Hollyhocks Make Me Happy

What type of garden style appeals to you?  I'm a cottage style garden lover.  Give me an old fashioned hollyhock, zinnia, foxglove or coneflower and I am in heaven.   Hollyhocks in particular are one of my favorites.  Standing tall and proud on sturdy stems they come in many colors.  A favorite also of butterflies and hummingbirds so how could you not love them? 

Hollyhocks and Blue Window, 4" x 12" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Canyon Road in Santa Fe is a gardeners delight.  Everywhere you look you'll find hollyhocks in pink, yellow, white  and purple, sunflowers, and fabulous container gardens brimming with color.  Naturally I had to take pictures so I could later put these visions on canvas.  These two hollyhock paintings bring back wonderful memories and make me homesick for Santa Fe (even though I've never lived there).  

Photo I took of hollyhocks in front of a small blue window on Canyon Road, Santa Fe.

Thank you so much for taking time to visit my cottage garden friends.  I hope you've enjoyed my paintings and that they inspire you to create your own cottage garden.  Until next time, blessings ~ Mary

“Tiny dancer flits
Around a hollyhock bush;
Monarch butterfly.”

— M.L. Kiser

Sun, Sand and Sea Glass

The official start of summer doesn't begin until this Sunday, but here in Florida the heat has been on for quite a while now.  Cooling off at the beach is a great way to pass the time.  After a recent day spent under my umbrella with toes in the sand I was inspired to create this summery, beach themed triptych.  It combines all the elements of the I love about the beach.  The sand, waves, clouds, sun, cool breeze and finding the occasional treasured sea glass bobble.

We are blessed to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the US here on the west coast of central Florida.  And, I am blessed to live only 30 minutes from any number of them.  It is a form of soul therapy for me.

Sun,  Sand and Sea Glass throw pillow by Fine Art America  For more information on this and other pillow designs simply click the pillow photo to visit my Fine Art America shop.

I'm very proud to announce new items have been added to my product line.  These include more home decor, fashion (tee shirts, children's clothes, leggings and more).  Here's a sample of one of the beautiful 55" scarves available through RedBubble using my painting.

How many ways can you wear this scarf?  Think of the possibilities.    Just click on the photo for a more detailed description including care instructions.

The print is visible on both sides of this large, square scarf.  Many ways to wear this, including as a beach cover up.  

One of the items is the children's onesie.  They are simply adorable!  I ordered one myself as a baby shower gift and I'm in love with them. They're my new "go to" gift for baby showers.  

They come in sizes 3-24 months and 10 colors.  Also available through RedBubble.

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit with me friends.  I hope you have enjoyed my new painting, and that it inspires you to visit the beach soon.  The sand and surf are calling your name.  Blessings ~ Mary

“Some beach somewhere, there’s a big umbrella casting shade over an empty chair. Palm trees are growing, warm breezes blowing. I picture myself there, some beach somewhere.”

— Anonymous

The Dance, A New Painting Inspired by My Granddaughter

I had the most delightful Saturday last weekend friends.  My beautiful, precious five year old granddaughter was dancing in her second recital.  What proud grandparents her Nano and Gigi were.  She danced her little heart out to "Twist and Shout".  Just happens to be one of our favorite songs too (we're huge Beatles fans). 

After the recital was over and the children were all dismissed Bella came running to us and jumped in my arms.  She was so happy and excited about performing.  She looked like a princess in her tutu and tights.  Not a shy child by any stretch of the imagination.  I was so inspired I wanted to capture the moment by creating a painting with Bella's favorite colors, of course.

I had even more fun this week finding new products to add to my shop.  I am pleased to preview one of the newest items, fashion scarves.  As most women know, you can't have too many shoes or scarves.  There's also tee shirts, children's tees and infant onesies, and a host of other goodies.  You can find them all by clicking the link under the scarf photo.

Click here for more information on this scarf and others available through my shop through Red Bubble.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention I had my first public showing of a small sampling of my art work last Friday.  Clayton Gray Home here in Tampa, FL hosted their monthly First Friday event and invited ME to bring in a few paintings to introduce to their customers.  What a fun evening we had, and I even sold a couple paintings.  

Wendy Garraty, owner of Clayton Gray Home, is shown below with me.  I'm the brunette on the left in case you didn't see my photo on the "About Mary" page.

Me at my first public showing at Clayton Gray Home's First Friday event.

Thank you all for stopping by to visit me.  I hope you'll take some time to view the other paintings I have available.  Several new ones have been added since the last post.  Your support means the world to me.  If you like my art, please consider sharing it with your friends.  A referral to a friend means you REALLY like my work .  Until next week, take care and be well friends.  Blessings ~~ Mary 

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.”

— Martha Graham