Recent Paintings.

Some of my most recent watercolors.  Some of them are still available in the shop.  Click on the links below the images to take you to that particular item in my Etsy shop.

Wiseacre, 1900.

Belgrave Joe, 1900.

Melanie of Goodnestone II, 1907.

Muriel IV, 1907.

Belle, 1904.

Silver Cloud III, 1899.

The Elm.

The Oak.

The Scotch Fir.

Artistic Moment Of The Week: Bow River Valley At Canmore, AB, 1892.

Via Flickr Commons Musée McCord Museum.

Bow River Valley at Canmore, AB, 1892.
Photographed by Alexander Henderson.

52 Lists: Playing Catch-Up.

Found a neat project that I had to jump in on.  I'm a list-maker, so this was right up my alley.  Moorea Seal gives a prompt every week.  The project is on Week 20, so I'm a bit behind, so I lumped a bunch of weeks together in this post.  Perhaps you would want to join in too?

Week One.

Week Two.

Week Three.

Week Four.

Week Five.

 

Week Six.

Words: Joy Kusek Quote.

Beautiful Quote Found via Ché and Fidel.

WINNER!

And the winner is:

To all who entered, or just stumbled across this blog post, please take advantage of the coupon code "GIVEAWAY" to receive 25% off anything in my original art shop!

Artistic Moment of the Week: Couple Seated on Mount Victoria, ca. 1888.

Via Flickr Commons.

Couple seated on Mount Victoria, and Blue Mountains in background, New South Wales, ca. 1888

Bayliss, Charles, 1850-1897.

Part of collection: Collection of photographs of New South Wales, ca. 1876-1897.

A Whole New Me!

Got my long-fronted pixie like I wanted.  Can't believe how much it changed my looks.  Add that to my newly re-found fit body and a new-to-me yardsale wardrobe and I feel like a whole new person!

So happy right now!

--Original Art GIVEAWAY!!--

How would you like some free art?  It might be a portrait, landscape, collage, abstract, and the best part it will be made just for you!  Sound good, then enter the giveaway--details below!

How to Enter:

• Leave a comment with a prompt, theme, or word for me to use as inspiration for your potential work of art. (1 Entry).
• Like The Gallivanting Girl on Facebook--leave a comment telling me you did. (1 Entry).
• Follow this Blog through Google Friend Connect--leave a comment telling me you do. (1 Entry).

Also please note:

• Make sure you either leave an email, or make sure I can contact you.
• Winner will be announced on the blog Friday May 17th.
• Good Luck!!

Playlist #13: Sunday Morning With Hot Tea & Honey.

Image via Flickr Commons; State Library of Queensland, Australia.

Listen via Tumblr/Spotify.

Words: Erin Wasson.

Via an interview on Into The Gloss.

I'd Wear That: Shade Garden Dress.

Via Anthropologie.

--Playlist #12: Guilty.--

Cover Art via The Commons on Flickr.

Listen Via Tumblr/Spotify.

Artist Interview: Anna Magruder.

This artist is a huge girl-crush of mine.  She uses images from found photos and old yearbooks (much like I do), but she transforms them into the most lovely paintings with such intriguing stories.  I had to stop myself short of posting every single one of her images from her shop.  I'm in love with this first image the most, but they all make me very happy.  Please enjoy this little interview with Anna Magruder.

"Observer - Mediator"

1. Were you always an art kid, or did you stumble upon it later in life?

I have been drawing and creating art for as long as I can remember. My favorite subjects were beautiful girls. I was always trying to draw the perfect dress and shoes and tiaras for my princess-like figures. I was also blessed with encouraging parents who loved to see me immerse myself in art. We had a "Make It" box filled with junk and anything my mom felt could be recycled into art. My brothers and I would get crafty, making cool art out of whatever was in the box.

  

"Coast" and "Entangle"

2. What style of art is your favorite and why?

I love portraiture - especially from the Renaissance era. I am also drawn to unique textures and unexpected color combinations found in abstract work.

"Book of Poems" and "Cheer"

3. What do you use for inspiration, or how do you generate ideas?

I am very inspired by past eras. Past hairstyles and fashions spark my creative juices. I love perusing the faces in old photos and feel a sense of shared humanity with the subjects despite the passing of time. When I am feeling stuck or down, I take a jaunt through my favorite thrift or antique store and feel inspired and curious about the objects around me. I also collect old yearbooks - all eras - and find inspiration in the multitude of faces found in them.

"Shadow Tail" and "Openings"

4. Walk us through your creative process from idea to finished project.

I start a painting by finding a photo or 2 that inspire me. I especially like black and white photos that I can reinterpret with my own colors and ideas. I begin with a sketch on tracing paper, refining it until I have an image I am pleased with. The next step is typically an underpainting of red or burnt sienna on canvas, then I transfer the sketched image and start filling in colors and shading. I allow the painting to morph as needed. I am often pleasantly surprised by the story that presents itself when I am finished.

