House Plan: White Plains by Our Town Plans!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans1 Comment

White Plain by Our Town Plans

This is the White Plains plan from Our Town Plans, and is it ever a beauty. This plan is 2,942 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Check out the real images on OurTownPlans.com website! I love the lines of this house!

White Plain by Our Town Plans

What do you notice right away? There are two master bedrooms, both located on the first floor. Genius! There are many circumstances where this plan would come in so handy!

I love how you see the staircase from the entry, and how the dining/living area shares a space. Perfect! An unscreened porch on the front and a screened porch on the back, you will be set no matter what the conditions!

White Plain by Our Town Plans

The upstairs has two bedrooms, both with bathrooms and closets, an office nook, and an Owner’s Closet. Nice to have storage!

All images via OurTownPlans.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: David Finnell!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

The Old Farmhouse by David Finnell 9x12%22 Watercolor

The Old Farmhouse by David Finnell  9×12″ Watercolor

David Finnell. Fabulous watercolors! I think there is a resurgence in the watercolor medium. Watercolor paintings are so wonderful! The light and looseness of the painting above adds so much character. The windows not showing all details, etc., the lines of the house… This is wonderful!

Waterford Post Office by David Finnell

Waterford Post Office by David Finnell 17×12″ Watercolor (Sold)

There are things in paintings that draw me in time after time. A good nocturne, especially one with a good moon and some stars – Whoa! A flag on a house, I love it! A mailbox. A simple mailbox adds so much. I am also drawn to orange. While this painting is not a nocturne with a moon and stars it does have a flag, mailbox and the color orange, ha ha… Just the perfect amount of detail was added to this painting. Really nice, and… sold…

Read a bit about David, from his website: (Had to include the Artist’s Statement – I love it!)

In the late 1980s, David began taking watercolor classes at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia. Since then, he has taken workshops with acclaimed watercolorists Tom Lynch, Tony Van Hasselt, Frank Webb, Ron Ranson, Marilynne Bradley, and the late Judi Wagner.

In June of 2015, David won the Quick Draw (non-juried category) at “Easels in Frederick” with his watercolor “Shadows on Church Street. In June 2014, David was one of 30 juried artists to take part in the annual plein-air competition in Frederick, Maryland.  This was his second year with “Easels in Frederick.”  Later in the summer, David painted in the plein-air competition in Alameda, California, where his painting “Crab Cove Close-up,” earned honorable mention.

David’s work appears regularly in regional art shows, including Waterford, Virginia, where his painting “Meandering down Main Street,” took both Best Watercolor and Best Waterford Scene this year.  His previous work earned a yellow ribbon in 2013, Best Civil War Scene in 2011, Honorable Mention in 2009, Best Waterford Scene in 2007, and Best Watercolor in 2006.  

This spring, David’s watercolor “The Hi Neighbor” was selected by the Chamber of Commerce of Strasburg, Virginia, for its official Mayfest print, the second time his work has been so chosen.  

He lives in the Shenandoah Valley with his wife, Marcie, and daughter, Jenny.  He teaches English at Sherando High School in Stephens City.

Artist’s Statement

I am Grandma Moses without the fame. At a late age, I picked up a brush for the first time, wanting to try something new and eager to develop my artistic eye. Drawn to watercolor’s exquisite freshness and at times maddening unpredictability, I spent the next twenty-five years learning my craft.  My watercolors explore in a loose, impressionistic manner the happy collisions between the natural and the man-made – the dilapidated gray barn sinking into the dry weeds, the precision of a red-brick wall against the riot of wisteria, great billowing clouds over hard, thin rooflines. More so now, I paint outdoors.  There’s nothing quite as thrilling of being there with a palette, an easel, a mop brush, and blank paper. Grandma Moses once famously said, “If I hadn’t started painting, I would have raised chickens.” I don’t care for chickens.

All images via DavidFinnellWatercolors.com, used with permission…

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

I love a good bio and artist’s statement! Love it! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Roasted Cauliflower – Quick, Easy & SO WONDERFUL!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

Roasted Cauliflower | Art Food Home

Roasted Cauliflower. I love it! It gets nice and sweet and the flavor profile changes completely when you roast it. It’s so quick and easy to do.

Did you realize there are different colors of cauliflower? Green, purple and plain white. I chose a purple cauliflower this time (they all taste the same) – it was fun! I break into fairly small florets, they take less time to roast. If you have the time you can leave them in larger pieces. We were having this with grilled chicken, so I didn’t have a lot of time, therefore the small pieces.

