Coming Soon

I've been hung up on trees lately.  But I'm really having a good time painting happy trees!

This is the latest one.  Not finished yet - but close.  I would love to hear your ideas for title on this one.  You can post it in the comments section below or email me. 

 

And Happy New Year everyone!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

“Let’s Make Some Great Art!” by Marion Deuchars

This morning I was browsing through one of my favorite blogs, Ree Drummond’s Pioneer Woman, on her home schooling page when I came across this great little book. "Let's Make Some Great Art" by Marion Deuchars.


I love books like this. It’s a book for artist of all ages - “packed with stimulating ideas to spark your creative imagination.” If you have a budding artist in your family, if you are a teacher or if you just want to have some fun being creative - this might be the book for you. Go to: 
http://www.letsmakesomegreatart.com/

  

But, before you click the “Books” button be sure to stop and play in the online activities from another one of Deuchars’ books, “Let’s Make Some Great Fingerprint Art.” It’s sure to bring out your inner child.

Happy Trees

I've been experimenting lately with some playful, light-hearted acrylic paintings on canvas.

This is my latest.

Happy Tree in Red

It's on 16"x20" canvas , which is 1 1/2" deep.  The sides are painted black.

It's available at T.F. Rice & Co.

11620 Hwy 79 North, Buchanan, Tennessee

731-336-1290 and 731-642-5640

 

Digital Downloads

I have started offering digital downloads of some of my typography prints, my personalized typography and my letter art made from photos of Paris, Tennessee.  All of these are available on my Etsy shop now.

 

 

What does this mean for you?  Lots of savings!
Savings on shipping - because there is none!
Savings on printing - because you handle the printing yourself and cut out the middle man!
And it is usually faster.
You'll be surprised at how low the prices are.

This is how it works.

• You purchase the item you want from my shop  Etsy.
• You email me with the information I need to make it personalized for you - names, dates, etc.
• I email a proof to you, make whatever changes are necessary, then I email a high resolution jpeg to you for you to print as you like.
• You print it yourself or have it printed wherever you currently have your photos printed - as many times as you like!  That's right! - As many times as you like!
• You can frame it and hang it for beautiful wall art or give it away as a great present (think weddings, anniversaries, etc.) And since you can print it as many times as you like and you can resize it - you could also use it for notecards, announcements or iron on transfers for t-shirts, pillows, and other fabrics.
• Once you have the image it is yours to use as you please for personal use. It may not be resold.

So - please take a look.  Maybe you'll see something you like.

Weather Report

Well ... Winter has settled in at Paris Landing.  All the leaves have fallen but the scenery is still gorgeous.  The really cold weather hasn't come yet.  That doesn't usually happen until January.

Usually about now the high temperatures are in the 50's.  But for the next few days they are going to be in the 60's and 70's.

Don't you wish you were here?

A Cat Tail

I originally posted this store back in 2010.  I am reposting it today because this morning our cat Murphy passed away.  For 18 years Murphy let us pet him, feed him, scratch his ears, and spoil him rotten.  Murphy was a big part of our lives and he will be sorely missed.  Murphy was also a very special cat who always kept us entertained as you will see in the following story.

_____________________________________________________________________________

2010

Hi! My name is Murphy!

Eric works in the construction field and wears big heavy boots that lace up past the ankles. In the evenings he usually leaves them under our kitchen table and sometimes Murphy likes to play with the laces. So it’s not unusual to find the boots knocked over or in disarray as they were one morning several years ago.

That fateful morning Eric put on the boots lacing them all the way up as usual, then stood up. Something felt a little odd about one boot. He sat down, untied the boot, took it off and straightened his sock - thinking that would fix the problem. He put the boot back on, laced it up and stood up. Darn! Something still felt a little odd.

This whole time - Murphy is just sitting there watching as though he was really interested in this strange human behavior.

Eric sat down again, took the boot off. This time he stood up and turned so the ceiling light was aimed down the boot. Then - YES - he did exactly what you know you shouldn’t do!!!! He stuck his hand in that big black hole while trying to see into the boot.

Here it is! Are you ready???? A mole, yes a mole (you know - one of those furry small rodents that tunnel through your yard) raced up his arm and took a flying leap off his shoulder onto the kitchen floor The race was on. This was exactly what Murphy had been waiting on.

It happened so fast - it took Eric a few minutes to figure out what had happened. And then he had to join the race. Eric won, disposed of the mole, took another shower and left for work.

It was just another day with Murphy.

Small Business Saturday

When you think of supporting small businesses, don’t forget about the real little guys like me and other local artisans who work from our homes and depend on the internet and other businesses to market our wares.

 

I am fortunate to have three local small business storefronts that carry my artwork and/or jewelry.

• Jack’s Java/ Jack Jones has carried my art prints for several years.
• Merison’s, which is primarily a furniture, appliance and electronics store has taken a unique approach to supporting local artisans by displaying their works as part of the home décor they sell. Most of the wall art, pottery, throws, quilts, rugs you see at Merison’s are made by local artists.
• T.F. Rice & Company, described as “An Eclectic Artistic Gathering,” carries a mix of art by regional artisans. Just about everything in the store is handmade by an artist (small business owner) who lives within a 50 mile radius of Paris Landing.

