Painting #39 Dog Whisperer

I've always loved German Shepherds.  My family has two that they love dearly.  They are such loyal, intelligent, and beautiful dogs!  That's one reason I was so excited to paint this painting for Theresa Roach, curator of Art and Light Gallery, on the west end of down town Greenville.  A fantastic shop that combines art, design, and that special eclectic touch perfectly.

When Theresa sent me this photograph of one of her dogs, I was first struck with the contrast between the dog's deep, colorful coat and the whiteness of the snow.  A watercolor just seemed to fit the "look" I wanted to achieve.

Don't forget about the greatest give-away!  The painting I'm giving away is really stunning.  When people see it they are shocked that they could have it, by simply emailing their friends! 
Also, there are a few painting and the black and white collages still for sale on my Etsy page: EmilyJeffords.etsy.com Check them out!

Snapshots of Art and Light Gallery

Paintings #38

So, yesterday, I thought seriously about digging through a stack of old business cards, gift cards (unfortunately, all used up...) and all those random punch cards I pick up, and never use again, in order to find my "Stuff Happens" card. We got them from our bank to use instead of paying for a bounced check, or other fees... my "get out of jail free"  - just in case.  I was going to photograph it and include the picture with this blog post... but I didn't.  It wasn't my intent to skip my painting and post yesterday, but, stuff happens, and I'm sorry! I did, however, paint TWO paintings today to make up for it!

The first painting is a 9x11 oil painting that I've grown quite fond of as I've painted and photographed it; I love the super dark greens and smoky grays. It's a commission painting of a beautiful spot in Cades Cove, TN near the Smokey Mountains. A place where bears roam free, wild flowers bloom 10 out of 12 months, trees never stop growing taller, and nature abounds. Personally, I think I've had about all the nature I can stand for one day. I've spend the last hour trying to [find and] chase a mouse out of my kitchen... it didn't work. I can hear him in there... doing something noisy. I'm just glad he can't get into the pantry or cabinets!  AND, there was a snake on the driveway yesterday...

That’s all for now! I have to hurry and painting the finishing touches on the second painting!

Painting #37 Garden Observation III

Well… this has literally been my first chance to sit down with the computer, camera, painting, and tape (to hold my eyes open) all day. Today has been full of dress shopping, movie watching, eating, talking, baby holding, singing, and visiting with family I won’t see again for a long time (those always feel like precious moments). I have loved this massive family visit (we've had 21 relitives and a puppy come into town this week!!!) It has been full, exciting, happy, and crazy… but, I can’t wait to get back into a schedule over the next couple days.


Between all the meals, visits, trips, and chats, I managed (!) to paint a painting today (don’t ask me when/how!) We have a tree that drapes over our driveway. One day it was just a tree with bare naked branches, and the next is was covered with these sweet little flower poofs. Adorable… They look so puffy and pink. This oil painting is 5x7 and is for sale on my Etsy shop for $37!


Don’t forget to email your friends and family today about my blog in order to enter the greatest give-away on the internet!

And with that… goodnight!

Painting #36 Charleston: the place of memory making

I think I have a ”thing” for southern cities. They’re so wonderful; classy, stylish, charming, friendly... and Charleston SC is no exception. My first trip to Charleston was a quickie day trip while I was a Freshman in college. My roommate and dear friend, Lydia, and I drove at ungodly speeds both ways in order to spend as much time as possible wondering/running all the streets, eating amazing food, enjoying all the great shops, and soaking up some sun (of which there was very little that day). Fun memories… Since then I’ve made hundreds more memories in that city. It has been the perfect day trip to take with my (then) boyfriend and (now) husband… great family vacations site… perfect city to gallivant around with crazy friends… romantic get-away… wonderful photo shoot location… all around, it’s on my Top-10-Cities-In-America list. You must go there.
So, needless to say, I was very excited to get a commission painting of this fine city. This watercolor painting is 8 x 6 inches. The couple that requested this photo got engaged here.  See!  It's just so romantic.
I love this particular part of town. The ocean is on one side, and numerous huge, ginormous, houses are on the right. In fact, legend has it that Princess Diana owned a home shown here! It’s bright pink... 

