Daily dose of beauty…

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

–John Muir

print: Lara’s Orchid

Just as often as I need to remind myself to breathe, I need to remind myself to take in beauty. Living near Washington D.C. it’s difficult to get away from the “hustle and bustle”. Staying on track of work projects, home up-keep and family seems like a never-ending full-time job.

Beauty is just as essential as food, water and shelter. Beauty is just as important as paying the bills and meeting the deadlines. Whatever you find beauty in, whatever fills your senses with joy, bring more of that into your day-to-day routine.

For me, I enjoy nature walks and sunshine. I enjoy classical guitar music and theatrical ballads. I enjoy art, whether looking at it or creating it myself (and long walks on the beach *wink*). These hobbies are meant to bring you the beauty you need.

So before you submit yourself to another chore, find something you consider beautiful and breathe it in.

Have a BEAUTY-FULL day,

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Do you believe in magic?

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, but must be felt with the heart.”

–Helen Keller

print: Skyline

I think what I love most about stars are the fables and mystery behind them. Yes, scientists and textbooks have “proven” them to be balls of burning gas millions of miles away – but that’s not how I feel about them. I still see stars as wondrous lights looking down on us as though they’re angels or mystical creatures.

Before we had reason or logic for gravity, flowers blooming, clouds forming, etc. these were all considered MAGICAL phenomena – just “how things came to be” without putting a scientific name or theory to it. The twinkle that appears in your heart when you’ve witnessed an inexplicable miracle is a joyous moment.

While I can only see the stars glow from a far-off distance and will never be able to touch them, I feel them glow in my heart.

Magic is everywhere

-KB

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What does a painting mean to you?

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”

-Aristotle

Limited Edition print: Mr. Purple

I LOVE Erica’s depiction of this bird, Mr. Purple. He (the bird) looks like such a bright, colorful beacon through the solemn gray canvas. I can almost see him move as he ruffles his feathers.

For me, I feel such serenity and curiosity looking at the painting. The bird brings me peace but I’m anxious, for if I take my eyes off of him for one second, Mr. Purple will fly away. The gratitude I feel for his “visit” is awing.

Art is meant to provoke an emotion and a significance. What the emotion or the significance is, I cannot say. It is different for every set of eyes.

Find what is meaningful to you

-KB

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Paint your own nature…

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”

–Henry Ward Beecher

print: Flowers in the Air

This painting reminds me of Dr. Seuss: how tall, lanky and colorful the trees and plants were in his books. Sometimes they were fluffy or crooked. They withstood the laws of gravity and physics. I always admired his creativity and his ability to bring life to something so fictitious. Never with my own eyes have I seen candy-striped trees or the ‘Whos’ down in ‘Whoville’ but it certainly felt real to me as a child.

Dr. Seuss built his own world with his stories that will bring joy to many generations to come – as I’m sure is every artist’s intention. I hope everyone knows it isn’t always about coloring inside the lines; it’s about your own creation -of nature or not- facilitating beauty and happiness for someone else.

Create everyday

-KB

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A Painting Fit for a Princess

It’s not every day you ship something to a royal court, and I’m so happy this is finally happening.

I painted the Royal Bridal Bouquet a couple of years ago to celebrate the wedding of Sweden’s Crown Princess. You can read all about it here. I was holding out hope to actually go to the Castle and drop it off myself. It just wasn’t happening so I decided to ship it in time for their wedding anniversary on June 19th.

It was hard figuring out how to write everything I wanted to share with them – of how meaningful it had been for me to watch their wedding and how the nation celebrated. I remember always watching the royal events on TV growing up and to me, they are a symbol of home to me.

It’s also interesting to write “proper” Swedish…. it took me a few drafts.

So now it’s on its way! Together with another bridal bouquet painting heading closer to home, to southern Virginia, it was shipped via USPS Priority Mail. Join me in wishing it safe travels! Fingers crossed it will get to Sweden, through customs and to the Royal Castle in Stockholm before June 19th without any problems, and that the Crown Princess couple will love it!

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Toes in the Sand

While I’m taking my Mom to St Thomas to celebrate her birthday (and getting some much needed TLC), my lovely assistant Katie-Beth will do some blogging. Follow me on instagram (@StudioEriksdotter) if you want instant updates. See you in a week!

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Diana’s Cocktails & Canvases – May 11

How adorable is this group!? Seriously, they were a blast to host. They laughing, singing and were very focused on their paintings. They loved seeing my paintings and learning some techniques. They really didn’t need any help from me but I joined in on the fun as well.

This was Diana’s private Cocktails & Canvases which means she had reserved a spot for 6 people and they had a personal event page to register at (password protected and everything). Only her friends could attend this event and although we had a couple last-minute cancellations we had a wonderful time.

Diana is such a sweet friend. She had brought gift bags! Such a crafty woman, and I got a gift too!

After the event, Diana posted this on my Studio Eriksdotter facebook page: “Had an absolutely wonderful afternoon with great friends…Erica is such a terrific host! Anyone looking for a fun way to spend a couple hours with your girlfriends, I highly recommend hosting your own!”

Another private event is coming up this Sunday!

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Woman and the Veil Auction Ends @ 12 PM EST

Every woman needs a mystical woman in the house. This piece is painted so thin, it could almost be a watercolor piece, except some thicker areas creating the veil. The auction is ending today and currently there are no bids! So this beauty could be yours for only $24.

Read more about it here and here. Click here for the auction: http://bit.ly/16OIROU

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Photos from Cocktails & Canvases May 4

The Spring Art Auction 2013 is coming towards the end, let’s look back at some recent “Cocktails & Canvases”.

The May 4th Cocktails & Canvases went off without a hitch, accept a last minute cancellation. I’m always excited when we have a packed house but oh well – nothing we can do about that.

You know I love the drink menu right? Well, I must have been craving summer because I added mojitos to this event. And though it was a little bit extra work for me and my assistant, they were so yummy.

It was such a pleasure to have Susan, Carolyn and Emmalee paint, sing-a-along and see my art. I always do a little tour around the house once everyone’s done with their paintings. They got to see the paintings included in the Spring Art Auction 2013 before anyone else and see what I’m currently working on. It’s a lot of fun for me to talk about the pieces in such an intimate setting.

You never know what’s going to happen during these events – this time we had an impromptu measuring session as apparently both Susan, me and Emmalee go by 5’5″ when it was pretty obvious that Susan was much taller than me and Emmalee.

Ahh what a happy bunch we are! Such great budding artists!

I haven’t decided when the next C&C will take place but probably in August as my commission schedule is getting really packed. Private parties of 6 are always an option though – just send me a note and we can schedule something that works for us both.