, Merrell began exhibiting with the California Art Club, one of the oldest art organizations on the West Coast devoted to outdoor painting. Exhibiting with the CAC caused Merrell to become aware of and recover much of the club’s history that had been lost; founded in 1909, its history is intimately tied to the history of Los Angeles. Through the CAC he met and sought out further study with artists Peter S. Adams and Daniel W. Pinkham.
Merrell was selected as one of six artists from around the world for a Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency in 2009. The following year he presented a solo exhibition at The Forbes Galleries in New York City, and in 2011, another solo exhibition at American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena. He has consistently exhibited for over a decade in the California Art Club’s Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, currently held at The Autry National Center in Los Angeles.
After making a connection to California’s deserts over a decade ago, he has taken special pride in painting the color and light found in these stark and often overlooked arid lands. There is a mystery to these deserts during the day; even more so at night. Merrell has made a special focus of painting nocturnes on location – not only is it possible, but he feels that this is an area that is relatively unexplored, as technological advances now allow an artist to actually experience what moonlight looks and feels like, working from direct observation rather than from memory or other methods.
With a foot in both the ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’ camps, Eric strives to combine the methods of the former with examples of individuality from the latter, using his own sense of color and design to create work that is singular and timeless. His works have been noted for their distinctive aesthetics and brushwork, developed over years of pursuing his personal vision.
All images via EricMerrell.com, used with permission…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
I’m a little concerned about the “things scurrying around through the sand”! Ha ha…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
First of all I would like to welcome Lake & Land Design Studio – this is an impressive company with some wonderful plans for the future. They are a fairly new company (one year), and with their thoughts, plans and ideas – they will go far!
This is the Lambert Cottage by Lake & Land Design Studio. This plan is 2,147 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms. There is a total of 3,056 square feet including the outside porches underneath the roof. That’s a lot of living space. How wonderful to have the flexibility to have part of your space outside! You can download the plan packet HERE.
This plan has so many wonderful qualities. It’s just perfect! I love these wonderful porches, especially the fireplace outdoors (double fireplace!). How perfect that there is a studio! Every house should have a studio, because everyone does something… Whether it be painting, sewing, or using it to put your desk. It’s conveniently located off of the great room near the kitchen. What a wonderful open plan, lots of light, windows and doors. The Master Bedroom is tucked away on it’s own “wing” of the house. Note the Fishing Dock, nice, huh? This is the perfect plan on water. I could go on and on, but really, just look at this plan!
Perfect upstairs… 2 bedrooms each with a bathroom. Even though these two bedrooms are across the hallway from each other I like how they added the space between the hallway and bedroom on the right hand side – makes it more private.
Read a bit about Lake & Land Studio, from their website:
Lake & Land Studio, LLC specializes in rural building design. We believe houses, boathouses, and barns should be designed in harmony with its surroundings, drawing inspiration from local vernacular architectural forms. Located in South Mississippi we primarily focus on designing Lake Houses, Boathouses, and Retreats. We are currently expanding our scope of work to include rural estates, hunting camps, and equestrian farms. We are a small business which allows us to take great pride in the projects we design. We are detail oriented, and we tailor our designs to each individuals needs and wants, never letting our own intentions trump that of our clients. Our primary goal is to create homes and places where clients can feel their input in every space they’re in. We pride ourselves in creating unique, one of a kind designs, for every client we work with.
Meet the staff! They really seem like go-getters. This is destined to be one heck of a company. They have a good vision – and that is so important!
(From the Lake & Land Design Studio Facebook Page) – This is going to be a fabulous show!:
Lake And Land Studio, LLC is proud to announce we have been working with HGTV and RTR Media on a new HGTV Pilot called “Home Town” based in Laurel, Mississippi. Our friends Ben & Erin Napier, the stars of the show, explained in more about the details of our project. We are incredibly humbled and grateful to have been a part of such an amazing project. We can’t wait for you guys to see “Home Town” on its air date of January 24, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
All images from LakeAndLandStudio.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Todd Williams. His ability to portray light in his paintings is uncanny. Winter Sunset III is such a wonderful painting. The moody, cold skies, and that sunset… ooh, that sunset, how that wonderful golden glow just makes the landscape come alive. I enjoy the subtle hints of light in the snow. Just gorgeous!
