There is nothing better than walking around Charleston, SC taking photos. There are so many beautiful things to take photos of, it’s hard to stop. You can literally be walking for hours and not even realize it!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Artist to Watch: Mary Erickson!
Wind on the Water by Mary Erickson 12×24″ Oil
Mary Erickson. What wonderful colors in the water! The reflections, the bird, grasses, trees all so nice and so serene. This painting captures the coastal areas so nicely.
Path to the Sun by Mary Erickson 8×8″ Oil
Mary is well known for her beach scenes. She has a way of painting sand, it’s just beautiful. I love the footpath to the beach. Think of all the people who have made their journey through this area… Isn’t that hint of sun at the far end just stunning? You just know that when you step off of this path you are stepping into sunshine, which sounds fabulous during these cooler months!
Read a bit about Mary, from her website:
Mary Erickson grew up sketching the beaches of Long Island Sound and sold her first painting to Gulf+Western Industries in Stamford, Connecticut at 13.She studied at the University of Bridgeport and Sacred Heart University, and initially worked in small business management. Erickson’s passion for painting, and a move to Florida in 1986, stirred the desire to pursue art as a career. Finally, she realized a long held dream, and in 1993, Mary began painting professionally.
Preferring to work on location, in the tradition of painters since the French Impressionists, Mary travels extensively. She creates field studies (plein air) then returns to the studio to produce large paintings using the visual knowlege and critical information gathered in the field.Painting tours have taken her to Spain, Guatemala, Argentina, Ireland and throughout the United States. Whether solitary excursions (like scouring the coast of Maine for painting sites with her rescue dog, Maggie) or group efforts with other professionals or students, Mary believes these painting trips are essential to an artist’s career and growth. Future trips are planned to Italy, France, Costa Rica, Mexico and New Zealand.
Erickson currently maintains studios in Marshville, NC and Venice, FL. In the summer she rents a large house in Port Clyde, ME and shares the experience with other professional artists. Daily painting excursions and art talks into the night typify the weeks into early September. Read more HERE…
Be sure to check out Mary’s upcoming EVENTS for 2016.
Thank you Mary for submitting your website for a possible feature – what a treat!!
All images via MaryEricksonArt.com, used with permission…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
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!
2013 Best Retirement Home (Plan) /Architect: Jon Nystrom – as seen in Fine Homebuilding Magazine!
This home was built with so much thought. What happens when an architect and his wife plan a home that will serve them well into retirement (other than 2013 Retirement Home of the Year)? A stunning, beautiful, well thought out plan emerges, that’s what happens! There was a wonderful article in Fine Homebuilding magazine, be sure to read that article, you won’t want to miss it! In the article, Jon explains some of the details and why he designed it like he did. Fabulous!
I love this plan. It’s not a massive home, but it’s so well thought out that it could work out better for you than a large home in many cases. There is one bedroom in this house, but there is also an Office. So if it needed to be another Bedroom, it’s a quick and easy movement of furniture. In this plan the Kitchen, Dining, Living areas are open, and look out onto a Patio. If you notice there aren’t hallways that take up space. It makes each area more roomy, here, Jon was thinking about the future, easy access is important. I’ve always wondered about hallways. They can be beautiful but they take up so much space and all you do is walk through them.
You can see how the plan is situated on the site it’s built on in an article from Fine Homebuilding Magazine.
This is the Guest House – The Guest House is not connected to the house. It can be used for guests, for long or short term rental, and in the future possibly to house a caretaker that would allow them to live independently in their homes for as long as possible.
What a dream, right?
This is the back of the house which is the perfect extension of this home. (Image from Fine Homebuilding article) – What you see in the foreground is a lap pool, then the fire pit, and just look into this house. Just beautiful! What a dream!
You can contact Jon Nystrom via his website!
All images via JonNystromArchitect.com, used with permission…
IMAGES ARE NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPRODUCTION, THEY ARE PROPERTY OF THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM.
Featured Artist: John Wentz!
Passages No. 15 by John Wentz
John Wentz, a California artist with a twist. I like the idea of not seeing every little bit of a painting, leaving something to my imagination. I think these three women are incredible. John captured a moment – he captured it so well that I keep going back to those three woman wondering what are they are talking about?
Is the one on the right saying I told you so? Is the one in the middle smirking, or just wanting to get to her lunch destination? How about the one on the left? She looks like she could possibly be the one on the right’s sister? Behind her sunglasses, I believe her eyes are rolling back in her head.
See what a good thing it is to use your imagination? I can come up with an infinite number of scenarios, ha ha… Interesting, different and very cool, be sure to check out John’s paintings!
Read a bit about John, from his website:
John Wentz is a contemporary painter whose process resides in an area between rigid technicality and honest expression. Working within the classical idiom of the human figure, his goal is to reduce and simplify the image to it’s core fundamentals: composition, color, and paint application. Paint application and brush strokes are broad and simplified as a means to connect and convey these ideas to the viewer in a way that only painting can.
