Under Construction

So you might be wondering where in the world did Linda go? I wish I could say some exotic 2 month excursion...to the Swiss Alps, Tahiti, or a villa in the Tuscany region of Italy. But no. Here at home is where I've been. A few day trips here and there, a night at the Old Mystic Inn, in Mystic CT with my husband but that's it.
So what's under construction? My website and blog. After learning that iWeb will no longer be hosting websites, a program I've been so happy with for 4+years will no longer exist as of June 30, 2012.

 Really?! You've got to be kidding me!
Was my first reaction because I just finished designing my last website...at the beginning of April. Ugh... starting over didn't excite me one bit. I test drove at least 6 different website design programs in 4 weeks to finally settle on a Weebly.com website.... Weebly?

"I've never heard of Weebly?"

 Me neither.
 Until I meet two graphic designers at a women's event back in March that introduced me to Weebly. Little did I know then that I would be shopping around 3 weeks later for a new Website design program. Coincidence? No... God acting anonymously.

I'll explain why I chose Weebly in another blog post but this is my dilemma I've been struggling with for a few weeks. Weebly offers blog pages inside your website. I love this concept because for me that helps to eliminate a step from having too many places on the internet to keep track of. I don't know about you but maintaining a website, a separate blog and a facebook business page seems overwhelming at times.

Plus, I know it seems trivial but when printing business cards I used only one URL for my website and art blog. Makes sense right?

Dilemma:
Blogspot/Blogger or Wordpress are the most common blogging websites. These blogging sites offers a "join this site" and I myself, love to see how many people are following a blog. my question is... will I be missing out if I don't post here and just post on my website blog? I'm hoping Weebly will be adding this feature soon but for now... I'll be posting on my NEW Website blog page... here's the link:
www.lindasmarinoart.com

 If you have any suggestions, insight or comments please share....

Lemon, Limes and Lilies

t was just so much fun to paint these lilies! I love the way they sat so gracefully in their glass container lookin’ so pretty! they posed for a quick painting study that I started yesterday between my marathon road trip ... A total of 7 1/2 hours of driving! The day started at 6:45am with the typical  1  1/2hr round trip drive to West Hartford to drop my daughter off at school by 8am then home again. 

Lemon, Limes and Lilies, oil on gessoboard 6 x 6 available at  DailyPaintWorks online auction here

When I returned I found my son lounging on the couch. He had the day off from school and wasn’t expected back in his dorm until evening.  

I set up this still life first in the kitchen using ink and watercolor for a color study sketch and then moved it down to my art table in my studio.

I moved rapidly mix  my colors  knowing that I was expected to be on the road in less than 2 hours.

By 1pm we were back in the car to meet my dear friend Joy for lunch and the art exchange at Main Street Cafe in Cheshire. Delicious lunch along with wonderful company! Love ya Joy!

2:30pm and on to West Hartford to drop off Veronica’s lacrosse stick, a quick trip to the grocery store for snack food. Back to the school and then up Route 44 to Salisbury.  It’s such a beautiful ride through the countryside of Connecticut and I occasionally stop to sketch or take reference photos of the farms, houses and quaint towns we drive through. Dropped off Ray by 6pm and turned around to head home. Arrived in our driveway at 7:45pm... whewww what a day!

Let's meet on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin..... and please check out my art at A Fresh Perspective - Original by linda S Marino... when you're there.... if you'd like to receive my weekly e-mails please fill out your contact information so I can send you a FREE Gallery Card  in the mail - with much gratitude and love ~Linda 

Lilies and Melon

I was so excited how yesterday’s painting turned out I thought I would stick with the lilies until they withered. And boy do they smell so delightful coupled with the very ripened melon... I wish you were here so you too could enjoy this heavenly aroma!

Lilies and Melon, oil on canvas 12 x 12

As you can see in the small study and the watercolor sketch I include a white coffee cup. At the time I thought it made a lovely arrangement but I’m glad I left it out of the larger painting.

I’m looking forward to this weekend’s Easter Celebration with my family and attending church services. Easter has always been a favorite holiday since I was a little girl. Even though I still love coloring eggs, making easter baskets and chocolate bunnies... Easter is a time of celebration like no other. I’m so thankful that I can demonstrate the love and joy in my heart for a God who loves me... and I do it with a brush, tubes of colorful paint and canvas! 

