What I Learned from The 100 Day Project

I am so grateful that I pushed myself to participate in and complete the 100 Day Project.

My goals for my project:

• My intent for the project was to find a way to paint more without relying on my signature style of black outlines specifically for interiors.
• I wanted to learn to paint more loosely with watercolor and use color to define the spaces, rather than ink outlines.
• I wanted to develop my personal style more and create a cohesive body of work rather than disjointed pieces.
• I also wanted to have fun and learn more about myself.

My guidelines for the project were:

• Create a vignette. It could be an interior, an exterior, or an outdoor space
• Use watercolors on paper but no ink
• Try to do this daily, but realize your limitations.
• Remember that your family and sanity come first, and don't be so hard on yourself!

What I learned:

1. I needed to have a plan in place and remove as much of the decision making as possible. I knew I had to use watercolor and paint some type of space that humans may encounter. It was helpful and I've learned over time that I thrive on having limits to be more creative and inspired
2. Create limits and structure for yourself if necessary. I learned that I needed to create a story to inspire these vignettes to inform my choices of furniture, pattern, colors and make the vignette make sense.
3. I reconnected with my love of the narrative and creative writing. I've always enjoyed writing, but it's been years since I've made up stories. Who knew I loved making up stories? I was dealing with a major life transition myself, and am interested in strong females, so many of the stories had that in common.
4. Projects and big ideas make me bolder. Quickly being part of a bigger project is empowering. Once I saw how quickly my artwork was building up, I wanted to see it next to other people's projects. It made me reach out and find other Philly artists doing this project. I met Sarah Ferone, and we teamed up to see if we could get a group show. We made a proposal and everything. It did not end up happening (I also found out I was moving to Florida right around that time), but I did learn a lot. I realized it would not be that scary to put together a show one day or submit my own work.
5. Community is key, find your peeps. Since the show idea didn't work due to time and logistics, we instead had a simple yet wonderful meetup at a beer garden in Philly. It is one of the most wonderful things in the world to connect via social media with like minded people. It is even better to meet up with those people in real life. I was thrilled to share some beers with the talented artists Sarah Ferone, Terri Fry Kasuba, Mary Kate McDevitt, Melissa McFeeters, and Barb Chotiner.

What didn't work:

• There were some days that I could not do it. I was exhausted, I wasn't inspired, or just didn't feel like it. I didn't sweat it, because this is a way of life in a way - the deciding to do what matters most.
• I didn't finish it on time. I had a lot on my plate and this had to move down on my list of priorities. That's life and it happens. But it doesn't mean you have to give up. Just rewrite the rules. (I was never good at following them anyway).

My tips:

1. Don't overthink things and your materials are not that precious. Use your good watercolor paper. Make mistakes. Make something different out of the mistake. Take the pressure off of yourself to be perfect. Just get things done. Put it away, let it go and move on. The one time I went back into something, I regretted it. But you know what? It's still fine. And at first it felt too precious to use my good paper to experiment. So I would use my mixed-media pad instead to just create and not worry. But once I started forcing myself to use the good paper, it was fine and I adjusted. If I found myself overthinking something, I went back to my sketchpad or painted smaller that day.
2. You can find small moments to create no matter how busy or frustrating a day you have had. But it's a choice, and sometimes you have to give something up. Sleep before work. TV. Time with people you love. The idea of a clean home. It's up to you what makes the most sense that day and be nice to yourself!
3. Have a designated space if possible. It's easier to create daily depending upon the medium and having a designated place to work that doesn't require a lot of set-up or take-down. Watercolor and gouache are especially good for this. particularly watercolor, since if your palette dries, you just add more water later. Now I don't have a designated space, but I have a bookshelf with a tray I can carry and that works just fine!
4. Sometimes you just need to show up and make crap. But don't stop, keep making something! As Elle Luna said, "Show up, show up, show up!" It's about doing the work, slogging through, not being so hard on yourself, and seeing where the process takes you.
5. Public accountability is empowering. Accountability and working with others (especially posting on Instagram) helped to keep me going. But I also realized that my goal was to finish the project and learn. It's not a competition with others, it's about yourself.

