Latest Pet Portrait

"Emma" 12" x 12" Oil on Canvas: Commissioned Portrait

What dog lover could say "no" to that face? Cookies please? The royal purple around the edging is her collar color.

Thanks for visiting Art by Mary Hughes

Lizard Love

8" x 8" Oil on Canvas: Commission

Just finished the two lizard paintings. While focusing on them I've at the same time been watching and feeding a swan family. I'll be posting photos and the story on my Michigan blog. I've decided to try and keep this blog all about art, so I've added two blogs to my list. One is on living in Michigan and the other one is written by my dog when I'm not looking. He's a real chatty Cathy.

I'm working on a new still life on an artists' board. I'm liking the process so far. They say the colors are brighter on a panel and it is nice and smooth. Hope to have it finished very soon.

Thanks for visiting Art by Mary Hughes

Brownie Cheesecake!! For Real This Time!!

8" x 8" Oil on Canvas: Available Click Here

I applaud all the artists out there that can paint desserts and not eat them. I'm not one of them. I'm not proud of that fact nor am I apologetic. At this point in my life I ask "what am I waiting for?" The hope that cream cheese in heaven won't be fattening? Please!!

So I went double good. Brownie Cheesecake. Yeppers!! Brownie crust that fills in almost halfway into the middle then a nice cheesecake filling. Added chocolate swirled on top. All that's missing is .... there is nothing missing.

It was tasty.

I immortalized it on it's Blue Willow plate. A blue milk glass with the plate as reflection fills out the corner.

The ugly stage

I'm working on a lizard project for a nice friend of mine. The lizards are rather shy and interestingly so is the painting. What I mean by that is I'm having a small challenge getting the painting to reveal itself to me. They are sitting in their ugly stage at the moment drying and giving me some time to think about the next move. They look a bit like hand puppets at the moment. Though it might not look like it, I do have a direction.

I find some comfort I guess in a first layer, or second layer that isn't so refined. It's what I call the ugly stage. I lay down the deepest or near deepest color I think is underneath all the highlighted detail, be it feathers or fur, or scales. Sometimes it takes 4- 5 sessions before I get to the top layer of highlights and dazzle. Sometimes it takes just a few. When I get to the last passes it's surpising how quickly it all comes together. I think it's because painting the ugly layer gives me a sort of confidence. It's all up from there? I can't quite explain it but I find comfort in picking up a dry "ugly layer" and building beauty on top.

Dogs and Newborns

Spring has had such a difficult time getting a toe hold here that to realize summer is just weeks away is almost a shock, but our 80 something day today helped bring that idea home!

I've had the pleasure over the past few weeks and months to paint some sweet puppy faces. These are a couple of them.

While out on a stroll around the grounds this evening with my own puppy I spied a Mourning Dove high in our pine tree deep in the shadows. I thought she might have a nest there so I went to get my camera thinking she'd be there when I got back. Her sillouette was so beautiful with the sun slanting behind her. When I returned she had taken off but I found this little egg shell low in the branches and decided it would make an interesing photo.

As I walked along peering into other dense fir trees I spotted a robin sitting with her back to me low in a dense evergreen. She spotted me at the same time and flew off leaving a babe behind. So I took a photo with a zoom and quickly left so mom would return fast. This baby doesn't have much to keep him warm just yet.

As I came up on my front porch, mommy was in a tree nearby letting it be known she was not a happy camper. So I took a photo of her too peering behind the lilacs. I went inside and things got quiet right away and all is well. Last winter I found many abandoned nests in these dense bushes I'd not noticed in the summer. So many little eyes peering out at us as we go out into the yard.

Keeping Secrets

I'd LOVE to be able to unveil all the work I've been doing but they're all Birthday presents for customers! So, I shall wait.

I've been watching many of the birds that have come back to our area to play and start families. We've had an Oriole come to the hummingbird feeder at the window on a regular basis. He seems confused as to how to get into it and tries to sip from the tiny flower shaped feeder. I think he actually gets some. He's magnificent to see close up at our window, and I hope to get a feeder for him soon, so he'll be taken care of at our house.

