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Marti Lay Art
Book Adoption
At 60 I never would have guessed I’d be creating illustrations for a book. After years of teaching (and reading to ) young students, this has been a joy and challenge to create.Take Me Home Please, is now published and available to purchase.
Painting Farm Characters
I’ve been painting farms and sheep recently and here’s what I’ve learned about painting repeated subjects. It’s not about being like a factory worker spewing the sameness, it’s about learning and growing with each new character and scene that I paint in the series. Take a look…
In Art, I Throw Down the Gauntlet
I throw down the gauntlet. In art it’s the point where I say “F—- It!” My precious piece has gone vanilla, gotten stuck, and I can’t think my way out of it, so I make a physical change. Let me tell you a story of two elephants that I transformed when I threw down the gauntlet.
Art-Making is about Freedom
Making art and being creative is full of freedom of choice. We make many micro choices while creating. Our muse comes when we show up and begin. Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso described their belief that your muse visits you only if you’re working.
New Year Revolutions vs. Resolutions
I’m planning a New Year’s Revolution, not a resolution for 2026. You can join me on the creative journey. Read to learn more.
Christmas Gift-Giving
Choosing gifts can be stressful and overwhelming during the holiday season. I have ideas that include original handmade and locally made items. You can create baskets and gift bags for the interest of your friends and family while supporting artisans, artists, and local /online entrepeneurs. Take a peek at some of my new journals and prints available along with original art.
Thanksgiving Day
This Thanksgiving is especially bountiful. Two more art exhibitions, a holiday celebration, and illustrating a children’s book.
A Late Bloomer
How many of us are late bloomers or starting a new phase and endeavor later in life? The expression “late bloomer” can be both annoying but true as an artist. But it’s still wonderful to spread one’s wings.
Getting Comfortable with Feeling Uncomfortable At 60
….life is full of change, pain, challenges, and, well, discomfort. Every growth spurt, every new act, every changing season in our lives can feel uncomfortable. Painting helps teach me this, again and again.
Autumn: A Season of Changes
Paint, Share, Repeat…this is my mantra and my habit. At sixty I try not to overthink or procrastinate. I’m not striving for perfection, just painting, sharing, painting, sharing. See how/where I’m sharing now.
Landscape Paintings On Display
Next week Cafe Artysana will be displaying my watercolor and gouache landscape paintings during October. It’s exciting to share these pieces publicly and locally.
Why am I obsessed with Banyan Trees?
I’m not the only one obsessed with Banyan trees. While plein-air painting in the parks I watch tourists share selfies , sit among their roots, and actually hug the giants.
Life’s Lemons
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”As I paint, I’ve been thinking about this saying. Lately, it seems life has been serving a lot of lemons around the world. Just turning on the news, an overwhelming cloud of malaise descends over me, so I’ve turned to painting tiny lemon paintings.
A Handpainted Greeting Card Is Tiny Art You Can Mail
This month I’ve been cleaning the cupboards again, and having found so many tiny watercolor and gouache paintings, I’ve made them into hand-painted cards with decorative paper. Each one is unique, one-of-a-kind art.
Decorating With Original Art
In a world of whites, pastels, blacks, and grays…in a world of AI, digital prints, and manufactured art I think decorating our homes with original art is an opportunity to add color and human connection in our homes and decorating with originals expresses our own creativity building on the stories of the artists. It’s my little act of rebellion against the manufactured clone-like world.
Travel Lessons : 7 ways to Beat the Heat
Long ago I became a fan of reading Rick Steves’ travel books and watching his television shows highlighting European travels. I agree with his philosophy that travel is about challenging ourselves and our home culture’s norms. THis goes for beating the summer heat…
Learning By Repeating the Same Subject
Because the sunlight and shadows shift so rapidly, it is difficult to capture the moment while I’m plein-air painting. That’s why I love returning and working many times on the same subject or in the same place.
An Ocean of Painting
It’s a hot summer. Maybe that’s why I’m thinking about the beach, the ocean waves, sea creatures, and climate change. Even though I’m sitting in my apartment studio I can be transported. That’s the beauty of making and enjoying viewing art.
Pet Sitting and Pet Portraits
I love pet-sitting while others are on vacation. It gives me my pet-fix while caring for them. Sometimes I can take some good photos of the animals that inspire my art.
Serious Summer Fun
So this summer is all about summer fun, but the kind of “serious” fun that comes with creating and growing with art and art business. The kind of fun that is about experimenting, learning, reflecting, growing, and enjoying the process.