Why I'm glad I did it:

• I'm proud of myself for completing this big project.
• I really love many of the paintings I created.
• It built my confidence in my work and myself as an artist and writer.
• It made me learn to paint quicker and experiment with my style in a cohesive way.
• It showed me what I most wanted in my life, because I found myself inspired by places, stories, and things that I wanted myself! For example, having a garden, moving home to Florida,  an outdoor or tropical lifestyle, being near family, having a simpler life, and needing a creative component in my life, in whatever shape that takes
• I think I'll keep finding things that were great about doing this project, and see how those tiny steps led to larger steps that will lead me to bigger dreams down the road. Like making this into a self-published book and selling the prints and originals soon!

Painting Loose & Half-Dead Succulents

I painted these little succulents about a month ago. It was quick, fast, and loose, and it's one of my favorite things I've made this year. I painted it because I wanted to remember my 1st Mother's Day Succulents I bought for myself (from Henry, of course), before they dry up and die. I should probably re-pot them instead of paint them. Maybe this weekend if I get around to it. I have to give credit to my friend Marissa L. Swinghammer for telling me how to use the dirty leftover bits of your watercolor palette to get wonderful neutrals. She's also taking Yao Cheng's Creativebug class, and I'm so impressed by what she is making. I would love to take Yao's class someday when time allows. Not now though.

I made a couple more of these this past weekend. What a fun way to play, limit your colors, and be loose. I am really into neutrals these days and think it's influenced by all the Minimalist interior spaces I'm coveting on my Pinterest boards. I'm going to take photos and add prints  & originals to my shops soon. I think people will like these.

I don't like hot press watercolor paper as much as others do. I prefer the cold press and rough press, since they soak up the paint better. I bet I would love the plate finish of hot press for gouache though, so will have to try that soon. But not now (is there a pattern here or what?)

There are so many things I want to do, but I gently remind myself that I cannot do everything, especially if I want to focus on specific things, like painting and growing my art side business (after my day job and family priorities of course). I've been thinking about this topic often, especially as I read these amazing interviews from the Carve Out Time for Art series. I will interview myself soon! But not yet.

The 100 Day Project: 39 Days In

Remember when I was hemming and hawing over committing to The 100 Day Project? I am so glad that I followed my gut, and decided to do it. This project is 39/100 days in, and it has truly energized me. I love thinking up something each day, and seeing what fellow participants are up to. Here are a few of these projects I'm enjoying:

#100DaysofNotestoNana - Gina Irie

#pantone2u - Salli Swindell /They Draw & Cook

#100DaysofMiniatureIllustrations - Josefina Schargorodsky

#100DaysofAbstracts - Holland Loop

#100DaysofCollage -  Amanda Hawkins

#100DaysofMyLifeinIcons - Melanie Graham

#100DaysofAbandon - Hannah Betzel

Here are the first 37 days of my project, #100DaysofMHVignettes. I'm enjoying writing the stories as much as painting the watercolors. It surprised me how much I like writing these stories, since I haven't written creatively in years. A common thread emerged, and they all feature women, many of whom are in the middle of a big life change, or have braved the odds to follow a dream. You can read all the stories with the projects on Instagram @marissahuber, or on a Tumblr Page I created just for this project here.

The 100 Day Project

I first heard of Elle Luna's collaboration with The Great Discontent for The 100 Day Project a few months ago on Instagram and knew I'd love to do it. However, after recently quitting a daily drawing exercise (coincidentally, after 100 days), I worried that it would be flaky to commit to another project, put too much pressure on myself, and need to quit again.

The 100 Day Project can be anything you want to do for 100 days. You could meditate, conjugate a new verb daily, bake something, write a letter, whatever you want. The idea is that it will help you learn something new or hone a skill and hopefully make it a new habit or gain confidence.

After much introspection, I knew I had to follow the tingly/excited feeling in my gut that told me to do this. Plus, one of my favorite internet friends, Michelle Ward, says that if you're equal parts scared and excited, you should go for it. (If you're just scared, don't do it!)

I thought about why my last project fell short. The goal was to paint daily to explore more with my mediums, marks, style, and to have fun - all which I did, and it truly helped with my abstract work. But I couldn't keep up with the daily time commitment because honestly, my heart wasn't into it anymore.

The previous project lacked focus, and no longer aligned with my current goals (I'm starting to sound like my day job). It was making me feel like my style was too disjointed, when I want to be more consistent in order to grow my art and illustration business.

Creatively, I thrive on having limits. By not having stricter limits in place for that exercise, it required more time to sit down and think of what to paint, what to do, and what to work on.

