My 1st Ever Art Show at a Gallery!

Hello everyone..yes..I'm here. I've been a busy bee as usual. I just booked my 1st art show though...whoo hoo. I am so excited and nervous. This show will be completely different than the wholesale trade shows I usually attend, but I think in a great way. I won't be giving a sales pitch while people are viewing my over 70 pieces that I plan on having at this show. But, I will be of course be mentioning that the artist herself will sign the piece you buy.
I'll be posting more art as the weeks go by so please check back. I'm working on a project for a custmer and have two trade shows coming up in the next couple of weeks..wish me luck.
Have a great weekend! Marnie V.

The Handmade Kids Contest on ETSY!

http://www.etsy.com/contest/images/handmade_kids_main.gif

I have been absent from this blog for about a week, and I'm feeling horrible about it. I honestly just have not had any time. I have been busy with contract illustration work, contract mural jobs on the weekend, my three boys playing football(CRAZY), my J. AUSTIN Ryan line, and ETSY.
But I decided today to jump on and tell you about the Handmade Kids contest going on at Etsy through Sept. 8th.
I entered my Rocket Dog, which is pictured below on bottom left, and out of over 3,000 entries....I made the top 40. I feel so honored because of all the talent on Etsy. Well, please go and cast your vote in the Art section and look for Rocket Dog.
And while your there, vote in all the other categories as well.

The Rocket Dog painting below on the right is a new piece done especially for the Art Gallery Art251.
Isn't it cool. I love it. The title of it is called Rocket City. I won't be reproducing this painting or printing it. So, if your interested in it contact the Gallery and they will be happy with your purchase. It's a mixed media of vintage papers that were used for the city scape and acrylic paints. Well, I am creating more Rocket Dogs and can't wait to upload them onto my Etsy, so please check back soon. Have a great day!- Marnie V.

Rocket Dog Saves our Planet

Hello again. It's been about a week since I've been here on the blog and I definitely miss it. Don't mean to be off of coarse, but I had some deadlines that I had to get done. Plus, my three boys are still out for the summer and just because they're older doesn't mean they don't need attention. Honestly, I got more things done when they were younger. Now we have constant kids at my house 24/7 and I'm driving all over for sports.
So enough about that part of my life, lets talk about Rocket Dog. This is one of my new pieces. I love it. I used old torn vintage children's books for the world and the word PLANET. My mom collects these books for me at estate sales every week. And the book used for this painting was actually a book about a dog.

I even cut out the word dog and placed it on the US. I love the rich bright colors from my paints against the old muted tones from the books.



This particular painting is going in a very hip Art Gallery called ART251.
They will be getting a bunch of my Rocket Dog's. Well, I'm actually taking them over today and will be hung tomorrow and ready to sell...yeah. I heart to that the owners are very excited about Rocket Dog as much as I am.
Ok so I'm off. And I'm definitely going to try and blog again tomorrow. I have so much to tell that will be going on with my art in the next couple of months. More magazine interviews and more..for just a little hint. See you later- Marnie V.

Rocket Dog Travels to the Moon

It amazes me when my brain juices start flowing when it comes to creating. I am having so much fun with my Rocket Dog line. So here is another. Hawk travels to the moon. I love the colors in this painting as well. I have a thing for blue, as you can see. This painting will have a new happy home at ART251 next week along with some others. I also painted a smaller version of this exact painting for my Etsy shop, so go check it out. And I am creating more and can't wait to show all of you. So exciting....
Well, my day is packed full of painting, shipping, paperwork, and of course, my 2 hours of teaching swim class this morning. Keep checking back to see more-Marnie V.

Hawk loves his Planet

Here is my latest addition to Etsy. I have been collecting old maps, well my mom goes to estate sales and brings them to me, and then I use them in my artwork. I love this little painting. The mix of the light muted colors on the map really comes out against the navy background.
Don't forget to look at the Etsy site for I am uploading new items everyday.
My main site will be getting more added to it as well this weekend. Much going on around here in J. AUSTIN Ryan land and it's time to wake up the elves(my boys)!
Have a great day! Marnie V.

First Hello

I am taking a break from my life of painting to tell you about my piece that I added on Etsy today. I titled it "First Hello". Isn't it so cute. I love the baby blue against the white fence. And the birds are so sweet. One is even getting a bit bashful. Well, lunch break( whom am I kidding) is almost over and my boys are out on a bike ride and due back soon. Hopefully they won't be bringing back any more pets...



It even looks perfect in this pretty white frame. Have a great day- Marnie V.

Shop News!

Hawk
What a long week I have had. First the Dallas show which lasted six days and picked up some new accounts. And second, I finally opened up an Etsy store...YEAH.....
I have been wanting and wanting to create more on my Rocket Dog series and now I am. I am so excited and can't wait to keep creating. I thought that Etsy would be the perfect fit because of how simple my illustrations are and will be.
So a little info on what will be arriving on Etsy.
I will be creating original paintings and prints of a suburban dog named Hawk. He roams in his backyard and seeks adventure, at least that's what he tries to create. I will also be adding other animals that live in his yard with him.
I have introduced Goalie, a goofy little gopher. He's already getting a lot of attention.



Goalie
I can't wait to show and create more.
In other news....I will be painting, shipping, and getting ready for yet another show..ATLANTA.
Yes..J. AUSTIN Ryan will be going to Atlanta, Georgia for a Home and Gift show. It starts on July 8th and runs for about 7 days. The best part, I don't have to go. My rep will be selling..selling...selling. my boys are so happy that mom will be staying home. Of course, next year I'm sure I'll be making the trip, but they don't have to know that now.
Ok..I am going to sleep so i can be very well rested for a very crazy day tomorrow.
xoxo-Marnie V.

Hawk(aka rocket dog) and Gopher

Ok...I've been playing around with some new items and here is the beginning of one. A sweet illustration of Hawk and a gopher. I haven't named the Gopher yet, but don't worry, i will. Within the next couple of months i will be expanding my Rocket Dog line. I will be offering more paintings on canvas and little limited edition prints. I am so excited to share a story of a little curious dog and his adventures. This idea has been in my brain ever since we had moved to Texas, three years ago. I can't believe it has taken me this long, but life does get in the way.
I hope you enjoy the first of many as I bring you into Hawk's world. Marnie

Coming Soon!

Just a little announcement that my new Rocket Dog, A.K.A. Hawk, will be coming soon. Not much to say today considering I am getting ready for another Dallas show this weekend, meaning starting tomorrow. Gotta run...I mean paint. Marnie

Sick Dog & New Products

Again....haven't blogged in a couple of days but I am so busy. And my pour dog Hawk had to be taken to the vet today for a bad bug bite on his foot.Ouch! he is feeling better now that the Doc gave him a nice shot of something. Hawk is basically a bug, mouse, rat, or anything that crawls catcher. He loves torturing bugs with his paw and that's how it happened. Love you Hawk, but I guess it's time to hire a real bug exterminator since you are out on sick leave.


Ok ....Coming up with more artwork, while filling orders at the same time has been very difficult lately. But before my show last week, I manged to get some time in. I introduced these two new pieces.

The one above is called "House of Owls". It will be available in certain sizes and only in these colors. i used recycled watercolor paper for the leaves on the tree. So cute, and did well for it's first show I might say.

My second piece is titled "The Bear Family". Very fun and cute. Again I used watercolor paper which gives great texture. Both of these paintings are on a cream background. I really wanted a natural woodsy feel to the painting. Another great addition to the show as well. Look for these on the site within a week, and more in the series to come. Back to painting-Marnie

OUR ROCKET DOG

I am off today to see a client for a commissioned piece of her dog. And with that in mind, I decided to tell all of you about our dog named HAWK. Most people, who don't know my kids, don't understand why we named him Hawk. He is named after Tony Hawk the professional skateboarder. When we lived in Ca., Tony lived about 15 min. from our house. He even built a skate park down the street from our house. If you hadn't guessed, my boys love to skateboard.

But, what is really amazing about our dog, is his name fits him perfectly. He is a RAT TERRIER. These types of dog's perform in the circus. No, we don't send him off with Ringling Bros., but he definitely shows off when other people are around.
He does everything. The smartest dog ever. He will wake me up in the middle of the night if one of my boys are sick. Yes, he really does. He can ride a skateboard, loves to play soccer, and he can even trap a soccer ball. That's when the ball is in the air and comes down. He will catch the ball in the air and bring it to the ground. He loves to swim and fetch the balls in the pool.

One day, the neighbor behind me threw his frizbee over my fence and it landed in the pool. Hawk looked at me, and I said " Go get it." He jumped in, got the frizbee, and dropped it over by the fence. He knew it was the neighbors. I could go on with stories, but I don't want to be a bore.
If you have gone through my website to look at my paintings, you will notice that i have a painting called Rocket Dog. That is Hawk. He is our super hero. I am working on more Adventures of Rocket Dog, and hope to have them out in a couple of months. I have sold quite a few and my clients want to see more. He is famous in our neighborhood. All the kids come over to see him. And he loves them as well. Everyone tells us, " Can I have your Dog?" I would love to make a book out of him. he is such an inspiring dog to us, that I want to write about him. He has given my entire family so much love the past three years, and we are ready to enjoy many more.

We love you HAWK xoxoxoxo