Glow of a New Day is another exceptional painting. I think the areas with that wonderful orange just make the light so dramatic. The sun shining in the girls hair, the movement of the sheets, the bright sun, the beautiful trees and sky all contribute to one dynamic painting!
Be sure to check out Todd’s latest project “Legacy of Nebraska”, an exhibition featuring a painting from all 93 counties. Also, click HERE, or HERE for links to purchase his new 2016 calendar!!
Read a bit about Todd, from his website:
Born in the small farming community of Central City, Nebraska. Since his childhood he has been aware of the natural beauty of the world around him, an awareness that he continues to cultivate today through the art of painting.
Todd was eager from an early age to pursue art. At a time when most of us leave our crayons behind, he was being accepted and encouraged by his classmates, as an artist. “When I was 7, I took out some colored pencils and a posterboard. There was a poster of a tiger in my bedroom and I remember spreading out on the floor with these pencils, looking up and drawing the tiger. The next Friday I took it to show and tell at school. The other kids and the teacher liked it. I’ll never forget that feeling of acceptance from sharing my experience in color and shape. As children we all love the colors and our crayon expressions. But the reality is that everyone of us is an artist at heart. We just move on to share and express it in other ways.”
After studying painting and illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Williams went on to be an in-house Senior Artist/Designer for Hallmark Cards and DaySpring Cards for the next ten years.
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Trying to come up with different menu items for dinner can sometimes be a challenge. I wanted to make the Garden Chowder recipe, minus the chicken, and make a slightly larger batch. To go along with it I thought corn muffins sounded good. I grew up with Jiffy corn muffins. You can’t beat them! Until you read the list of ingredients. I’m trying really hard to limit ingredients, and to make everything from scratch. You wouldn’t believe how easy it can be. This is the perfect example. This recipe (from Food.com) is so fabulous. You’ve got to try it. I mistakenly bought WHITE cornmeal. It calls for YELLOW cornmeal. The only difference is the type of corn it comes from, and obviously, yellow cornmeal will result in better looking muffins, but they taste just as good!
Click HERE to print the recipe from Food.com!
This recipe has flour, yellow cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, canola oil, egg, and milk. That’s it. Nothing you cannot pronounce!
INGREDIENTS in the Jiffy mix: WHEAT FLOUR, DEGERMINATED YELLOW CORN MEAL, SUGAR, ANIMAL SHORTENING (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: LARD, HYDROGENATED LARD, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED LARD), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: BAKING SODA, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SALT, WHEAT STARCH, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, BHT PRESERVATIVE, TOCOPHEROL PRESERVATIVE, CITRIC ACID PRESERVATIVE, BHA PRESERVATIVE, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, SILICON DIOXIDE.
Jiffy-Like Corn Muffins from Food.com
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray muffin tin (makes 6 muffins) with cooking spray (I just used olive oil).
In medium bowl mix 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons canola oil.
Whisk together, then add:
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
Fill muffin tin 1/2 full. Bake 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees F.
I know, I know! What a treasure!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Paulette Insall. An abstract artist from the Portland, Oregon area. Her website is fabulous, and when you read about her, you’ll know why. A lot of work went into it, and it shows off her paintings beautifully. I love the orange color beside the greens in this painting. Nice with the movement and color!
What is it about orange tones and me? I love them. Next to this blue – whoa! Very nice. Love the layers. Paulette has many paintings, be sure to check them out!
Read a bit about Paulette from her website (I love this Paulette!):
So this is where I fill you in you in on the “mission” behind my work….the reason why I paint. Well, fully expressing this in words is quite a challenge, so I’ll start off with a quote I found years ago from artist Georgia O’Keeffe… “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” …so with that in mind, I’ll make an attempt at putting it into words….
My artistic process is about connecting….to my soul, my spirit, and God. My paintings are depictions of my soul’s landscape…….a visual record of my emotions and inner wordless dialog while engaged with the work, my spirit, and my Creator. Much like therapy, the creative process serves as a vehicle for reflection, transformation, and healing…letting what is deep inside, out. It also enables me to immerse myself in the Spirit, which brings me boundless joy and peace.