We've also had several families of Geese. It's interesting to watch how the babies relate to each other and their parents. On one occasion all the little ones swam to the shore and hopped out of the water. They were not being chased or influenced by the parents seemingly. They parents were just sitting in the water, but they must have given them direction somehow. The little ones mimic the parents too by bathing when the parents bath. They're so cute splashing around in the water. As the little ones all decided to head back into the water one shy guy seemed to be having trouble deciding to get back in. He stood on the shore, dipping his head in to take a drink but held his position as his brothers and sisters started to swim off. They hadn't gotten two feet away when they all turned around and swam back to him, facing him in a half circle. They seemed to be encouraging him to come along and finally he did. How did they relate that message? Body language? Or do geese and goslings have a language of goose voice?

Be sure and check out the sky from the vantage point of others around the world by clicking on the emblem below! Happy SkyWatch Friday!!

Beautiful Night and Day

Last nights sunset and today's spectacular light and clouds are my offering this week for skywatch friday.

Be sure and check out the sky from the vantage point of others around the world by clicking on the emblem below! Happy SkyWatch Friday!!

New Print: Sun Conure

Sun Conure ACEO print, available on Etsy. Just click on the photo to take you there!

Cheesecake and Dogs

My latest ACEO offering on Etsy. Just click on the picture to go to the sale!

Did you REALLY think this would be about cheesecake and dogs?? (those are two paintings I'm working on. One of a dog, and one of some cheesecake. Coming soon!)

Chasing Chickens

I'll admit it right off the bat, I'm weird! When I see turkeys, chickens, baby geese, or a fox cross the road I become giddy and must take pictures!! All those wonderful creatures crossed my path the past few days and I found them fascinating! Not to mention all the horses, Shetland ponies and newborn cows. The countryside is teeming with beautiful wildlife right now.

These missies were crossing the road yesterday in front of us. Why did the chicken cross the road? They don't tell.

Our first newborn geese of the season on the lake. Six tiny ones bobbing in the very rocky waves today. The wind was fierce but mom and dad had them swimming and watched over them very carefully.

My husband and I were working in our garage today and a bluebird flew in, said hello and flew back out, then we were joined by a hummingbird. It's Disneyland in Michigan this week!

Be sure and stop by my Etsy store and see my latest ACEO print, Dusky Conure.

Thursday is...

The day before Friday!! Now you know.

Three new items available!

This great apple notecard. It's from my original "Granny Smith" series. This one was a small oil painting of three apples on a tea towel. It would make a neat Mother's Day card. Click on the photo and you can customize this card and make it your own special message.







Also two new ACEO's on Etsy! Click on the image and it will take you to my sale page.

Happy Thursday!

ACEO Canary Print

I'm now offering some of my bird paintings in aceo print format for a limited time. Available on Etsy starting today. I will be listing these each day until they're all up. Collect them all!! Twice.

Everyone Knows It's Windy

Windy Windy and Windy. Not your usual stuff either. Birds are having trouble hanging onto the feeder and the railings today. They are not deterred though and come back quickly to grab that lunch!



This 16" x 20" "Party Girl" painting is now available on Etsy.

Bluebird Swooping Day

Yes, it's Bluebird Swooping Day here in Michigan. Well at least over my house it is. For the past 4-5 hours dozens and dozens of bluebirds have been buzzing my house. We've been watching from inside for quite awhile and can see them from all windows flying around, up, down... I went outdoors and they buzzed me too, close enough for me to see their bright blue backs and red breasts. They have no fear and seem to be having a good time. Other birds have been caught up in the flight just to get to our feeder. I haven't been able to find any information online as to why this behavior, but it's a very interesting and fun experience to see them.

My neighbor has been feeding bluebirds for years so I would have expected them to be buzzing her house. It's several lots over.

As I write this these pretty happy birds are flittering by my window. Heavy rain is on the radar getting ready to move in, so this multiple hour show will be coming to an end soon. Maybe they're the bluebirds of happiness buzzing me.

If you double click on the photos you get a better look.

Beautiful Sky Friday

Doesn't it look like a pig flying on the left? I have to think hard about what is supposed to happen when pigs fly!!

Be sure and check out the sky from the vantage point of others around the world by clicking on the emblem below! Happy SkyWatch Friday!!

Party Girl

"Party Girl" 16" x 20" Oil on Canvas.

Every so often I get the urge to do something a little whimsicle and it would seem this was one of those times. It was a lot of fun to paint. The most difficult and time consuming part of this painting would be the bubbles.

I have not yet decided in what venue to offer it and since it's still freshly painted and about a week from drying I have a little time to think about it.

Hope everyone is having a fab Friday!!