21 Jan

Posted at 18:36h in 365 project, abstract, art, art journal, artist, drawing, illustration, marker, pen, pitt artist pen, sketch, sketch a day by

Happy 2015! I have lots of sketches from the end of my 2014 Sketch-A-Day series that you can see in the next few blog posts. I had gotten behind and had to play catch up before the year came to an end so there are a whole LOT of December sketches! Part 1 is twenty or so of my more figurative sketches…including a couple self portraits, a portrait of my husband and daughter and a few of our sweet French Lop rabbit, Olaf, who sadly passed away at the start of the new year. I have these drawings to remember each day of this past year, thank goodness…a year that had brought our bunny to us, and the wonderful news that we are expecting another little girl. We were able to have so many adventures here in Chicago, as well as visiting friends in Tennessee and family in Boston and Dallas. Each drawing represents a piece of this past year’s journey, and I am SO happy I did it. Plus the practice…oh, the practice! I drew accordingly to how I was feeling so some drawings are detailed and more realistic, while others are sketchy and abstract.  I had so much fun posting them to instagram daily. And some are now available at my Etsy shop. Here’s Part 1…Enjoy!

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03 Dec

Posted at 18:36h in 365 project, abstract, art, artist, artist mom, botanical, drawing, etsy artist, illustration, instagram, mary gaspar art, Modern Art, october, pancakes, pen and ink, pitt artist pen, sketch, sketch a day by

Ah, so here I am in my sketch-a-day project for 2014 recognizing my original fear…that I would get too far behind! Yet I am nothing, if not determined. I set goals and work to accomplish them…tirelessly. I WILL finish it haha!

So how far behind did I get? At this point I believe I have to draw three sketches a day in order to complete 365 by the end of the day on December 31st. Not a hugely monumental task…but sometimes feels daunting when I am finishing commissioned projects, my own paintings and holding down the house with two young kids.

Oh…and I am pregnant! Almost 18 weeks now…which I think explains my lack of energy in completing sketches for weeks. The first trimester was abysmal…every ounce of energy I had was given to completing assigned projects and making sure my children were clothed and fed. My energy and creativity have returned, though, and I am ready to sketch onward and upward. Plus, I have several exciting projects ahead! Here are a whole bunch of sketches from October and November. You will see some themes popping up, no doubt. You can follow my sketch-a-day series here on instagram. And I’ve also started listing some original drawings for sale at my Etsy shop! Enjoy and always, thanks for visiting!

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06 Oct

Posted at 17:38h in 365 project, abstract, art, art journal, artist, flowers, illustration, mary gaspar art, october, pen and ink, pitt artist pen, september, sketch, sketch a day, still life by

We are well into Autumn in Chicago now. Our finest two months are September and October…the crisp air, the golden light, the changing color of the trees. I got married in the month of October…nine years ago. The day was 75 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. My sketch a day series has followed suit with the changing of seasons…cups of coffee, sketches of boots and melancholy portraits. I’ve found it harder to draw at night too. The days are getting shorter and I find myself wanting to go to bed when the sun does. So…starting today, I decided to flip my schedule and do my sketches in the morning. I am giving you a lot of drawings today as September found me focusing on commissions and the children’s back-to-school schedule. Enjoy friends!

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Curves TennesseeBouquet Croissant BraidWoman LittleBoy Stripes FlowerCircle Boots Tree WhiteRabbit FlyingBirds

21 Aug

Posted at 23:56h in 365 project, abstract, art, drawing, illustration, journaling, mary gaspar art, summer by

Wow…while I have not posted here in a while, my sketch-a-day project has continued and perhaps will give you a little glance into our short but absolutely magical summer. It was full of roadtrips, day trips, beach and pool days, rainy movie nights, sleepovers with cousins and staying up late catching fireflies. The garden is wild and full and the house is a whirlwind of bathing suits, sand, toys and art, but in just 6 days we will be back to the routine of school. And with that my art business will be back into full swing. I give you a whole bunch of summer’s sketches…enjoy these August days friends.