Lilies and Limes

I purchased these lilies on Monday and it was quite the challenge to keep them away from my cat Jac! He just loves flowers and he’d follow me around the house hoping I’ll place the bouquet down on a counter he could reach. I purchases these at Trader Joe’s in West Hartford. I love their flowers... always fresh and very reasonably priced. 

Lilies and Limes, oil on canvas 12 x 12

It wasn’t until today that I found the perfect vase to display them in. I spotted this glass pitcher in a consignment shop called New to U Consignment in Wallingford. 

The Daily Paintwork’s Challenge this week is Easter and I really wanted to enter the challenge. Although I’m not sure what limes have to do with Easter. I like they way they balanced out the composition and the colors complimented each other.

from my sketchbook

 

a quick study     

Welcoming Spring

Welcoming Spring, oil on canvas 8 x 10

I loved the combo here, the daffodils, pineapples and pear. It really wasn’t what I intended it to look like but sometimes a painting has to grow on you.... and I know tomorrow is another day... another subject to explore.... 

Below is a quick study a 6 x 6 on gessoboard.

Welcoming Spring

Welcoming Spring 

oil on canvas board 8 x 10 

I loved the combo here, the daffodils, pineapples and pear. It really wasn’t what I intended it to look like but sometimes a painting has to grow on you.... and I know tomorrow is another day... another subject to explore.... Below is a quick study a 6 x 6 on gessoboard.

Brown Bottle, Green Apple and Rose

Brown Bottle, Green Apple and Rose oil on canvas 9 x 12

My husband loves to collect glass bottle and I enjoy painting them. This time the bottle was a delight to paint and so was the apple... the rose, well that was a bit of a challenge. It’s taken me a few hours to decide I like it and not to fiddle around with it, again. Many times when I can’t quite get something to look just so... I pull out my art books or watch a video, look at other artist’s work..... this time I did all three!

Later this evening I watch a painting demo on roses to see if I could get a few tips. The video was from ArtTVClick and the artist was Heidi Moran, here’s a link:

http://artclick.tv/content/modern-masters-dvd-roses-hedi-moran

her technique is very loose and I love the way she dances the brush across the canvas. What she did say that intrigued me was every painting she paints she starts off very enthusiastic to paint and then there’s a point where she she questions herself and final she gets to the stage where she accepts the fact she’s not as in love with it and says (I’m paraphrasing) “I’ve just learned something for the next painting”. I really this philosophy... it’s saying every painting is a stepping stone for the next painting.

And each painting teaches you something .... so the moral of the story is... keep painting and painting and painting.

Canary Melon, Strawberries and Grapes

Canary Melon, Strawberries and Grapes, oil on canvas 8 x 10

Ok so maybe the strawberries are just a little too vibrant... even for me... and I certainly love bright colors. My initial inspiration was to paint the very yellow canary melon I purchased the other day at Stew Leonard’s in Newington, CT. I had never tried canary melon before and oh so curious to see what the insides looked like. We sliced it open to find a very pale interior that was so mildly sweet compared to the cantaloupe we’re use to. Too bad the strawberries stole the show... maybe next time they’ll stay in the refrigerator!

Nectarine Sliced

Nectarine Sliced, oil on Gessoboard 6 x 6

Third painting of the day... just on a roll I guess.

Realizing this nectarine will turn faster than the avocado and apple.

I went to town... no fooling around here... I’m sure that afternoon 

cup of coffee what the just the right jump start to get this peachy thing rolling!

And my husband’s responds: WOW 

Apple Sliced

Apple Sliced, oil on Gessoboard, 6 x 6

Second in today's series of sliced fruit. Oh, the magic of titanium white paint

helped tremendously to keep this apple looking fresh...;)

Avocado Sliced

Avocado Sliced, oil on Gessoboard 6 x 6

After the pink ribbon series I decided this morning to paint something a little less complicated. So I opened the refrigerator and there sitting so lonely on the second shelf down was this softened avocado saying “paint me, paint me”!

After slicing it in half I just knew it would make a wonderful still life... “Kitchen Art” as I’ve been referencing to my work lately. I scurried downstairs to my studio, positioned the two halves on the top shelf, added a spotlight and whahla ...it started to sing to me! 

Not without a few challenges to face - one, under the heat from the lamp the avocado started to decay quicker than I wanted and two, I wasn’t the right height to see the reflection, so, believe it or not.... I found the perfect object to give me just the right step up... my son’s skateboard! Yes, I stood on a skateboard painting this avocado this morning.... ok, you can call me silly!

