40 Shades of Green

Enjoy St Patrick's Day

by Miriam Schulman

Sheep Art © Schulman

An old proverb says there's 40 shades of green in Ireland - here's a tribute to some of them!

Also, enjoy 17% OFF in my etsy store this weekend using coupon code GOGREEN!

Top Four Painting Rituals

Getting in the Mood

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

For my artist interviews I always ask other artisans what kind of rituals they have for staying calm and focused. I always find that a challenge. I have a complex set of rituals I need to follow in order to get my mind calm, focused and ready for creative outpourings.

Here are my top Four painting rituals:

Light A Candle

Scented Candles in the happiest Spring Shades by madycandles

Nothing grounds me to the studio better than lighting a scented candle. The constant scent calms me down, keeps me in the studio, and if nothing else, I stay there to keep the house from burning down. I love the happy colors of these candle lanterns by madycandles

Drink Tea

Blue Lotus Tea by HarmonyHerbals 

Whether I am painting by myself or teaching an art class, I always brew a pot of tea. My students love sharing tea and cookies which is so important to create a community of artists. I have a glass tea pot with a tea strainer inside that is perfect for exploring a variety of loose teas. Tea helps you relax, connect with the sacred in every day life, and are also great in helping you cut down on other addictive habits. The Blue Lotus was a  sacred flower of the ancient Egyptians and used in parties and rituals for it’s gently euphoric and aphrodisiac effects. Considered a sensual tonic and mood booster, the Lotus was traditionally soaked in wine and then enjoyed as a beverage, as well as smoked in a pipe by itself or with other sacred herbs. Blue Lotus Tea by HarmonyHerbals  also makes a beautiful and relaxing tea.

Play Music

Music Garland by RidingTriumph

Music is another way to keep my mind focused and grouned. I have found that even while doing my online marketing I am less likely to get bored and distracted by facebook if I play some music. My favorite radio station here in New York's backyard is The Peak which streams on the internet. I also have a bucket of cd's and lots of songs loaded on my ipod.

Slip into something more comfortable 

Overalls made to order by BowandArrowApparel

I have several pairs of overalls. A well fitted pair that is both stylish and functional serves as my daily painting uniform. I own a few in a mixture of vintage and new styles, short and long. When searching on etsy, I was looking for someone who makes them herself and my heart did a leap when I found the designer Anna Toth of BowandArrowApparel. Her shop offers several sexy options. The overalls pictured left are made to order in her sweet little studio in North Carolina. She goes to great lengths to ensure their quality and ruggedness, while maintaining their classic style.

What rituals do you have?

Dance with the Color Cabaret!

Pantone's Cabaret Spring Forecast.

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

Pantone' Cabaret Pink for spring 2012

Pantone's forecast for spring 2012 includes cabaret, a reddish pink that is a little more exuberant than it's predecessor honeysuckle pink. The color looks spirited in your spring wardrobe or as an accent color in a modern home decorating scheme. While most will want to try it in small doses on decorative pillows or incorporate it into artwork, the fearless can upholster your chairs in a cotton by Glant textiles or use magenta and white toile deJouy curtains designed by Andrew Fisher as pictured in the room view. The artwork in the original decorating scheme has been replaced by original artwork that is for sale in my etsy shop, mimistudio.

Tree Art complements the exuberant decor, but tree art would also look great in any setting

So many ways to love this color!

Add a piece of art to your home for instant style and lift your spirits everyday!

Interview with Doll Maker

March Comes in like a Lion and Out like a Lamb!

Interview by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

Veruka Dolls Land on Etsy!

SchulmanArt: When did you start making dolls?

Gwen: I've always made toys, since I was a child - I sorta had this thing about Santa Claus, I thought that was a fantastic idea, I wanted to live at the North Pole when I grew up --you know Miriam, funny that, me husband is a big, jolly bearded fellow, that makes deliveries for a living.

Do you have any formal art training? 

Gwen: I dunno what I can tell ye about school - I have an English degree from a state school, with a minor in art BUT, I don't have any sort of degree in fiber art, it's for the most part things I learned from older people who remembered - I don't even know if they have classes in this part of the world in old-timey embroidery techniques or hand-sewing. I like fleece and felt because they're easy to shape, but I sorta like to find old fabrics that people want anymore, particular cast-off clothes for the fabric collage dolls - I don't have a lot of nostalgia for the past, but I do like wondering who they belonged to, and what they were like.

Fan Veruka Land Dolls on Facebook!

How do you get ideas for dolls?

Gwen:  I watch a lot of television - not the kind you'd think, tho, mostly news programs and documentaries and things.. what Other People are thinking about it sort of fascinating to me, snatches of conversation. People will say things that will sort of stick in my head, sometimes strange things people are talking about on facebook -- I used to check out the original Art&Artist discussion board on eBay for that, just to listen to people talk, it doesn't usually matter about what, sooner or later, if you're talking, you'll start saying something.

Follow Gwen on twitter, @VerukaDolls

Who is your customer? 

Gwen:  You know, I'm always surprised by that - they're never the people I would think. I have a hard time talking to people, but the dolls, they're great little ambassadors to the outside world, they say things I don't know how to say. Who the message reaches is pretty interesting to me, sometimes.

How do you stay focused on creating?

Gwen:  I don't know that I have any rituals, well, i have lots and lots, I'm particularly fond of Saints, but I don't have any that involve creativity - Academically I understand the question but its never been hard to make things - Its kinda hard to Stop making things and do laundry or something more practical instead.  I don't know that I have a "Structured" environment, or a schedule -- everything is usually at sixes and sevens. I don't really have much of a life outside of work, I have to say, 'competing demands' are usually ignored, pretty much -- unless they're urgent (Gwennie, they've come to  turn off the gas, or Mum, we've nothing to eat!). That's probably not good, I'm trying to make more time for a home life.

The studio space is very small, its about eight feet. It's white, mostly. I usually describe it as "my doll-house size studio deep inside the Bridgewater Triangle" I don't just make dolls, I do a lot of collage art, too, and I make assemblages, so there's a Lot of stuff here, I guess you'd say, fabrics and threads and beads and lace, sure, but also broken toys and Junque, paint, ink, paper by the pound, chain for the jewelry, glues and epoxies, tools of all sorts, my cool button maker, brushes and knives and knitting needles.

You Request a CustomTurtle Doll!

Do you have any pets?   

Gwen: Yes, I have two turtles - people think that's not really a pet, but like an aquatic decoration or something, but it's not true, they have a lot of personality. They come to recognize you, they know me from my husband for example, and prefer he feeds them (he always overfeeds them) but they'll bang on the glass if I come by holding their food, too. I'm really fond of my turtles. The tank isn't in the studio, it's in my bedroom - I don't usually remove them from it unless I'm cleaning the tank. They have activities they enjoy, but being held isn't really one of them. I also have four children.

Gwen sells most of her hand made dolls on etsy, while you are there, check out all the other great artists like the ones featured here!

Artistic Symbols of Easter and Spring

Iconic Art

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

Cat Art in an Easter Basket

Although the basket has come to be regarded as a symbol of Easter, it is also a symbol of spring. The meaning or symbolism of the Easter basket extends far beyond a simple array of goodies and treats that fill a basket. Since spring is the traditional symbol for new life, rebirth and renewal, the basket has taken on the symbolism of spring as well.

framing idea for Easter Art

Easter eggs & baby chicks- Eggs and chicks symbolize new life. Eggs have been a symbol of spring since ancient times. An egg also is a symbol of the rock tomb out of which Christ emerged when he arose again. The chick, hatching out of the egg, symbolizes new life or re-birth. 

Original Lamb Paintings on Canvas

Apart from being a traditional delicacy in the Easter dinner, Easter lamb is also a part of religious symbolism. It is a prominent Easter symbol in central and eastern European countries. Easter lamb represents Jesus and relates his death to that of the lamb, sacrificed on the first Passover. Lamb has been mentioned in the seventh-century holy book of the Benedictine Monastery. Christians traditionally refer to Jesus as "the Lamb of God". The Easter lamb, draped with the flag of victory, may be seen in pictures and images in the homes of every central and eastern European family, during the holiday season.

Bunny Art available as prints

Rabbits are often used as a symbol of fertility or rebirth, and have long been associated with spring and Easter as the Easter Bunny. The species' role as a prey animal also lends itself as a symbol of innocence, another Easter connotation. Additionally, rabbits are often used as symbols of playful sexuality, which also relates to the human perception of innocence, as well as its reputation as a prolific breeder.

• What symbolizes spring or Easter best for you?

Pantone Spring Color Trends Inspire New Dragonfly Paintings

Juicy colors of Bellflower Purple, Cabaret Pink and Tangerine Tango

by Miriam Schulman, @schulmanArt

A Lilac bedroom is the soft backdrop for Dragonfly Art

A friend just told me that out of all my paintings she loves my dragonflies the best. I had also recently sold out of all my original dragonfly paintings so I figured it was time to create some more. The dragonfly image is pretty much the same on all of them. I chose a soaring dragonfly with golden gossamer wings. After carefully rendering the image of the dragonfly on canvas, I add swirls and dips using my masque pen. Then I apply washes of gorgeous transparent watercolor paint. you can see a Watercolor Demonstration video on youtube about how I create these paintings. 

For this series I decided to paint a trio using Pantone's spring 2012 color report. For the three I chose provocative, juicy tangerine tango, ornamental purple bellflower, and a feminine pink cabaret. I love painting dragonflies because of the spiritual symbolism that dragonflies represent to me. I like to think of dragonflies as symbolizing the soul after death,

not in a depressing way, but in a happy uplifting spiritual soulful way. That these insects, like humans, go through metamorphisis in life and death is just one more part of that life cycle.

click HERE for all dragonfly prints and dragonfly art

What is your most favorite color from the new spring color trends??

Poetry Prompts Painting

by Miriam Schulman, @SchulmanArt

This poem was written on request for some poetry to help inspire my new series of dragonfly paintings.  

The Darner

Dragonfly Painting, ©Schulman

Dragonfly Decor, ©Schulman

Dragonfly Art, ©Schulman

by Micah Faulkner

Static darting shimmer,
to destinations hum on, urgent and pausing.
Eternal and momentary
your path is direct and unstarted, unseen,
and if they would only slow down

 




a moment

an instant

 






your flickering gossamer blades
would shine infinity for any looker to see,
null and void,
from his local shore to watch their paused
dynamic flitting flicker.


Check out these beautiful springtime themed crafts by other etsy artists!