John was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. His interest in art began at the age of 6 when he first discovered Batman and Spiderman comic books. After years of copying comics panel by panel he worked in the commercial arts as a muralist, billboard creator and freelance illustrator. After learning to paint by doing airbrushed billboards, he decided to pursue Fine Art and work in oils. Since then, he has had 3 solo exhibitions in San Francisco and numerous group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. His works have appeared in many publications and have won multiple awards. John now paints full time in his studio in Alameda, CA.
All images via WentzArt.net, used with permission…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Kitchen Gadget: SNAPI! You will want salad every night!
This is something I received for Christmas that I absolutely adore! This little gadget (inside the salad bowl) is called a SNAPI “the single handed server”. It will make you want to prepare a nice big salad each and every night, just so that you can use it! You can hold your plate with one hand and use Snapi with the other. You only need one hand, it does the work. Then with the press of a button it locks closed for easy storage, then just squeeze together and it open. It picks up so much better than ANYTHING I’ve ever used. What fun!
You know how when you get to the bottom of the salad bowl that’s where all the “good stuff” is. Not with Snapi. It picks up from top to bottom, nothing is left at the bottom. Read more about it HERE. Snapi is available at many locations…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Emerging Artist to Watch: Mary Michaela Murray!
Weigh In by Mary Michaela Murray 20×30″ Oil
First I would like to mention that I have changed the theme (layout-wise) of this blog to have images larger. However, that appears to sacrifice all the “widgets” on the right hand sidebar (search, categories, top posts, etc.) – I am working on it, if that cannot be resolved I will switch back to the previous layout. Just a little info for ya!
Continuing on the Artist to Watch Series (relatively new to this blog) is an emerging artist with great style and some really nice paintings. Her name is Mary Michaela Murray. This painting looks like it could be the original for a farmer’s market poster. You know the ones, they’re always so wonderful!. Great shadows and color!
Cut Up by Mary Michaela Murray 30×20″ Oil
I have to say, I love when you buy one and get two free! Buy one painting and get the two paintings within the painting! These paintings of paintings are fabulous – Great job. I love seeing paintings of art supplies, paintings, etc. A peek into the artist’s world!
Read a bit about Mary, from her website:
Color moves me, and at once, arrests me—a sunny lemon on a cool blue tabletop; a punch of pink against a neutral gray vase; a patch of grass jumping from the purple shadows. These things compel me to stop, take notice, and breathe. I paint to recapture these moments.
Humble objects and ordinary scenes from my daily life inspire me to linger. It might be an oddly shaped spaghetti squash, the cyan of ceramic bowl, or a simple can of tuna on a counter. From these mundane snapshots I engage the objects, arranging layered relationships between figure and ground, light and shadow, color and value. This is when the fun begins, when I get “out of the way of myself” to freely interpret what is before me, and by tilting planes, jacking colors, skewing perspective, add drama to images we see every day.
In the end, it is not about mirroring what I see but sharing the pleasure I have in looking and lingering.
All images via MaryMichaelaMurray.com, used with permission…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
I would like to thank Mary for submitting to my website – what a treat, I hate to think I could have missed an artist!
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!
Riding in Style!
Yes… A dog stroller.
Sometimes you just do what you have to do!
Charlie (dog) is on the mend from a torn CCL (like an ACL in humans). No running, jumping, etc for quite a while. WE need to walk and so… The stroller, that way he can get out and get some fresh air too. I do wish I had one of those cameras to show you video of the looks 😳 we get. He will be back walking like normal at some point, just not yet.
What fun!
Catch you you back here tomorrow!
Monhegan flowers…
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!
Featured Artist: Eric Merrell!
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!
Be sure to check out the newly released video (Joshua Tree State Park), it’s fabulous! :
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!
House Plan: Lambert Cottage by Lake and Land Design Studio!
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!
B i g N e w s ! ! !
(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…
images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the design firm.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Featured Artist: Todd Williams!
Winter Sunset III by Todd Williams
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 by Todd Williams
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.
Today, he excels in his ability to paint all subject matter using spontaneous brushwork and creative virtuosity. Most of the time he can be found painting en plein air. Through this discipline he has found his own recognizable voice, which is now becoming his signature style. Read more HERE…
All images via ToddWilliamsFineArt.com, used with permission…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
How to make corn muffins that taste like JIFFY…
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!
Artist to Watch: Paulette Insall!
Under the Veil by Paulette Insall 20×16″ Acrylic and Mixed Media
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!
Walk with Me by Paulette Insall 20×20″ Acrylic and Mixed Media
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…
Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.
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!
You were fun while you lasted…
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!
Looks like a before and after shot – Dog CCL (ACL) tear…
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!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 