While You Were Napping

March 11, 2019 Emily Schultz

David Dear in pencil and paint. I love painting my baby.

How To Live Artistically

January 29, 2019 Emily Schultz

Take time

One needs time. Long stretches of time that almost reach boredom. Let yourself have this time, without media distractions. Time for drinking green tea and eating shortbread and staring at the neighbors crocuses.

2. Daydream/ Experience Fully

Immerse yourself in the experience. Let all your senses participate in the moment. Let the crocuses fill their bed and overflow….drink in their golden centers…let the cool light reflecting from the purple petals delight you. Let them grow. It is this elevated way of seeing that gives you something to share. What you see most deeply is the thing to create from.

3. Create

Take from your experience and make it your own. Get the model. Prep the canvas. Arrange things the way they were in your daydream. Make the daydream appear in the realm of reality as alike the dream as you possibly can (This is why you need to spend time perfecting the dream to begin with. The clearer the idea the easier to execute). Do the work- there are cycles of life and this is the time to focus and bring to life.

“…All things await the sensitive and imaginative mind that may be aroused to pleasurable emotion at sight of them. This is beauty. The art student that should be, and is so rare, is the one whose life is spent in the love and culture of his personal sensations, the cherishing of his emotions, never undervaluing them, the pleasure of exclaiming them to others, and an eager search for their clearest expression.” - Robert Henri

David Jackson

April 2, 2018 Emily Schultz

Here he is, our adorable baby boy! And this is how we spend our time these days- admiring him.

"Listen to the Color"

January 18, 2018 Emily Schultz

A preview of my show at Art on the Boulevard....(Hover over the image to see title and description.)

"Roses and Hydrangeas" 8x16.5 $480

Here are the beginnings of my new garden. 'Abraham Darby' had a good first year; the white hydrangea gave me a great deal of pleasure, I'm hoping for great things from it next year.

"Autumn Garden" 16x16 $650

"In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfies
See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
the grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all,
Flowers in the summer
Fires in the fall! "
- Robert Louis Stevenson, Autumn Fires

"Late Summer Picnic" 24x24 $1100

I really wanted to paint a watermelon. It was just as fun as it promised. I also learned of the pleasure of painting nasturtiums...

"Abraham Darby" 7x7 $250

Sometimes it's the simplest arrangements that inspire.

"September Picnic" 10x12 $425

I like rich color and pattern...here again is the Polish cup and the brie box... and my own tomatoes grown up the patio this year!

"Brie with Pansies" 7.5x12 $350

I love the way one can sense the creaminess of the brie inside it's chalky shell! This was a fun little piece to do.

"Time Out" 12x24 $850

An Almost Mermaid on the rocks. There is something dreamy and wistful in a mermaid...and a girl traveling alone.

"Joyful Tangle" 30x40 $2750

The photo just doesn't do the brightness of this painting justice! I did a little version of this painting as a Christmas gift for Mum of her oldest four grandchildren. I liked it so much that I wanted to do it larger.

"“Laughter is wine for the soul - laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness - the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.”
― Seán O'Casey

"Autumn Market" 15x30 $1100

I wish you could see this painting framed- it is set off so beautifully! Rye bread, brie, pears- an Autumn feast!

"Feathered Nest" 6x8 $160

This cozy little swallow nest was a gift from a friend- found in her mailbox!

"The Token" 22x34 $1700

Do you know when God gives you a gift that means so much to you and bears his love to you in a special way? One day it was red rose.

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

"Bouquet at Breakfast" 9.5x14 $500

There is something about this painting that I just really love. It's simplicity? It's color vibrations? Something about it is strong to me, and I've enjoyed having it on my wall!

"Morning Glory and Peaches" 12.5x18 $650

The colors of this painting- set off as they are by it's beautiful dark wood frame with a dark gold lip- are really striking in their simple color contrast.

"Summer Bouquet" 11.5x17 $650

Cameron and I gathered the elements for this still life one warm Sunday afternoon...a trip to Buena Vista Flower Farm (You really should go check it out if you live in the area) and a little farm stand for the peaches. Very enriching.

"Cattails" 14x20 $850

The life that happens in ditches can be so fascinating...pollywogs and frogs, and these cattails catching the summer backlight. One of the fun things about moving is the joy of discovering new places to love like this one.

"Eu de Parfum" 8x12 $400

Ah the richness of roses! Their deep centers opening to reveal their heady fragrance!

