Latest ‘Art & Design’ Posts

Precious Pup, Animal Paintings by Arizona Artist Amy Whitehouse



8" x 10" Acrylic, $45

Summer Spectacular Sale this weekend!
I will post paintings at reduced prices today and tomorrow,
and hope that someone scoops up something they love.
Temps are going back and forth to the triple digits
and the summer doldrums have hit
(and it's only May 18)...
Everyone at my house is taking naps every day;
could be a summer of rest and reading?
Anyway, I have been working on a couple of large
paintings that I hope to finish in the next week.
But steady and slow due to teaching,
driving teenagers around,
and needing that warm-weather siesta most every day.
Thank you for taking a gander at my postings!

To see more please visit:

“Where Oh Where” Abstract Landscapes by California Janet Bludau


12" x 12" Oil
$250
I recently came back from a really enjoyable 4 day workshop by Marla Baggetta, a Portland based artist.  Marla's medium is primarily soft pastels but she uses a lot of acrylics also.  I found a kindred spirit:  I get teased about how many paths I paint and here was someone else who sure does paint a lot of paths!  I came home and painted this on board with oil, instead of paper with soft pastels.  Our "styles" are different.  She has a beautiful, loose, free way with her work.  That is also one of the reasons I wanted to learn from her.  I am always wanting to loosen up, as are most artists I know.  Its wonderful to incorporate a few new techniques or, what I have especially liked are the words that come to me from prior classes.  "What If" came to me with this piece and I started scraping  the blue paint back to the red.  At the end of the day though, when you line a group of paintings up, you will most likely know which painting belongs to which painter.  Mine typically have that contemporary, angular style.


Abstract Painting “ROCOCO” Original Contemporary Art by Elizabeth Chapman

Rococo

Acrylic on 24" x 36" x 1.5" wrap canvas




Ready to hang!

May be purchased from my Web Gallery: HERE

or 

by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com




Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Irises and Tulips – Original Abstract Painting by Texas Contemporary Artist Filomena de Andrade Booth

Irises and Tulips
40"x40"x1.5"
Acrylic on Canvas  



Original abstract painting
by
Texas Contemporary Abstract Artist
Filomena de Andrade Booth

Visit my website to see more of my original abstract paintings.

Please contact me for purchase information



Prints of most of my paintings are now available!  Order reproductions on canvas, paper or metal. 
Click here to see my collection!


Subscribe to my monthly art newsletter!

“Lavender Sky” mixed media abstracted tree landscape by Carol Nelson

Lavender Sky


This is another in my tree series featuring various collage elements.  Careful inspection reveals lace paper, corrugated paper, and watercolor paper all covered securely with crystal clear epoxy resin.
For more information, click here to go to my website.

THX1653-7 by JLO


Visit My Blog Here http://bloga2euros.blogspot.com/ Any question, please feel free to contact me at artiste.jlo@gmail.com

11 DIY Dining Tables to Dine in Style

Many people’s lives revolve around food, entertaining, and sitting down to a wonderful nightly family dinner. So why should your dining table, the hub of your home, be anything less than amazing? While purchasing or upgrading your dining table can get very pricey in the store, there are so many amazing DIY ideas out there for stylish, inexpensive and unique dining tables. So without further ado, here are 11 DIY dining tables that will have you dining in style!

Plywood and Lumber Tables

Our first DIY dining table and Ike, the adorable pup sitting next it, are both show-stoppers!  Handcrafted by Decor and the Dog and inspired by a plan by Ana White, this stunning farmhouse table was made with stud-grade whitewood for a rustic charm.

DIY Farmhouse Table

Are you a total beginner? Well, then the next beautiful DIY dining table, by Creature Comforts, is definitely the one for you! Built by simply attaching several 2 x 8 boards (cut to 6 feet) together and adding some legs, this gorgeous gray-stained table has a simplistic beauty that will bring character to your space.

DIY Wood Dining Table

Our next DIY table isn’t exactly for beginners. If you are feeling ambitious, try this incredible DIY dining table by DIY-My-Homes, made with plywood, time, and a whole lot of patience! Seriously, have you ever seen something so beautiful in your life?! Oh wait, here’s another one of their tables that is equally as breathtaking.

DIY Patterned Plywood Dining Table

DIY Patterned Plywood Dining Table 2

As a DIY fanatic, I always love seeing projects that utilize the existing space very well. Have a small kitchen island and only a small amount of space to work with? Try extending your kitchen island by attaching some plywood or lumber, adding legs, and painting it a fun color like this DIY project, originally from Mixr.se and featured on Trendir. I love that they also painted the side of the island’s countertop to seamlessly tie everything together!

DIY Dining Table Extending From Kitchen Island

Reclaimed Wood Objects

Rather than build an entire dining table from scratch, why not re-purpose an object you have hanging out in your basement or garage? Our next DIY dining table, posted on Instructables by Julien Thibeault, was made out of a old reclaimed wood door wrapped in a sheet of metal. He added some Ikea table legs, oil, and stain to complete the sleek, chic look.

