Why I’m getting excited for Piccolo Spoleto…

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PINK HOUSE • 16 inches x 12 inches • ©2011 Marie Scott

Here’s the seventh oil painting from my new series of ten “snapshots” of Charleston, SC. I’ve created all these little memories of the city to sell at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, where I’ll be set up at Marion Square from May 27th – June 11th, 2011.

Since this is an outdoor art show, I’m praying for no rain during the day, and lots of customers.

The music in the short movie below is by Dianne Reeves… one of the performers at the Spoleto USA Festival.

I just ordered our tickets to see her in concert on May 30th! NOW I’m getting excited…

Things I love about my life…

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TRADD ST. • 16 inches x 20 inches • ©2011 Marie Scott

All these little paintings I’ve been creating showing snapshots of Charleston, SC are a series inspired by photos I took on my 40th birthday (which was 11/11/10 to be exact.)

Looking back on that particular day, I remember being so thankful that our son was seven — and not a baby anymore. I love that he will gladly walk for miles around the city with us, happy to be out exploring a new place together.

The baby phase of his life was hard for me. But once he became a little person with whom I could carry on a conversation, for me that’s when the fun began.

When I stop think about it, I realize there are so many things I love about my life, and the season I’m in right now.

I love that my husband took us to Charleston for a fun getaway… I love that the window boxes in Charleston are in full bloom just weeks before Thanksgiving… I love that I live within a half-day drive of such an exotic and inspiring city… I love the fact that even though I was rudely turned away by a gallery on that very same day, when I look back I only remembered the things that really matter… I love that I’m caring less and less about my “business,” but enjoying the act of painting, even more and more as the year flies by.

The song in the short video clip below brought back a flood of memories. It’s from a CD that we played as our son’s “bedtime music” from the day he was born until he was I-don’t-even-remember-how-old (12 months? 14 months?) It’s called Thanksgiving: A Windham Hill Collection
 and it’s got to be the most soothing music I’ve ever listened to. And believe me, I’ve listened to it hundreds of times.

I just burned the whole CD onto a disk and gave it to Nathan. He’s listening to it as I’m writing. But this time… he took care of all the nighttime details all on his own. I so love that he’s not a baby anymore, but the older and more fun he becomes, the faster time flies. I better savor it while it lasts!

Here’s that short video showing a snapshot in time I painted to help remember a perfect day in Charleston.

The song is called “We Gather Together” and is performed by Paul Mccandless, Philip Aaberg & Michael Manring.

An oldie but a goodie…

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Click on the image to download this file to use as your computer's desktop during the month of MAY. Here's how to do it... MAC USERS: import the file into iPhoto, click on the image, then in the lower right corner click SET DESKTOP. PC USERS: Right click on the image and select the option SET AS WALLPAPER or SET AS DESKTOP BACKGROUND. Enjoy your new painting this month!

A new calendar for a new month!

This landscape, which is called “Indiana Sunrise,” is one of the very first pieces I ever painted back in 2002.

I took the photo I used to inspire this painting during the month of May, so this month’s calendar image was chosen for all my friends and collectors who are enjoying watching the fields of the Midwest wake up from winter during this time of year.

For those of you from the South… yes, the soil really IS that black and rich-looking back in my homelands of Wisconsin and Indiana.

Happy May Day, everyone!

Click here to read about this painting on my website.

Click here to subscribe to my mailing list to receive your new desktop calendar each month!

Standing on the corner of King St. and Murray Blvd.

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KING ST. • 12 inches x 16 inches • ©2011 Marie Scott

Here’s another painting to add to my collection of Charleston-inspired snapshot type paintings. You can read the story behind this painting on my website. 

If you click on this link you can see photos of the park that is across the street from this building.

Here’s a quick movie showing this painting from start to finish.

(“You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon)

The Old Exchange Building

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OLD EXCHANGE • 12 inches x 16 inches • ©2011 Marie Scott

Here’s painting #4 in my new series of streetscapes from Charleston, SC.

To read the story behind the painting or to see the others in this series, check out my website.

For some history on this historic building, click here.

Below is a short video showing the painting in progress from start to finish.

What I love about Charleston…

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BROAD STREET BARBER SHOP • ©2011 Marie Scott

Here’s the third painting in my series of streetscapes from Charleston, SC.

Click here to read the inspiration behind this painting.

Click here to watch a short clip showing the painting from start to finish.

The making of “Broad Street Barber Shop”

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Here’s a 1:15 minute clip that shows one of my recent oil paintings from start to finish. I’ll be taking all these new street scenes with me to the Piccolo Spoletto Outdoor Art Exhibit, May 27-June 11th in Charleston, SC.

What can a little bird house do to help the homeless?

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Here's my creation for the Homes of Hope Auction on April 29th, 2011. The men who work at Homes of Hope built all the birdhouses, and then local artists in Greenville are decorating them for the Auction. Mine is called "flower gallery" and the idea is that it's a little art gallery for the birds to visit. I can't wait to see what all the other artists have come up with!

Q.) What can a little bird house do to help the homeless?

A.) It can raise funds at the Homes of Hope Dinner & Auction on Friday, April 29, 2011!

If you want to  attend the dinner and support this worthy organization, just click here for ticket information.

I hope to see you there!

Homes of Hope exists to provide safe, affordable housing for homeless and low-income families or individuals, while also providing job training and mentoring for men overcoming drug and alcohol additions.

Here are a few of their houses in progress. Now in their 13th year of operations, Homes of Hope has housed 324 families and helped 264 men thus far!

This is the bird house after I primed it, and then started cutting out little photos of my different flower paintings.

A bird's-eye view of the finished house! 🙂

Here's the front door leading into the gallery of flowers...

Here's the back of the bird house gallery.

And here's the interior of the bird house flower gallery. It's a little crazy, so hopefully the birds will enjoy color and patterns as much as I do. (But most importantly, I hope this bird house never gets put outside, as I'm sure the birds would choke on all the shiny buttons and beads!)

Your new calendar for April… (no foolin’)

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Click on the image to download this file to use as your computer's desktop during the month of APRIL. Here's how to do it... MAC USERS: import the file into iPhoto, click on the image, then in the lower right corner click SET DESKTOP. PC USERS: Right click on the image and select the option SET AS WALLPAPER or SET AS DESKTOP BACKGROUND. Enjoy your new painting this month!

Month #4 (seriously!)

Here’s a new April, 2011 Calendar for your computer’s desktop.

Just click on the image, save it to your desktop, and then make that image your wallpaper.

Click here to read about this painting on my website.

Click here to see a video of this painting from start to finish.

Click here to subscribe to my mailing list to receive your new desktop calendar each month!

my first pink painting

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BERLIN'S • 12 inches x 16 inches • ©2011 Marie Scott

How Pink! How Fun! How Charleston!*

Here’s painting #2 in my series called “Turning 40 in Charleston.” I’m working on this series of small streetscapes of that lovely city to take with me to the 2011 Piccolo Spoletto Outdoor Art Festival.

I think this painting is my new favorite. I’ve never created any painting with so much pink in it before.

*At least from my perspective as a vacationer… maybe the locals would disagree? I just thought I should clarify that so I don’t offend anyone. 🙂

Below is short video showing photos of this painting from start to finish.

Music by Peter Nero performing “On the Street Where You Live.”