Check out my etsy shop to see other paintings that are still for sale!

Don’t forget about the Give-away ending in 24 days! Time is ticking away… Email your friends, family, and total strangers to increase your odds of winning a beautiful oil painting!


I also must share with you these photographs of Annalisa eating cake for the first time.  We had an early birthday party for all the cousins on the Jeffords' side tonight.  She loved it!  Well, really, she loved squishing it in her hands and smashing it on the plate.  Cutie-pie. 

Painting #35 Love is in the air... as well as bumble bees

Happy Easter! I hope you all had a lovely and blessed Easter. We had such a beautiful, sunny, joyful day with family, friends, and babies everywhere!  It was so cute watching the kids play together!  There are three babies all very close in age, and cousin Victoria who is a little older (4).  She went around "shooting" buble bees with a stick... 
This beautiful watercolor is of the Forsyth Inn “Located in Savannah, Georgia's Historic District, our Savannah inn is a feast for the eyes” as stated on their website. And I hope this painting is a feast for your eyes! It is a 8x10 watercolor painting of fine paper… beautiful… This painting was commissioned by a couple that visited Savannah on their honeymoon and stayed in this charming inn. I’m honored to be able to paint it for them!
On that note, if you would like to have a painting of a special location, please email me your photograph! I love painting beautiful buildings and grounds.

I love Savannah... My husband and I went there for our honeymoon as well and loved every moment. It’s a beautiful, charming, rich, historical, and artsy city. We’re planning on going back in late May (hopefully!) for our anniversary. If you ever go there, you must go to a restaurant called 700 Drayton. …Incredible.


I know it can be hard to keep track of which paintings are still for sale, so I thought I would include snapshots of the painting that are still available for amazing prices! Email me, or go to my Etsy shop to buy them.

And, don’t forget about the Greatest Give-Away EVER! A beautiful oil painting, just for spreading the word about my blog!  I'll be shipping this painting to someone on May 2nd!
 

Painting #34 Orchids and Dreams and Crazy Schemes

I just read a list of “things to do with my life” on Design for Mankind. I love it!  What do you want to do with your life? Anything crazy? Or simple? Or romantic? Or risky?

I don’t really have a life list, but I’ve ALWAYS wanted to find a great deal plane tickets to Paris, fly there for breakfast with my sweet hubby (and now, baby), and fly back later that day. Would that not be the most amazing thing to look back on! How random and fun and romantic and insane! So. If you find and great deals on tickets to Paris… let me know!

This painting is another painting from our visit to the Franklin Park Conservatory. A gorgeous greenhouse (that doesn’t even begin to describe it) in Columbus Ohio. There is a huge, beautiful, sunny room, full of orchids and delicate tropical plants. Incredible. Breathtaking…  Dan was about to ask me to marry him, and he was so nervouse!  I was completely oblivious and was snapping pictures of all these incredible flowers, enjoying all the pretty things around me. I asked him to hold the orchid branch so I could get a better angle on it, and when he did it started shaking and quivering so badly I couldn’t focus on it! Poor guy… I just though his blood sugar was low or something. I had no idea there was a rock in his pocket! Sweet memories… Anyways, (back to the painting,) this is a 9x7 oil painting on canvas. Just beautiful… I love the contrast between the light and dark, solid and soft.


You can buy this painting on my shop for $34! Or, email me (if you’re from Greenville) and we can work out a time to meet so you don’t have to pay for shipping.
Don’t forget about the most amazing give-away ever!!! Someone is going to get a beautiful painting!
 
Have a wonderful Easter!

Good Day to You!

What a lovely Friday… good Friday indeed. We are surrounded with family (and will be for about a week longer,) and spent the day telling stories, talking, shopping (I’m a great shopper! I got a brand new diaper bag from Pottery Barn for $5.00!) eating, and playing with the babies. It’s been fun so far!

I stole a little time for myself and my paints. At the onset of this week I wasn’t sure how this project would work with all the company, but so far, It’s been nice to have a few hours of peace and quiet during the busy days. This painting is a tribute to serenity. What a calm and peaceful landscape... It’s an oil painting, about 10x5 inches. I love the ruggedness of the wood and bark behind the painting. . Isn’t it amazing how even crazy busy cities can look peaceful when photographed from the sky. I love looking down on the world from an airplane window. Amazing. You can buy this painting on my shop! It will make your home so calm and quiet. Just like that!



Here are a couple pretty little Easter items that I love and wanted to share with you!
 

A pretty Tulips photograph created by3Lambsdesigns
The most beautiful "La Fleur et le Sable Necklace",

The cutest Felt Bag by abacusathome

A set of four Wooden Coaster by RaineStyleHome

A lovely silk clutch purse, starburst bloom by redrubyrose

And!!!!  Do not forget about the most Greatest Give-Away ever!!! 

Time for a little I Spy in the Sky -- Painting #32

Painting number 32 has finally been competed, photographed, posted, and now, viewed by you! I’m tired. We’ve had a very busy day! My brother and sister-in-law arrived from Hawaii this afternoon. It’s been so good to see them again! Their son is three months older than Annalisa, but he’s able to crawl and is starting to walk! So, he’s leaps and bound ahead of her physically right now. But they’re so cute together anyways. I’m including some photos of Annalisa and me that I took this morning. We have so much fun together! She’s so cute and fluffy. I love it when she gets that look of awe in her eyes when she looks at things. I don’t know what I did without her…

This painting is a commission photograph from an old friend from Houston. I hope you love it Lydia! It’s a 6x6 inch oil painting of a beautiful sky full of deep clouds and dramatic highlights. I wish I could have seen it in real life! I love the way the sky changes every hour of every day. There are unlimited creatures, and houses, and people, and flowers morphing in those big fluffy shapes. God is an awesome artist. Isn’t it amazing how the sky can stop us in our tracks, even on the busiest of days, and make us stand in awe? I think it’s one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen…
Don’t forget about the most amazing give-away ever! And… check out my shop for paintings that are still for sale!
 

The Greatest Give-Away Ever

Attention Everyone! I am doing a very great and very grand give-away!

Thank you all so much for following my blog! You have no idea how much that encourages me. As a little token of my appreciation, I am going to be giving away painting #61 (May 1st)!!! This is actually a very crafty marketing scheme I’ve cooked up... In order to win the painting (Dan’s favorite one so far…) you have to email at least one person, and tell them about my blog. You can enter more than once by telling multiple people! So, say you email 11 people, I’ll put your name in the drawing 11 times. I’m going to keep track of how many people you tell and then use this amazing “random number generator” to pick the winner! (It’s quite fun to play around with.)
The question is, how am I going to keep track of how many people you tell? Email your friends, family, co-workers, strangers… and tell them to check out my blog, and copy me on the email. I’ll count the number of email addresses and add that number to your tally. The more people you email the greater your odds of winning.  My email address is: TheArtist.Emily@gmail.com

And here is a photograph of Painting #61. It’s a beautiful butterfly bush that we saw while at a conservatory in Columbus. It was so beautiful I couldn’t not paint it! It’s a 7.75 x 6.5 oil painting on a thick block of wood. I’ve painted the edges black, so you don’t have to frame it. It makes a great artistic element sitting on a shelf or mantle.
Let the games begin!

Easter is coming! The inspiration for Painting #31

I love this time of year. It’s beautiful, it’s sunny, there are flowers popping up all over the place that I’ve forgotten about. I think there are about 10 different varieties of daffodils in our back yard. It’s crazy! I love the three that I painted today. The one in the front reminds my of a lion! I have no idea what it’s really called (I’m sure it has a beautiful Latin descriptive name…) but I’m going to call it the Lionusium Narcissus. Ya, that sound pretty good….

This painting seems to portray spring perfectly to me. The colors are so “Eastery” and sweet. There is such a new innocence that early spring time evokes. Beautiful. This oil painting is on wood, and is 6.25 x 8.5 inches and will look perfectly lovely in your home all year long.

You can buy this painting from my Etsy shop for a mere $31! EmilyJeffords.etsy.com