"Tulip Magnolia" 19.5x30 $1600

My favorite part of this painting is the little bit of red metal on the watering can! Subtle and descriptive.

"Artistic Endeavors" 16x16 $650

An old palette, brushes, a cup of tea and Robert Henri's classic "The Art Spirit"- now don't you feel inspired?! "Find out what you really like if you can. Find out what is really important to you. Then sing your song. You will have something to sing about and your whole heart will be in the singing" -Henri

"Listen to the Color" 18x24 $1100

This piece is both loud and quiet. The Woodburn, Oregon Tulip fields are the backdrop for my thoughtful model.

"Foxgloves" 14x14 $550

The year there came up- apparently of their own accord (nobody remembered planting them, although they were suspiciously in rows)- this fabulous bed of foxgloves! Flowers can hardly get prettier.

"Sunflowers and Apples" 16x20 $850

My friend and I picked up these sunflowers and the Polish pottery mug at Pike's Place Market when we visited Seattle...and brought them home to paint. This painting was featured in my Southwest Magazine's "Artist to Watch" article.

"String and Streamers" 6x8 $160

What is cuter than a very small child trying to manage a kite? :) I loved the bright backlight in this cheerful little scene.

"Creel Basket with Berries" 16x20 $850

Mum's Beauty Berry bush had an outstanding show of berries- their color is so striking.

"Tut Tut Tut, It Looks Like Rain" 13x20 $750

These little galoshes were a thoughtful gift from a family friend- turns out they were my Cameron's when was little! (His nickname was Pooh, so the tile seemed appropriate.) A Heron seemed like a fitting bird for a wet day. Herons flying with their toes pointed ballerina-ish behind them always give me pleasure.

"Brick Silo" 9x7 $350

This place with it's timeless feel caught my eye one evening when I was frustrating my husband trying to find a good place to paint. It turned out to be a lovely evening- Cameron reading aloud to me from his book as I tried to catch the last light. I really liked the way it came out. It's framed in a dark thin moulding with a dark gold lip.

The Plein Air collection.... (Featuring the handcrafted gold leaf frames of Mayen~Olsen.)

"Canal 43" 6x8 $350

"Punch Bowl Point" 6x8 $350

"Clouds" 6x8 $350

"Big Sur Surf" 6x8 $350

"China Cove" 6x8 $350

"From Priest Point" 6x8 $350

"Garrapata" 6x8 $350

"Golden Gate Sunset" 6x8 $350

"Trees with a Secret" 6x8 $350

Our Magnolia Tree

May 19, 2017 Emily Schultz

This lovely magnolia tree is another new addition to my life. I like the statuesque presence it brings to our back yard. It was stunning in full bloom with the bluebells encircling it. I am looking forward to seeing how the clematis- now twining up one of it's trunks- will look when it is grown.

This Years' Eggs

April 21, 2017 Emily Schultz

"I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.". The inspiration for these came from "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady"- a watercolor journal with exquisite illustrations. These eggs, however, are mostly done with sharpies, and they are very fun to do.

(Goose eggs, compliments of Nessly Family Farm.)

"Daily Graces"

March 24, 2017 Emily Schultz

Tails 6x8" $160

This was one of those paintings that practically paint themselves. The pink tummies of the cows next to the green, with the cool light- I am really fond of this painting.

The Cow Creamer 7.5x10" $360

This graceful little cow creamer caught my eye and seemed like a nice still life version of painting cows. It's framed in a dark wood frame with gold laurel embossed lip- very pretty.

Beside The Lake 8x8" $350

The color of the water is one of my favorite parts of this painting...but I also like the subject matter of my adorable little nephew with his shiny little foot, and the unusual square format. This painting looks fabulous in it's rustic dark wood frame with gold lip. I will be a little sorry to have it leave my hearth.

Tidy Little Ship 6x8" $160

Bright, sunny childhood with the ducks and toy boat- I love the mood in this tiny painting.

Welcoming Spring 22x40" $1950

Sometimes a dream comes and lingers and begs to be acted on in spite of all it's encumbering inconveniences. This was one of those satisfying times when the real painting came out very like the picture in my mind. The mustard and forsythia were found, my cousin's little girl made a very sweet Pan-like child, and everything came together. I love the way this piece looks with a bouquet of daffodils before it- the flowers seem to spill into life out of the painting.

Baking Day 18x22- Sold!

The bright, cheerful colors were what I was going for in this piece. The yellow bowl was found as I went through one of my cupboards- it belonged to Cameron's grandmother, as did the dishtowel. The nectarines, the fun little bowls, and my favorite part- the loaf of bread- the whole painting really began to sing when I decided to change the background to green.