DIY Reclaimed Door Dining Table

If you are lucky enough to have a few reclaimed beams salvaged from a previous home or remodel, this table, by This Old House, would be perfect for you! The reclaimed beams are cut to size to form the table top, which is supported by a base constructed using 3/4″ gas piping.

DIY Reclaimed Beam and Gas Pipe Dining Table

Pallet Tables

One of the easiest items to re-purpose into a dining table (or anything for that matter!) is a shipping pallet. Our first DIY dining table by ScrapHacker was built by adding a few boards over the top of the sipping pallet for a smooth tabletop and attaching some IKEA legs. With a fresh coat of white paint, this awesome DIY dining table looks good enough to eat… on.

DIY White Pallet Dining Table

The next DIY dining table was made by disassembling six oak pallets and using the wood to construct a table. By maintaining the architecture and rustic quirkiness of the pallets, Little Paths So Startled created something incredibly lovely and artistic out of objects with such humble beginnings.

DIY Shipping Pallet Dining Table

Another DIY pallet dining table worth drooling over is this one, made by A Beautiful Mess! Crafted by cutting the pallet slats to a uniform size, attaching them to a piece of plywood, and adding some super attractive hairpin legs, this table radiates an amazing vintage, rustic vibe!

DIY Shipping Pallet Dining Table 2

Other Materials

All of these tables are all incredible, but what if you don’t want an all-wood table? Our next table, featured on Osbourne Wood Products, might be made of pine, but it features a magnificent tile center that steals the show and all of the attention! How lovely are those tiles?! Just think of all of the possibilities for tiling your own custom dining table!

DIY Tiled Dining Table

Last but not lease, this sensational table, designed by Designer Eco, boasts a poured concrete top and a chunky base made of several wood posts. Find some friends to lift the tabletop onto the base, and you will have a gorgeous one-of-a-kind statement piece in your dining area!

DIY Concrete Dining Table

The best part of these DIY dining table projects is that you could mix and match ideas for your space (i.e. loving the base from one table but using the tabletop idea from another!). All of these eye-catching tables make me want to go upgrade our kitchen table immediately!

Do you have any amazing DIY dining table ideas? Please share them with us in the comments section below!

 

You're reading 11 DIY Dining Tables to Dine in Style, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Box Magic!

tromp loeil, petite manson by Elise Victoria Louise Windsor

These “transparent” boxes are part of a series titled “Trompe L’Oeil; Petite Maison” by Elise Victoria Windsor. Her goal is to combine a physical object (which she addresses as being a sculpture), and layering over a photograph to create a ghost-like effect when its placed to background. This project is similar to Cayetano Ferrer’s “Invisible Mail Packages.”

Elise Victoria Louise Windsor (3)

Elise Victoria Louise Windsor (2)

Elise Victoria Louise Windsor (4)

Photos © Elise Victoria Louise Windsor

Via L'Acte Gratuit

Accentuate With Majesty: Purple Passion for Contemporary Interiors

Colors play a significant role in our lives. Some come with notions that have been passed down over generations, like purple, which was a rare and extremely expensive dye extracted from shellfish. Others simply wow you. Either way, the colors that you choose for your home play a significant part in determining the many moods of your day.

When it comes to creating a stylish and sophisticated look while bringing in an uplifting joy, few shades work as well as the iconic purple. With modern home owners opting for largely neutral interiors that come in muted tones such as white, grey, brown and at times a hint of black, infusion of color seems an absolute must.

Stunning room in black and white with purple chairs for an extravagant look

Stunning room in black and white with purple chairs for an extravagant look

by Last Detail Interior Design

Accent colors breathe life into an otherwise dull and borderline bland setting. Purple and its many variants are perfect in this regard. Dubbed as one of the ‘hottest’ interior colors of 2013, a dash of purple can alter your home’s vibe in a significant and positive fashion. Balance, as always, is the key to getting it just right!

Modern living room in grey with a balanced addition of purple

Modern living room in grey with a balanced addition of purple

by Becki Peckham

Sometimes all you need is a couch in purple to liven up a bland setting!

Sometimes all you need is a couch in purple to liven up a bland setting!

Use the accent color to highlight a chosen nook in your living space

Use the accent color to highlight a chosen nook in your living space

by angela varela cunha

Accent fabrics - Purple pillows and a throw draw you attention at an instant

Accent fabrics – Purple pillows and a throw draw you attention in an instant

Color a part of the wall or just one side of the room in purple to highlight the area

Color a part of the wall or just one side of the room in purple to highlight the area

by Chris Snook

Contemporary bedroom in white with purple accents

Contemporary bedroom in white with purple accents

Next to pink, purple is the most popular accent color used in kids' rooms

Next to pink, purple is the most popular accent color used in kids’ rooms

by Great Neighborhood Homes

Rich, Refined and Imperial

Purple has always been known as the ‘color of the emperors’. Large part of this notion comes from the fact that its dye was the very expensive in ancient times and it took plenty of work to bring out the right purple hue. Flourishing ancient civilizations like the Romans and the Egyptians saw its noblemen and kings wear ‘purple’ for the grand occasions. While purple may not longer enjoy that royal exclusivity, it still seems like a majestic color that carries along with it an air of imperial aura!