FlowersinJar Girl Grace

GrapeAbstract

GreenEye

Independence

MaeveProfile

MamaDrama

NeonLotus

Nose OrangeLotus PaintbrushMasonPenlotus serenity Succulent SunburstPyramid TastyBeverage telephone Tricircle WaffleFries

15 Jul

Posted at 20:30h in Bedsidesign, creative, creative community, foliophoto, instagram, june, kids, mary gaspar art, photography, raincoast creative salon, summer, wes anderson by

I can not believe that July is half way over…the summer is racing by. I thought I’d share the pics I took in late June as part of the Wes Anderson Instagram Foliophoto project. Sandra Harris from Raincoast Creative Salon and Christie Jones from Bedsidesign regularly post these awesome challenges with daily prompts to gather a community of creatives together. The prompts are always challenging in the best way possible. I love me some Wes Anderson! His films ooze mood, color, humor and style. They are truly a feast for the eyes. I was inspired by the easy breeziness that comes with summer and my children’s thrill for adventure. My girls were awesome sports…really embracing their crazy artist mom’s ideas. And I think it shows. Another challenge will come along soon, no doubt. To follow along on instagram click on and hashtag your pictures with #foliophoto. Here you go…7 days of Wes Anderson inspired photos…

Day 1: Symmetry

Day 2: Nostalgia

Day 3: Boat

Day 4: Overhead Shot

Day 5: Family

Day 6: Saturation

Day 7: Futura Font

18 Jun

Posted at 14:34h in 365 project, abstract, art, artist, Bedsidesign, birdcage, botanical, drawing, faber castell marker, flowers, illustration, instagram, journaling, june, kids, mary gaspar art, may, maya angelou, orchids, pen and ink, pitt artist pen, raincoast creative salon, sketch, sketch a day, still life, succulents, summer, watermelon by

We are well into June and school is finally out for my children! I am trying to find creative ways to do my art this summer, while doing all the fun summery things I want to do with them. Luckily, I had wrapped up a series of commissions this past week and now I get to work on my own stuff for a bit (Hooray!)…when I can carve out the time! So far this week we’ve hit the pool, the beach, run through the sprinkler, eaten dairy queen and pancake breakfasts while in our p.j.’s (the breakfast, not the DQ;)) I LOVE summer and I find inspiration everywhere. From tending my own vegetable garden, to watching the perennials come up from last year, to planning a road trip for me and my girls to visit my bestie in Tennessee-she has a farm!

So my plan is this: to take all this summery goodness in, record moments in my art journal, take lots and lots of pictures and put paint to canvas in the spare moments. Having my sketch-a-day project keeps me drawing and documenting the every day as well. I’m thinking I may bind it in the end for my kids…like “this was our year in 2013/2014.” These days really do fly by and I want to savor them. Here are my recent sketches…end of May, into June. Oh and follow me and fellow creatives in the newest instagram foliophoto project inspired by Wes Anderson! Sandra Harris and Christie Jones have truly created a community of creatives that have become virtual friends, all while doing what we love to do-create! Read more about it here. And now the sketches…

20 May

Posted at 01:09h in 365 project, abstract, art, etsy, etsy seller, mary gaspar art, micron, Modern Art, pen and ink, sketch, sketch a day by

May has been busy busy and well, just wonderful. And my sketch a day project has definitely taken a hit as far as my nightly postings go on instagram (you can follow me at @marygasparart) 😉 So there have been a couple nights of extreme catch up. And these are usually on days where I am working on finishing up paintings and packing pieces to meet shipping deadlines. These days are jam packed with all things ART-the kind of days I always dreamed would happen! So you may notice a similar color scheme or subject matter repeated here and there. I’ve decided I’m just not gonna get too precious with it…rules and such. Just gonna let what happens…happen. My sketch a day this May…

 

 

 

19 May

Posted at 21:46h in abstract, acrylic, acrylic painting, art, artist, etsy, etsy seller, interior design, mary gaspar art, marygaspar painting, Modern Art, new painting, painting by

Here are two recent commissions I finished this past week…one for a client in New York City and the other, an interior designer in Los Angeles. Both pieces are an ode to summer…to the beach, the warm wind, lush landscapes and the promise that longer days are here to stay…for at least a while;)

My East Coast commission…the beautiful and iconic Sankaty Headlight in Nantucket. “Sankaty Head Light”, 18 x 24, acrylic on canvas

The West Coast commission, “Sea and Sky”, 36 x 36, acrylic on canvas