A Minute in the Life of Maria: art

Monday, February 24, 2014

i make pretty: Hummingbird Inspired Artwork

// Happy Hummingbird 8x10 Print by imakepretty //

Inspired by the magical little hummingbirds that started coming around our home last summer, I painted these two colorful little birds. It all started with one very friendly, ruby-throated humminbird who would sit outside and sing the same song all day. We hung a hummingbird feeder for him, and before long, more hummingbirds showed up.

// Happy Hummingbird Birthday Card by imakepretty //

After a couple of weeks, I could stand outside, and he would come right up to my face, hover, then go to his feeder, eat, and take off. He was so cute!

5 interesting hummingbird facts:

Their wings flap in the shape of an infinity symbol when they hover
Hummingbirds can fly backwards, left, right and forward
They flap their wings about 80 times per second
Their feet are for perching, not walking or hopping
Hummingbirds symbolize joy, playfulness and adaptability

I haven't seen him in awhile, I'm hoping the spring brings him back!

Back to the art-- this was the first time that I painted in detail with watercolors. I usually use watercolors when I'm painting abstractly and acrylics when I want to paint details. I really liked the way the watercolors allowed me to add depth and layers of color so nicely on top of each other and I was still able to get the detail that I wanted.

I have added the 8x10 Happy Hummingbirds print and the Happy Hummingbird birthday card above to my Etsy store, i make pretty, check out the new goods!

xo,

Maria

Monday, November 19, 2012

Giving Thanks, Literally.

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I'm so happy (or should I say thankful) that I was able to 5-pack of handmade 'Thank You' cards. They're made from watercolor

paintings of mine.

With Thanksgiving coming up, the theme of 'Thankfulness' is all around us-- which is a good thing.

"If [thankfulness] were a drug, it would be the world's best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system," said Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, head of the division of biologic psychology at Duke University Medical Center.

Dr. Doraiswamy also goes on to state that "Studies have shown measurable effects on multiple body and brain systems, said Doraiswamy. Those include mood neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), reproductive hormones (testosterone), social bonding hormones (oxytocin), cognitive and pleasure related neurotransmitters (dopamine), inflammatory and immune systems (cytokines), stress hormones (cortisol), cardiac and EEG rhythms, blood pressure, and blood sugar." Full article here.

Pretty amazing, right? Take a peak at my cards below! If you're interested, you can purchase them from my Etsy store here: i make pretty. Thank you! :)

Friday, October 12, 2012

i make pretty: Magical Halloween Card

We're a little over two weeks away from Halloween and I've finally finished making my latest Halloween card! This one is called Magical Halloween. I was inspired by the beauty of Fall and the magic that exists in the history (and idea) of Halloween. All of the artwork was done by the same hands typing this very post, yours truly. Oh, and of course, the stars are dusted in glitter.

I've included the Halloween card that I made last year, too, Three Little Witches. Take a look and tell me what you think!

You can purchase Magical Halloween and Three Little Witches from my Etsy Shop.

// Magical Halloween //

// card & envelope //

// close up detail //

// Three Little Witches //

// inside detail of Three Little Witches //

Monday, October 1, 2012

A Minute of Inspiration: Maniac Pumpkins

There are three things I love about Halloween: people running around in costumes, the idea of Halloween being a celebration of the end of the 'light' half of the year and the beginning of the 'dark' half and pumpkin art (here are some pretty pumpkins from last year)!

How incredible are these pumpkins?! Childhood friends Chris Soria and Marc Evan, a muralist and an illustrator, had been carving pumpkins for fun until 2009 when the New York Yankees asked them to carve 50 pumpkins in 36 hours for Game 1 of the World Series. The rest is history. Look what these amazing artists can do with a locally grown pumpkin, knives, linoleum cutters and pear-shaped clay loops. It's simply Magic.

'Klimt's Kiss'

// love love love this one //

'Starry Pumpkin'

Watch the making of video here

'Rihanna'

'Zombies'

Check out more of their work at www.maniacpumpkincarvers.com

Friday, September 28, 2012

A Minute in the Life: Scenes From the Week

Ok, so I cheated a little, these are scenes from the week-- and the week before that ;)

// Avian Espionage //

// Sunset Santa Monica //

// My boyfriend found this cartoon, yup, that's me alright!

Right down to the drunken Snow White (below) //

// The year I was a drunken Snow White.

My roomies were pretty amazing-- and still are //

// The Valley //

// A new Birthday Card I made to add to my Etsy Shop //

// From Oscar's on Rose //

// Up on the Helipad 'Where's Endeavour?' style //

// Spotted: Space Shuttle Endeavour flying over North Hollywood //

// Endeavour taking off from LAX, taken by my buddy David da' Chenster //

Monday, August 15, 2011

Tattooing Gone Dental

Tooth Art Tattooing, otherwise known as Dental Art, Gnasher Tats or the "White Collar Tattoo" has just hit Japan. Hearts, stars, ladybugs and rhinestones to name a few have been seen on the teeth of many a blinged out Japanese fashionista. The Japanese have put there own twist on the trend by matching their nails to their tooth tattoos. I did a little research and dug up some amazing tooth tattoos from around the world.

Whatever it is that you decide to take away from this blog post, let's just be reminded that Passion is a very, very powerful thing.