Highlights of 2018, what’s going, new website, and more.

It’s been a long time!

In the last few months, my business has really started to progress.

Ragamuffin’s Coffee House hosted my first pop-up art show, which was a huge success, thank you so much Ragamuffins!

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Bellow Springs elementary school’s 2nd and 5th grade classrooms for career day.

Jenna Lane, an amazing caricaturist invited me to join her at an event in Fredrick, MD.  We had so much fun :).

I Competed in the 2019 HoCo Fair book cover.  I didn’t win, but it was a great experience, I learned a lot, and I am looking forward to competing it the 2020 book cover.  Congrats to the winner!

I am hosting a Holiday Bazaar in November with Sandy Thompson seller of Magnolia and Vines, check her out sometime, her stuff is really nice.

I finally got my website up and running, which is one of my greatest accomplishments this year.  I am going to write a full blog about the purpose of my website and how it will be growing over the coming weeks and months.  I also want to take this time to tell you that I am moving my blog over to the website, in an attempt to consolidate my online presence.  That doesn’t mean that this blog will disappear, I am keeping this account. But, most of my blogs will be posted on my new website. Below is the link to my website and the direct link the the blog page.

Blog    Website

These are just a few of my highlights this year and my list is continuing to grow.  As I point out all my highlights of 2018, I want to thank all of you, because without your support I wouldn’t be growing.  Thank you for partaking in my journey as an artist.

With lots of love and gratitude,

Marie Lof

 

 

 

Up Coming Event!!!

Kickstart

Hi everyone,

I know it’s bee a while sine I wrote, but I have had big things going on.  I have teamed up with a local coffee shop to present my first pop up show.  I am super excited, but like with all ventures it comes with a cost.  I need some backing to buy stand, marketing materials, and advertising.  I would also like to reprint some of my work, so if you are interested on backing me, or just finding out more about this venture; check out my kickstart page.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/72033164/an-emerging-artists-first-pop-up-art-show

A Newer Piece

When I started this painting I intended it to have color, however, it’s funny how art conforms the artist rather than the artist conforming the art. I like this style of painting for forests, because it builds a very real depth and feel to it, almost as if you could walk through and feel it.

This painting began the same way most of my paintings do; with two colors black and white. I build depth by blending white and black to create a very light gray, which is almost white, adding little trees in the far distance, and with each layer of new forest the trees and forestry get darker and larger. Once I reach the closest part of the forest I use black to finish. When I add a tree to up and then I pull the base out with a dry clean brush. I do this so that I get shadows. Once I am happy with my forest, it’s foliage, and shadows I let the painting dry. Generally, I choose a color or colors to mix with a medium and lay it over the forest I have created, but this paint was so perfect I couldn’t add anything more to it. I went to bed and my partner the next morning told me not to touch it again, because I was going to ruin it. This is also the first painting I have ever sold, I am extremely proud of it!

Foxes Playing

If your interested in buying this piece check it out in my store.

This is a 5×7 matted watercolor of two foxes playing. This was so much fun to paint. I loved the colors and contrasts in this painting. I was a little worried about how it was going to turn out, only because this was my fist animal watercolor. But, I have to say I love it; it looks great.

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It was a lot of fun to paint and I really liked playing with the colors.

My Ebay Store Is Now Opened

A Journey In Art
I am so excited to announce I am selling on ebay! Check out my store for merchandise, sales, and promotions. However, remember I give discounts at my events, so come check out my work locally or ask about private showings.

Another week with a missed blog

I missed you guys again last week! I am so sorry I have been really busy and here is why, drum roll…… I am excited to share that I have started attending vendor events. Make sure that you guys check out my events tab and Facebook page to see where I will be next. I am going to be booked at venues almost every weekend from now till Christmas.

Last weekend was the my kick off and it was amazing. The host was super sweet and she gave me a huge space, an entire stage if I wanted! How cool was that? So, my wonderful boyfriend/photographer took pictures and I wanted to share them.