Art Marketing - Leaping into Spring

Another dual purpose business card/direct marketing postcard.

White Flowers and Pink Ribbon

White Flowers and Pink Ribbon, oil on canvas, 9 x 12

I fell in love with this shiny little vase in the Good Will Store. Among a sea of trinkets, plates, dishes and glasses, this one jumped off the shelf and into my basket. The shiny vase said, “I know, I know, shiny objects are very challenging to paint... but I think you’ll be very pleased when you’re finish.”

So I smiled. Paid for my assortment of cups, plates and this loud mouth shiny one. Returned home.

A few days later, I could hear the whispers from the shelf where my newly purchased props sat.... “use me in your next painting... place those pretty white flowers inside, add a little bit of eucalyptus and wrap that pink ribbon around my shoulders... and I promise to sit perfectly still so you can paint my reflection.”

Talking vases... who knew?

But the reality is.... the pink ribbon is both a common thread through this week’s paintings which symbolize the hope, prayers and thoughts for Hannah as she faces the reality of breast cancer. Stay strong beautiful one!

Lemon Yellow and Pink Ribbon

Lemon Yellow and Pink Ribbon, oil on canvas 9 x 12

Why the combination of lemon, a bowl of sugar and spoon, daisy and pink ribbon? I can’t even answer it myself. I just started arranging these objects that were sitting around and this is what spoke to me... it said “paint me, please”... what a  well- mannered still life, don’t you think?

What I do know is the pink ribbon reminds me of Hannah and as I paint I pray for her and God’s hand of protection on her as she faces her surgery tomorrow.

Pink Flowers and Ribbon

Pink Flowers and Ribbon, oil on canvas 9 x 12

I didn’t even finish “Pink Rose and Ribbon” and the idea of this still life came to me. Painting ribbons are very challenging but putting it into perspective... it’s a piece of cake next to fight breast cancer. This piece is another tribute to Hannah as she faces surgery next week. Thoughts and prayers are with you sweet thing!

Pink Rose and Ribbon oil on canvas 9 x 12 

I painted this in response to an event that happened at our church on Sunday after service when a few of us ladies gathered in a very small room to pray for our dear sister Hannah. Hannah is this lovely, vivacious, sweet, joyful, young woman, mom, daughter, sister, middle school teacher... who was diagnosed with breast cancer just last month. 

Sometimes brushstrokes come easier than words for me. Hannah, you’re in my thoughts and prayers and big hugs.

First Date

First Date oil on canvas 8 x 10

Here’s another painting I was having trouble naming so again I put it out there, title-less on Facebook to see if anyone had a spark of creative word play. And sure enough my friend Karen came back with something so clever and new to me. She called it Margherita which means daisy in italian ( I didn’t know that) and lots of pizza places serve Margherita pizza which is also a type of tomato... wha-la what a great name! So how did I arrive at First Date you say?

My next post in response to Karen’s clever name was...

Linda Santelle Marino The two young tomatoes met at their favorite pizza place, ordered a margherita pie for two. He surprised her with a handful of freshly picked daisies... She smiled and sweetly kisses him on the cheek.

February 29 at 8:37am · Like · 1

and Karen’s response:

Karen Aldo Brown ‎"First Date"

February 29 at 8:42am · Unlike · 1

So there you have it.... “ First Date”

Art Marketing - Doubling Up

I couldn't decide on which paintings to put on my latest business card so I decide to go a different route. 

Just one over-sized business card about 4 x 6 which can double as a direct mail postcard too. 

He Loves Me....

He Loves Me...  oil on canvas 8 x 10

The flowers were part of my Valentine’s day present from my adorable husband. I have no doubt that he loves me. I was having trouble coming up with a title so I posted this painting on my facebook page and ask my friends for some assistance in a title.

The ideas just poured in! I loved so many of them, I have very creative friends and that just makes me smile! Big thanks to all my friends who joined in on the title search. Settling on “He Loves Me....” is also a reflection of how grateful I am to have such a loving husband.... Dean you’re the BEST!

Peppers and Posies

Peppers and Posies, oil 6 x6

Even though the peppers stole the show in this composition, the sweet delicate little daisy lower her head and reached out her hand to greet her fellow actor in the play called... “Peppers and Posies”. Big thanks to my friend Joy for helping me title this one!