americana – Art and Musings by Marnie

Painting Challenge Finis!

October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 Art and Musings by Marnie

The painting challenge is done, and I am thankful. It is not easy having something to post everyday. Especially the size that I did for most of the challenge. It was recommended that we do smaller paintings, or studies. I think I will try to do more of those next time! Problem is, I am enjoying painting on larger canvases! I used to be intimidated by their size, but now I enjoy it!

Today we post a collage of all of our art posted through the challenge. Here is mine!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my art each day. I would love to hear what you thought!

Thanks always for following my page!

all sept 2018.jpg

Painting Challenge Day 10

September 10, 2018September 9, 2018 Art and Musings by Marnie

Day 10 was inspired by my facebook friend Gerald’s pic. He had a friend that had this pretty wreath on their door, and a bird had made a nest in it. What could be more lovely? To have a pretty wreath and have a bird make a home in it. Of course I could not resist it, so here it is in a painting.

Nesting spot-sm

This painting is 12″ square, and is available in my etsy shoppe. For more info, please click here.

The art of brush strokes

Brush strokes within a painting create art

March 7, 2018 Art and Musings by Marnie

Have you ever studied a painting? I am sure you have looked at a painting…. but have you ever looked close at the brush strokes that created the painting? Probably not. I am not finding fault, I did not look myself, before I started painting. But now I certainly do. Because from afar you are just enjoying the painting, and maybe don’t realize the work that went into creating that painting.

Let’s think about how that painting was created. An artist picked up a brush, dipped it in paint, and swirled it onto a canvas. Sometimes they used a large brush to cover more of the canvas, and sometimes they used a smaller brush for detail. No matter what the size of the brush, it was an implement to get the paint on the canvas.

blooming-flowers — a closeup of some flowers.

While the artist used that brush, she also stepped back from the canvas, to see what it looked like overall. To see how the brush strokes blended. If they were creating what the artist intended. Because up close the strokes don’t always look like much.

bloomingshrub — a closeup of some shrubs

So hopefully you now realize that it is a little harder than it looks. Sometimes it works well, and sometimes we have to start over. Either way, its a wonderful thing to create, and I am so thankful that I get to work these brushstrokes to create art.

blooming — Overall painting with areas shown above, available in my etsy shoppe

Day 30 of 30 in 30- Finis!

March 1, 2018February 27, 2018 Art and Musings by Marnie

Day 30- I finished one day early. Its not that easy having a painting to post daily, and I ran out! I always start these paintings with tons of ideas, and some just don’t work out. Or I just am not ready to share them yet as I am still working on some. My favorite paintings were the view from the Poly, because it reminded me of a wonderful trip I took home, and the dress shoppe. And there were some more favorites, as I paint what I love, so why wouldn’t most be my favorites?

I hope you enjoyed following me through another challenge! Next one is in the fall. Until then, I will be painting as often as I can, as I believe in the old saying “practice makes perfect!

If you have a minute, please let me know what painting you liked the most. Thanks to anyone that takes the time to do so!

To see other art in the challenge, please click here

To visit my etsy shoppe please click here

Day 12 of 30 in 30- Viviana’s View

February 12, 2018February 10, 2018 Art and Musings by Marnie

Day 12 – This is the view from Viviana’s room. She is lucky enough to have a view overlooking the lake where she lives. I don’t know about you, but I find something magical about a water view. The way the lights, clouds, sky and moon reflect on the water is always mesmerizing to me. I wish I had a view to enjoy like this!

This is based on a photo taken by her Mom, who feels the same about water as I do. She is always posting beautiful pics of the lake, and I knew she would enjoy a painting. Seeing how I was going to her home for the holidays, I knew it would make a perfect hostess gift. One of the benefits of having an artist in your family. 🙂

To see other art in the challenge, please click here

To visit my etsy shoppe please click here

Day 11 of 30 in 30- Patriotic Flowers

February 11, 2018February 10, 2018 Art and Musings by Marnie

Day 11 – I saw these beautiful flowers last summer and snapped a pic, knowing I would paint them one day. With the dreariness of winter, it sure is nice to see some bright, colorful flowers, and a colorful American flag.

I have over 11,000 pics on my phone. You don’t have to read that again, you read it correctly, 11,000. And I just became a Grandmother for the first time, so goodness knows that’s going to increase substantially. I take lots of pics, as I use them for different paintings. Sometimes, it may be a small one like this, and other times this may go on a pretty porch on someone’s house.

This is a small painting, and has a bow for hanging. There is a link below the image to visit my etsy shoppe, or to visit the blog for the challenge to see more art.

Hope you enjoying the art I have been creating! At this point I would love to hear from you! Its not always easy listening to crickets, lol! Whether its a comment to keep going, or if you like my art, I would love to hear it!

To see other art in the challenge, please click here

To visit my etsy shoppe please click here

Day 9 of 30 in 30- Gaynes Homestead

February 9, 2018February 10, 2018 Art and Musings by Marnie

Day 9 – This painting was a gift for my cousin in Atlanta. She has been very good to me over the years, and I adore her. She flew up immediately when my Mom passed, and got us through the first few days of shock, for which I am eternally grateful. She also gives wonderful gifts at Christmas, and I was at a loss this year as to what to send to her. Then I remembered how she enjoys my art. So what could be better than a portrait of your home? I enlisted her sister and her hubby’s help (Thank you Curtis and Leslie!) and they took pics of her home so I would have a reference. Lucky for me, it snowed there, which is not a normal occurence in Atlanta!

My cousin, her hubby, and 5 boys are avid athletes, and basketball is their favorite sport. So I added a basketball and hoop to show their love of the sport. Lastly I added the moose that my Dad made for her a few years ago. She had seen a post I posted about how my Dad had made some moose for the ones he loved. And I got a message… Where is my moose? So my Dad got to work on one for her. She is proud of her moose from Moosup and tells everyone about her uncle that made it for her. He has become a landmark in her neighborhood, as how often do you see a moose in Atlanta?

If you look close at the moose’s shadow, you will see a heart. A symbol of the love I have for her and her family. If you scroll down past the painting you will see a photo of me and my cousin in our younger days. I have such fond memories of her throughout my childhood, and wish we lived closer. Love you more cousin!

My cousin and I at my birthday party, and years later with my Daughter in Newport, RI.

To see other art in the challenge, please click here