36" x 48"

I’ve been so busy keeping up with all my other social media these days, I almost forgot to share my largest painting to date with you here. The small canvas at the bottom is a 10" x 10" to show you scale.

All this time I’ve been concerned about space when creating large works like this, where will I hang it? where will it fit? where can I paint freely withou getting paint everythwere? Really all that needed to happen was the decision to do it. There was a nail in our back fence, perfect height for this painting and that was that. Right? a familiar theme...We spend a lot of time waiting for everything to be just right before we get to the business of creating. Excuses, procrastination, blah, blah, blah. At some point you just have to decide to do it already.

{original is available here} 

Happening now! one day left. Just enter the code "summershopsale" at checkout for 30% off at the shop.

happy summer solstice!

Since the beginning of the year I’ve been 'threatening' to explore and expand my painting style. And I’ve dabbled here and there, but something in the last couple of weeks has really clicked for me.

If you’ve followed my work since 2004, then you may recognize an echo of my earlier pieces. If you are most familiar with my present work, then you may be wondering 'wait, what? where are the characters?' {disclaimer: the characters are not gone. they will continue to make appearances, as I love painting them, still.}

When I started this business, it was challenge for me to believe in myself as an artist let alone a painter. Now that I’ve been in business and developed a style within my brand it’s a challenge for me to break out. Ah, sometimes....I long for the day that this life as an artist and an entrepreneur feels predictable, even just for a short while? When will that happen. um never. I know. I know this isn’t what I signed up for, predictability and certainty - not so much. And to be honest, I am also growing to love, well maybe not love, but like, accept and sometimes even appreciate the challenge. It’s only taken 10 years.

Pushing creative ideas forward, that’s why artists are here. We need them, and we need the challenges otherwise everything creative from art and design to movies and music would remain the same. And I, me, Marisa, an artist! need to be aware of when I’m keeping myself comfortable instead of innovating.

Even though it is uncomfortable for me to push the bounds in my work, in everything I do, not just painting. I know this is what I have to do. I know I will never be satisfied doing one thing only or creating in only one style or discipline for that matter. You know this about me. It’s why I named my company 'Creative Thursday'. I knew from its very inception that the name of my business had to be an umbrella for all the creative outlets I would explore. 

And while the unknown of these choices still get to me on occasion, this is also the very reason this is all so EXCITING. And. The fun I had working on these - worth every bit of discomfort. And yes I know abstract painting is not in the least bit new or exclusive to me as a painter, no? And I’m probably not breaking any serious 'art ground' in this pieces. Good God no. But gaining confidence in this medium is new - for me. All the years of working with color in my various creative careers, combined with the past decade of focused painting are present in this developing style. Something completely unique to me, and my translation of abstract panting is happening; and now I’ve got to see where it wants to go.

{originals are available here}

So, this little guy arrived at my doorstep. First Chinese, now Korean. 

A giraffe in a hat.

This is when an author learns more about the contract she signed. When your book gets translated into other languages, it basically gets sold in its entirety to another publisher, who also has the right to re-design it in the way they see fit for their market.

{look at that tiny tiger!}

Luckily, so far so good. I actually love both re-designs. The layout, the tiny details. And especially, the giraffe in the hat. The Asian design aesthetic seems to fit really well with mine. 

And both the Chinese and Korean characters, so beautiful. They look like art on the page.

This has me thinking seriously about how I might want to evolve my own designs, while continuing to trust more of what comes naturally to me. More negative space and I like tiny, I really do.

Re-entry to Los Angeles is happening. I had a great trip and truthfully right at this very moment, I want to live in London for a few months and I want to paint flowers.

The amount of gorgeous flowers in Europe in the summer time; this alone is worth the trip.

As is evidenced by the photo above. My first trip to Liberty of London did not dissapoint.

happy Sunday everyone

did I mention, I’m on an adventure? 

more photos soon. I mean a lot more photos. I can’t stop taking them. so, so good to be back.