The making of a French Quarter painting

I have been stealing away time from commissions to work on some art inspired by our recent trip to the French Quarter. I've working on a series of small pieces of homes on or near Esplanade. Here's a montage of a couple of pieces.

(Above painting has been sold)

 

"1026 Esplanade" 11" x 14" (contact me for inquires and availability)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

The making of Esplanade Beauty

I thought I'd do something a little different today and post some photos of my painting process, well - at least one of them. Depending on what I'm working on, I have several methods of working on a piece. I have so much inspiration from our recent trip to New Orleans. We stayed on Esplande right where the French Quarter ends and the Marigny District starts. We spent most of our time eating and listening to Jazz on Frenchmen Street. I came back with some beautiful photos to paint from.

 

I prepared several canvases at once by choosing some colors and blending the paint. At this point I had no ide what I would be painting on them, but had some New Orleans scenes in mind. I chose one of the canvases and sketched out my scene, a building on Esplandade. Then I started adding paint to an 11" x 14" canvas.

 



 

Some pics of the progress.

 

 

The above photo is when it was almost finished.

"Esplanade Beauty" (sold)

 

I added the final details in this photo. I still think I have a few things I want to do before it's "done". Then my hubby will add a gallery style framing to it. I had a purchaser following my facebook page see my "in progress" photo, so this painting will be shipped of early next week.

 

I hope you enjoyed my "view" into my studio today. I'll be posting a few step by steps in the next few weeks of some mixed media. Check back often and don't forget to "like" my facebook page, Melanie Douthit Art Studio, or follow my in twitter at DouthitArt to see peeks of new art.

 

Thanks for stopping by! 



First weekend of fall

It's the first weekend of fall! What are you going to do today? We will be going to a local vineyard (betcha didn't know Louisiana had vineyards!) to listen to live Cajun music with friends. After such a long hot summer, it's finally beautiful weather so we are going to enjoy it as much as possible.

We are rotating the art in Ouachita River Art Gallery this weekend so I've been busy creating some French Quarter paintings. I'm planning on going back to New Orleans soon, just because I miss it. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy Northeast Louisiana with family, friends and maybe have some jambalaya.



Here's a little sneak peek I put together of some of my new art. (Now I'm craving a crawfish quesadilla from Marigny Brasserie and beignets from Cafe DuMonde).

Enjoy your first weekend this fall. Thanks for stopping by!

Back from the French Quarter!

No new art to post today but I just wanted to share some exciting news. I just got back from the French Quarter (yes, the one in New Orleans, LA) and have just placed some of my art in a gallery on Royal Street! The name of the gallery is The Great Artists' Collective, 815 Royal Street, New Orleans. This gallery is on the same block that I usually stay when I visit. Please stop in when you go.

And on a less happy note, the Rougarou Bayou Trading Post Gallery in the Riverwalk is closing at the end of the month. I went down there to pick up my art and was ecstatic when, at 8pm Saturday night, Sandy at GAC hung my paintings in her gallery! We celebrated at the top of Crescent City Brewery Restaurant with pie and ice cream that night!

Thanks for stopping by. If you are in the West Monroe area, please stop by the new Mystic Art Gallery at 229 Trenton Street on Antique Alley. Our Grand Opening will be May 5 from 4:30-7:30 and I hear the mayor is coming!!! Have a great day!

Louisiana Crawfish Gumbo

I'm working on new pieces for the Louisiana Catfish Festival in Winnsboro. I'll have work in a show at the Old Post Office Museum (it's awesome so don't miss seeing this place, plus there will be air conditioning). The show is called "Fish Out of Water", so all the work will be fish related. I couldn't resist doing the crawFISH above. I can't wait to share more of my work for this show. The show will start March 17, a few weeks before the Catfish Festival. The festival is April 9.

Below are a few pics of the February Art crawl and the six fabulous artists at Mystic Art Gallery.





I'm shipping new paintings to Rougarou Bayou Trading Post and Art Gallery this week. Check out the gallery if you are in the area. I'm sending Mardi Gras themed art. Also, check out my Etsy Store for more art. I just listed a BIG French Quarter painting and it was gone in a week. You never know when I'll add something new. Thanks for stopping by and check back soon.

