Featured Artist: Erin Hanson!

Crystal Dawn by Erin Hanson 50x40 Oil

Crystal Dawn by Erin Hanson 50×40 Oil

Erin Hanson. Unique, different, colorful, fabulous! I love her paintings. Just look at these fabulous tree shadows, that wonderful color against the purple and the magical trees. Talk about drawing you in! Wow. Erin’s work is fresh.

Saguaro Dusk by Erin Hanson 48x48 Oil

Saguaro Dusk by Erin Hanson 48×48  Oil

Another one of Erin’s paintings that just blew me away. I feel as if I’m right there in the Arizona desert with her. Erin hikes, rock climbs and visits all kinds of wonderful locations. Be sure to read her bio, it’s amazing, as is her website. She gives so many details for those looking to buy. Very nice!

Read a bit about Erin, from her website:

Hanging precariously and horizontally from red sandstone, hundreds of feet above the ground, may not seem like it would inspire the creation of beautiful oil paintings, but that is exactly what happened with Erin Hanson. After a lifetime of experimenting in different styles and mediums, it wasn’t until Hanson began rock climbing at Red Rock Canyon that her painting style was consolidated by a single inspiration and force of nature.

Erin Hanson began painting as a young girl, voraciously learning oils, acrylics, watercolor, pen and ink, pastels, and life drawing from accomplished art instructors.  She began commissioning paintings at age ten, and by age twelve, she was employed after school by a mural studio, learning the techniques of acrylics on the grand scale of forty-foot canvases.  Two years later, a high school scholarship took her to Otis College of Art, where she immersed herself in figure drawing. Graduating high school at age sixteen and once again demonstrating that she was a child prodigy, Hanson next attended UC Berkeley, excelling further in her studies and creative development and attaining a degree in Bioengineering. 

After graduating from college, Hanson entered the art trade as a professional, inspired by landscapes and vantage points only beheld by the most adventurous. Rock climbing among the brilliantly colored cliffs of Nevada and Utah, watching the seasons and the light change daily across the desert, provided endless inspiration for her work.  In these beautiful surroundings, Hanson decided firmly to dedicate herself to creating one painting every week for the rest of her life.  She has stuck to that decision ever since and has for the past decade been developing a unique, minimalist technique of placing impasto paint strokes without layering, which has become known as “Open-Impressionism.” As other artists began emulating her painting techniques, Hanson was credited as the pioneer and originator of this contemporary style.

Through the years, Hanson has continued to use the outdoors to inspire a huge collection of work.  She visits the Colorado plateau every year, backpacking and hiking through areas such as Zion National Park, Canyon de Chelly, and Monument Valley.  Other favorite haunts include Paso Robles, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Anza-Borrego desert.  Erin Hanson transforms these landscapes into abstract mosaics of color and texture, her impasto application of paint lending a sculptural effect to her art.  Her oil paintings stand out in a crowd, bringing a fresh new look to Western landscapes.

All images via ErinHanson.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A day filled with beastie wishes!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy cHaRLiE!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy cHaRLiE!

Beastie wishes? Yep. Happy Birthday to Charlie (our Jack Russell) – he turns 7 today!

SEVEN?! Where does the time go? Ha ha…  It seems like yesterday that he was pulling toilet paper off the roll and tearing through the house with it. Charlie still acts like he’s a puppy, for which we are grateful (most of the time). This dog has so much character it’s unbelievable!

Happy Birthday Charlie – we wish you many more!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Guess the artist ANSWER: Colin Page!

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Tenants Harbor Glare by Colin Page 16×20 Oil

UPDATED! The artist is COLIN PAGE!

This one was guessed before I even had a chance to share it to FB – a record! Thank you to Joe Fidler, Susan Graeber and Mary Sheehan Winn for guessing! Woohoo!! Colin’s paintings are fabulous and he has a style all his own! This is a treasure!

Over the next few weeks (until I run out of paintings), I am posting one of our paintings and then seeing who can GUESS THE ARTIST. I have retouched this photo on the bottom right corner to remove the artist’s signature.

Do you know the name of this artist?

Comment on my Facebook page or on this blog…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

 

House Plan: The Macon Residence by Lake and Land Studio!

