Wedding Painting!

I was so happy to have been asked to paint at the wedding reception for this sweet couple.

It was held at the Hamilton House Inn in West Monroe, Louisiana. The historic building has been completely renovated to a beautiful reciption area downstairs and a bed and breakfast upstairs.

If you are looking for a live event painter, or wedding painter, contact me now to book.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out my facebook page and Instagram page for more current events. 

No fooling! It's mixed media challenge time...

Happy April 1! For those who love mixed media challenges - we have a fun one for April.

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog has a new challenge this month. The theme is "dimension"! It's my favorite in my art - either the illusion of dimension or actually making layers. It's so much fun.

The sponsor this month is Stampers Anonymous.

This month we will have TWO lucky random winners!! Each winner will receive a fabulous Wendy Vecchi stamp set and stencil!!


Here's my painting for the challenge. I started with a layer of random color. After it dried I added thinned paint and misted with a water bottle. More dimension. I added papers and crackle medium (more dimension) and then (why not?) I added painted chipboard.  Then I created the images.

Here's a close-up view.

"Enchanted Poppies" 16" x 20" by Melanie Douthit

Our April Guest Designer is Wendy Vecchi - Ranger & Stampers Anonymous Signature Designer!!


Wendy Vecchi is a full time artist/designer/educator and owner of studio 490.She is a signature designer for Ranger, and Stampers Anonymous and a past member the Tim Holtz and Maya Road design teams. In addition to designing rubber stamps, stencils, embossing pastes, archival inks and embossing powders, she loves discovering new techniques & she loves to use those techniques to make art.

I hope you play along.
Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries not following our rules will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.
* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs.
* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post
* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board
* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges.
* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.
* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Theater Set Design

Last month it was painting a French Quarter mural. As promised, here is a portion of the final mural. I enjoyed working with Linda Ward on this!

This month it's New York, New York! I've been working as set director for the local youth theater's production of Guys and Dolls. So many parents chipped in- many who claim have no "art" skills- and we had a great time. One mom dubbed our time as "art therapy". Who knew! Lol. Here are a couple of pics of the progress.

(I couldn't resist the shout out to Buddy the Elf)

And as you can see, it made for quite a colorful and fun set! Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks for the nomination and votes!!

I've been super, super, super busy in the studio the past couple of months. I hate that I've neglected my blog. If you haven't "liked" my art studio page on Facebook, please do so. I try to post there at least once a week at Melanie Douthit Art Studio Facebook Page.

This past Friday I was happy to attend the awards banquet for the area's Best of the Delta by DeltaStyle Magazine. For the second year in a row, I was nominated in the top five for Best Artist. I want to thank everyone that nominated me, supported me and voted for me. There are dozens or more of wonderful talented artists in our area, and to be in the top five is mind-blowing. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I snapped this photo of my award certificate with the backdrop of some brand-new paintings I just completed for my upcoming solo show (more on that later).

I'm working on my fourth Mardi Gras Dachshund painting in the past five weeks. I've added long-haired dachshunds to the choices in my Etsy Store. If you would like to commission one and you don't see it listed, please send me a message. Once someone purchases one, the listing goes away and I have to relist it. I don't relist while I have a current order going so that I don't get delayed on getting orders out, plus I might be working on other new art. Always, always don't hesitate on inquire. :) Here's the link to my Etsy Store.

Here's a photo of the long hair Mardi Gras dachshund.

Speaking of the Mardi Gras dachshund - did you realize the Mardi Gras Dachshund is about to turn 10! I think a party is in order. Check back soon for details.

I just completed some fun new art for a solo show at the end of this summer. I'm so excited about this show and can't wait to share my new work, but I have to wait!

Again, thank you! thank you! thank you! for putting in me in the finals for Best Artist. Don't forget to follow me on twitter and facebook! Happy creating!

Gone Duck Wild!

If you are a Duck Dynasty fan, you know that it is filmed in Louisiana. Even more, it's filmed in my own town. Not that this has ANYTHING to do with this painting - it just LOOKS like it was influenced by the show. In fact, right after Christmas I was contacted by a friend overseas (yes, she lives in Europe) about a special painting for a gift. She didn't need it for a few months, and so it helped me get even more inspired when Duck Dynasty started coming on A&E.

Here's my "Duck Decoy" painting. It's 48" x 24. The ducks in the water are decoys, with the ducks flying in. I love the way the sunset sparkles on the water.

I'm working on brand spanking new art for an upcoming solo show! I'm so excited. If you haven't found my page on facebook, please "like" it and keep up with my sneak peeks!

I will try to update here more frequent than I have. I can't believe this month is almost over! Thanks for dropping by.

Happiness is....

I love to post on my facebook page about the little everday things that make me happy. You know - the things that make you smile and say "how cool is that?". Especially when you stumble upon things unexpected. Unexpected "happy surprises" are really the best, aren't they?

Happiness is when I walk into a local home improvement store to get bird seed (you know, to make the birds happy) and stumble upon a paint sample freebee.

Happiness is.... taking your daughter to Books A Million and stumbling upon 50% of date planners, and not just plain ones, but artsy ones and one tailor made just for me.

Happiness is.... opening your art show reception guest book to find the word "happy" peppered throughout the comments your guests made about your work.

See what I mean? Things that just make you smile.

Here's a piece I created last week. I started working on it during a couple of rainy days here in the South. This is in the early stages.