Break the cauliflower into florets and drizzle with a little olive oil in a large bowl. Swirl the cauliflower around with your hands to coat it thoroughly. Then lightly grease (I always use olive oil or organic canola oil) a cookie sheet (this one I use for roasting). Turn the oven on 400 degrees F. Once the oven has preheated, place the cauliflower on the cookie sheet and space the florets out a bit, a little sprinkle of S&P. This will roast for 25-45 minutes (depending upon thickness). Flip about halfway through, you will see that the cauliflower is browning, this is GOOD, this is TASTY STUFF! Once it passes the fork test (fork easily goes through a thicker piece of cauliflower), it’s ready to eat! You can eat just like it is, or a quick little sprinkle of parmesan.

Speaking of parmesan… not the brands that apparently have wood filler in them, sigh…

Purple Cauliflower | Art Food Home

Portrait of my cauliflower – Hee.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Embrace the cloudy days…

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTS6 Comments

Tree of Life

I saw this tree a month or so ago and it stopped me in my tracks. I quickly grabbed my phone and snapped a photo. I walked out of a neat little design shop (Elizabeth Stuart Design or ESD as we call it), and walking back to the car saw this tree in the parking lot. It was the wild sky and the bright sun that made it stand out.

This tree makes me think of how strong people are when they need to be. When the wind is whipping, the sky is gray and life has problems or uncertainty remember…

The sun is soon to follow.

Let the sun warm you and make you smile. Soon things will turn around, there will be leaves on the trees, more sun in the sky and life will feel better…

Embrace the cloudy days, for they make the sunny days that much more special.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Robin Cheers!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Capital Haze Study by Robin Cheers

Capital Haze Study  16×12″  Oil

I featured Robin Cheers about a year ago, she’s an artist with a unique perspective and fabulous paintings, it’s no wonder she is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society! This piece is very different from what I featured last time.

The painting above is a study, and it’s fabulous. Full of life and power lines. Those power lines add so much character. Robin has packed just enough detail into this painting to make it really fabulous!

Read a bit about Robin, from her website:

Robin Cheers is an Austin artist working in the impressionist tradition with a contemporary style focused on representing the figure and every day life.

Working directly from life and utilizing photos for those hard to hold poses, Robin is driven by a passionate desire to capture the essentials of light and life. Spontaneous brushwork,  abstracting shapes and working alla prima creates expressive art that speaks from the heart. Recent ventures into printmaking and sculpting continue to inform her body of work.

As an active member of her local art community, Robin hosts twice monthly figure painting sessions and teaches drawing and painting. Her work is in private and corporate collections worldwide.

All images via RobinCheers.com, used with permission…

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

Catch you back here tomorrow!

House Plan: TNH SC 31A by Moser Design Group!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House PlansLeave a comment

TNH SC 31A by Moser Design Group

This a small cottage plan, TNH SC 31A by Moser Design Group. Thoughtful design means that you can pack greater livability into a smaller footprint. This works well for a small family, or a couple downsizing. This plan has a wonderful front porch, which I absolutely love!

Click to access sc31a1.pdf

TNH SC 31A by Moser Design Group

This layout would work well for us… Living, Kitchen – nice and open. Bedroom #1 I would use as a Guest Room, Bedroom #2 I would make into a Study and also use for storage. The Master in the back is fabulous with the Utility room close by. Perfect! All of Moser Design Group’s plans are fabulous – check them out!

All images via MoserDesignGroup.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: Carol Jenkins!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

Early Spring by Carol Jenkins

Early Spring by Carol Jenkins  20×24″  Oil

Carol Jenkins. Her work stands out. I love the lighting in this piece. That ground looks hard and cold, but with that wonderful gold glow… Fabulous barn!

Island Harbor by Carol Jenkins

Island Harbor by Carol Jenkins  16×20″  Oil

Just look at this water! It feels as if I am on the shore looking out at this boat, the water is smooth as glass in some areas which is just fabulous. This painting caught my attention right away. Fabulous!

Read a bit about Carol, from her website:

I was born to an artistic Massachusetts family. I started drawing and painting very early. My home was filled with beautiful paintings done by my great grandmother. She traveled to the White Mountains in New Hampshire in the 1890″s to paint”en plein air”. I was inspired by these paintings and encouraged by my family. I always knew I wanted to be an artist.