Much of my inspiration comes from nature and music….I find that both of these create a strong emotional response in my soul. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I am surrounded by a never ending wonderland of lush green forests…..and when the sun hits the tree covered hills….well it truly seems like I live where heaven meets earth. In my paintings, you can see the influence of the music in the flow of my brushwork and the influence of my surroundings in the palettes and compositions.
My hope is when you engage with my art that you will be brought into the present moment and you will see yourself in the work in some way…..that it opens a conversation with your soul….and starts a process of reflection…
…reminds you that you are surrounded by beauty and joy and wonder no matter your circumstances…
…that you are loved by your Creator…
..and that you are never, ever alone.
All images via PauletteInsall.com, used with permission…
If you are an Artist (or Emerging Artist) I welcome you to submit your website for a possible ARTIST TO WATCH future feature.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
See that peppermint toy. Oh, the fun this dog has with that thing! However, once he gets it in his mind he will work diligently to destroy the toy – darn it! It was necessary for him to have SOMETHING to chew, and it was Christmas, so… it’s all good!
Bye bye Peppermint Patty, you were fun while you lasted! Hee Hee… cHaRLiE
Catch you back here tomorrow!
For any of you out there who have yet to meet Charlie, let me introduce our six year old Jack Russell Terrier. He hasn’t been able to do this for quite a while, he tore his CCL (like an ACL in humans) and had surgery on Dec 8., so we are closing in one month – woohoo!
This almost looks like a “before” and “after” shot (actually more like an “after” and “before” shot! One leg shaved, and the other with long curls. Yesterday was the last day of his laser treatments. I swear they were amazing! More on that in another post. It’s news worth sharing!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Neighborhood Scene by Alex Beck – Gouache
Alex Beck. A style all his own. Do you know how hard that is to accomplish? His paintings are unique, fresh and different. They have fabulous color and I’m crazy about these neighborhood scenes of his. The bits of salmony color pink against the green of the roof and in the tree just grabbed me. Whoa!
Sketch in Arlington, VA by Alex Beck – Gouache 5×8″
Alex simplified all the “stuff” that is normally there, yet he kept just the right amount, this painting has interest, color, shadows and light. So much is left to your imagination, which is just how it should be.
Be sure to check out Alex’s paintings on his website, as well as his blog on Tumblr, Facebook and Instagram!
And… may I just say… WHAT A WEBSITE! I love when an artist puts their all into their website. It makes a difference, truly, it does! This is fabulous!
Read a bit about Alex, from his website:
Alex Beck, an award-winning painter and illustrator, maintains a studio in Arlington, Virginia. Known for his uncommonly versatile work in oil, acrylic, and gouache, his commissions and full-time work range from traditional formal portraits of Malcolm Gladwell to complex personal figurative painting. He is also professionally adapted to new technologies and digital painting. Beck’s work experience includes working as a concept/production artist for the Oscar/Emmy-winning animation house, Moonbot Studios and production work for Myachi Entertainment, The Design Center, and Tervis Tumbler. His work has received recognition in several juried gallery shows, including “Best of Show” in Illest of Ill and most recently garnering an “Honorable Mention” in the Crystal City Underground Gallery “Mayhem” Show.
In 2012, Alex curated his first solo show, Gadzooks. His illustrations have appeared in Arlington Magazine, Spectrum Fantastic Art Annual #19, and were showcased at the Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition in New York City. Currently, Alex commonly exhibits at local Washington Metropolitan venues. His work can also be found at his regularly updated site AlexTheBeck.tumblr.com where he curates for over 10,000 followers. Beck was formally trained at Ringling College of Art and Design, graduating with honors in 2012. He also expanded his training at the Illustration Academy in Kansas City, Missouri, The Masters Class at Amherst, Massachusetts, and The Art League of Alexandria, Virginia where he now teaches during the winter semester.