Sparkling Day 9x7.5" $350

The sparkle in this piece reminds me of the joy of running in and along the edge of the surf on a spectacular day at the Pacific Ocean. The colors remind me of Sorolla- if I do say so myself :)

Back Pasture 11.25x8.5 $400

Evenings are incredibly beautiful at Cameron's parent's farm. The shadows stretching across the farmland as the light richens before it fades- just lovely.

By the River 12x7.5" $380

Th McKenzie is a beautiful river. Here it is swollen in the spring with my beautiful model before it. The edges, cool light and impasto passages in the paint make this an interesting painting to me.

Red Bucket 7.5x7.5" $250

Color and energy in a tiny painting!

Spring Party 9x14"$400

A carefree Spring party begun in advance by the flowers on the table. I am very fond of white tulips. They even looked good on my counter after they had finished living. In my opinion. Tulips begin to do such interesting things when they are put in a vase.

The Architect 9x14" $400

This cheery, breezy painting got it's inspiration from a perfect day on the beach with a beautiful girl who agreed to model.

Roses and Violets and Bok Choy 9x14" $400

Roses and baby BokChoy- two of my favorite things to paint. I don't know why BokChoy is so fun, but it is an picturesque little vegetable! Add romance to your kitchen or an earthy element to your bedroom with this painting. This dimension- 9x14"- is one I've really been enjoying, and I love the way it looks in it's dark wood frame with gold embossed lip.

Hymn of the Bullfrogs 16x8.25 $450

I have enjoyed this painting! A beautiful piece to live with. I wrote about this painting last year... you can read my post about it by scrolling down my blog.

"All This Joy" 29.5x39.5" $2500

In my new house we have a picture window with a view of the neighbor's flower bed. As I sat there looking out at the rain over breakfast or lunch, the crocuses across the street delighted me. I began to imagine the scene as a painting...and pretty soon I had to do it.

Here is a preview of my paintings for the show "Daily Graces" at Art On The Boulevard. The show begins April 7th with an Opening Reception from 5-9pm. I hope you enjoy!

And so they were married...

January 16, 2017 Emily Schultz

I realized just how long it has been since the last post! and so much has happened in my world! The summer was spent being engaged and planning a wedding and being part of the wedding of one of my best friends. On October 8th I married the handsome Cameron McNeil and moved (my studio and I) to his home. I am enjoying being married to this wonderful man, and on the side getting ready for a couple shows this Spring- at Haven in Springfield, OR in February, and Art On The Boulevard in Vancouver, WA in April and May.

Solo Show at the Lawrence Gallery

June 21, 2016 Emily Schultz

A roomful of rich roses, a daydream that turned real. I loved the way the Lawrence Gallery set up my room and filled it with paintings! You can visit the show through the end of June.

Always wanted to own an original? this is your chance!

June 20, 2016 Emily Schultz

This is my annual painting give-away, and it's easy to enter! just sign up for my email newsletter here! This is a perfect little painting to add a summery feel to your decor this season. Of course, if you don't happen to win (even though your chances are very good), you can always buy your own cow painting! Visit Haven for a great selection of the most picturesque cows.

In Praise of Clematis

April 23, 2016 Emily Schultz

I have really enjoyed these roses! Their warm pink centers and cream and green outside petals have been delightful to paint. Here they are paired with the first of my clematis to bloom. I love the rich, cottage-like look of roses and clematis together. I have been adding more clematis vines to my rose garden, and am really looking forward to seeing last fall's new addition blossom this spring. I think it was supposed to be pink. (I found it at one of the Little Red Farm's amazing year end sales. I wish I had bought more.) Clematis has surprised me as a good cut flower. There are some in a vase beside me right now- graceful in an Art Nouveau sort of way. So anyway, this is the beginning of this year's rose and clematis paintings!

Keeping the Mood

March 21, 2016 Emily Schultz

I want this painting to be a joyful welcome to spring- imaginative, and with an almost enchanted feel, like an early spring evening when the sun is setting and the robins are singing their evensong. I listened to "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Anderson, and "Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie which helped to keep the imaginative and childlike feeling with me. (I was impressed with "Peter Pan". The author has such a good way of putting things and describing human nature, and has in Peter the characteristics of a charming yet selfish toddler.) It can be difficult to find music or books with the right mood to enhance my work. "The Secret Garden" is one that I come back to again and again; and for music, the melodic and romantic Josh Groban nearly always works! "If" is a recently discovered song that I love the beautiful and wistful feel of. I have a long attention span for a new song and can listen to it over and over for half an hour- which is helpful if it has just the right emotion.

