Winter is here...

I live in Portland, OR, where the climate is mild and the winters are rainy. Right? Well, usually that is the case, but having just come through the biggest snow storm in 40 years, I have just one thing on my mind - snow, snow and more snow! I'll walk you through the winter wonderlands of more than a few DSG artists who have celebrated the snow in their work.

Winter Sparkles 4x6 original painting by Melanie of The Creators Palette.

Christmas Light original 8x10 oil painting by Brenda Thour of Luvs2Paint.


Frozen 8x10 photographic print from Jorjia.


Christmas Eve Snow #287 16x20 oil painting from Paint With Barb Oil Paintings.

Sunrise Snow 12x18 photographic print from Alison Du Bois.

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Paintings! There are so many styles all inspired by nature.

I am sure when man decided to paint on walls like the Egyptians he did not realise the number of different mediums that could be used to portray life!

Each one of us has a painting within us, much the same as a book. There really is creativity within us all - it's knowing how to release it, that is the hard part. How often do you find yourself doodling whilst on the phone, for instance? Or whilst you are waiting etc. Well, that's a form of art, isn't it?

Take a look at some of the following different styles. Each one gives us a glimpse of the artist, their personality and character. Actors bring something of themselves to their parts in much the same way as artists.

Sap Bucket Sunflowers by Yankee Girl

This is an original watercolour painting of beautiful yellow sunflowers in a blue sap bucket hanging from a fence.

Shawnee River by Mystic Silks

"Shawnee River" was inspired by a river that flows through the southern part of Ohio. It is near the old camping grounds of the Native American Shawnee Tribe. The evening the artist was there, the river area was so quiet, and yet filled with the spirits of the Shawnee Indian. The sun's setting rays slipped easily through the naked trees that fall had stripped of their summer leaves, and then touched the river's waters with their orange and golden colours.

Picture Yourself in a Boat on the River by Heronkate

"Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade skies..."

The Great Northwest by TheCreatorsPalette

This painting took inspiration from The Columbia River and a Lewis and Clark campsite.

The Lake District in UK by On a Whimsey

The Lake District in UK is a romantic place; it can be awesome, calm,turbulent, mystical,inspiring - whatever mood you wish. The weather changes at a moment's notice and has caught many a novice walker or climber unawares. Here we have one of the calm, serene moments when you can just draw your breath as your eyes gaze on the landscape.

Sunbathing by VanFleetStreetDesign

The subject of this painting was modelled after a painting that Picasso did of a model lounging on a sofa. It was decided by the artist that it was best suited for a desert scene and the sofa was turned into a rock sofa.

And, so you see that from the examples above, which have all been painted by artists belonging to the Interior Design Team, that inspiration can come from nature but the actual influence of personality and character will always shine through. Thus, making art a very personable medium that would be impossible to accurately replicate.

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A Kind of Serenity

There’s nothing but a shard of sunlight in the room, as I sit on the bed and gaze through the window at a graying sky. Her perfume’s no longer on the bureau, though a faint stain interrupts the walnut grain in its place.




The cherry tree, now blossomless, smolders alone at the edge of the marsh. A breeze hardly strong enough to put motion in the curtains sighs at the window, later crossing the lawn to move slowly among the reeds and the herons.




Was a time when silence like this never entered my mind. Lately, it’s my only solace.




An evening of rain lays down a rare sheen over twigs and nesting birds. The bed creaks when I lie down. Please--don’t let me be too alone for a while.

image credits:
1. HouseofSixCats 2. irenemachine 3. TiffanyTeske
4. Unravelling 5. Unravelling 6. MagicIsland
7. BlueFlowerPhoto 8. Unravelling 9. signetart
10. toshio 11. chingteoh 12. irenemachine

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A Conversation With Matthew Hamblen

The job of the artist is to inspire, to light the unseen, to eloquently state the unsaid, and to bring imagination to the eye.

I try my best to live by those words, but I think I lean heavily toward the imagination part most of all.

I have been painting about 10 years now. I started back in 1999 on Ebay, and have been at it ever since.

My two biggest motivations are other people, and myself.

I go a long way on the kindness people extend to me. Over the years, I have received a ton of letters from folks that have gotten something out of seeing my work, from artists that desire to learn my techniques, to folks that just want to thank me for being there and tell me they think my paintings are great!

That is a very powerful and incredible thing to experience. I can honestly say I know I've inspired others through what I do, and that means a whole lot to me.

Secondly, I motivate myself. I get a kick out of my work, and sometimes I can scarcely believe I paint some of the things that fly out of my mind and my brushes.

That is why I love being somewhat of an improvisational artist, and I would never trade that for doing the same exact thing over and over for anything. Sometimes, calculated "happy accidents" can come together into incredible pieces. I live for those moments, and those pieces. People that love my work can usually spot them, too.



I also love the freedom I have with my art. If I want to paint a green ostrich with pink dots, I just go right ahead (although I certainly prefer green landscapes with pink dots). I never put limits on myself that way, or in the way I present my work.

I tend to put some outgoing feelings into my shop here and there when I'm in the mood, with varied results. Some like it, some don't - other have told me they read what "spin" I come up with over their morning coffee, and I'm sure many out there just think I'm a nut, which is just fine with me. Guess what, youre RIGHT!

Usually it's just some new way I've though of to present myself and my work, so I'll blab it up, then I usually change my mind and shut up again for a while. Sort've like an unofficial erasable blog that I just have in my storefront and my bio.

I guess I like to stir things up on occasion, but it usually passes once I get over myself, and maybe have another cup of coffee in my belly!

I guess I just like to be silly, and not take things too seriously at times. That's another thing I just refuse to do, as my art needs to be about my free spirit more than anything, or it's just no fun, is it?

I want people to find my work moody (light or dark depending on my mood), ALWAYS spiritually uplifting, always communicative and hopefully fun - all at the same time.


Those are the attitudes that are most true to my personality. I like to be nutty one day and morose the next, and it just passes through into my paintings. I also want people to see that I care about people, the planet, our future, and a relationship with God.

Nearly every painting has strong light or sunsets/sunrises, and many have clouds. That is how I keep the Good Lord close to my heart, my viewers, and my painting.



You can see more of Matthew's work at http://matthewhamblen.etsy.com or his other site http://lollypoptree.etsy.com.

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Big and Bold

I love a big, bold painting to add a dramatic focal point to a room. Here are some wonderful examples from a few of our painters on Interior Design Team.
ElizabethGraf
JaneceMoment
Heronkate
AnikaEaster

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