Macon Residence by Lake and Land Studio

This is the Macon Residence house plan by Lake and Land Studio. The total square footage of this plan is 4,059 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. I love the unique layout. There is a guest suite/apartment on the left side (1 Bedroom/1 Bathroom) and a residence on the other. It’s really much more than a guest suite, I would be happy to live in it! Perfect for someone visiting, or a relative that you would like living nearby! It would give them all the space that they need and you would be right next door.

The exterior of this home is exquisite. Can you imagine?

Macon Residence by Lake and Land Studio

(Can click to enlarge image). The guest cottage on the left has a wonderful front porch, you enter into the living room. There is a Living, Bedroom, Kitchen, Bathroom, front and back porch – wonderful, right?! Perfection!

The main house has a nice front porch with entry near the Dining room. This is a nice open plan Kitchen, Great Room, wonderful back porch and a master suite downstairs. I wouldn’t change a thing!

Macon Residence by Lake and Land Studio

Upstairs there are two more Bedrooms, a nice Bathroom, closets and a Family room! Perfect when you need more than one entertaining space!

Check out the Lake and Land Studio website, click on the orange Check out the details for this plan (what a fabulous website they have)!

All images via LakeAndLandStudio.com, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the design firm.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Galen Cheney!

Miss Simone by Galen Cheney 24x20" Oil

Miss Simone by Galen Cheney  24×20″  Oil

Galen Cheney. Her style is fabulous. I don’t know why the word buoyant comes to mind but it does. Her paintings have life in them.

So many wonderful paintings. The oranges in this painting scream PICK ME, PICK ME! Before I knew the title, I thought that this painting looked like a lady’s head. Exactly, this is Miss Simone, and she is FABULOUS! Be sure to check out the rest of Galen’s work!

Stork by Galen Cheney 24x20 Oil

Stork by Galen Cheney 24×20 Oil

I always think it’s fun to look at abstract paintings to see if anything jumps out at me. I looked at this painting and instantly thought STORK. It’s that fabulous stork color that did it, and the curved strokes, fabulous!

There is a crispness to this painting. Together the color palette sings, I especially love the small dark strokes on the “stork” color pink, which makes them look like shadows. Fabulous green against the “stork” pink. Love this one too!

Read a bit about Galen, from the artist:

Galen Cheney has been painting professionally for 25 years.  After receiving a BA from Mount Holyoke College and an MFA from the Maryland Institute, College of Art she lived in Italy and then criss-crossed her way across the US doing a variety of work from writing for a travel magazine in New York City to carving at a bronze foundry in Portland, Oregon.  She now works exclusively as an artist and teacher.  Galen has received much recognition for her painting, including a nomination for a Joan Mitchell Foundation grant and residency fellowships to the Millay Colony, the Vermont Studio Center, and most recently, Da Wang Culture Highland in Shenzhen, China.

It’s pretty impressive to be nominated for a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant!

There is a fabulous interview with Saatchi Art and Galen from 2013, read it HERE.

All images via GalenCheney.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston, SC Voted #1 City in the World by Travel & Leisure Magazine!

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC – it’s quite a city, that’s for sure! Charleston, SC has been voted the World’s Best City. Wow.

Last year we were number 2 on the list, still impressive – and we’re the number one city in the US and Canada for the fifth year in a row!

So, if you ever are wondering where to take a vacation, this is the place! I think I would plan ahead, I think it’s going to get busier!

From the historic treasures this city has to offer, to the beautiful architecture and food that will blow you away – it’s no wonder!

This blip about Charleston, SC – from Travel + Leisure’s website:

Charleston moved up from the No. 2 city in the world last year to No. 1. The city has shown incredible resilience and, as one reader wrote, there is still “no place quite like it.” In addition to historic battlegrounds and jasmine-scented streets, Charleston is home to award-winning hotels (including the Spectator, No. 2 in the world this year) and restaurants. Antebellum charm, excellent boutiques, and the beautiful waterfronts at Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach make this city one of the most beloved in the U.S.—and now, the world.

That’s quite an honor –  Catch you back here tomorrow!

Monhegan Photo – The Lupine Gallery in Fog

Lupine Gallery, Monhegan, Maine

The Lupine Gallery swaddled in fog. Heavenly, isn’t it? The Lupine Gallery is one of our favorite places to visit on Monhegan island. We visit (at least) daily. They have the most wonderful art work, from fabulous artists. The upstairs of this building is so amazing, you won’t ever want to leave!