Here I am using Marie Kondo's methods to clean my house, hooked on seasonal capsule wardrobes, and meal planning hacks because it takes out the guesswork and makes my daily life easier. By realizing that I need to apply that to my 100 Day Project, it started to make sense.

So I focused. What do I want to do? I wanted to find a way to paint more without relying on my signature style of black outlines specifically for interiors. I wanted to have more content and ideas for my interior design consulting side hustle. And I had so much fun creating a master bedroom vignette for myself, that I knew that this would become my 100 Day Project.

Day 1: Since the outlines and rules were already set, I just had to wake up a little earlier to paint before work.

Day 2: (technically I fell asleep and painted it on Day 3 instead. Early lesson learned that I need to do this in the morning or I won't be able to complete it). It was my favorite painting so far though!

Day 3: I realized I needed some type of story or character in mind for these designs to make sense and to give me a way to make decisions on what to paint. Or to just give an excuse to do paint something ridiculous.

Day 4: I realized part of the fun was creating the stories and characters. I enjoy it as much as the painting.

Day 5: This one was heavily influenced by myself, as I love having all of the dishes washed before bed lately.

So far, I'm loving this project, and seeing what others have challenged themselves to do. The hardest part is taking a good picture in the morning with natural light! I'm sharing it on a Tumblr page so that all of the paintings and stories are in one place, and of course on Instagram under #100DaysofMHVignettes and #The100DayProject. 

http://marissahuberart.tumblr.com/

Painting What I Broke & New Custom Painting Listings

I recently painted a treasured watch for a someone to honor her father's memory. I felt grateful that I could create something to help another person during a tough time. I thought the idea was so meaningful, and it made me want to paint something that belonged to my brother to celebrate his life.Someday I will paint my Andrew's treasured punk rock leather jacket that he painted on, sewed patches on, and studded all by hand. I love that jacket, and it makes me smile whenever I see it at my parents' house. It's heavy and has the weight of a hug from afar I like to thinkWith all the Marie Kondo "tidying" I've been doing in my home, it's impossible to not think about meaning behind objects and why we choose to hold on to them or let them go. I thought this would also be a perfect way to either help someone remember or let go of an item that they loved but could no longer keep. Conversely, it could also be a painting of something that they loved that sparked joy! I don't know if Marie Kondo would like me trying to add more to people's homes, but if it makes them happy, who am I to stop them? Heck, it could be a painting of a pair of shoes that someone is pining over but will never be able to afford. The options are endless.When I was rushing around my house this past week in a hurry to get myself to work and my son to daycare, I broke a Lorena Barrazueta porcelain dish that I bought at Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn years ago. I was aggravated and a little upset, because I really liked it and always put my rings in it. However, with all the Minimalist articles I like to read (and having a toddler), I feel I'm more accepting of things that break these days. It was the perfect excuse to paint something of my own to remember, and then create a listing for others. First I tried to draw it from my head in a loose painting style, but I realized it didn't look right. So I found an old picture I had of it, and sketched it out in pencil on a new piece of paper.

I used the reference photo to see where the light was hitting it, and masked off the white areas and layered on some shadows.

Then I let everything dry, erased the pencil marks, and did a final pass to add more shadows and refine some of the highlights.I thought it turned out nicely, and am happy with the depth I captured in the upper right hand corner of the dish.

The lesson I learned is to try to get up earlier in the morning and not rush, and that sometimes our belongings have lived out their time with us. A friend told me of a Japanese art called Kintsugi, which repairs broken ceramics with gold or other metals. Instead of disguising the break, it highlights it as part of the items history. Isn't that fascinating?

I loved painting this, and created new listings in my Etsy Shop / Marissa Huber for 5"x7" commissions or 8"x10" commissions if anyone is interested!

Painting Kitchen Utensils Since I Forgot to Buy a Shower Gift

This Saturday, Mike and I had plans to go to a coed Wedding Shower this weekend, and I completely forgot to purchase a gift. Luckily, I had free time on Saturday to paint a card for the sweet couple, which filled in as an I.O.U. for a William Sonoma gift card. Since the weekend is my main time to paint, I took the opportunity to make them a card that was relevant, but also to accomplish my goal of creating a downloadable desktop image for April.

I will always love the look of black pen and ink filled in with watercolor, and it's probably what most people think of when they think of my drawings. However, I want to push myself to rely less on what feels safe, and practice using color, layers, and paint to add depth and dimension.

