Sweet Stuff

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Did you know Dec. 15 is National Cupcake Day?



I've been so busy getting commisssions done for that other holiday I almost missed it!

Its been a cupcake week of sorts around here - on Tuesday I got a visit from a young man who works at the most delicious cupcake shop in RI - Sweet Indulgence. 

 Last month when I went on my 'marathon/keep calm and paint a cupcake' painting spree and just couldn't paint another grocery store cupcake, I found this shop.  This sweet, pink, dripping in confections shop.

 I got there just before they closed and bought a few to paint.  So happy about my find I almost blogged about the shop that very night - and made a note to do so in the future.  (side note: I searched the state for good cupcakes that day and was so dissapointed with everything until Sweet Indulgence.)

So this young man Joshua - whose mom I met at the RISD sale -came to buy one of my cupcake paintings to give to Kerri Cupcake - his boss at the shop.

 - Sweet right?  It gets better.

He brought me a box of cupcakes.  SO sweet. ( Mom, you did well) - and he is talented too,baking some of his own  - check out some of his own creations on his facebook page HERE. 

And don't miss the Sweet Indulgence blog - gorgeous photos and they are in the midst of a 12 days of giveaways. 

And stop by the shop too, I'm planning on picking up some treats this week. 

Happy Cupcake Day!

past the 50 mark with the portrait project - Yay!  and now heading up the wall

see more HERE

Chocolate Fix x3 - cupcake painting, Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on gallery wrapped canvas - ready to hang.

Hello Cupcake - daily painting, debbie miller, pink

6x6 " oil on canvas, ready to hang!

Thank you, thank you everyone who stopped by the studio saturday.
 It means so much to me that you came by. 

The Beach - beach scene, daily painting,Debbie Miller

 12x24" oil on canvas.
below is a closeup of last weeks portrait of singer Tish Adams - listen to her HERE and see the rest of the portrait HERE

Vacation Santa -debbie miller,daily painting,beach scene

6x6 oil on panel

I actually saw geraniums in bloom in someones window boxes yesterday.  It is December in N.E. right?

Just Chillin' - daily painting, debbie miller,beach scene,blue

6x6" oil on panel

HOTcakes!!





The cupcakes are Hot cakes down in Miami!!
 Many thanks to Beth Urdang Gallery for bringing them along to The Aqua Show during Art Basel!!! 
yay!

Holiday Open Studio

THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all who came out to the RISD sale today!!  now on to the next event - if you are in the area I hope you'll stop by

RISD Holiday sale!

Packing up the van and heading to the RISD Holiday sale!!! 

Santa - daily painting, beach scene,debbie miller

6x6" oil on panel

I can't stop. 

arist to watch - Rick Shiers



by Rick Shiers

New to the blogging scene but by No means a newbie painter!
Check out the work of a friend of mine from my RISD days: Rick Shiers.

A talented illustrator by trade he paints on the side and has posted them HERE

I especially love this still life - the monocromatic palette and the shiny objects  - just beautiful.
 It would look great in either a traditional or modern home.



Santa Plein air painting, debbie miller, daily painting

5x7" oil
Did you know Santa paints?  He does, he says it relaxes him and he especially loves plein air painting at the beach.



Pink Hoodie 1 - beach scene, debbie miller

6x6" oil on panel
Putting on a hoodie after a long day of swimming at the beach = simple pleasure in life. 

Don't forget: RISD sale  - more little beach scenes like this, larger works and some cards and prints too

Beach Santa 1 - daily painting, Debbie Miller

 6x6" Oil on panel -  With Turkey Day behind us - even the leftovers are gone - it's full steam ahead.
         For sure Santa is in the weeds and dreaming about his upcoming beach vacation.

I'm getting ready for the RISD Holiday Sale THIS sat. at the RI Convention Center and also My Holiday Open Studio on Dec. 10.  busy busy busy.... but look who has popped up to lend a hand....

A Line in the sand, Debbie Miller, children playing at the beach

6x6" oil
$100

Sun Seeker Santa - daily painting, debbie miller

6x6" oil on panel

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!!

Sunshine Shoulders, Debbie Miller, children playing at the beach, painting



6x6" oil on panel

This week, since its so busy - for me and you - I've decided to post some of my little paintings that Ive posted before but are still kicking around the studio - but they are perfect little gifts!! Totally dry and ready to be shipped asap.

free shipping too PLUS I can gift wrap AND Ive got some small easels perfect for propping the painting on for display.



artist spotlight - Mark Taber

A really talented pianist,artist and all around interesting fellow -Mark Taber - watch THIS

I've had the honor of painting him a few times - HERE, HERE.  Not only is he a great model but we always get treated to a little piano during painting breaks.

After watching this, I would love to do a big portrait of him in front of one of his vehicles. ....in fact I would like to do a whole series of real big portraits of artists with their 'stuff'  .....

Portrait study - debbie miller



6x6" oil on panel

Painting or drawing the figure from life - there is nothing like it. 
This was a quick 20 min. pose. 

(now that I sit here looking at it, reminds me of a really skinny Santa....eat Papa eat!)

Sweet. debbie miller,daily painting,cupcakes

Sweet.

6x6" oil.
Twenty cupcake paintings packed up and shipped to Boston.  Sweet.

