Custom Mardi Gras Pet Paintings

I'm working on a few Mardi Gras pet paintings this week. One of the orders came from an owner who ran into one of the first paintings of mine that Mimi's Cafe obtained over ten years ago. It still hangs in the Albuquerque, NM. 

Here is a sneak peek of the progress.

If you would like to keep up with the daily peeks into my studio, follow ("like") my facebook page 

at https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDouthitArtStudio.

Hanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Melanie

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! 



Homegrown Celebrities - Duck Dynasy

I'm taking a swerve from the topic of art to share about one of our family's favorite new TV shows, Duck Dynasty. Duck Dynasty is filmed in our small-ish community, and so many of the places used for filming are places we are very familiar with. We sometimes see friends of ours in the scenes. The show is about a 30+ year old family-run business making duck calls. Yes, duck calls. For those of you that may not be from a hunting community, hunting is big - VERY big in Louisiana. I have heard women talk about being "hunting widows" when hunting season starts. I have been fortunate that my hubby hasn't been bit by the hunting bug, but I'm secretly envious of those that have a freezer full of venison in the fall. :)

So, if you get a chance, tune into A&E on Wednesday evenings at 9Central time. It's all FUN. Most of what you see is not really "reality" (they didn't really buy that vineyard), but it's so funny to watch because you never know what they will say.

The Robertson's family (the Duck Dynasty people) spoke at their local church recently and invited visitors to "Camo" day. I took my daughter who was so happy to be there. She met them and had a photo autographed.

 

My daughter with Willie and Korie Robertson from Duck Dynasty.

May is going to be a busy month. Tomorrow night I'm attending an art auction for a local medical service clinic. I've donated a large 30" x 30" painting that will be used as a door prize. This was inspired by my recent trip to New Orleans.

 

I have one more event to attend in the next 10 days that will be quite fun, then I'm off to Dallas on May 19 for a huge art crawl. If you are in the Dallas area, check back for more details!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

More Mardi Gras

I'm still celebrating Mardi Gras! I have had three Mardi Gras Dachshund orders this week, and painted two back to back. These are for long-hair dachshunds, so - just in case you wondered - yes, I can paint your long haired doxie. You can order your custom Mardi Gras Dachshund painting from my Etsy Store.

All this Mardi Gras art has me longing for the French Quarter, so we've planned a trip in the next couple of weeks. I can't wait.

Busy weekend ahead - an art reception to attend, a "Dancing With the Stars" local event, and a few days later another "masked" event with a twist. And I will be featuring an artist here on my blog this month. I can't believe it's March already!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Bistro Show

The Bistro Show had a great turnout. It was nice meeting so many people from Ruston as well as the other exhibiting artists. The show will hang through October 1. If you would like to purchase any of the artwork at the show, please contact Executive Director Leigh Anne Chambers with NCLAC at 318-255-1450. They offer payment plans and will ship.

Here are a few pics from the show and some of my paintings.





Group photo of artists with the staff and/or board members of the North Central Louisiana Arts Council.


"832 St. Peter" (New Orleans Shotgun Houses), 30" x 24".


"September at the Cafe Dumonde" 30" x 24" with gallery style frame.


"Rainy Sunday at Jackson Square" 30" x 24"

Christmas in the French Quarter

My newest twist on a familiar painting - this one is for a special collector who wanted something with a Christmas flair.







This painting is 16x20 with black gallery style moulding.
Taking commisisons for this up until November 20. Price is $200 with $15 USPS Priority Mail postage, insured.

thanks for stopping by!

Downtown Monroe Art Crawl this week!!

It's finally here - the art crawl in Downtown Monroe is this Thursday - in THREE DAYS!! I'm so excited. I have 23 new paintings that have not been shown online or in public - until now!! I'm going to show a few peeks of the art I will have at the Art Crawl. If you are local, come on out! I'd love to meet you if I don't already know you!

I hung the paintings at Mystic Art Gallery this weekend. Here are a couple of pics of the paintings on the wall.

This is my sign. I couldn't resist the urge to make it like a French Quarter street sign. (grin)



Next, another shot of the sign and hey...what is that? A peek of a new painting? How did that get in there?



One more pics of the art wall and some painting peeks.





The first painting I want to share is the third in my "Alice" series. This is "Alice Paints the Roses", mixed media collage, size 12" x 12". I will have a fourth Alice painting at the Art Crawl. One of my favorite series.





Next is another mixed media collage called "Angels of the French Quarter". It's 8x8 on 1.5" deep gallery wrapped stretched canvas, with gold leafing. I have another one called "Angels of the Super Dome" that I'll share later.



This one is a twist on Van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night. I call it "French Quarter Cafe Terrace at Night" (real original, huh?). My first rendition of this was done around 2004-2005 and it's one of my favorite New Orleans scenes.



This is something different for me this year; I call them "Sketches". Splashes of color on the background with black detailed images, similar to pen and ink - but with acrylic paint. Most of these have gallery style wood moulding around them. Stay tuned for more of the New Orleans street scene sketches.



Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget -the Art Crawl is Thursday, October 7, 2010 in Downtown Monroe. My paintings will be at Mystic Art Gallery, 137 Art Alley, Monroe. Hope you can make it!

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.

Alice at the Cafe Dumonde

Just a real quick post. I had a request from an old friend who loved the "Alice" painting. Along with a couple other special paintings, he requested an "Alice in New Orleans" painting. I immediately invisioned her at the Cafe Dumonde. It's one of my favorites. I plan to make one for myself soon.

Thanks for shopping by!!

(Images temporarily missing...will correct this later)

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!!

Garden District Painting

I've had some requests for work from my previous Funky New Orleans paintings, so I whipped up a Garden District painting for starters. This will list soon on ebay - so if you are interested - let me know asap.

The size is 16" x 20", on gallery wrapped stretched canvas. Sides are painted black and are staple free (ready for hanging!).






Garden District Delight House No. 305

I'm going to start this off for auction at $125 with $15 US Shipping. Don't wait! :)


Bookmark this page and check back soon. I just finished a commissioned abstract that I'll photograph and list soon. Thanks for stopping by!

New Paintings on the Way

I know...I know! It's been a long time. I've been busy doing everything ELSE except painting. But guess what - I will have some new pieces soon. Some of them will be a total new look for me. Stay tuned.

I hope you like it. :)

Sold Out!!!

All my current paintings have been sold. Check back soon to see what's available next. Thank you!!!!