This was the perfect exercise, since I love painting anything related to food, cooking, and baking.

Above, you can see how I used the light washes of color to draw the objects and figure out where everything would be. This was freehand, but usually I would have used a light pencil to sketch it out, and erase after the painting was completed.

In the picture below, I would add layers of color on the various objects after they dried to create depth and substance. For instance, painting the inside of a pot with a darker color to show that it was deeper. I used light washes of color on the outsides of the objects to ground them on the blank white surface. Lastly, I used my tiny brush to line some of the edges of the objects to further define them. I tried to make it slightly loose and sketchy, and retain a limited palette for a more cohesive design.

I had fun creating this and either drawing things that I have and enjoy using in my own kitchen (a Le Creuset Oval Dutch Oven) or items that I am coveting but don't need in my life right now (like a Chemex Coffee Maker).

Here is the finished piece! My favorite things to paint were the measuring spoons, the details on the measuring cup, and the muffin tins. I'm pleased with how it turned out, and I hope they liked their card. We weren't there to see them open it since we also did not get a babysitter and had to switch off going to the party, which was actually quite convenient since it was a block away!

I liked this watercolor so much, I have also added it as a print in my Society 6 store here.

April Free Watercolor Art Downloads

I have wanted to offer free monthly downloads for your desktop or mobile devices, and this is the first one! Please enjoy and share with your friends who love cooking, fancy kitchen items, turquoise, and baked goods. I really wanted to paint rain or umbrellas, but I was not happy with what I made (that happens, doesn't it?!) However, I loved this recent watercolor I made for our friends' wedding shower, and am always inspired to cook healthy food (and aforementioned baked goods) once Spring comes along.

I also made this print "Kitchen Utensils" available here via Society 6.  Maybe for May I will get it together to add the calendar portion, although I like that there is no expiration date on this image! Enjoy and please let me know if you have any questions or issues downloading the images.  Click on the link to download the larger image for the device you wish!

Please note: These images may only be shared and used for personal use. All rights reserved © 2015 Marissa Huber. For any other usage, please contact me and I'd be happy to discuss.

Watercolor Tutorial: How to Use Masking Fluid

I haven't done a tutorial since my 55 step Print Gocco Tutorial in 2008. I think it's time for some new ones! I fell in love with watercolor around 2001, when I started using them instead of markers to separate my presentation renderings from conceptual ones for interior design projects in college. I also worked at a wonderful independently owned art store, Pygmalion's Art Supply in Bloomington, Indiana, where I got to learn so much and enable others to buy art supplies daily.

Today we're going to focus on Masking Fluid, and how you can use it for your paintings. There are tons of details, and hopefully you can learn from some of my trials and errors over the years.

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 What is Masking Fluid? Why is it Useful?

Masking fluid may be used when you want to preserve white areas of your paper while painting. It is a rubbery liquid that is applied on the paper, and when it dries, creates a temporary seal between the paper and paint. Think of it like the rubber bands around a tie-dyed project, or blue painters tape around your windows when painting your living room.  I treat masking fluid as another tool in my technical arsenal. It can be used in a variety of ways, including:

• Blocking out small areas of white in order to get a smooth wash of color
• Since you really can't paint lighter than the paper, you can preserve it for highlights for still lives, landscapes, and cityscapes
• Mark making for abstract pieces, silhouettes, hand lettering, stars, etc

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Supplies Needed: 

Really, you just need the fluid, something to apply it, paper, and water. Bonus items have an asterisk.

1. Masking Fluid: I use Winsor & Newton Art Masking Fluid or Pebeo Drawing Gum. For tiny, intricate details, you may prefer a masking fluid pen*.

2. Watercolor Paper: I am partial to Arches 140 lb paper in cold press, but any paper will do.

3. Watercolors: Whatever you have will do, pans or tubes. I used my Schmincke Horadam Aquarelle (artist grade) set here.

4. Something to Apply the Masking Fluid: I recommend a cheap synthetic brush that you don't mind ruining, or will assign just for this purpose. Some directions say you can wash off the masking fluid, but it's a latex based solution and can sometimes be hard to get off. Just to be safe, I use a 99 cent type brush that is pretty small. You can also use Q-tips, toothpicks or anything else. I do love my Grafix Incredible Nib* that is specifically made for this purpose, has a pointed tip and a chisel edge.

