Art. Art. Art.

Between managing projects for the CLAY Festival, trying to promote our downtown art scene, and fulfilling my domestic duties, my painting time has taken a back seat.

It's sad.

Especially because it's one of those things that - once I'm engaged in it - I find peace and rest in.  It soothes me. It centers me. Why don't I pursue this more?!?

Day by day efforts, I guess.
That's what I need to do.

My hope is to add a touch of color to the above piece. I'd love to make it available as a print for my Etsy shop!  So there you have it. A new goal... :)

xoxo,

-jlt

New Painting: La Mer

And so continues my obsession with the sea...

"La Mer"

8"x10"

Original Watercolor Painting

Prints also available HERE.

Sneak Peak...

Busted out the watercolors last night and
a new seascape will soon be making its way to my Etsy store...
Gosh, I miss the Pacific.

New Paintings!!!

"Dapper"

11x14

Acrylics

"To the Shore"

8x10

Archival Print

"A Peace That Transcends"

11x14

acrylics



Also,
I finally added to my Etsy store
 the llama 
that started it all...

"Llama Face"
8x10
Archival Print

Find all of my paintings 
and prints HERE.

Studio Move

This week I decided to move my art studio

(and by that I mean my easel and bucket of paints)

to the corner of our screened porch.

The monsoon season here in southwest New Mexico

is so wonderful

that I feel like it'd be crazy not to take advantage

of painting almost every day 

to the tune of a thunderstorm.

So far, 

it's been a wonderful change 

of scenery and inspiring 

to say the least.

In fact,

I have some new pieces 

for my Etsy store

that I should be putting up 

this week!

Countdown!!!

ETSY store 

Countdown...

{3 days}

That's Right!

Opening Monday!!!

Things are moving more quickly
than I expected!

WOOHOO!!!

Almost there!

 Hey there!

As most of you know,

I've been working these last few months

on opening my own 

Etsy store.

The goal is

to make some of my original 

paintings and drawings

(as well as prints)

 available to those who enjoy my art!

Well, here's the update...

I've made some test prints with my new printer

and am excited with the results!

All I'm waiting on

 are my shipping supplies

and packaging materials to arrive.

Then I'll be in business!

About two weeks to go...

Brushing up...

I'm finally working 

on my art

more consistently 

over here...

I guess it comes 

in waves.

Guest Bedroom Changes

Having a guest bedroom

is pretty rad,

except for the fact that 

we rarely have guests.

Sadly, we end up turning it into

a storage room between company visits...

but not anymore!

After finding out a couple of weeks ago

that some good friends of ours were coming 

out and wanting to crash at our place,

we got our butts in gear

and cleared out the room.

Now, it's nothing fancy.

I mean, hey!

We're using an air mattress here -

not even a real bed (sorry folks), 

but the changes have made a difference

nonetheless.

And I no longer

 have to close the door

in shame,

which is a good thing 

in my book!

Here are some pics 

of the progression...

After clearing out the room a bit

and adding some curtains:

Talk about harsh lighting...

 After paint

(Benjamin Moore, "Nimbus")

and some reorganization...

Hello glorious airbed!

The gray walls and white furniture really calm the space.

Little gallery wall over the bed... probably will grow and change over time.

For perspective.  Don't mind the mirror smudges.

Mini Secretary Desk in action.

 The wall color has made

the greatest change for this room.

Adding little touches like a

reading lamp

on the nightstand

with some books and magazines

cozied up the room as well.

My goal is to someday 

have a real bed in here

(to add to the comfort),

but that's not urgent 

by any means.

So there you have it.

Future guests?

I have a room for you.

Plus, I'll make you breakfast.

Just sayin'.

Master Bath Progress

Hello there!

Thanks to my husband's night shift,

I put another sleepless night to use

by working on our bathroom!

Here's what it looked like before...

It wasn't horrible, 

but there were three mismatched towel racks,

flat & semigloss paint on the walls,

and a basic boring mirror.

I decided to remove all the racks,

patch and paint (BM Light Pewter),

and put up hooks,

a new mirror, 

and switch out and raise 

my shower curtain.

Progress:

Yay for progress!

What's left to do?

• paint the trim and door white (BM Chantilly Lace)
• switch out the light fixtures  
• hang more art around my $5 thrift store painting (Think mini gallery wall.) 
• Install small glass shelf under mirror?
• Small window treatment (matchstick blinds?)
• Switch bathmat with a patterned runner

I'm still trying to figure out how to 

make this bathroom as functional as possible.

We'll see.

For now,

it feels much cleaner 

and crisp!

And that is good enough for me :)

Kitchen Update!

My kitchen cabinets are finally

getting the love they deserve...

Some fresh paint!!!

After putting off painting the lower cabinets

for months,

I can now say 

all my kitchen cabinets 

are white!