"In a Man's World" and "Mothers Day"

5. What is a typical day in your life?

As a full-time artist, I am very dedicated to showing up every day to paint. (Every weekday, that is... I value my weekends to re-charge and spend time with my husband and cats.) I start my day with catching up on emails and taking care of admin stuff. When that's done, I move to my painting area and see what calls for my attention that day. I often have 4-8 paintings going on at one time. This gives me the opportunity to decide on what I want to work with that day.

   

"Big Wheel" and "Boardwalk"

6.  What are your interests/hobbies?

I love thrift stores, antique shops and flea markets. I am just starting to get back into rock climbing - which I used to enjoy immensely before an injury kept me from climbing the past 2 years. I love craft fairs and I organize a yearly art & craft sale for Siren Nation every November.

Beautiful Anna in her studio space.

7.  Is this your full time job, or do you have a job out-of-studio?

Art-making is my full-time job.

"Boldness and Grace" and "Stargazer"

8. What is your favorite piece you've ever made and why?

Yikes, I have so many favorites! Right this moment, I am digging my most recently completed piece " Métis". It has a whole story behind it regarding the history of Oregon when the trappers settled the area with their Native American wives. The family portrait alludes to the struggle the mixed race (Métis) daughters may have felt. Unlike boys who were typically not accepted into Oregon society, educated Métis girls who downplayed their native heritage had a chance at integrating. However, their Indian heritage was usually ignored by their new families and by generations of descendents.  

Anna's Workspace and "Métis"

9. What advice would you give to an artist just starting out in the business world?

Treat it as a business. Do your research - read books, attend workshops and learn as much as you can about the business of art making.  

Another shot of the studio and old photo albums.

10.  Describe your work space.

This past year I have been fortunate to work in an office space in the historic Portland childhood home of Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling. I love the old woodwork and crooked doors. The North-facing windows allow plenty of wonderful sunlight for my workspace.

More Studio shots.

11.  Did you face any setbacks on your path to being an artist?

Quite the opposite. I was a graphic designer for 14 years until I recognized that I was burnt out and not following my path. Once I made the decision to move into art full-time, I found my pathway cleared and doors opening, which to me was confirmation I was on the right path. The most challenging has been when I work extremely hard on a body of work, procure a gallery show for it, then not sell anything in that show. I have learned to look past this and recognize the amazing connections I am making and hear how others are touched by my work through that show. And the work eventually does sell, just not in the venue I was expecting.

Anna Magruder at work.

12.  What milestones, goals, or achievements are you striving for right now?

I am in the process of applying for artist residencies in other states, and hopefully out-of-country at some point. I am realizing the importance of pulling myself out of my comfort zone and allowing for new experiences and explorations to shape my art and to re-energize it with fresh perspective.

  

My favorite image (Anna Magruder at age 3).

Thank you so much for answering the questions for us.  Your work is so inspiring, and I hope my readers are as drawn to them as I am!

Etsy Shop:  http://annamagruder.etsy.com
Website:  http://annamagruder.com

Chow Down: Real Simple's Chicken and Dumplings.

via Real Simple, photography by Charles Masters.

Artistic Moment Of The Week: Sweet Elephant.

Via Flickr Commons.

I'd Wear That: Hair Edition.

I'm wanting to chop all my hair off and go for a simple, easy to care for, haircut for summer.  I've been scouring Pinterest and decided a long-fronted pixie was right up my alley.  Something along these lines:

via Pinterest.

Via Pinterest.

Via Pinterest.

Blog of Note: Lisa Daria's Painting A Day.

Here.

To have the commitment to do a painting a day.  I've attempted to do it a couple of times and always seem to fall short.  I'll keep trying, and I'll use her lovely pieces as inspiration to keep my going.

Artist Interview: Annie Koelle.

I'm almost giddy with the interview I'm bringing you today.  I've had a major art-crush on this artist for the longest time.  I stumbled across the painting below on Etsy a few of years ago, and was immediately smitten.  Now she's got even more impressive and awesome things going, not failing to mention she's a momma to two adorable kids, and now I get to introduce her to you!  Meet Annie Koelle:

White Crowned Sparrow.

1. Were you always an art kid, or did you stumble upon it later in life?

Always an art kid! Can't remember when I wasn't drawing, making, or thinking about what I was going to make. I don't think I ever had to sit down and figure out what I was going to be when I grow up, its like I have an extra bodily organ that drives me to create.

Small Botanical Transfer Monotype.

