Hand Painted Holiday Gift Ideas

For your beer drinking, football loving,

remote controlling , pizza eating man!
Please click on the images for more information.


"Berry Holidays" to all those special men who continually
cheer you on. Beers to them!!!


For those who love the finer things in life...
Beer ~ Pizza ~ and Football!


Cheer on your sports loving hero with a little holiday spirit!


"Beers to You!"
Lift a toast to the meaningful man in your life!

All ornaments have been hand drawn and hand painted
with non-toxic, lead-free glazes ~ and are available in my
shop: Magic Markings Art.com

A very berry holiday season to you and yours.

Happy Holiday Shopping...

Today marks the start of the busy holiday shopping
season. If you are interested in adding a little
affordable art to your gift giving list ~ check out my
new set of Limited Edition 8" x 10" Hand Painted Prints.
They come signed, dated, numbered and
with a certificate of authenticity. You can click on
the image for more information.


Fashion on the Beach

Family Surf Check

Longboard Style

Shaking it up on the Beach

Happy Hand Made Shopping!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." -W.T. Purkiser

Hand Painted Pottery Ornaments

Trim your tree with these delightful martini and beer themed
Christmas Ornaments. Each ornament is hand drawn
and hand painted with non-toxic, lead-free glazes - and
guaranteed to brighten up your holiday decor!


Chill Baby
Take a chill pill baby - and relax with me by the fire!



Buoy up to the bar
Shake one up down on the dock or as you wait
for your boat to come in.


Holiday Cheers
Put on some cheery Christmas music and dance
around the tree.


BEERS!
Raise a toast to all the wonders of the Holiday Season.

All ornaments are fresh out of the kiln and are
available in my shop ~ Magic Markings Art.com

Two New Vintage Vingettes for the Holidays

This weekend I finished two more hand painted snap shots of life in the 1960's. The first, and one of my favorite photo's, is of my little brother on Christmas Morning.

The original photograph - love that bathrobe
and the masculine, red footie pajamas!


My take on the scene...using a complimentary
color palette.
Santa's come...Ready to Play!

The second painting is of three children saying
their bedtime prayers. One can just imagine what
they might be thankful for, or...asking for... at this time
of the year!


Christmas Blessings

As the Holiday Season begins this week, I wish
you Health, Happiness, and many fond memories
shared amongst family and friends!

Student Spotlight - Women who Art

The Spotlight this week is on artist extraordinaire -
Amy Drescher.
Amy's inspiration came from the art work
"Red Striped Towel" ~ an oil on panel painting by
Richmond, Va. artist Laura Loe.


Recreating the drawing onto graphed canvas.


Painting in the negative space.


Interpreting the color and detail.


Ready for group critique.

Reworking the painting.

Toning down some of the colors and painting in details.

A little more tweaking...
AND...

"Grandma's Laundry" is finished.
Another wall worthy painting by Women who Art!

New Paintings...From Vintage Family Photo's

After recently spending countless hours going through
my mothers cache of old photograph's, I've been inspired
to paint small vignette's of life in the 1950's and 1960's.
Here are a few 5" x 7" Acrylic Paintings on Canvas
of life in the "simpler times".

Christmas Morning 1963
My brother, in his cowboy hat holding a
toy gun. Me, in my cowgirl hat holding an
iron. :) This just cracks me up!


Coat Tails and Cocktails
My father and his brother sharing a highball.


My grandmother and her two sisters
bonding in the kitchen.

Each of these paintings are available in my shop ~
Magic Markings Art. With more to come just in time
for the holidays.
I hope you enjoyed this little vintage voyage into
my families photo album!

Student Spotlight - Women who Art

This week we give a round of applause to Sara Jackson.
Sara's artistic skills run deep in her genes. This set of

skills have been passed down to her son - who, as an artist
in New York - must be very proud of his mother's
accomplishments! Each week, as we watched her painting
progress, we were certainly amazed at her eye for color!


Step One: Sketching the image onto canvas.

Painting in the negative space.


Working on her complimentary color scheme.


Adding color and detail to the glass vase, water
and flower stems.

Showing the painting for our art critique.

Adding detail.

AND...

Sara with her "Wall Worthy" Master Piece.
Beautiful...Simply Beautiful!

Aftermath of the Three Day Nor'Easter

Virginia Beach Boardwalk

Life is finally back to normal a few days after the disastrous
visit and departure of the November Nor'Easter. We were
truly fortunate ~ no flooding, trees down, or property damage ~
and our 21st anniversary dinner had just finished cooking when
our electricity went out! Forcing us to have a romantic dinner by
candle light as the wind and rain caused havoc around us.


One of the main roads in our neighborhood that
normally has standing water during high tide -
but never anything close to this much water.
This car still had its 30 day tags!!


The bay water, near where we take out our kayak.
This tide would save us a trek through the sand!


A little further up the road, the bay water crossed the
street and is lapping at the garage door of this home.


Pine straw and high tides = a lovely clean up for
these home owners.


My daughter, looking in amazement at the flooded
land and road.


Mailbox acting as a high tide marker.


The downed tree which caused so many homes
to loose their electricity.


Good riddance wind, rain, and high tides.

Happy Fiftieth My Friend...

Twas the Night of Bev's Fiftieth
and out on the porch, the bar was set up


To greet all, of course


The decorations were hung, 'round the
house with great care,


In hopes that the Birthday Girl
soon would be there;


The friends were all gathered, amidst
the whites and the reds,


While visions of birthday cake danced
in their heads;


Witness Bev with her martini glass,
and wearing her crown,


Laugh with abandon,
'cuz her friends were around.


Then out on the porch, there arose
such a noise,


Wouldn't you know, it came from
the boys?!


Step away from the beer the girls said
with a chuckle,


It's gonna be a long night, we don't
want you to buckle.


The crowd was diverse, and divine was
the food,


How nice to be part of this fun party mood.


The front door would open,


and more
friends would appear,


even her U. of R. roommate from back
in the year.


With our smiling families,


their daughters lively and cheering,

The noise level was loud, even for those


who are hard of hearing.


Navigating the neighborhood by car
they all came


And Bev smiled, and chatted, and
introduced them by name;


there were church friends, and work friends,
neighbors and more, oh ~ and look ~ there's
Wayne by the door.


These girls were the party hosts,
with their smiles so bright,

They welcomed the men


way into the night.


After waving good-bye from
the porch door

I slipped into sexy footie p.jammies

While my friends passed out on the floor.

Many thanks to friends, those who live close by,
and especially to those who traveled, who helped make this
an evening to remember.