I recieved a National Scholastic Art Scholarship in high school to go to the art school of my choice.I dreamed of becoming an illustrator and choose Vesper George School of Art in Boston.

One of my teachers was Robert Douglas Hunter. He noticed my talent and encouraged me to
move from commercial art to fine art. I transferred to the School of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, Massachusetts and majored in painting.

In my early twenties I had an urge to travel and headed west. I was struck by the awesome beauty of the Rocky Mountains.I settled in the historic mining town of Ward, Colorado, surronded by National Forest and near the Indian Peaks Wilderness area .Hiking, backpacking, and living in a small town suited me . I am still here today.

After many years of working with pastels, I felt like holding a brush again.I decided to get serious about oils and signed up for workshops with the best teachers and painters I could find. I studied with Kim English, Skip Whitcomb, Kang Cho,Greg Kreutz, George Strickland, Carolyn Anderson and Kevin Weckbach.I can’t begin to describe how great it is to spend time with teachers so willing to share their knowledge and experience.

I enjoy painting just about anything – landscapes, interiors, buildings and figures, but my greatest love is plein air painting. The weather, the light, and the land all become part of me. Heading out into nature,looking around and being inspired by a beautiful composition and translating that to my canvas right then and there is always exciting to me.

I still love to travel to New England, Florida and the mountains and deserts of the Southwest. You can often find me happily painting on the side of a road, in some grubby alleyway, or off on some trail past the “no trespassing” sign.

All images via CarolJenkinsOils.com, used with permission…

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

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Captivating design – this is something you don’t want to live without!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Image via Rad Empire

R A D Felt Pouch

R A D EMPIRE – brilliant design. Clever. Modern & sophisticated. MADE IN THE USA! This company should be on your list of small businesses to support. RAD Empire was started by Ross DeWaard, a 17 year old high school student from Viroqua, Wisconsin. Ross started R A D Empire “in an effort to create a useful, everyday product that was well designed, beautiful in its simplicity, but most importantly, handmade in America (by me).”  Handmade in the USA.

GO ROSS!! We need more people like you!

Photo: R A D Empire

Cool branding… I am impressed! I love the website, the cool tags, every detail has been thought of and it shows! In addition to the wonderful products and the visual appeal is a stunning website. 5 stars!! The website has a link to R A D Empire’s Etsy shop, where you can order online. I was happy to see that they also accept PayPal. Shipping is free… prices are great… check it out!

Image via RAD-EMPIRE

R A D Canvas Pouch

I placed an order and quickly received a shipment confirmation, and not long after it arrived in the mail. Wrapped in brown paper and tied with string – First class!  Again… impressed! I didn’t show you everything on his website so go check it out! I cannot wait to use it!

Read a bit about R A D Empire, from their website:

In the year 2015, RAD Empire was created. My goal was to create a beautifully hand made, durable, made in America product. 
RAD Empire utilizes high quality materials, some new, some
recalimed (to give reclaimed materials another incredible life in this world). With great attention to detail, every bag is designed to withstand the test of time. The more you use it, the better it looks, and everyday use is what this product needs and wants. New, reclaimed, we’ve joined these two materials to create one great product!At RAD Empire we don’t tell people our dreams, we show them.Look, seek, find!!

All images via R A D Empire, used with permission…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Emerging Artists: Aaron Bowles and Zachary Mendoza!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Emerging ArtistLeave a comment

Emerging Artists

Now and then I like to share some emerging artists with you… take a peek! What a treat…

AARON BOWLES

Getting' Fixed Up by Aaron Bowles
 Gettin’ Fixed Up 24×18″

I think this is such a nice painting. The colors are fabulous. These boats have a regal air about them, high on their pedestals. Wonderful painting!

Read a bit about Aaron, from his website:

Born in Charlottesville, Aaron is a lifelong Virginian, where he went to college to study painting and design, and continues to live today. After many years as a digital creative director and freelance illustrator, which he continues, Aaron began to pursue his dream of becoming a painter.

Aaron studied painting at East Carolina University, and holds a bachelors degree from Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied communication arts, painting, and English. He continued his art education at the graduate level by studying painting at George Mason University. A former assistant professor of design, he taught art at George Mason and Northern Virginia Community College. He exhibits nationally and is in numerous institutional and private collections. Read more HERE…

ZACHARY MENDOZA

Albert Camus by Zach Mendoza

Albert Camus by Zach Mendoza  11×14″  Oil

Great colors! Love the different darks with pops of light. The face is fabulous, especially that one eye and the wild abstractness – great combo! Albert Camus was a French philosopher, author and journalist. At first glance this painting reminded me of a cross between Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Downey Jr.! Whoa! Nice painting!