All images via AlexTheBeck.com, used with permission…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This is the Winward Villa by Flatfish Island Designs. This plan is 2,200 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms (but can be customized to include more/less). You really need to look at the real life images of this one. Stunning design. I love how you see through from the entrance, to the living space and through to the pool behind the house. Breathtaking! See that area on the right? It’s a pergola where you park. See the actual images! Very nice…
This house has plentiful storage, which is ideal! A few of my favorite aspects of this plan is that the guest rooms are secluded away from the master bedroom. I think it’s nicer for guests to be in a different wing of a house than it is right next to the master. I like the openness of the Kitchen/Living and the abundance of open air living with the wonderful courtyard areas accessible both from the living area as well as the Master Bedroom. The only thing I would (personally) change is to eliminate the water closets. I know that’s the style right now, but it’s too much for me, I’ve never been big on that concept. That’s just me…
See actual images of this home, interior and exterior. It really helps you visualize it. Stunning use of space!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Bill Rhea. He paints what we see all around us. Cars, cities, random objects – he takes these things and creates fabulous paintings. His website is wonderful and will bring a smile to your face. Be sure to check it out. He also has a blog on Tumblr: http://dirtandtreasure.tumblr.com – even more paintings!
Bill packed a lot of oomph into this 12×12″ painting! Love these colors, the abstract quality to it, just fabulous! Who knew an old truck could look so fantastic!
Read a bit about Bill, from his website:
The scenes I like to paint, the images that “grab me,” so to speak, always seem so obviously right that I’m surprised that I don’t have to stand in line to paint them.
Armed with a strong subject, it feels as if the composition will fall into place. A strongly composed picture – the composition being the “bones” of the picture, if you will – is a pleasure to paint and continually suggests that the next logical step in the painting process.
The thing that I like the most in painting is form and weight boldly indicated with light, shadow, and rich color. To paint something well is deeply satisfying and I feel there is wealthy of subject matter just waiting to be found.
Bill has worked at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco teaching both Still Life painting and Composition and Painting. He has had extensive experience painting plain-air in the Bay Area as well as Wyoming and the Tuscan region in Italy. In addition he continues to paint weekly with fellow artist in his home studio and continues to regularly take advantage of the rich opportunities present in San Francisco Bay Area. Read more… click HERE!
All images via BillRhea.com, used with permission…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This recipe is adapted from the Scalloped Potato recipe in Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book 12th Edition – I’ve made a few changes, but the basic recipe is fabulous as well!
This is also a great dish to make if you have leftover ham… sprinkle diced ham pieces into the casserole and it’s a full meal – can’t beat that!
Hmmm, why is this photo only showing half of the scalloped potato dish? It came out of the oven… we dug in… OOPS! P H O T O ! ! I’m only human, ha ha.
Click HERE to print the recipe without the extra babble.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Robert E. Buchanan does amazing things with watercolors. December Path is a nice, loose painting. I really like the moodiness of this painting. The sky is so typical of a sky seen in December, isn’t it? Great shadows!
This is another fabulous painting, Geometric Mood. Look at the detail. Quite different from the looser painting above. I love them both. I love the shadows in this painting, it makes it come alive!
Read a bit about Robert, from his website:
The work of Robert E. Buchanan reflects his love of nature and design. His goal is to create extraordinary images from everyday experiences and places. Whether working with watercolor, oil or acrylic, Robert’s work shows a mastery of technique and expression. Light, atmosphere and mood are key elements in all his paintings. His award winning portraits exhibit likeness as well as beautiful composition.
Born and raised in Norristown Pennsylvania, Robert E. Buchanan received his M.F.A. from Syracuse University. His work is in the Harley-Davidson Museum and he has received over 75 awards for his paintings. Numerous magazines and books have showcased his paintings. Robert’s work is in prominent collections all across the United States.
If you are an Artist (or Emerging Artist) I welcome you to submit your website for a possible future Artist To Watch post!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I love to take photographs of this place. Treats is a wonderful location to STOP at if you’re riding through Wiscasset, Maine. If you’re staying there it’s even better, you can keep popping in, breakfast, lunch and dinner! They have such an interesting array of merchandise. Their food and coffee is out of this world good. Soup like you can only dream of… I took this photo last fall. What a dream this place is!
Treats of Maine – A place to gather, eat & share… their logo, love it!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Exchange Street in Portland, Maine. All that cool brick and those beautiful buildings. So many interesting shops. Coffee shops, bakeries, bookstores, boutiques of all kinds, wonderful food.
Charleston, SC and Portland, ME have so much in common. They really are quite similar in many ways. Artsy, classy, beautiful and interesting! I could live here and be happy.
Funny, most places we go we say that we could live there, with very few exceptions (high traffic areas excluded)… Charleston, SC is such a charming town with so much to offer. You would be lucky to land in either location!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 