While the gallery isn’t open year around, they do have a fabulous website! If you’re in Maine and happen to visit Monhegan, don’t miss this gallery!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Morning Conversation by Carol Bass!

Can you guess the artist?

Morning Conversation by Carol Bass  60×60″ Acrylic

We have a winner! Thank you to Susan Baker for guessing the artist’s name on this painting – great job!

This painting is by a wonderful woman who we admire so much, Carol Bass. Her website is amazing – her work is amazing and always upbeat!

This painting makes a happy statement – we love it!

Over the next few months (until I run out of paintings), I am posting one of our paintings and then seeing who can GUESS THE ARTIST. This painting is signed on the back, so no need to retouch the artist’s signature…

Do you know the name of this artist?

Comment on my Facebook page or on this blog…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Image not for reproduction – it is property of the artist…

House Plan: The Kensington by Karoleena!

Kensington by Karoleena FRONTThis is the Kensington Plan by Karoleena. This plan is 1,700 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. I love the sleek design. If you aren’t familiar with Karoleena I urge you to check them out. Their plans are wonderful. These homes are built in British Columbia and shipped just about everywhere. They have a fabulous website, it explains their process, shows the design in much more detail than what I’m showing you. You can even get pricing information for everything. It’s out of this world! Just wait until you see the floor plan!

The Kensington Plan by Karoleena MAIN

I love how the living area (Living Room, Dining, Kitchen) is located on one “wing” and the bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry are located on the opposite “wing”. It keeps things nice and quiet, giving privacy which is sometimes hard to do. Be sure to check out their website, there are many more images – Click HERE to see images (interior and exterior!) of the different plans, the Kensington plan included!

All images via Karoleena.com, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the architectural firm.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Peter Sheeler!

Sketch and Wash by Peter Sheeler

Every one of Peter’s sketches are amazing – I love to watch him and I could watch his videos all day long! He makes it look incredibly easy. I love how he sketched the power pole and power lines… Fabulous!

Here is one of Peter Sheeler’s videos – like I said, I could watch him sketch all day long! He has many videos, be sure to subscribe to his YouTube Channel and receive notification of his latest videos! Click here to see more of his videos: https://m.youtube.com/c/petersheelerart

A bit about Peter from his YouTube:

Pen, Pencil and watercolor tutorials. A professional Artist for many years, my focus is now on smaller works, Urban sketching and sharing my techniques.

Every bit of this video is fabulous – they all are! Enjoy! Here is the link to the video below in case you need it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UcaDeNOGyg

All images via Peter Sheeler’s YouTube site, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Lyn Boyer!

Living on the Light Side by Lyn Boyer 16x12 Oil - SOLD
Living on the Light Side by Lyn Boyer 16×12 Oil – SOLD

Lyn Boyer. Dramatic paintings. They catch your eye – Stunning! How wonderful is the shadow AND the light on this building? Great mountains in the background and shadows in the foreground… this is just beautiful! It is also… Sold.

Portrait of a Longhorn by Lyn Boyer 12x16 Oil
Portrait of a Longhorn by Lyn Boyer 12×16 Oil

Another wonderful painting. This longhorn looks deep in thought, with the wonderful clouds swirling behind… I love the color in the sky on the bottom right hand side above the horizon. Wow!

Read a bit about Lyn, from her website:

After returning from studying art in Melbourne, Australia, Lyn began a 25 year career as an American illustrator garnering awards from the Society of Illustrators, the Art Director’s Club, the Illustrators Workshops, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Dennos Museum, among others. Her clients have included – The Atlantic Monthly, The Chicago Tribune, Discover Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Book of the Month Club, Julliard, AT&T, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, World Book, World Vision, MCI, Kellog, Herman Miller, Proctor & Gamble, Zondervan, Baker Bookhouse… Lyn brings to her work the heart of a painter and the developed eye of an illustrator. She lives in Durango, Colorado devoting her time to capturing the nuances of the West – capturing a sense of place. Lyn accepts a limited number of students for individual or small group instruction and also continues her career as an illustrator.

All images via LynBoyer.WordPress.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!