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Marti Lay Art
Painting at the Botanical Garden
The botanical garden is an oasis of serenity in a busy city. I seek the shade in summer with bright flowers flourishing. This time of year in Spring I experiment with all the colors and textures of the blossoms and leaves.
Gratitude vs. Disappointment in Hard Times
I’ve been thinking about joy. How it is a choice.
The world is topsy turvy right now. I’m unhappy watching or reading the news. I don’t want to be “entertained” into denial or submission. I want to be aware but I also want to enjoy the gifts I have. It is a precarious, fragile tightrope walk these days.
The Joy of Turning 60
I’m turning 60 and started art late in life. Painting is the one steady act and upward growth of my life, my years, my months, my weeks, my days. Art is the thread that carries me through the waves. Some days it brings me peace. Some days it frustrates me. Some days it’s blah, and others, full of joy or pride.
Facing Procrastination
Procrastination is a building and squashing of energy all at the same time…I am standing still with the fear I can’t do it justice. I’ll make mistakes, I don’t know how…. What throws off the wet blanket of procrastination?
Vacations Recharge Us
What struck me most about Morocco was the attention to detail that engaged all the senses. Tea and meals were choreographed displays. Riads had the scent of orange blossoms, lemon, or roses. Music trickled as a backdrop
My Newest Obsession: Acrylic painting on watercolor paper
Painting in acrylics has its challenges. Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint made of pigment in acrylic polymer emulsion, plasticizers, and silicone oils, Most acrylic paints are water-based, but become water-resistant when dry. It dries very quickly
What is Gouache Paint?
I like gouache and find my gouache pieces are very illustrative like children’s book style illustrations. I use them for handmade cards, too. Like watercolors, they can be less expensive student grade to more expensive professional grades and found in gel trays and tubes.
Advantages and Challenges of Painting With Watercolor
Let’s focus on watercolor painting. Many people are familiar with watercolors. They may have been part of our grammar school art classes. What are watercolors? …
Bears: View From My Window
This painting of a bear is not my favorite painting. I think of it as one of my “beginner pieces” and that it’s too tight with too many mid -range tones. The watercolors didn’t flow freely. I think I was thinking too much about illustrating “the book” by the time I tackled it. But I love the story of the bear I saw.
Travel Stories and Paintings
Recently while cleaning my studio cupboards I came across some older paintings of mine that I used in a gift book about my travels. In the last blog I showed you my buffalo painting. This time I’m spotlighting a watercolor of Mule Deer I encountered on one trip to Colorado.
Traveling Sparks Creativity and Renewal
I’d love to share this travel painting with you and the story behind it.
I painted it as part of a series reminiscing about the wild places I’ve traveled to in the United States. After painting a series of animals seen on trips I began writing pieces to accompany them and created a book as a family holiday gift. Perhaps this can inspire you to make a family book about your travels using sketches or photos to tell some personal stories, too.
Is it ok to be multi -disciplined? Sure, but you may fail at some of it.
Trying and Failing doesnt make you a failure.
-I’m no singer. It’s a fact.Why talk about failures and missteps?
So often when we are young we get stuck on some criticisms someone said that made us think we were the failures.Trying hobbies, sports, and even jobs before settling on the one that really grabs us and demands our full attention is not wasted time and energy. Kind of like dating before your marry. You might date a little but at some point for some reason you decide to commit to that special someone.
Travel Journal
Holiday Notes with Sketches, Paintings, Poetry
Having a notebook or sketch book while traveling offers opportunities to take notes of impressions of people and places. I’ve always loved poetry and jotted it down late at night or when I awaken. Words were my first love. Painting my second. But painting has taken a front seat now in my life.
January /Beginning Again
I’m beginning again after my winter holiday. Just entering the studio is daunting, like walking into the gym after a hiatus. My mental muscles resist. I contemplate procrastination, spin grand ideas, question ability, or worse, question, “Why bother?” Which become an existential inner dialogue. If I don’t make a move fast those thoughts easily turn to distractions…”Maybe I should read, watch a movie, write a text to a friend, iron my socks…
Pet Portraits is a Collaboration
Did you know I am available for commissions of pet portraits? I’ve been lucky enough to do them in watercolor and acrylics. I love capturing the expression and essence of these animal friends and family members. Sometimes a memorial picture or just a family pet portrait can be a part of your home decor and stir fond thoughts…
Painting Birds
…I’ve never had a bird as a pet, but in many homes, I’ve awoken to the sound of them in early morning. Even walking through Valencia in the mornings I love hearing them as they hide in tree branches. I feel like the birds and I are up before most Spaniards have rolled out of bed…
Happy Holidays
It’s the season for families, friends, celebrations, and too much food and drink. I’ve been lucky enough to travel with my husband on the Queen Mary 2…
Landscapes are Love Letters
I often paint or sketch landscapes as warm-ups and often repaint them onto larger paper or canvas. There is something about the vastness of the horizon, the strength of mountains, the freedom of open sky that draws me to collecting and painting landscapes. My challenge has been to represent that feeling in a small painting the size of a postcard or on 5x7 inch paper.