Read a bit about Zach, (info from the artist), also be sure to check out his website!:

Zach K. Mendoza is a painter and illustrator who lives in Eagle Rock, California and recently graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. As a painter he is dry much interested in exploring both temporal directions of art history , the past and the not yet known. Armed with both a fascination of the past and an obsession to experiment, Zach makes work that often explores these predilections. Francis Bacon once said “I want a very ordered image but I want it to come about by chance”. The dichotomy of chaos and order is a fundamental component of Zach’s practice.

All images via ABowles.com and ZachKMendoza.com, used with permission…

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

A big thank you to Aaron and Zach for submitting their websites!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Mackinac Island Trail – Can you hear the silence?

On By Barbara StroudIn Michigan, Photograph4 Comments

Mackinac Island Trail – Michigan

Have you ever been in such silence that you can hear it? Most of us are in areas with noise, a lot of noise. From traffic to assorted yard tools the sounds are endless. When you get away to someplace wonderful like Mackinac Island and you bike and hike, if you get into the woods it’s the most wonderful silence. It’s just heavenly!

Who knew silence could be so loud, ha ha!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Cody Delong!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

Pewter Purple n' Orange by Cody Delong

Pewter, Purple n’ Orange by Cody Delong  16×20″  Oil

Cody Delong. Some mesmerizing paintings. Lovely work! He paints such a wide variety of landscapes – each one is just beautiful. His colors, and the underpainting peeking through in the still life above is just glorius. Also love the orange reflection in the pitcher!

Read more about Cody’s Classes and Workshops, Also check out his River Trip in 2017 – what a painting adventure that would be – WOW… the scenery is breathtaking!

Land of Few Fences by Cody Delong

Land of Few Fences by Cody Delong  24×36″  Oil

I have never actually seen the dessert, or this type of landscape. So seeing it in paintings is so interesting to me. I love the color of the earth, the mountains and that stunning sky. It’s fabulous how the sun hits, so beautifully…

Read a bit about Cody, from his website:

Each painting I do begins with an idea, something that’s inspired me.  I try to distill this into my own underlying abstract design and interpretation of nature.  The balance I’m searching for lies in creating a work that is technically proficient as well as ‘painterly’, with great color and sense of light and drama.

A life long student of art, Cody has studied at the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, as well as the Scottsdale Artists School, where, in 2003, he was awarded a Merit-based Scholarship.  In 2004, the Oil Painters of America selected him as that year’s Shirl Smithson Scholarship winner.  In 2009 Cody was awarded a Teacher’s Scholarship by the Marilyn Sunderman Legacy Fund for his innovative workshop techniques.

In 2006, one of Cody’s paintings was selected for inclusion in a ‘coffee-table’ style book, titled Plein Air New Mexico, The Jack Richeson Series – Volume One.  Three other paintings were included in The Richeson 75 International – Landscape and Exteriors 2007. Read more HERE…

All images via CodyDelong.com, used with permission…

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

Catch you back here tomorrow!

House Plan: 248 Abbeville by Our Town Plans

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House PlansLeave a comment

248 Abbeville | Our Town Plans

This is the 248 Abbeville Rd plan from Our Town Plans – it’s gorgeous isn’t it? This plan is 3,538 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. This plan is as wonderful on the inside as it is on the outside! I could see myself spending a lot of time on this porch!

248 Abbeville | Our Town Plans Main

This plan is so fabulous, wonderful if you entertain, or if you have a large family. Off the Kitchen you may notice a Keeping Room – which is like the gathering place near the Kitchen, which is where everyone always ends up. So smart that some plans now include space for extra people to gather and hang out! While the Kitchen and Keeping Room right off the Living/Dining area. You can be in any area and communicate and feel like part of the action. The Kitchen also has a PANTRY! Which I absolutely love! The Laundry Room is near the side porch, next to a Mud Room. WONDERFUL! On the other side of the house is the downstairs Master Bedroom and Bath.

And the porches… ahhhh! Lovely!

248 Abbeville | Our Town Plans UP

More Bedrooms and Bathrooms upstairs. Like I said, wonderful for a large family or for guests! I like that there is also a sitting room upstairs!

All images via OurTownPlans.com, used with permission…

IMAGES ARE NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPRODUCTION, THEY ARE PROPERTY OF THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM.