Michelle Masters Topiary Art » New Artwork http://michellemasters.com/blog Snipets of a growing artist, business, and spirit... Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:34:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 New Hawaiian-Themed Design http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-hawaiian-themed-design/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-hawaiian-themed-design/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:46:13 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=4402 Finally! My newest design “Hawaiian Hedge” for the upcoming  2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show-  Hawaii: Islands of Aloha. It’s a lot of fun to create new images based on the theme of the show. Last year’s Paris Hedge was a hit and as you can see, the bunnies from Hedges & Hares are at it again this year! This design will be available on Notecards, Framed/Matted Prints, Linen Guest Towels, Lavender Sachets, Limited Edition Pillows and Coasters.

If you’ve never been to the Philadelphia Flower Show you really should put it on your bucket list! It is unlike any other flower show that you will ever see. I can’t wait to see the tropical paradise this year. Here are highlights from the 2010 show!

 

Surf’s up! : )

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-hawaiian-themed-design/feed/ 2 What… A Message From The Queen? http://michellemasters.com/blog/what-a-message-from-the-queen/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/what-a-message-from-the-queen/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:48:40 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=4285

I had to do it! I know… the KEEP CALM and CARRY ON thing is everywhere these days. Have you seen it? It began as a poster produced by the British government in 1939, intended to raise the morale of the British public in the event of invasion. Here is more information.

I thought I was a genius to come up with the “Garden On” part – I have a Topiary Crown design for heavens sake! After a quick google search I discovered people were already using the phrase. Phooey. Nevertheless this one is fun and different and makes a great set of notecards for your favorite gardener. I love the dark magenta text- it pulls out the color of the pink geraniums in the urn. On the back the card is titled “From The Queen”. chuckle…

I would seriously love to get one of these in the mail from a fellow gardener! I may have to mail myself one just to be sure! ; ) Click here for more info or to order!

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/what-a-message-from-the-queen/feed/ 7 Oil Sketch of Brady http://michellemasters.com/blog/oil-sketch-of-brady/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/oil-sketch-of-brady/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:24:54 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=4276

One of the next dog breeds that I will be featuring in a garden setting will be the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is Brady. Doesn’t he have a sweet little face? Stop back in to see the finished “Cavalier Garden Portrait”.

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/oil-sketch-of-brady/feed/ 2 New Weimaraner Design http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-weimaraner-design/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-weimaraner-design/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:34:11 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=4206  

One of my customers from the Allentown Festival in Buffalo, NY sent me some photos of her beautiful dog Sophie. Isn’t she lovely. I have had a great time studying the history of the breed as well as the form of these graceful dogs. Their light colored eyes are so moving and expressive!

I thought a sleek Mies van der Rohe sofa would be a nice nod to the breed’s German origin. The flowers in the pot are actually a purplish form of the Cornflower- considered the flower of Germany… who knew!? I love the sleek lines of the dog and the simple lines of the furniture and pots. Sophie looks like a star. The angle of her head was not easy but I loved the position of the body so I decided to stick with it.

Shown below is a quick oil sketch that I did one evening while I was cooking. I’ve moved my easel into the kitchen recently. Call me crazy… but it seems to be working. : )

 


The Weimaraner design is now available online at michellemasters.com. Click here for more information.


 

 

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-weimaraner-design/feed/ 0 An Oil Study http://michellemasters.com/blog/an-oil-study/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/an-oil-study/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:29:18 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=4181  

I’m trying to get  comfortable using oils again. This little guy came out of the garden over the weekend. I think I like it. The roots need to be a little darker… maybe a bit more detail… then it will be done.  Some days are more successful than others in using oils again. It’s hard to find the time outside of regular work/design/production and life.

My solution:

I’ve moved my French easel into the kitchen. My thought is that since I’m usually there for 2 hours anyway getting dinner put together and helping with homework… I may as well add painting into the mix. Why not. Quick, small oil studies. It’s actually given me a startling new idea that I will be sharing soon. : )

 

 

 

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/an-oil-study/feed/ 1 Irish Setter Designs http://michellemasters.com/blog/irish-setter-designs/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/irish-setter-designs/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 02:08:41 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=4183

The Irish Setter designs will soon be available online at http://michellemasters.com. Until then please call 888.313.0239 for more information or to order.

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/irish-setter-designs/feed/ 1 Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop http://michellemasters.com/blog/plein-air-oil-painting-workshop/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/plein-air-oil-painting-workshop/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:24:14 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=3842 Wow. It’s been awhile… the kids have returned to school, the Clothesline Festival is behind me. I am beginning to be able to focus again. Most of the tomatoes from the potager have been harvested and made into sauce, salsa, pico de gallo and gazpacho. My freezer is stacked full for a delicious reminder of summer 2011.

Junebug and Poppa visited Linwood Gardens this spring for the Tree Peony Festival wherein they found out the gardens were open throughout the summer season for artist’s workshops. Guess what I got for my birthday??? Yay. A weekend workshop in Plein Air painting! Such a treat… on so many levels.

Stay tuned for more info on Linwood Gardens. Hoping to post a Fabulous Friday Find on that this Friday. You won’t want to miss it. A hidden gem.

Jean Stephens taught the workshop. I had visited her website and seen her work before the workshop and thought that her style/vision was just what I needed to help me get over my block in oil painting. Jean’s demonstration Saturday morning was so informative and helpful.

Saturday morning demonstration. Jean does a quick value sketch of her subject (left) then creates a monocromatic  underpainting on her canvas.

 A limited palette with warm and cool primaries (left). The sky value goes in first then Jean builds the painting out into the foreground based on her original value sketch.

I am not an experienced oil painter and I have never painted in the plein air style before (painting in plain air). It was marvelous. I was inspired by the beauty of the gardens and challenged to use that lovely french easel that I had sitting around in the studio. Jean was so professional in her set up. I am a messy painter. Its the only time I have ever painted in oils and NOT been covered in paint when I was done. Her “house keeping” made me feel so organized (not an easy feat)!

Bringing out the values/hues in the middle and foregrounds (left). At the end of the day we put up our work and had a lovely critique.

Our lesson on atmospheric perspective was a turning point for me. You will see. Some of you know how I love to paint the view from my studio. Now… I get it. Just wait and see.

It was such a treat to talk art, technique and social media with other artists. The weekend encouraged me to get involved again with my local art community. I was so impressed with Jean’s demonstrations and her open, giving style of teaching.

Sunday morning demonstration on painting trees… a good thing to learn when painting landscapes!

I have a few changes to make to the paintings that I worked on there. Perhaps I will post them when I feel like they are done. Until then I may be showing up with my french easel all over town!

For more information on Jean Stephens artwork and classes please visit her website. Also, if you are in the Rochester, NY area be sure to visit Jean’s upcoming show at The Arts & Cultural Council October 12th – November 3rd. Her work is amazing!

 

 

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/plein-air-oil-painting-workshop/feed/ 0 New Painting http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-painting/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-painting/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:01:16 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=3750

A new watercolor that I’m working on for the Clothesline Festival in Rochester, NY.  Shown below is a detail of the horses. The background wash was still wet causing the sheen on the paper. I hope to finish the detail in the mane of the horse on the right and sign this little darling. : ) I’ll post a better photo of the finished piece!

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-painting/feed/ 1 New Scottie Holiday Design! http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-scottie-holiday-design/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-scottie-holiday-design/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:21:41 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=3699

I think I have gotten Scottish Terriers out of my system… at least for a little while. They are so darling. This is my little Santa’s Helper- anxious to get going. The Greeting Cards will read on the inside: May all your holiday wishes come true.

Santa’s Helper will be available online in October on Linen Guest Towels and Holiday Cards.

 

]]> http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-scottie-holiday-design/feed/ 2 New Scottie Artwork http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-scottie-artwork/ http://michellemasters.com/blog/new-scottie-artwork/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:24:21 +0000 michelle http://michellemasters.com/blog/?p=3661

Hope you like the new Scottie in the Garden design! I “may” have gone overboard with all the pattern and Scottish references and let me just say that painting Tartan plaid has its challenges! There are four graphic references to Scottish culture… can you name them? A free set of cards to the first person who does!

I love the compact shape of these little dogs and all of the sharp angles in their profile. While playing around with the design above and after posting the Wordless Wednesday post of Oliver yesterday titled Play Ball? I came up with this little design below. Simple, silly and sweet- its just the way I roll. ; )

For ordering information click Here and select a design!            

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