New Art for the February Art Crawl

The Art Crawl was set for last week, but due to some icy weather, it was rescheduled for tonight. The Crawl info:

Time: 5pm-9pm
Where: Downtown Monroe
My art will be at Mystic Art Gallery at 137 Art Alley (formerly N. 2nd Street).


Here are a few peeks of my Mardi Gras art.

I couldn't do Mardi Gras without a new take on the Jazz Dog. This one is called "Krewe of Dachshund"



Mardi Gras Balcony. Size 11x14.



Beads on the lampost. You will see this all over the French Quarter during Mardi Gras. 11x14.




Another Mardi Gras Balcony painting. 11x14.


Thanks for stopping by. Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

New Art and Art News!

Gosh! My blog has been so badly neglected. I had well intentions on updating it about 3 weeks ago, but that was when my phase of "life interrupted" began!

We had a water pipe burst in our home two days after Christmas. So much for the Christmas after-glow! It has been 24 days since then and I've been forced to shove everything in the main living area of my house into boxes and out to the garage. I compare it to moving-without-notice, except that we haven't moved and everything is still in our bedrooms plus a whole-lotta-extra stuff. So..... today is the last day of the "restoration phase" if you call it. They are finishing up my new flooring today. Me and my husband repainted New Years Day. Talk about quick decisions on wall color plus floors. I hope I like my new house! What is exciting is that since everything has been moved out of the house, it gave me time to reflect how I want to set up my art studio - and I hope to streamline everything so its functionable and stylish. Crossing my fingers.

How about some art!!! This was a special commission from a high school friend for her niece, whose mother was also a high school friend. (are you confused?). She is a medical student at Tulane. She wanted a St. Charles Streetcar painting and she picked the colors. The number on the streetcar is actually the owner's birthday. And the verdict - they all loved it. I couldn't post it before Christmas because I didn't want to ruin the surprise. It's 4" x 3".






"930 St. Charles Streetcar"
Acrylic on Canvas, 4" x 3"
Artist: Melanie Douthit

I have some exciting news on the local scene. On January 1 I joined Mystic Art Gallery located in Downtown Monroe, along with 5 other artists. Our first art crawl together is Thursday, February 3 on Art Alley from 5-9pm. A few weeks ago we found a new and larger location for a studio just over the river from our present studio. We will be open during the week, as opposed to the current "by appointment only". I'll update soon with our name and exact location. Things are still in the works, but SO exciting.

So, please come out Feb 3 to the Art Crawl. I'm working on Mardi Gras themed art and won't post the images here until after the crawl. You will want to be the first to see the work, so come on out!

Back from New Orleans and Catching Up!!

I had so much fun in New Orleans. I a week after the Art Crawl. I sold all of my smaller New Orleans color sketch paintings, so I had to work like crazy to get some more ready to take to the Rougarou Bayou Trading Post and Art Gallery. My friend Jeannine went with me. We got to the the gallery on time Sunday afternoon and I painted live in the window for a couple of hours. (what was I thinking? I was so tired from getting up early and the 4.5 hour drive!!)



Me with Kerrie Jones at the art gallery. Kerrie and I have been friends for over six years.







Various art in the gallery.

I am offering the Mardi Gras Doxie for the first time in framed prints at the art gallery. Mardi Gras Doxie comes in 5x7 and 4x6. The Rougarou Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Riverwalk Mall on Poydras in New Orleans. The gallery is full of unique art, folk art, photography and prints.



I took my newest four foot painting of Pirate's Alley to my collectors apartment on Royal. It's so far one of my favorite paintings. We hung it in the bedroom.



Head on view of the four foot painting.



One of my hometown friends contacted me about a week before my trip to tell me that one if his college buddies was an artist in the French Quarter. Turns out his studio was one block from where we stayed, so we arranged a short meeting. And our small world got even smaller when Jeannine realized she went to the same college and knew this man's brother. Here we are with Robert Guthrie. You can see his awesome watercolor paintings in the background.