5. Artist Tape*: I use Artist Tape to create a border around my work (which is the same principle as the masking fluid by the way).

6. Rubber Cement Eraser*: These rubber cement erasers are handy and last forever.

7. Water: I recommend high quality H20. Just kidding, I couldn't resist quoting The Waterboy.

8. Something to do while you wait for masking fluid and paint to dry* 

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How to Use Masking Fluid: (Click on Pictures for Step by Step Descriptions)

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Tips and Extras:

• Masking fluid should only be applied on dry paper. If not, it will not work correctly.
• If you mess up an area, don't wipe it up. Let the masking fluid dry completely and peel it up.
• The fluid needs to dry thoroughly or it will not work. Plus it can stain the paper if you smear it when it's not dry.
• Remove the masking fluid at your earliest convenience, but don't worry too much. Depending upon my schedule, I usually leave it on for about 20 minutes, or up to a week with no trouble. I only encountered it once, but masking fluid can stain your paper. I recommend doing a test first, especially if you have an important project or deadline. I think hot press (smooth) paper can be less forgiving, and some masking fluids are better than others. Alternatively, I found an interior design project from 2001 which still had masking fluid on it. I removed it 14 years later with no issues.
• If possible, don't use your best brushes over the dry masking fluid. It should be fine, but can get the slightest bit of tacky residue which is why I caution. Just be sure to wash your brushes promptly after with brush cleaner if possible
• If you don't have a rubber eraser, just pick at the dried masking fluid and it will come off. You can use what you peel off to get the rest off easier.

Let me know if you have any questions or have your own advice to share in the comments. Tag me on Instagram @marissahuber if you make something using these new skills. I'd love to see what you create!

Invitation Illustrations for Brunch Wedding at Valley Green Inn

A good friend of mine is getting married this November. We met on the SEPTA 48 bus, back when we had the same commute years ago. We bonded over knitting, poppy red scarves, and she is just a beautiful person. I'm so happy that she has found such a special partner to share her life with. When they asked me to help them with their wedding invitations, I happily agreed, and knew this was one wedding present that would actually be on time! They're having a brunch wedding at The Valley Green Inn. This is on the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, and is a scenic area to hike, bike, or take your kids, and was so much fun to paint. I was tasked to create watercolor, pen and ink illustrations based on their brunch celebration.I love drawing food. I think it's my favorite thing to draw, tied with NARS lipstick these days. Although I'm trying to not use pen & ink all of the time in my drawing these days, it's probably my signature style. It is so satisfying to fill it in with paint once you're finished (and the ink dries of course, lest it smear!)

I hope you had a good weekend, and were lucky enough to get a Mimosa like I did (thanks to an impromptu brunch with a favorite relative in town for a few hours). I'm still sad I didn't get any cake this weekend, but I'm sure I'll rectify that in the next few days.

These are off to the Graphic Designer who will work her magic next. I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

To Move Forward, Sometimes You Have to Quit

Over the years, I've been so inspired by other artists who have incorporated daily practices into their daily routines. When I turned 36 this past November, I decided to do a daily painting exercise. My intention was to have fun with it, explore more with marks and pattern, and to push myself to try new things.

I read this interesting little book while I was visiting my family in Florida over Thanksgiving, "Daily Rituals: How Artists Work" by Mason Currey. The daily lives of artists and creatives of all types (painters, writers, musicians, mathematicians) were outlined. Many took daily walks, they slept few hours, some were tormented, some were refreshingly happy, it truly varied. (Note for perspective: Many of these artists, though not all, had maids, childcare, benefactors, etc.)

So I started posting my daily painting exercises on Instagram (my favorite social media) with the hashtag #paintcadadía. Cada día means "each day" in Spanish. It is a reminder to paint, but also that daily practice can make a big difference. I don't speak Spanish fluently, but I understood way more when was practicing daily a few years ago with a tutor.

It has been four months since I started this journey. While I think that daily practice is amazing, and would recommend it for anyone, frankly, I am flagging.

But that is okay. I have a full time job. I have a two year old boy that I am the primary caregiver to due to my husband's work schedule. I have to go to the laundromat. I have to cook. I want to draw more, but I cannot do everything I want all the time. At least not while maintaining my sanity and being present for my son, which is my most important priority right now.

What is that great quote? "You can do anything, but not everything."

