Recently

Recently, in and around the studio...

 

fish on the easel

 messy worktable

 brush bouquet

 Crowded studio shelves

 pretty paint palette

 color inspiration from an old palette

 bright afternoon light through the studio windows

 Valentine's tulips

Keep up with my studio happenings daily on Instagram and via my mailing list

Instagram Sightings

A few sightings of some of my Minted pieces on Instagram:

 

 Sitting Pretty I and Sitting Pretty II from @amy_cbandbp

From a Table in Carolina from @stephaniejeandesign

 Sitting Pretty I from @smnthajohnson 

and Sitting Pretty I and II again because... this dog

Aren't these photos great? It's so cool to see my work in the wild.  

The 100 Day Project

Started by Elle Luna, I have decided to participate in The 100 Day Project. 

The object is for 100 continuous days, starting today, April 19, to create something specific everyday -- there should be a goal/ a theme -- and catalog it on your Instagram with a personal hashtag #100Daysof_______ 

You can write, photograph, draw, paint, compose music, dance, digitally design, cook, whatever! 

You can read more about it here. 

(NOTE: she mentions the date April 6 a lot, but I think that's reposted from last year. It definitely starts today, April 19, so if you want to join, you're not behind!)

MY PROJECT:

I have decided to paint with gouache in a sketchbook for 100 days. 

Why gouache, and what does a sketchbook have to do with it?

Well, I am TERRIBLE at using a sketchbook. Sometimes I use one while on vacation, but mostly I just random scraps of paper that I end up losing or throwing away. (oops)

Keeping a sketchbook to catalog your ideas, thoughts, inspiration, and process is like Artist101. And I am truly failing at it. 

I also want to learn gouache better. I LOVE gouache - it's kind of like a weird hybrid of watercolor and acrylic - but I haven't used it all that much. So my goal is to really play with it, experiment, and just feel much more comfortable with it. 

So there it is. 

My 100 Day Project: 100 Days of Gouache in a Sketchbook. 

 

Here is day 1/100:

 

Follow along with my progress on my Instagram @allevatojm #100DaysofGouacheBook and find many, many more projects via #The100DayProject or join in and do your own! 

Are you interested in participating? 

Comment with your #100Daysof______ so I can find you! 

Happy creating!

 

 

GIVEAWAY

Hey y'all!

I was organizing my closet and found some 5x7" state prints of my old Michigan and West Virginia designs, and decided to have a little giveaway! 

To enter, visit my Instagram, follow me (@allevatojm), find & like this same photo, and comment which print you'd like and why (pink Michigan, green Michigan, or blue West Virginia -- only choose one, please!). 

I will randomly pick a winner for each print, so there will be 3 winners total! Giveaway closes Friday, March 4 at midnight EST. Winners announced March 5. Open to U.S. residents only. 

Recently

 We took a recent trip to the visually-inspiring Greenbrier Resort 

 Making a gouache color chart

Shamelessly decorating with my own art! Print from Minted

New card designs coming soon!

My ever-growing brush collection

 Sketching florals...

 All photos from my Instagram

Fun with Social Media

Recently I posted this painting on Facebook and Instagram asking for votes on what color to use to finish the flowers. 

 I couldn't decide which way to go, so I thought I'd go with public opinion. 
 The choices were yellow, coral, purple, or pink. 

The final votes came in:

Yellow: 1

Coral: 5

Purple: 2

Pink: 0 (haha)

Keep it white and green: 2

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aaaaand...............

CORAL was the winner!

And here is the final piece with the finished background:

From a Table in Charleston, 16"x20" 

Thanks so much to all who voted! 


Want to see more like this?
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Instagram pretties

Some recent images from May 

You can follow me on Instagram for more up-to-date inspirations and shots from the studio.

(Also, don't forget to check out my "Upcoming shows" tab above -- I have several gallery shows and an art fair on the horizon! yay Spring!)

Instagram

Busy working in the studio. New items coming to the shop soon! 

For tidbits of my life in the studio (and a few pics of cats) follow me on Instagram!

Packing up

My studio is getting packed up in anticipation of our northern move, so production will be slow for a few weeks. 

In the meantime, you can follow me on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and pretty things! 

 

Sketch of the Day

Recently in an effort to get back to a daily habit of art-making, I have started doing daily pen and ink sketches of whatever inspires me. 
It's really nice to make time for drawing every day, no matter what. 
Some sketches are more finished than others, but I have been enjoying every one. 
There is something about making even a small piece of art every day that helps me to sleep better at night.

For a continued look at my sketches of the day, follow me on Instagram: #sketchoftheday