And below is the finished piece. I love including a positive quote, phrase or lyric in my paintings. This one says:

"It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you."

 

"Rainbow Above You" is 20" x 20" with 1.5" deep sides painted to match. and has already been claimed by a collector who likes happy art.  That makes me happy.

Thank you for stopping by. I'd love to know you stopped by, so please leave me a comment, and if you are an artist, include your blog link so I can stop by. Have a great day!

I'll Sell Ya the Brooklyn Bridge...

I'm serious... I actually can say that I have the Brooklyn Bridge for sale. I created this 30" x 40" Brooklyn Bridge painting because I kept envisioning it. I've learned to just do it so you can move on to the next creative muse. I completed it this past summer just in time for a group show at an area Bistro. If you are interested, let me know. I've shipped paintings this large before via UPS and they've arrived safe and sound.



We had a very busy weekend and I think it will be that way for the next 8 weeks. We had dinner with friends while listening to the debut a new band our friends started, the Tommy Jaxson Band. We had dinner on the deck and the weather was perfect, as well as the music, food and company.



Then we had a tailgate party Sunday. I made cajun dressing (upper right corner and it was gobbled up). Our team cooked various items, including the bacon wrapped duck "popper" pictured in the bed of rice. (Can you believe this awesome plate of food only took 2nd place?)



My daughter has been asked to create a very special project, so I can't wait to show you that as it unfolds. Busy week ahead and lots of commissions to get done in addition. I hope to have something new to share soon. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Melanie Douthit Artist Resume

Melanie Douthit Artist Resume

SELECT EXHIBITIONS AND SHOWS

- Delta Artists, 25 Artist Show, Tunica RiverPark, Tunica, Mississippi (2013)
- Spring Arts Goggle, Fort Worth, Texas (2012)
- True Colors, Solo Show, Crescent City Coffee House, Ruston, Louisiana (2012)
- Secret Garden, Featured Artist, Ouachita River Art Gallery, West Monroe, Louisiana (2012)
- Art With A View, Premier Plaza (Juried Show), Monroe, Louisiana (2011)
- Sifting the Exotic and Familiar, Three Person Show, 102A Bistro, Ruston, Louisiana (2011)
- Fish Out of Water, Old Post Office Museum, Winnsboro, Louisiana (2011)


JURIED COMPETITIONS

- "Too Much Pink/Venus Envy 2012", Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2012)
- Louisiana Peach Festival, Ruston, Louisiana (2011) Honorable Mention
- Arkansas Oil & Brine Museum, Smackover, Arkansas (1997)
- South Arkansas Arts Center, El Dorado, Ark (1997)
- Barnwell Garden & Arts Center, Shreveport, LA (1998)
- Snyder Museum, Bastrop, LA (1998)
- Heritage Gallery, Natchitoches, LA (1998)
- Local Bi-Annual Group Shows via Ouachita River Art Gallery and River Cities Art Association

GALLERIES

-Sugar Gallery, Monroe, Louisiana (2014-present)
- Ouachita River Art Gallery, West Monroe, Louisiana (1998, 2011-2015)
- Piney Hills Gallery, Ruston, Louisiana (2011-2013)
- The Great Artists Collective, New Orleans, Louisiana (2011-2012)
- Rougarou Art Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana (2010-2011)
- Beauregard Gallery, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2005)
- EBSQart.com, Juried Member since 2000

CHARITY ART AUCTIONS

- Blend of the Bayou, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Monroe, Louisiana, 2012-2016
- A Breath of Fresh Artists, Northeast Louisiana Virtual Clinic, Monroe, Louisiana April 2012
- Off The Wall, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, Louisiana March 2012-2016
- Union Parish Chamber of Commerce, Farmerville, Louisiana February 2012
- American Heart Association Go-Red, Monroe, Louisiana, 2012, 2013
- American Cancer Society, Monroe, Louisiana, 2011, 2012
- Franklin Parish Breast Cancer Awareness, Winnsboro, Louisiana, October 2011


PUBLICATIONS, COMMISSIONS AND RECOGNITION

- Guest Artist for KEDMs Richard Harrison Celebrity Roast, 2014
- Bayou Artist, Bayou Life Magazine June 2013
- Surprise Artist for Breath of Fresh Artists Fundraiser, April 2012
- 30 Commissioned Mardi Gras Dachshund paintings, Mimi's Cafe Restaurants, Nationwide, US
- Finalist for Best Artist in Delta Style Magazine (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Cover Art for Union Parish Chamber of Commerce Visitors and Newcomers Guide 2011
- A Woman's Journey painting chosen for Breast Cancer Awareness Poster, Franklin Parish Medical Center, October 2011
- Christmas in the French Quarter painting used in promotional material for Christmas Magic 2011,   Fundraiser, First Presbyterian Church, Grapevine, Texas
- Painted wooden spoons used for prizes at the Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau 2011 Christmas on the River Chili Cookoff

NOTABLE COLLECTORS

-Louisiana Senator Mike Walsworth and wife, Dawn (2012)
-Marcello Dworzak, Owner of DaVinci Paint Company (2011)

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Ouachita River Art Gallery, West Monroe, Louisiana (Current)
Monroe Art Association, Monroe/West Monroe, Louisiana
Hoover Watercolor Society, Shreveport, Louisiana
Mississippi Watercolor Society, Jackson, Mississippi