So I'm going to stop this exercise. I will still paint as much as I can, but I'm not going to force myself to adhere to a strict schedule and feel bad about it if I chose to do something else that day, like play at the park with my son, read a book, take a nap, or lets be real - KonMari my house!

Did I do it for the whole year? No. But did I fail? Absolutely not.

I choose to say that I succeeded in my goal, even if I did it for 1/3 of the time originally slated. Let's just say I was remarkably efficient in my endeavors.

I had fun. I made wonderful connections with other artists.

I explored with my style which clarified what I want to focus on next, which is more abstract painting, food, and makeup product drawings. I want to try relying less on ink with my watercolor illustrations. I want to paint more interiors again.

I carved out time for myself to focus on something important to me. I showed my son that a mom should also have her own time to work on what she loves, which is part of being a good role model in my opinion (granted that child is fed first!).

And when I look at what I posted on Instagram, I'm proud of the variety and amount of drawings and paintings I created these 4 months. I even posted some of the watercolor paintings for sale as art prints on my new Society6 page.

I spoke to my goal oriented cousin this weekend, and I told her, you are "enough" doing what you're doing right now. That is enough! I'm glad I finally listened to my own advice.

Ina Garten Inspired Summer Corn Chowder

Before Summer officially ended, I made a huge batch of Summer Corn Chowder. Using a few recipes for inspiration (the ever fabulous Ina Garten and a few others), I came up with this recipe. It is delicious, if I do say so myself. I ate it for about a week solid. I'm hoping to make it one last time before the leaves turn.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Rustic chic table setting:

Food detail drawing:

My favorite companion to soup:

I heart soup.

Watercolors for Caitlin Wilson Textiles

Right before Henry was born, I was commissioned to paint several water colors for Caitlin Wilson Textiles, thanks to a referral by Rachel Grace. My illustration style and what she needed turned out to be a good fit, and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to work with her. Caitlin is an amazingly talented and creative designer. I had so much fun bringing her lovely pillows and interiors to life in watercolor for her portfolio and website relaunch. I always love a fellow enthusiast of bright and happy colors.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I loved being able to do something that felt "normal" in the early days of motherhood, as I was feeling tied to the sofa while feeding the baby or trying to sleep. It was a bit stressful as well definitely, but it helped me to work faster and  plan my time differently. Instead of painting a watercolor in 2 shots, I had to think of what I could accomplish in 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and be flexible as well. As sometimes my mom could hold the baby, and sometimes he needed me, as I am his food source!

This type of working means that I have to leave my studio area in progress sometimes, and avoid the common procrastination trap of thinking everything must be neat and clean before I can start working. Sometimes you just have to get it done, even if it's painting on your bed while watching TV with a cute little boy who just wants to snuggle next to you.

Caitlin could not have been sweeter or more understanding regarding working with a brand new baby, as she's a working mom herself. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to meet her in person before she relocated to Portland, but I can definitely say she is a sweetheart (via email) and a talented and hard worker who deserves great success.

Enjoy the details of these watercolors. The floral pillow with navy piping was my favorite to paint. Okay, and the bulletin board!

Drawing Houses in Philly, New Jersey + Cincinnat

It seems like the trees in my neighborhood were just shaking their pink pom-poms announcing spring, but we're already in the middle of summer thunderstorms.  It must have taken that long to start adjusting to the new rhythm of my life.

Our schedule is getting easier, or we're adapting and becoming more efficient baby wranglers. We're learning to pick and choose some nights. The kitchen remains clean, but we've left clean laundry unfolded in favor of more time with Henry, dinner out with friends and a whole book read last week. I thought about doing it tonight, but decided to check in here instead.  Every day is a choice when it comes to time, but I'm trying not to sweat it or spread myself too thin.

I'm feeling very grateful to have the need to carve out time to finish some house illustrations, and create floral garlands for photographer Anna Peterson's new logo.

This row home drawing was one of my favorites to do, mainly because it was for my friend who is a total sweetheart, and also because I loved painting the little flower boxes. I was especially happy to finally finish this, since it was part of a long overdue wedding gift I'd been meaning to send, but some baby got in the way. I told myself I technically have a year according to Emily Post, but I felt really guilty not finishing yet when she threw me a Book Club Baby Shower and cooked me a delicious chicken pot pie and Smores bars shortly after Henry was born!

