Meet Mathew Mead's Pup, "Oscar"...& A Giveaway at A Gift Wrapped Life!

Oscar, 11"x 14", oil on canvas (nfs)

I just wanted to share some awesome news! I recently was commissioned to do a surprise painting for none other than interior designer/stylist/author/editor Matthew Mead! Linda MacDonald over at Restyled Home asked me to do a painting of his pup, Oscar, for him and his wife as they were coming to her home for a photo shoot as they are launching a new magazine soon called Flea Market Style! You can read more about it here. Linda will be sending me a photo of Matthew and his wife with my painting very soon! Just so thrilled to hear that they are pleased with how it turned out! It was a true pleasure...thank you Linda! :o)
To have a portrait done of your precious pup feel free to contact me!

** Also!! A GORGEOUS GIVEAWAY will be taking place at
A Gift Wrapped Life! Click Here to learn more!

**AND I just selected the next lucky WINNER from those who originally entered my 1st ever Blog Art Giveaway...and can I tell you I had actually selected this one person but was sad to find that they are no longer following me for whatever reason :o( and I kind of felt like, well that's going against the rules of the original contest...so, I thought about it, re-checked again to see if maybe I was wrong, but no this person is no longer a follower so I chose another entry...and the winner is!!!Mason Dixie of
Who Says Dogs Don't Blog: the Day and the Life of Mason Dixie

***I also wanted to give a very SPECIAL THANK-YOU to my husband, Jonathan, it is his birthday today and I want him to know just how much he means to me...he has been so supportive of my work, loves me at my best & at my worst, and is my very best friend in life...someone once told me I'd never find my 'Prince Charming'....well they were wrong....mine came by way of the land down under, and yes he is my prince! :o)

Here Ye! Here Ye! Design Contest!!3 Prizes up for Grabs!

(nfs, custom painting for Kate Coveny Hood)

No new paintings today, I was out on a golf course driving around one of those crazy carts while my soon-to-be 35 year old husband played a round of golf(his B-Day is tomorrow)...luckily it was a beautiful day and I'll admit kind of fun racing around the course in the little cart.

Anyway, just thought I'd mention that over at Daisy Pink Cupcake there is a DESIGN CONTEST going on until August 5th and there will be THREE wonderful prizes given away which include:

1) a Personalized Burlap Runner by Grace Sorenson
2) 3 Miniature Silk Lanterns by Karen Gaffney
and last, but not least
3) a Custom Miniature 3"x4" Painting by Yours Truly (ME!)
(*and a surprise gift from Daisy!)

So, be sure to check out how to enter here and good luck!

(**ALSO: I will be picking another winner from those who entered my 1st ever Blog Art Giveaway tomorrow! So be sure to check back now! ;o)

Garden Bath, (After Mary Cassatt) Painting in Oil

Garden Bath, (After Mary Cassatt), 6"x6",
oil on canvas, (SOLD,thank you!)

(close up of study of Mary Cassatt painting The Bath)

I will most assuredly need to take a better photograph of this piece tomorrow as I ran out of sunlight today, but this is what I've been up to the past couple of days...along with finishing up a couple of commissioned pieces. I absolutely love the work of Mary Cassatt, especially her paintings of mothers with their children. The Bath, is just lovely. I spent nearly 3 1/2 hours just painting the study of this painting, trying to get the colors just right...hopefully I've done Mary's piece some justice. This painting will be available on ebay this evening.
(*Also, I am still waiting to hear if I can share the name of the designer/stylist who I just completed a painting for...I'm hoping I will be able to spill the beans in the next day or two, very exciting...hopefully he will like the portrait I did! It was a surprise from another designer to this person...someone who just may give Martha a run for her money!! :o)

(**Update: I replaced the photo, but am still waiting for the sun to break thru the clouds to get a better photo...paintings always look better in real life! :o)

Kate's Painting, Tea & Roses

Tea & Roses, 3"x 4", oil on stretched canvas (nfs)

This is not the best photo, but the sun seems to be playing hide and seek with me, so unless I can catch the sun I will have to wait till she gives in and allows me to get a better photo! This piece is destined for Kate Coveny Hood , one of the winners of my recent Blog Art Giveaway. I will be choosing another winner of one of these tiny little gems this coming Friday...and will choose one winner every other Friday for the duration of the summer from those who originally entered my giveaway...why? because being nice matters! :o) Have a wonderful Sunday and if I get anything finished today I will post it later this evening!
(*Update: I replaced the photo, although the painting is still a bit more vibrant in real life :o)

What's on my Easel? Take a Peek :o)

Going Dutch, 3"x 5" oil on canvas, $35(plus s/h) (available)

Nest Collection, 3"x 5", oil on canvas,$35(plus s/h) (SOLD,thank you!)