I also have an internet storefront on Imagekind (a USA business) which I have been using since 2009 for my art prints. These are the folks who print my artwork on archival papers or canvas, frame them and ship them anywhere in the world. Of course this also means that people around the world are looking at my pictures of a pretty little town called Paris, Tennessee and it’s neighbor - Paris Landing.

 

So, I guess my point is - Yes - please shop with small businesses - but try to shop local too or at least USA made. If everything you buy in that small business is made overseas …who are you really helping?

Fall Leaves

I've been so busy I almost missed taking a few Fall photos. 

 

Fall On North Poplar Street

 

 

Fall On Antioch Road

 

Two of my favorite places!

 

Red Poppies

Just finished this the other day.

"Red Poppies"

Acrylic on Canvas - 16" x 20"

 It's on display and for sale at Merison's.

Also took some newly framed prints including:  (Sorry, I didn't photograph the frames.)

"Balloons"

Photo Manipulation and Collage

From my Eiffel Tower Dreamscape series.

 

 

"Safe Harbor"

This is a print of one of my original watercolors.

 

"Sit A Bit"

Photo Manipulation

Scene in front of Jack's Java in downtown Paris, Tennessee.

 

These would make great Christmas presents!

 

Sunny Sailing

Finished!

Sunny Sailing
Acrylic
This is 3 heavily textured, 6" x 18" canvases.

Dogwoods

The Dogwoods can't decide ....

if they are green, or ....

or purple, or

somewhere in between.

And look at all those red berries!

I love Fall!

New Release

I finally finished this.

Yellow Tree

16"x 20" Acrylic

For Sale at T.F. Rice & Co.

 

While you are there you have to see these really cool benches.

 

 

This corner one is my favorite.

 

 

 

 

 

Merison's & Sunflowers

Merison's is a local furniture, appliance and home decor store.  I'm not sure if that's how the owners would describe it, but that's what I think of when I visit there.  And it is always fun to visit there because the people who work there are  ... well, they are just nice, fun loving people. 

But I digress.

The real reason for this post is to let you know my latest sunflower artwork is on display (and for sale) there.

 

I went by there yesterday to snap a photo of it hanging on their wall and this is what I found.

I had one thought -  Wow!  Let's make that a big WOW!

Thank you!  I'll take the whole room!

 

 

Sunflower Mania

My newest sunflower.

 

 

Closer

 

Real close.

And it's big.  I finished the one on the left a few weeks ago.  Both of these are for sale.  If you are interested, please email me.

I'm having fun!

 

Flip Flops & Dragonflies

The Fishtale Lodge recently turned their swimming pool into a garden area with a waterfall.

Love the dragonfly and flip flops ... and the bike ... and the water fall.

Wish you could hear this waterfall.  It took me a few trips over there to realize the fresh, tropical feeling I was getting everytime I came to visit ~ was coming from the sound of this waterfall.

New Release

Sit A Bit

This is the newest addition to my series "Windows On The Square."  A series about the way I see downtown Paris, Tennessee.    The original photograph was taken in front of the new location for Jack's Java on  Courthouse Square.

This will be a limited edition of 30 prints.  Print size is 7"x 9" on 8"x10" archival paper with archival ink.  Each print will be signed and numbered.  Loose prints $20.00, prints matted in white for 11"x14" framing for $30.00.  

Prints will soon be available at Jack's Java, Merison's, and T.F. Rice and Co.  Or you may pre-order by emailing me. (See contact information toward the top right of this page.)

Prints may also be special ordered in sepia or black and white as shown below - though I much prefer the color in this one.

 

 I think this will become one of my favorite scenes of Paris. 

I love this Arts and Crafts Festival!  Lots of neat stuff!  Lots of handmade stuff!

Always plenty of things for your kids to do.  Friendly folks.

And they always have a fine selection of food!

 

Hope to see you there!

Remember this?

A Boat Full of Tulips

Well!  You should see it now.

The front.

All decked out in summer flowers. 

Photographed at the Carpenter house on Lakehill Beach Estates Road.

The back.

Bill Carpenter gives Freida all the credit for their gorgeous flowers.

Love this yard ornament.

Bank Fishing

Look like fun?

It is!

This is such a typical scene around here.  Fishing from the bank doesn't require any fancy equipment.  And there are miles and miles of beach to fish from. 

Photographed at Paris Landing State Park

Sunflowers

Sunflowers have always been one of my favorite subjects to paint or draw in a very tight, detailed style as you can see by these pieces I did a few years ago.

Sunflower Window

Watercolor & Ink

Sunflowers

Colored Pencil & Ink

 

Sunflower Forest

Ink

 



I haven't actually painted since about 2008. Most of the images I do these days are photo manipulations and the occasional collage that might have just a little hand painting or drawing.

Lately though I've been kind of jumping around ... doing different things, trying my hand at things I have never done before (like jewelry) and experimenting with a new take on some of the mediums I've used in the past.

So it was time to do something different and a little challenging.  I wanted to try something a little looser and vivid.  So ...

Sunflower On Red

Acrylic

 

This was really an experiment with acrylic on a 14" x 18" canvas.  But, I think I really like it and will be doing some more along this line.

A Day In My Neighborhood

A day in my neighborhood might include ...

Fishing at dawn.

A drive through the countryside.

Or,

a deadly encounter.

Now, what would a blog about living at a lake be - without the occasional snake?

Thanks to John Peddy  at Sweetvalley Cabin Rental for the photos.