Beautiful bedroom in grey and white with pleasing purple accents and zebra print

Beautiful bedroom in grey and white with pleasing purple accents and zebra print

Lovely blend of various shades of purple and violet set against grey walls in the bedroom

Lovely blend of various shades of purple and violet set against grey walls in the bedroom

by Beach Chic Design

Purple is a color of sound judgment and wisdom. It embraces and accentuates royalty and spirituality. In modern times it is color of people who love innovation and originality across fields such as art, culture, politics and fashion!

Add a bit of purple to your kitchen for a playful and bold appeal

Add a bit of purple to your kitchen for a playful and bold appeal

by John Lum Architecture

Purple accent wall in the girls' bedroom- Just as pretty as pink!

Purple accent wall in the girls’ bedroom- Just as pretty as pink!

by Tuba Yavuzer

Simple use of purple pillow and rug to offer visual contrast in a neutral setting

Simple use of purple pillow and rug to offer visual contrast in a neutral setting

by Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders

Stylish and creative way to add purple accents to a modern eclectic living space

Stylish and creative way to add purple accents to a modern eclectic living space

by Nina Jizhar

Subtle touches like purple flowers and photo frames can make a distinct impact

Subtle touches like purple flowers and photo frames can make a distinct impact

by Roughan Interior Design

Beyond Décor and Paint

When we talk of using purple as an accent color, most people tend to automatically limit their imagination to either simple décor or the wall paint. Painting a single wall in the room with purple to draw attention to that particular niche is indeed a great idea. Also adding a plush couch in purple in an otherwise neutral setting sure helps create great visual contrast. But sometimes all you need is ‘accent fabrics’ such as a warm rug in purple or a cushion or two to create the effect.

Another wonderful example of how to use accent fabrics in purple to steal the show!

Another wonderful example of how to use accent fabrics in purple to steal the show!

by Dayka Robinson Designs

Employ more than one accent color to create more vibrant interiors

Employ more than one accent color to create more vibrant interiors

Fabulous dining room covered in wooden surfaces gets a fresh makeover with purple accents

Fabulous dining room covered in wooden surfaces gets a fresh makeover with purple accents

It need not always be decor or wall paint that brings out purple hues

It need not always be decor or wall paint that brings out purple hues

by MusaDesign Interior Design

Lighting fixtures bring in purple accents in an unusual fashion

Lighting fixtures offer purple accents in an unusual fashion

by Heather ODonovan Interior Design

Purple drapes bring sophistication to this stylish living room in muted tones

Purple drapes create a sense of sophistication to this stylish living room in muted tones

by Amoroso Design

Accent Color that makes an Impact!

Despite being a combination of red and blue in various proportions, there is pretty much nothing neutral about purple. If you are thinking about adding purple to your living room or the bedroom, then be prepared to let it stand out and shine in the spotlight. Purple accents do not generally tend to take a backseat to any other décor or furnishing in the room. In fact, Feng Shui suggests that purple is a color of high ‘vibrations’ and hence must be used sparingly. That s precisely what purple accents bring.

Teenage girls' bedroom in white with a dash of purple

Teenage girls’ bedroom in white with a dash of purple

You can opt for milder shades of purple and violet in order to tone down on the glitz

You can opt for milder shades of purple and violet in order to tone down on the glitz

by Sylvia Fridman

Remember that accent colors (no matter which one you choose) work best when the remainder of the room is in largely neutral hues. Too many colors in fragmented patterns work against the look and generally end up creating a clutter.

Elegant modern bedroom with lampshades that add an extra tinge of purple

Elegant modern bedroom with lampshades that add an extra tinge of purple

by Window Works

Eclectic living room adds purple in a way you simply cannot miss!

Eclectic living room adds purple in a way you simply cannot miss!

Compact media room employs purple and cream

Compact media room employs purple and cream

A splash of purple in the kitchen for a colorful and contemporary look

A splash of purple in the kitchen for a colorful and contemporary look

by In Detail Interiors

You're reading Accentuate With Majesty: Purple Passion for Contemporary Interiors, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Summer Horse Painting 7 by Texas Artist Laurie Pace


©Laurie Pace   Graphics One Design 1998-2012
Contact Laurie for Commission work or to purchase a painting.

By Texas Artist Laurie Pace 
8 x 10 inches Oil on Canvas 

Visit http://lauriepace.blogspot.com to view more of my work