I reinstalled them today

and will soon be dressing them up 

with some new hardware!

Here's a little before and after...

Before:

After:

 Before:

 

After:

Still on my list of things to do:

1. Paint the cabinet base boards

2. Paint our kitchen door

3. Install new hardware

And down the road:

1. New countertops

2. New Wood Laminate Flooring

3. Tile backsplash

4.  A window treatment of sorts?

Anywho, that's what I've been up to!

Happy Veterans Day, everyone!!!

Projects Galore!

Hiya, Folks!

I guess I've been pretty busy over here

these last few weeks...

painting our hallway, office,

and even some canvas!

But I've decided it's time to tackle a project

I've left unfinished for months:

My kitchen cabinets.

What they looked like when we moved in

I painted the top cabinets white 

back in June,

but have yet to paint the lower ones

and replace all the hardware... 

Here's where it's at right now...

Notice the dishes and rice cooker?

Yeah.  Keeping it real.

I plan on cleaning and priming them today

and painting them tomorrow.

I also ordered some neat oil rubbed bronze hardware

to replace the spray painted 

ceramic knobs I'm using now...

My current knobs are not holding up super well,

and a lot of them are chipped and cracked 

from a few decades of use.

I'll keep the updates coming!

Busting Out the Brushes

Hello!

Ever since we moved to New Mexico back in January, 

I have neglected my easel. 

And my brushes. 

And my canvas...

I've only worked on our house and furniture.

Well, thanks to my husband working a wacky swing shift schedule,

I've had a lot of nights to myself...

And so,

I busted out the brushes.

I'm making a new page at the top of this blog 

for my art.

Hopefully, as I finish house projects,

my time spent painting 
will pick up speed. 

:)

Here's to starting it up again!

What I made a few nights ago:

Untitled (for now)

Acrylics.

40"x30"

P.S. - photographing acrylics is challenging... 

I turned off my flash, but the sheen is still hard to deal with.

Any tips?

Office Goals.

Hello!

My husband just started working a fun little swing-shift...

Let's just say, it's taking some time to get used to!

Since he's working nights right now, 

I'm trying to do some

"quiet projects."

So today, I begin the wonderful task

of painting our office!

The room needs some love,

especially since we spend a lot of time in here!

I use it for my graphic design work,

blogging, and whatnot...

Tanner uses it for sermon research,

gaming, and all that fun stuff.

Also, it's where we watch our movies!

Form and function is the goal.

So far,

this room has gone from a bare rectangle

to sporting dual parsons desks,

a loveseat, and some lighting.

My goal is to have it painted within the next day or so

and to have some curtains up...

Eventually, shelving will clear up our desks.

All in due time.

So here's to baby steps!

and accountability!

(Now that I've shared this with you, 

I have to get going, right?)

:D

Have a fantastic Thursday

Hallway Reveal!

Okay, 

so it's not 100% complete,

BUT I want to share!

Here We GO!!!!

BEFORE.

 AFTER.

 

Sorry to lack in the photography skills...

but I think you get the idea!

The color is so rich and velvety.

I love it.

Things to finish the hallway:

- Paint doors white (I ran out!)

- Paint ceiling white?  Or lighter shade of the teal?

- Change out light fixture

- Add more art!

- Add a runner rug to hide my paint spill... (oops)

So YAY (!!!) for taking a chance 

with a bold color!

What about you?

Painted anything bold lately?

*Paint Color:  Benjamin Moore 

Bermuda Turquoise in eggshell

Claws and Heartbeats

So, my painting endeavors are going well!

I'm almost done painting our wide hallway

Bermuda Turquoise

(by Benjamin Moore)

Can't wait to show you!

I must say, though...

Doing trim work

for any extended amount of time

will give a person, 

  what Sherry from Young House Love calls, 

claw-hands.

My right hand seized up for a second 

last night

and I dropped my paint brush.

slow motion style.

onto my carpet.

SAD.
DAY.

Guess who spent the next hour 

trying to extract said paint from carpet?

THIS GAL.

At least my husband was understanding...

Until we can afford to change out our 

14+ year old carpet,

We'll cover it up with a sweet runner rug! :P

Anywho.

That's my week so far.

Lots of painting,

Weird hands,

and listening to good music:

Have a fantasterific day!

:)

P.S. - check out this gal's AWESOME
giveaway
(if you like anthropologie!)

Painting Again :)

Hello friends!

Today, we paint!!!

Well, I guess 

I paint.

Part one shall be 

my hallway trim and doors (White!)

soon followed by the deep teal of greatness

which I seem to obsess over...

Inspiration:

Via

 I'm excited.

Also, 

I'm trying out some paint samples 

for my office!

Some grays...

Inspiration:

Via

I've been gearing up to paint 

for a while now,

so it feels good to get started!

I guess my house projects 

come in spurts :P

Pics to come!