2. What style of art is your favorite and why?

I have don't have a favorite style, I like everything from realistic dutch still lifes to candy colored abstracts. I usually connect with individual paintings or pieces of artwork as opposed to one sort of look. 

Kallymenia, Collaboration with Knack Studios.

3. What do you use for inspiration, or how do you generate ideas?

Oh my! Where do I start!? Inspiration is an extremely complex idea. . . first of all it has been building in life from childhood. My love of natural subjects, the sort of landscapes I paint like the ones from where I grew up and many tiny woven things that I can't probably discern myself but they are a part of me. These bits build on each other and and then I fit them all together within the confines of my present life situations - like not having much time to myself for work because of dear little babies to play with and being too terribly tired at night to think about much. And my art inspiration board on pinterest! I look at all those jewels glowing on the screen together and it gets my brain going.

Carnation Painting on Wood Panel.

4. Walk us through your creative process from idea to finished project.

Well, I have lots of collected things laying around, like old thrift store frames,wood panels and things to assemble, so thinking about what I have to work with I let the idea spark for a while. Then I prime my surface (mat board or wood panel) with flat latex paint, make my drawing with graphite or charcoal, spray it with fixative then I start applying acrylic paint. First I goop on a tinted glaze that I meticulously mix just right, dry brush it out with nice wide brushes until I get the texture I want and let it dry for a day or so, or I hurry it along a hair dryer that has only been used to dry my hair like twice. Then once the glaze dries I might tweak it some more and then I apply the stronger swipes of color in heavier acrylic paint and latex paint. Once I'm settled with it I varnish it, sign it and tap a hook into it. 

2011 Flower Series Grouping.

5. What is a typical day in your life?

Hahaha, first, try to stay in bed as long as possible which is usually until 7:30, change Pearl's stinky diaper, feed myself, her and my son who acts like he is going to die of starvation. I take him to preschool, my husband puts Pearl down for her morning nap and we both get to cracking at art or stuff. I work for a couple of hours if I'm lucky, while she sleeps, then when she wakes up I might run some errands before I pick up Marshall from school at 12:30. We lunch, then Pearl takes another nap and sometimes I work again, but usually I try to reign in the chaos. At night I don't usually do much art work, in the past I've tried but I usually hate what I've done in the morning. I really need good daylight. And sleep! I don't know how some people do it! If I stay up any later than midnight I end up with migraines so it just isn't worth it. You can sneak a peek at these days if you follow me on instagram. 

"Home."

6. What do you think draws you to other people's work?

I don't actually know, if its really great art it draws me. You can tell when you look at a piece if the artist behind it knows what they're doing, if they really care about what they are doing. 

Wren.

7. What are your interests/hobbies?

Ha! no hobbies. Living life and enjoying it and painting as much as I can, that's what I do, the painting part is not a hobby.

"The Clouds Gave Up Their Horses."

 8. Is this your full time job, or do you have a job out-of-studio?

Mom of two crazy kiddos. That's job enough at this point.

Botanical Series Grouping.

9. What is your favorite piece you've ever made and why?

Oh dear, I have had several, not too many but a few, more now than before which is good. Right now I really love two landscapes that are a set, they are about 8 inches high with deep frames. There is a wilderness scene with big pines I drew and painted in them.  The frames are gray, then painted gold on the lower half, the best part are teeny tiny gold cowboys and indians fighting in front of the landscape inside of the frame. The paintings are called "Manifest Destiny" and I made them because I didn't know what to do with all the sad things that happened to the indians, my grandfather being one of them. I loved him very much and I think of him every day. That's probably why I like it so much.

An image of a work in progress that became a collaboration with Knack Studios.

10. What advice would you give to an artist just starting out in the business world?

Well, at this point I am not involved too much in the business world, but I would say networking and finding people who really believe in your art is the best place to start. Fortunately I have many people like that, one of them being Teresa at Art & Light Gallery. 

Her lovely family.

11. Describe your work space

I have a closet that I stuff things into and a mid-century cart that I keep most-used things on. I work on the kitchen table, an easel and usually the floor covered with swaths of brown paper. Here is a link to a feature a sweet photog friend did of my family, house and studio. 

Another work in progress that became a collaboration with Knack Studios.

12. Did you face any setbacks on your path to being an artist?

Well, lets not call them setbacks. They are very cute setbacks, I love them very much and their names are Marshall and Pearl. 

Another view of the work in progress of the collaborative piece.

13. What milestones, goals, or achievements are you striving for right now?

Keep my children alive, be a good fun wife and always figure out how to keep painting.

Thank you so very much Annie for your time, and wonderful answers.  

You can find her on:
Instagram:  http://instagram.com/anniekoelle/ 
Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/annie_koelle/
Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnieKoelle