Inspired by Things Organized Neatly

November 15, 2012By AllisonInspired by

I pinned the watercolor swatches image (top image) a couple of months ago on my Pinterest Watercolor board. Recently I clicked to see where this incredible image came from and was happily delighted to see it came from this wonderful Tumblr site called Things Organized Neatly. You simply must check out this site! As someone … Read More

Inspired by a West Elm Thanksgiving

November 14, 2012By AllisonInspired by

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week?? For the past 2-3 years, my husband and I have hosted Thanksgiving. It is a lovely tradition! That being said…three members of my immediate family are currently in Kenya returning on Thanksgiving Day, so our normal traditions are out of whack … Read More

Pinned: Quiet, Peaceful Winter Inspiration

November 13, 2012By AllisonInspired by

Recently, I have been inspired by quiet, peaceful winter images in Pinterest. These images are usually subdued with soft color palettes. I believe this all goes back to my post on Friday, where I expressed that I am reflecting on peace. I look forward to peaceful days ahead snuggled up on the couch or at … Read More

Inspired by Anthropologie’s November 2012 Catalog

November 12, 2012By AllisonInspired by

I’m always inspired by Anthropologie. Dream job…work at the Anthropologie home office….or Anthropologie’s sister, BHLDN. The November catalog has been hanging out on my dining room table for a couple of weeks now. It is very hard for me to get rid of Anthro catalogs…they are just so pretty! What sparks my interest about this … Read More

Autumn Reflections

November 5, 2012By AllisonInspired by 1 Comment

Autumn is a perfect time to reflect. Nature gets a bit quieter as things die down for the year. The trees shed their life in the most magical way for us to enjoy. The smells change from blooming flowers to cozy smells of burning fireplaces. The air loses a bit of its heaviness and becomes … Read More

Inspired by Falling Leaves

November 2, 2012By AllisonInspired by

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Autumn is my favorite season! I’m a big-time “leafer”. I love Autumn leaves…so much so that I don’t think I could live in a place that didn’t have fall foliage. I’m lucky to live in an area that has so much Autumn leaf variety. These are just … Read More

Inspired by Succulents: The Photo Edition

October 16, 2012By AllisonInspired by

Just a little additional proof that I have been admiring succulents for some time now! These photos were all taken during separate trips to Terrain. I think that Terrain adores succulents as much as I do! One of the unique attributes of succulents is that they do not need a lot of soil to live … Read More

Inspired by Succulents

October 15, 2012By AllisonInspired by

I have been smitten with succulents for a few years now. They come in such interesting colors and look like flowers….but aren’t. They are understated and cute. Yes, “cute” might be the most appropriate word for this particular succulent. I also did a commissioned watercolor succulent with a completely different color palette. You can view … Read More

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

October 8, 2012By AllisonInspired by

I like how the idea of the phrase, “Birds of a Feather Flock Together,” dating back to the 15oo’s can be connected to weddings today. Weddings are a celebration that brings together two flocks of people for a beautiful celebration and forever joining connection. I also love how wispy, surreal, and light-hearted feathers are as … Read More

Inspired by Wood textures

October 2, 2012By AllisonInspired by

Along the wilderness wedding theme, here is a painting I did of the beautiful textures on the side of a wooden cabin. I love all of the different idiosyncrasies in each plank and how beautiful the wood gets as it ages. I love the knots in the wood that are exposed and the imperfect little … Read More

Perfect Pear Painting

September 26, 2012By AllisonInspired by

Here is another painting I did of the seckel pears from the farmer’s market. Dare I say…would this be the “perfect pair”? Yes, I just went there…and took advantage of the homophone. You’ll want to come back tomorrow, as I have a beautiful Perfect Pear Save the Date up my sleeve for the blog. Seckel … Read More

Inspired by Seckel Pears

September 25, 2012By AllisonInspired by 1 Comment

Here is the finished still life I did a sneak peak of yesterday. While I initially thought I would approach this painting in a very toned back, vintage aesthetic, I ended up getting inspired by the colorful wash I did in the background. This changed the aesthetic a bit to be much more lively. Seckel … Read More

Inspired by Antique Bird Cages continued

September 17, 2012By AllisonInspired by

As hinted in last week’s post I decided to build onto the Antique Bird Cage painting by adding pieces of the background and adding the two cute lovebirds. I’ve been very attracted to warm colors recently. I think it is the change in seasons and my love of autumn color palettes of oranges, warm purples, … Read More

Inspired by Jean Haines’ Atmospheric Watercolors book

September 13, 2012By AllisonInspired by

I just purchased this incredibly inspiring watercolor book last week that I am so excited about! I love Jean Haines‘ style. I am always trying to push myself as an artist. This style of expressive watercolors is very different from my normal controlled way of painting, and I think that is why I love it … Read More

Inspired by Antique Bird Cages

September 10, 2012By AllisonInspired by

Aren’t these antique bird cages beautiful? I spotted them in May during a trip to Terrain at Styers. This is the view into the cafe area. I spend hours in this shop every time I visit. There is so much attention to detail put into the interiors. It is very inspiring. I am sharing the … Read More

Inspired by “In the Make” blog

September 7, 2012By AllisonInspired by 1 Comment

In the Make blog is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs. For one, the concept is beautiful….capturing and cherishing the spirit of the artist, their art, and their studio space in a absolutely stunning way. The photographs are honestly my favorite part. The artists behind this blog photograph very candid, authentic glimpses of these … Read More

Inspired by Classic Back-to-School Apple

August 28, 2012By AllisonInspired by

Have you ever wondered where the tradition of giving an apple to a teacher came from? I wonder if it is because apple are in season at the beginning of the school year. Or maybe it is because of the smart, health benefits of “eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Whatever the … Read More

Inspired by Back-to-School Time

August 27, 2012By AllisonInspired by

In my other life, I work for a university and it is back-to-school time! Like most students, I can’t believe how fast the summer goes! My worlds collide as I do a back-to-school wedding theme this week. A back-to-schoool wedding theme would be perfect for the teacher couple or the couple that met in school. … Read More

Inspired by Autumn Leaves

August 16, 2012By AllisonInspired by 1 Comment

As you have probably noticed, I love zooming into my paintings. I love seeing the brushstrokes and the gradual, organic flows of color. I love that when I zoom into my paintings they create this brand new abstract composition. I am flirting with the idea to create a wedding invitation (or a series) that are … Read More