Hymn of the Bullfogs

March 17, 2016 Emily Schultz

This painting is currently hung over my bedside table, so I have been looking at it a lot. I decided to crop it, as shown, while I lay pondering how it could be improved. The original study was done on location at the Walterville pond one morning two years ago. Mum suggested we go out painting before her chemo session. This is my selfless mother for you, as she doesn't paint, but keeps me company and reads to me. It was early. There were some really deep frog noises, and after a while we went looking for them...and they were big! I have only seen a frog like this once since at the pond. they had beautiful yellow throats that they would puff out when they sang. Bird cages are rather sad for animals, so I wouldn't do this, but- just imagine a large frog with a yellow throat giving ambiance to your sunroom from it's frog cage. Maybe it is better to keep the whole experience wild and fresh outside in the early morning.

Cows

February 20, 2016 Emily Schultz

This week's cow paintings are set in the lush landscape of the view from the McNeill farm. Because I live in trees, I appreciate a long view like this one, where the atmosphere changes and softens the landscape as it recedes. These little paintings are bound for my show at Haven, March 11th.

Thoughts on Art Collecting

January 8, 2016 Emily Schultz

While visiting a gallery in Cambria, CA recently, I saw a painting I really liked: it was a depiction of twelve marbles- much larger than life size...beautiful edges and a painterly quality... fresh and cheerful and modern. I have been imagining what a nice statement piece that would be in an office or home ever since.

My art collection is mostly the gifts of artist friends. I have a gorgeous plein air piece by Nathan Drushinin of the view from Mt. Erie in Anacortes- a misty view of land and water. I first saw the canvas tacked on the wall of his romantically Dickens-y studio. One of those pieces you feel. I told him how much I liked it and he gave it to me! Another artist friend, Brent Burkett gave me a lovely small painting done in oil and pencil of a windswept landscape in colors that look like spring.

The Montana Gallery has a great selection of studies by fabulous young artists that would be a great way to start an art collection. I like to go to their page and pick which painting I want most. I love Josh Clare's work...his clouds, his drawings... If I never own a Daniel Keys painting, at least I want to see one in person.

Art is a great way to set the mood of a room, to express who you are, or remind yourself of who you want to be. I've always wondered what difference it would make in a person's life having a truly marvelous painting they lived with day in and day out...would it set the tone for making other more beautiful choices? Could you live with an inspiring painting and still be hard-hearted? Probably. But I like to think that would be a subtle influence for good, quietly shaping the the thoughts and actions of the people who come in contact with it, elevating the moral culture. I like to think so.

Merit Award

December 14, 2015 Emily Schultz

I'm so happy that this recent commissioned piece won tenth merit award in the Portrait Society of America's Members Only competition! I loved the way it came together, and I'm glad they did too!

Studio Distractions...

November 12, 2015 Emily Schultz

Isn't he cute?! Is there a more compelling distraction than an adorable puppy...who is chewing on the rug or needs to out (two seconds ago) or is playing a wild romping game with Mesika Alice or is just looking kissable?

Another disruption- we are having a wall built around the laundry room in the studio! It's going to be so nice and clean looking when it is finished...but in the meanwhile, I have tried to paint in the dining room... and fought with the light...

The puppy has now gone to his forever home, and the studio will soon be put to rights I hope, and next time I will write about a painting!

From the Hedgerow

November 9, 2015 Emily Schultz

These brilliant rose hips caught my eye along the road to Dallas, Oregon, and my friend and I came back for them one day between rain showers. I never knew how good rose hips could smell! The spirit of the rose lives on in them.

Win A Painting!

October 14, 2015 Emily Schultz

Sign up for my newsletter (under the "Newsletter" heading) and you will be entered to win this lovely little painting! Drawing will take place October 24th, 2015.

Childhood Amusements

September 8, 2015 Emily Schultz

The scent of Calendulas takes me back to when I was little and we had them growing at the edge of the back deck. They usually had little bugs crawling in them...and if we showed a bug to my baby sister she would stomp her little fat legs up and down in what we called her "bug dance". Now that she has a gorgeous garden, I picked these from there. I would also like to give credit to my nephew, affectionately known as Bobbins, for the awesome drawing of tanks and explosions that I included.