This sweet portrait was a commission (and surprise gift) for the parents my friend, Rachel Grace of Raenovate. They were moving to be closer to her and her growing family, and she wanted to document their beloved home of thirty-six years.

This Cincinnati home portrait was finished just in time for Father's Day.

Alright, I'm off to delay yet one more day of folding laundry (probably).

Notes from a New Mama

When I last left off, (two whole months ago!), I was having a little too much fun acting crazy with my big belly, which is a completely fun prop before it exhausts you. Sadly, the writing waned as I was tying up loose ends at work, getting the house ready and trying to enjoy the last bit of selfish me-time for awhile by taking naps, going to the movies and just doing whatever I wanted.

Henry Andrew was born in February, and we are counting ourselves very lucky to have a happy and healthy baby boy. I think he's already a little flirt, and is making friends and charming women and men alike wherever he goes. Mike and I were so excited to finally meet him, and it's so cool to see what a sweet dad Mike is becoming. And to see someone who had never changed a diaper become a pro in a few short weeks!

I was so very lucky to have my mom stay with us for five weeks to help during this exhausting yet very special time in his life, especially since Mike didn't have much time off work. I was grateful for her support, advice, cooking, cleaning, for another set of hands to hold the baby, for hands to hold me if I was overwhelmed, and to see the magic of my mom becoming a grandparent and falling in love with this little boy.

Apart from the intense new motherhood experience, I also had the opportunity to work on some design and illustration work. A friend and I did some virtual interior design for a client in New York City, and I did some watercolor illustrations for a fabulous local designer, Caitlin Wilson. It was boot camp in terms of figuring out free time with a new baby, but it also helped me to reconnect with the part of myself that is "Marissa" and not just a source of nutrition and love for a new human. Please refer to the part where my mom was here for 5 weeks lest you think I'm pretending to be a super-mom.

Some days I felt like I never left the sofa while feeding the baby. Though I spent many hours gazing into this baby's sweet face, I also watched all three seasons of Downton Abbey. Yes. It is all it's cracked up to be, and I'm already missing it!

Mom and I baked three chocolate chip cakes in five weeks, and got hooked on no-knead sourdough bread which my Aunt brought for us with a starter.  We balanced it out by making some bright colored salads with the first of the gorgeous spring vegetables. I am so excited for Spring!

The weather has been cold but sunny in Philadelphia, and we've been taking Henry on walks in the neighborhood. We have some friends in the neighborhood who occasionally join us, and I have been treating myself to hot chocolates at our local coffee shop as an extra incentive to get outside! He loves being carried around in our Baby Bjorn and will fall asleep for entire hours it seems.

I did finish knitting a baby sweater for lil Hen before he was born. It's way too big, but he looks pretty cute wearing it at around two weeks. It's crazy how quickly they do grow and how their faces change. He already looks entirely different than in this picture. We're enjoying him and adjusting and learning every day.

I'm not sure how much I'll post about Henry or being a mom on here in the future, but wanted to show my face and introduce you to our little boy. Thanks for being my virtual friends, and  I look forward to reconnecting on this space with you all in this coming year.

xoxo, Mariss

Holiday House Portrait for the Grace Family

My adorable friend, Rachel Grace of Raenovate asked me to create a house portrait for their 2012 holiday cards. I was so touched to be asked, and hadn't realized how much I missed my watercolors and inks after a brief hiatus. In interior design school, interior and exterior renderings was always my favorite part of my projects. They have a cute Craftsman style house which was fun to draw, and Rachel and her talented hubby are always doing impressive home improvements.

I especially liked creating the holiday garland details and banners, and painting the bricks!

I loved how their house portrait turned out, and thankfully, they were pleased with the results! I also decided to add custom house portraits to my Etsy shop since they are so much fun to create.

Rachel used a local printer to scan the image and create their cards. It was such a treat to receive their cute holiday card in the mail. I think it turned out really great! Thanks for the opportunity, R+T!

Citrus + Avocado

I should blame my unanticipated absence my new role at work, my volunteer position, an event I helped plan, the twice weekly Spanish lessons I'm taking, and a baby shower I'm throwing.  But it mainly comes down to one thing. Feeding the pantry and food storage obsession.

Most of my recent daydreams have been dedicated to what whole grains and bulk bin items I can scoop out and store in the carefully cleaned out jars I've been saving over the years. I dream about having matching jars found on sale somewhere that I know the contents of by sight, or with handwritten labels since I'm not a label-maker type of girl (excluding one workday frenzy with name labels and the P-Touch).