Of course this was the first painting to go! I think just about everyone there loved it. It was a piece that was also enjoyed at home. However, now I have more space for my new projects.

My personal Fairy Garden was a great attraction; it drew a lot of people to my table. I sold several pieces and the kids got a kick out of it!

As I told you the host let me have a stage, but I displayed my bigger paintings on stands on top of the stage and used the stairs to display the little ones. It worked out so perfect, I am really going to need to be creative at my next event.

It was so cool getting to interact with people who enjoyed my art and talking to people about my work. I did have some down time to just sit and relax, taking in the moment was a beautiful thing for me.

In total I sold two paintings and five fairy items. However the host asked if she could commission a piece, which is almost done; later that night she contacted me and decided to buy another painting!

Now, I did jilt you on a blog last week, so to make up for that Friday you will have not one, but two blogs this week, or will it be three???

Remember I am going to be at several locations over the next month. Check me out on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/marielof7/ to see my events, or click the event tab. Also follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ajourneyinart/ I post almost daily there. Till Next time and as always, thanks for taking the time to check out my blog.

Follows, likes, and comments always welcomed.

Willow Oak Farm

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We are proud to announce that Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm is our new vendor. Willow Oaks is located off of Telegraph RD in Severn.  It’s easy to miss so keep an eye out for the sign!   Willow Oak is 40 acres of gardens, forests, animals, nooks to rest, and a lovely gift shop.  Maria the owner had the land protected by the state of Maryland and it is considered one of the gems of the Chesapeake!  They hold many events and activities on the premises, such has classes, festive activities, catered teas, and private events.

Through out the gardens you can find little cottages, gazebos, and even a small castle structure.  Some of the structures have stored items like the castle, other’s have themes like Peter Rabbits house;  no matter the purpose of the structure they are enjoyable to look at and your kids will get a kick out of them.  You can host an event in the one of the lovely gazebos, the cabin with the porch, or on the veranda overlooking the lake.   They host private events such as birthdays, weddings, bridal, and baby showers.  They also have catered teas and special teas like a Mother’s day tea.  They have a fall festival and a Christmas celebration which will be taking place in the next few weeks.  They also offer an arrangement of class on gardening, drying flowers, and what you can do with your herbs.

Maria has integrated her gardens with the forest.  She has really made this a tranquil place for people to come enjoy the beauty of nature. She even has a lake!

Maria has done an excellent job at creating small nooks to rest in throughout her gardens.

One of the things I really liked about Willow Oak was that they love fairies as much as I do, and have several gardens dedicated to just fairies.  They even said that they use the concept of fairies in the garden as a way of teaching kids to not walk on the flowers!  How genius was that!!!!!

Maria made this little garden in her gift shop, which is two floors full of unique, whimsical, and fantastic items.  Be sure to check out the gift shop to find me items along with all the other lovely things, and it smells amazing.

I’ll be honest,  we took over a hundred pictures of this fabulous establishment and it’s gardens. I picked a few of my favorites, but you are missing so much!   Like the goat, horse, birds, cat, Mr. McGregor’s garden, several other gardens, awesome merchandise, and flowers.  Willow Oak Farm isn’t just a beautiful place to visit, the staff and owner are wonderful.  Maria is so sweet and everyone there is so lovely and helpful.  It’s worth a visit to just look at the gardens.

Aquatic Sculpture (sold)

I started messing around with polymer clay a few months ago. It started with little fairies and over time evolved into whatever I could think of.

When I started this piece I wasn’t sure what I was going to make, but then I saw a reflection of a candle through my fish tank as my betta was swimming. I was inspired.

After cleaning the glass and picking my clay colors; I laid them onto the glass and connected them. Shaped the clay and began sculpting it. Once everything was done, I picked the pigments I wanted to color the clay with, applied the stones, and baked the item. I am so happy with the end result!

This piece is full of beautiful colors, unique style, and functionality. When people see it, they immediately get the aquatic feel. Currently it has a home on my display shelf, till it finds a new home.

Fairy Jar