I will need to try and re-photograph the 2 pieces above when I get a bit more sun here, the colors are not as vivid as in real life...both will be available on etsy.

This is a portrait I am currently working on of a beloved Chocolate Lab, named Chip. He passed away last November and is greatly missed by his family. I love the fact that Chip's Mom wanted me to be sure to paint him with a few of his front teeth missing as they 'chipped' off when he had run into something as a pup...I think it's in our imperfections that we find true beauty! :o) I'm hoping to finish this piece in the next day or so.
Below is the beginning of a miniature oil painting for Kate Coveny Hood , the 1st winner whom I had chosen from the original entries for my recent Blog Art Giveaway...I had to change it to a winner every 2 weeks as I just cannot paint fast enough and have some commissions I simply have to get finished before I am hunted down.

AUSSIE Artist LOVE! Oy! Oy! Oy!

As many of you may know, or may not know, I am not only an artist, but I also collect art and have had the privilege of meeting some wonderful artists on ebay and now on etsy. The paintings above are by a phenomenal Aussie artist named Graham Gercken...I am lucky enough to own one of his landscapes, but someday I want to get one of his GORGEOUS Blue Mountains paintings and a landscape with a Gum tree and kangaroo. My husband is an Aussie, and having some paintings of 'home' around the house helps him to feel a little less homesick...(or perhaps it does the opposite)...I know I look at his paintings and think, 'and why did we leave Australia'? You can find his work by clicking here.

French Country Chair LOVE...

French Country Chair, 4"x6",

oil on canvas panel

(SOLD,thank you! )

I really love this chair...as soon as I saw it I was in love with its' bright, cheery colors and who could not love the little roosters, or perhaps they are French hens?...now back to the easel to work on some Chocolate...Chocolate Lab that is ;o)

(* Also, I will be revealing the name of the designer who I recently did a portrait for this weekend...I'll give you only 1 little hint and then I will say no more! It is a male designer/stylist :o) SO hoping he will like the portrait I created! Very exciting!:o)

IT IS FINISHED!...and my B-Day Gift to Me :o)

(*you can view the step-by-step photos of this piece here)

(*Update: I just replaced the photo, I think it is a bit closer to how the painting looks in real life...paintings always look better up close & personal! ;o)

Ok, so it is yet another slate grey day here in good ol' Michigan so as per usual I was not able to get a very good photo of Rhoda's painting, but I think I am finished with it...I'll look again tomorrow when, hopefully we will have a bit of sun!(http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/ was the 1st winner in my recent Blog Art Giveaway...the 2nd winner is still deciding on which photo she wants me to do...no rush & no worries)
....and as I said before I thought why not bring a little more sunshine into summer by picking a winner EVERY 2 WEEKS of a Miniature 3"x 4" painting of a simple object(no portraits, please), until the end of summer from those who originally entered my 1st ever Blog ART Giveaway, and so, drum-roll please....the winner is:

Kate Coveny Hood :o)

I thought I would also share a couple rather random things from my life, heck, why not! Well I am turning the dreaded 37 this Sunday, you would not believe how many grey hairs I am getting...anyway, I bought this AWESOME Color Mixing Guide from Magic Palette as a Birthday gift for myself and I am IN LOVE! If you are an artist, I say grab one of these guides from Jerrys Artarama (best prices on many art supplies) it shows you how to mix over 841 colors!!! How good is that??

Finally, I had to share this photo of a charming little heart-shaped cherry I found amongst my stash in the fridge...isn't that the sweetest? :o) Have a great weekend!

Love the Beach?...You will LOVE these ARTISTS!

No paintings of my own today to share, but rather some work from two fellow artist friends, Debbie Rittenhouse and Nancy Poucher. I am blessed to actually own a few small pieces by each of these artists and can attest to the fact that both are incredibly talented ladies! Their work is just breathtaking in person...be sure to treat yourself this summer to some amazingly beautiful beach eye candy!