We did the usually walking through the quarter, eating creole food, beignets and stopping by Pat O'Brien's for photos by the fountain. My new favorite place to eat is The Marigny Brasserie on Frenchmen Street. If you go there, be sure to get the crawfish quesadilla!





Glad to be back. I have a list of commissions to finish (hurry if you want something before Christmas) and some exciting news that I hope to announce before the end of the year. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to visit my Facebook Fan Page and hit the "Like" button! You can contact me thru that page to inqure about commissions. Be sure to leave a message here or on my fan page so I'll know you stopped by!

October Art Crawl - It was so much fun!

I had so much fun at the October Art Crawl in Downtown Monroe. If you are in the area, be sure to come out for the one right after Thanksgiving. I saw so many familiar faces and the response to my new color sketches was WONDERFUL! They all sold, as well as a few other pieces. It was my first time to ever show more than a few pieces at one time and, I have to say, I had some doubts up until the first sale, which was right after the crawl started.

I'll be heading to New Orleans this weekend and will be painting live at the Rougarou Bayou Trading Post AKA Rougarou Art Gallery on Sunday, October 17 around 1p. If you are out that way, stop by and say hello.

This week I'll be working on more New Orleans color sketches to take to the gallery and I'll be listing some new things in my Etsy store soon.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll leave you with a few photos and pics of art work from the show.















And I couldn't have this art show without including the famous Mardi Gras Dachshund! She sold early into the evening. I think she'll have to make it to the next show. :)

My Facebook Fan Page!

I know I've been a bad blogger!! I'm working hard on getting some new pieces created for a local art show in October.

Meanwhile, I've created a Facebook Fan page, so if you are on facebook and would like to be kept current on my art - please go there and select the "like" button. I already have over 200 fans and the pages is less than one week old. Thank you!

And I have some good news. Back in June I took a few art pieces to the Rougarou Bayou Gallery in New Orleans. I just found out last weekend that they sold one, and I have someone interested in another piece.

I'm sending two smaller pieces down there this week. Want a peek?


Midnight at the Cafe Dumonde
Size: 9" x 12"



Open All Night
9" x 12"

The good news is that the gallery also ships! So if you can't make it down there in person - you can call them. Their number is on their website.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll have more updates soon.

Newest Art, Sunflowers and New Orleans

Gosh - I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted anything. So sorry! I HAVE been busy creating, tho, and sold another dachshund painting. Oh, and if you want to have your own mardi gras dachshund painting, I JUST created an Etsy listing that gives you the option to customize your painting. Check out the link on the sidebar and check it out.

I LOVE New Orleans art. I love creating it. I love dreaming up new scenes. This is my latest piece. It's called "Mardi Gras Night", and depicts a huge French Quarter window with the view of the St. Louis Cathedral. And, yes, I included a little dachshund in the painting. It's 24" x 30" and it's for one of my collectors. It will actually hang at their apartment in the French Quarter, 2 blocks from the Cathedral. I'd love to hear your comments on it. Do you think I should do a series of paintings like this? Ideas...I can feel 'em coming!






And here is one more summer painting - one of my favorite flowers - sunflowers! It's a mixed media collage. It's 24" x 30" and it's listed in my Etsy store.






And next week I'll be getting a huge surge of inspiration for more paintings. I'm going to spend next weekend in the French Quarter. The smells, the sights and the sounds! Gosh - It's going to be overwhelming. I can't wait. Have a wonderful week and check back soon!

Mardi Gras Painting

Another new piece! Well, I actually finished it about two weeks ago. Let me know how you like this one!









Title: Mardi Gras 2010
Size: 16" x 20"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Thanks for stopping by!!

New Orleans Shot Gun House Painting

More of my FuNkY NeW OrLeAnS Pop art series.... This happy little Shotgun House is 16" x 20". Will list this for ebay soon under seller ID "Douthit_gallery". Contact me asap if interested.





Jazzy New Orleans Shotgun House No. 1
Size: 16 x 20
on 3/4" gallery wrapped stretched canvas.