I'm using my new reference book, Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia, to get ideas of how to incorporate new foods and grains into my diet.

Last week I brought home beautiful poppy seeds that I just wanted to put my hands in. They're blue, purple, black and oh so tiny and susceptible to static cling.

Citrus is in season, so I snagged some tangerines for an avocado, grapefruit, radish, arugula and citrus salad. I was inspired by this delicious and refreshing version by Martha Stewart. It reminds me of home, when I used to have a ruby-red grapefruit and orange tree in our backyard until the citrus canker hit Florida. Our neighbors traded us for mangoes, avocados and tangerines. That was the life!

Big ruby reds were always my favorite. Fresh picked while warm, eaten first and then juiced for the finale. Always with a teeny bit of sugar, though it barely needed it.

I tried out a red lentil and carrot soup for lunch this week. It was healthy, tasty, filling and easy to make. Fits the bill for my busy week! Avocados have had constant rotation in my morning smoothies of late as well.

Lastly, the beautiful blood orange. They're so pretty on the inside, but aren't my favorite tasting citrus. However, I keep buying them to add dimension to other colors and flavors, and you know I'm a sucker for pretty colors!

¡Qué alimentos bonitos! (What pretty food! I told you I was taking Spanish!)

Color Study Paintings

I started a color study project in February 2010.  Mike gave me the idea when I mentioned that I wanted to start oil painting but didn't know where to start.  He suggested I start small with color studies to practice mixing color and seeing how things work against each other.  The idea stayed in my head for a few months until the sunlight on a day in February was so pretty that I was compelled to start the project. I must also mention one of my favorite blog friends, Susan Lutjen O'Connor of Sulu-Design.  Her Original Intent Series is always inspiring with the photographs she translates into her beautiful jewelry.

Too many options can be paralyzing, so I set up some loose limitations on myself:

I can use any medium or technique, but can only paint colors that I've seen on that day.

If I am lazy and wait until the next day, too bad!

The format is always vertical and measures 5" x 7" on watercolor or canvas board.

My goal is to finish 100 by December 31, 2011.  Here are paintings #1 - #42.  You can click on the links to see them larger and see the descriptions.  The entire set is on my Flickr account here.

              

                

              

               

                

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

                

          

            

So far I'm really enjoying this project.  It makes me notice my surroundings more, and try to think of different color combinations and palettes that I usually don't gravitate towards.

I plan on ending this at the end of this year, but may do it again from time to time.

Lines and Chevrons

I keep blank watercolor cards and envelopes on hand at all time so that I can easily whip up cards when I need them.  With some major life events happening for a few of my friends (both good and bad, which is when blank cards come in handy for your heartfelt messages), I needed to either head over to the card store or make a large batch quickly. I went for the latter.  For quick and easy, nothing beats watercolors in my opinion.  You just need a bit of water, paper and a brush.  Having worked in a wonderful small art store during college, I can go on indefinitely about art supplies, but I'll save that for a later post.

In this case, I used masking fluid, which is like a glue that covers paper that you don't want the paint to touch, and you pull off when the paint is dry. I'm usually a frenetic sketcher who uses lots of crazy black lines, so it was good to experiment with white spaces to change it up.

After having the stunning cover image from Sarah Midda's South of France Sketchbook in my head for days, I decided to attempt my own loose interpretation with various palettes.

Those who know me won't be surprised that I had to include a rainbow palettes gradating from color to color.

Oddly for me, since the palette above is my nearly neutral with the bright hues I love, I found myself enjoying how the peach masking fluid looked.  I particularly found myself drawn to the burnt umber and colors of the Utah landscape shown below.

I also tried to edit myself with the color choices. This messy chevron card was one of my favorites.  It now has a home with one of my dearest and oldest friends in Georgia.

This polka dots card ended up being much cuter than I thought it would be.  When it comes to watercolor, you could never get the even washes of colors around the white areas without the masking fluid.

I did some batik inspired cards, and a flowery one that I sent to the sweetest 11-year-old friend of mine in North Carolina to thank her for a lovely necklace she made me.

This ended up being a lot of fun, and I achieved the result I intended; loose drawings and lines, different color combinations, some love thrown in to the end users and a bit of hot pink, but in check.