Blog ART Giveaway, Winner #1 Update

Today I have been working on a painting for http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/ , one of 2 winners from my recent Blog ART Giveaway and I thought it might be fun to show some progress photos! I'm not sure if I will complete the painting today, but I wanted to show you where I am up to. I am trying a new technique today that I saw Karin Jurick use on her blog and it really seems to have made painting this piece a bit easier. I find it so interesting to see how a fellow artist approaches painting a subject. I often feel as though I am painting blind as I never attended art school...I was accepted at the Massachusetts College of Art & Design in Boston, but choose teaching instead. I often wonder where I would be now had I taken that different path, but then again I wouldn't take back the 6 years that I taught 3rd grade...those are memories I will always cherish! Stay tuned for the finish line! ;o) (*UPDATE, the painting is finished!:o)

A True Love of Pups...

"Bailey," 5"x7", oil on canvas panel

(SOLD,thank you!)

10% will go to Heeling Hearts ACD Rescue

I just thought I'd mention, in case you weren't aware, that I have a real love of painting pups, hence my other blog: Painting a Pup a Day (more like every few days, but you get the picture...) this week I've painted a couple of Australian Cattle Dogs and can I just say I love, love, love their fur! It has so many nuances of color, a true joy to paint for any artist! If you are interested in having your precious pup painted, or are interested in having one done as a gift to someone special, feel free to contact me!I donate 10% of each portrait to one of the many dog rescue groups I currently work with.

Tea on the Patio, Still Life Painting in Oil

Tea on the Patio, 8"x10", oil on stretched canvas

(SOLD,thank you!!)

This is a piece I have been working on the past few days...it was actually taken from a photo I snapped of someone's porch chairs, I suppose I could have created a porch painting, but with it being summer I thought a patio was much more fitting.

I replaced the photo today as I realized last night I forgot to add the stems in the hydrangea floral, and I added a bit to the potted flowers...the blue still does not seem to show its true color, it is more of a cobalt on the teacups and periwinkle on the flowers in the foreground, the pink on the flowers is a richer shade of pink...the painting is much more vibrant in person....Paintings always look better in person, I promise! :o)

Trio of Vintage Swimsuits, 3 Paintings in Oil...and Exciting News!

Trio of Vintage Swimsuits, 3 Paintings in Oil,
4"x6" each, $89(plus s/h)(available)

When I painted these cute little vintage swimsuits I was really hoping someone would buy all 3 as I think they would make an adorable, summery grouping in a cottage or home so I decided to sell them together!

**I thought I'd also let you in on an exciting secret!...well not all of it or I would be giving it away, but I am currently working on a special piece for an amazing designer/stylist! I won't be able to reveal who it is, or exactly what I am working on until after July 25th, but I am pretty excited to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to share my art with this person :o) ...And I will also be getting started on the paintings for the winners of my Blog Art Giveaway! So, stay tuned!


(**this is the initial sketch of the painting for Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality
she was one of the two winners of my recent Blog Art Giveaway...as soon as I have more completed I will post another photo! :o)

Back at the Easel!...Russian Nesting Doll Paintings in Oil

All in a Row, Traditional Vintage Russian Nesting Doll
Painting in Oil, 5"x7",
oil on stretched canvas,
$49(plus s/h)(available)

Vintage Strawberry Russian Nesting Doll Painting in Oil, 4"x6",
oil on stretched canvas,
$39(plus s/h)(SOLD, thank you!!)

Vintage Floral Russian Nesting Doll Painting in Oil, 4"x6",
oil on stretched canvas,
$39(plus s/h)(SOLD,thank you!!)

It feels really good to be back at the easel after an emotional week with my Grandpa's passing...I did a few more paintings of Russian nesting dolls as a recent customer was thinking of putting together a grouping of them, so I will see if they are interested in any of these pieces...if not, they will be available for purchase on Etsy in the next day or so. If there is something you would like me to paint, feel free to send me your suggestions or commission me to do a piece! I hope you have a wonderful, family filled 4th of July!

(an old photo of my sister and me with my
Grandpa Hammerstrom...
I think this will be how I will always remember him, happy & healthy)

Have a Wonderful 4th of July & Please, Remember Our Veterans...

Have a wonderful, family filled 4th of July and please take a moment to remember all those who have given their lives in order to keep this nation free...as well as those currently serving. My grandfather served in WWII as a Military Policeman in Normandy and was buried yesterday with military honors...he was always so proud to have served our nation. And would you believe, during the service, as we sang the familiar hymn "Beyond the Sunset," an ever so slight ray of sunlight fell upon my song book and I believe that light was coming straight out of Heaven as I know my Grandpa would've been smiling down on us at that very moment.