Art comes to life

Last week I went to Plimoth Plantation  walked into one of the houses and saw her.

and I saw this

 and was instantly struck by how much the whole scene reminded me of this:

Vermeer's the Milkmaid

I may have even gasped outloud "It's Vermeer". 

Sewing Project OR How to make Grammy happy

So today , I used THIS

 to make THIS -  a cover for my fancy printer.
 Now I know this is not a big deal to many of you - but for me it is a momentous occasion!  It just may be the first thing I've sewn since the pillow I made in 7th grade home ec class.  So...yeah it's been a while.

 I found this quilted fabric at a consignment store for next to nothing.  MY green AND it has swirly flowers and batting on the back.

 In other words - THE perfect fabric.

 A few years ago, I would have promptly brought it over to my Grandmothers house and her trusty old singer sewing machine and she would have quickly sewn it while I had a cup of tea.  Followed by a cookie and a "wish you girls would sew" comment thrown in for good meassure.

 Gram sewed.  She made all my curtains, pillows,comforters - you name it. She sewed it.  - For my all of us - Mom, sister, brother, aunt, her great grandkids etc.
It was her thing. 

Well she is almost 94 now and basically told us It's high time we learned to sew for ourselves! 
 
So Gram - this is for you - sit back and enjoy the roses!!   You've earned it.



 

Beach Bug - daily painting,Debbie Miller, vintage blue bug

6x6" oil on cradled panel

Speaking of vintage....

Aistream studio - do you have one?

I'm a little obsessed with vintage airstreams....not as a camping option (although I do see the charm).

What I really really want to do is park one in my yard and convert it into a studio/living space.
I dream about it.  Seriously.

This one is cool - modern airstream studio - although not cozy, bohemian enough. 

This one is closer to what I imagine:

THIS is just ridiculously AWESOME and more what I'm dreaming about.  Read more HERE

Couldn't you picture me in there blogging away with my little dog curled up on the couch?  I can.

 I might even put a "no boys allowed" sign on the door.  - teenage boys not allowed -  besides the kitchen is IN the house. 

anyone got one they would like to donate to my cause??

Portrait of Julie - portrait painting,Debbie Miller



10x10 oil on panel. 
After painitng for almost 2 days straight, it was nice to take a break from the cupcakes and get back to my favorite pastime - painting heads :) 
Still on a painitng roll though I did 2 of this model.  They are both posted over on the "About Face" blog.
HERE

Happy Fall

 Seriously, I'm completely in love with the instagram app on my iphone.  The square format and the different filters, it just makes me so happy.  I want to spend the day photo styling around my house :)

 I even used it yesterday in my kindergarten art class.  Cool art - perfect for instagram fun.

Ta DA! Cupcake Paintings, Debbie Miller

Cupcakes!!!

18 total little cupcake paintings over the past 2 days.  Seriously it was a marathon.   These 16 are all on canvas.  There were 2 kicking around the studio, so they got added in. 
  There are 4 more that I did on panels. 

These are going to the Beth Urdang Gallery in Boston and Wellesley Mass. 

Vicinity - RI RISD alumni show

the first ever RI RISD alumni show.  yay! 
  Surprised by so many entries this year, they had to jury it - Happy to have one of my paintings accepted into the show!
@  Keeseh Studio, 42 Rice St. Prov. RI

Cupcake (A), pink, cupcake painting,Debbie Miller

 6x6" oil on canvas. 
cupcakes, cupcakes,cupcakes and more cupcakes.
 Getting a big batch of cupcakes ready to go up to Boston. 
First, I spent Saturday tracking down some interesting models :).  Just wasn't in the mood to paint the grocery store cupcakes, for this amount of paintings I needed to switch things up and get some fresh
props.

 after that massive task - (eh hem, East Bay - we could really use a gourmet cupcake shop!)
I primed 16 small canvases and a bunch of panels.  THEN, I jammed.  Knocked out a whole bunch!!
  Talk about a Sugar Rush!!!
Back at it tomorrow.  Stay tuned, I'll share a few of them and let you know where they are going too.

It's all about the cupcakes, cupcake paintings,debbie miller

  For the next few days, it really is.  No Joke. 
I've got a bagillion to paint.    You know that pre-holiday cookie baking frenzie everyone seems to do at least once in their life? - usually before you turn 40 and you realize that you really DON'T have to make 12 kinds of cookies.  Yeh,THAT is what it will be like around the ol' studio for the next few days.
 It's cool.  No worries.  I got this. 

Do you doodle?

Do you doodle?

I do.  It helps me think and concentrate when I'm listening.

Today, catching up on some podcasts, I filled up a few pages of an old encyclopedia that is hanging around my studio.

Pets on Furniture

I spend loads of time reading blogs - mostly art and design blogs. A favorite read is often the weekly "Pets on Furniture" posts on Desire to Inspire and yay!  this week Bax made the cut :)

check it out HERE

Passion, daily painting, cupcakes,debbie miller

 6x6" oil on canvas. 
I have to admit the last thing I feel like looking at after last nights candy fest (and this morning too, I confess) is more sugar!!!
BUT the cupcake painting must go on...  Keep Calm and Carry On.
 - By now, you all know the saying and if you are a blogger who fequents the design blogs, you probably have the poster in your house some where!   I've got a yellow one in my kitchen.  But I'm a little  tempted to get this one from Target for my studio:

 but since I'm really trying to lose the baby weight (yes my baby is 13- so what?) I will have to switch it up like this: