The Good Life of an Artist
art BLOG
I'm Merrill Weber, and this is where I share my life as an artist – the good, the challenging, and the colorful! Come explore "The Good Life of an Artist" with me.
PAINTING A SERIES, RED NOOK IN PARIS ROOM INTERIOR OIL PAINTING
Eighteenth-century English painter, Joshua Reynolds, said, “A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts.” Instantly, you know this room in the Paris home of James Cook is hung with thoughts, and beautiful pictures.
HAPPY NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY and BEST CROISSANTS IN PARIS!
Happy National Croissant Day in the US! My mind is in Paris where no breakfast would be complete without a croissant. I prefer my croissant au beurre (butter, no margarine) with a café Américain, while sitting at a café watching the energy of Paris pass by.
ANGELINA'S HOT CHOCOLATE IN PARIS AND FAMILY
No trip to Paris is complete without enjoying the famous hot chocolate at Angelina, the 1903 tea house on Rue de Rivoli.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
The holidays are not just good or bad, happy or sad. They are both. There is joy. There is pain. There is grief. There is gratitude.
MY LOVE FOR BLUE AND WHITE CHINA
My mother and the women who raised her can be credited for my love affair with cobalt blue and white china.
DIY SUGAR SKULL PAINTING PARTY
A DIY sugar skull painting party to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos. All you need for this project is styrofoam skulls, acrylic paint, brushes, Sharpie markers, friends and perhaps adult beverages.
FLOWER ARRANGING + PAINTING WORKSHOP
Fun mother-daughter birthday celebration for my wonderful bride-to-be daughter!
NEW FLORAL PAINTING GREETING CARDS
I am happy to share that I have NEW FLORAL GREETING CARDS available!
BETTY ANN GOES TO THE DANCE HAS A NEW HOME
"Betty Ann Goes to the Dance" has a new home, thanks to Square Pear Fine Art Gallery in Kennett Square, PA.
WEBER & WEBER 2020 SHOW AT VISUAL EXPANSION ART GALLERY
It's October! That means it's time for Weber & Weber 2020, a two person show at Visual Expansion Art Gallery in lovely downtown West Chester, Pennsylvania.
COPING WITH CORONAVIRUS AS AN ARTIST
I recently chatted with Constance McBride of Chadds Ford Live about what it's like to be an artist during the COVID-19 pandemic. I shared how my show schedule has been impacted, as well as what I am working on now. Click HERE to read the feature. xo, Merrill
INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN SOLO EXHIBITION AND COVID-19
My Inspirational Solo exhibition was scheduled three years ago. I knew then that I wanted to produce a collection that would make a difference.
WORD SWAG APP - ARTISTS HELPING ARTISTS
Many of you have asked how I get my paintings to appear as text in my Instagram and Facebook posts. I use an inexpensive app called Word Swag. Available for iOS and Android.
BIG FLORAL PAINTINGS ON VIEW AT STEEL CITY IN PHOENIXVILLE, PA
My big mixed media floral paintings are now on view at Steel City in Phoenixville, PA, through January 30, 2020. I think the cupcake hat complements the paintings, don't you?
WHEN RON CEPHAS JONES COMMENTS ON YOUR INSTAGRAM POST
When Ron Cephas Jones (@cephasjaz) comments on your Instagram post, it makes your day! MY INSTAGRAM POST I’ve been thinking a lot about Hulu’s teen melodrama done right, “Looking for Alaska.” The sleeper star of the 8-episode limited series is Ron Cephas Jones as Dr. Hyde, a wise and crusty professor who is a gay Buddhist
HENRI THE PIG OIL PAINTING JURIED INTO SHOW
Henri the pig oil painting has been selected to be included in the 40th Berks Art Alliance Juried Show to take place in the Schmidt Gallery at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading, PA.
ART STUDIO VISITS
I am fortunate to have a beautiful art studio in the Spring City Mill Studios Building in Spring City, PA, a newly renovated knitting mill factory built in 1886, with high ceilings and tons of northern light.
2019 PAOLI HOSPITAL AUXILIARY ANNUAL FINE ART SHOW
An evening of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and culture awaits you, your friends and family at the opening Art Gala on Friday, September 27 from 6 pm to 9 pm where you can preview and purchase original paintings and other works of art from 50 regional artists.
SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER HAS SOLD AT SQUARE PEAR GALLERY
So happy to share that mixed media floral painting, "Sunshine on My Shoulder," has SOLD thanks to Square Pear Fine Art Gallery in historic Kennett Square, PA.
A PICTORIAL OF THE 2019 CHESTER COUNTY STUDIO TOUR
The art highlight of the month of May was the Chester County Studio Tour that took place the weekend of May 17 and 18 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia
GALLERY 222 HAS SOLD GIRLS ON THE DANCE FLOOR
Happy to share! "Girls on the Dance Floor" has SOLD thanks to Gallery 222 in Malvern, PA, as part of their "Under a Floral Spell" group art exhibition.
FARM TO FORK FONDO + POP-UP ART SHOW
You may remember in May when I asked you to vote for me for your favorite Chester County Studio Tour artist. You answered the call (THANK YOU!!!) and I won the top artist prize of $500. This past weekend was my opportunity to give back during the Pennsylvania Dutch Farm to Fork Fondo in Lancaster County, PA...
UNDER A FLORAL SPELL ART EXHIBITION AT GALLERY 222
You are invited to stop by Gallery 222 in Malvern, PA for their summer show "Under a Floral Spell." This group show features the work of 14 local artists and runs through August 31. I have three mixed media floral paintings on view, bursting with color and energy!
SQUARE PEAR ART GALLERY HAS SOLD DAZZLE ME
Happy to share! "Dazzle Me" has SOLD thanks to Square Pear Fine Art Gallery in Kennett Square, PA, as part of their "The Joy of Summer" art exhibition.
ARTIST GIRLFRIENDS WHO LUNCH + GORGEOUS POTTERY
UPDATE: Bonnie Ann Burnett left this world too soon. RIP, Bonnie Ann. You are missed. xo It's a parking lot pop-up show! This is what happens when artist girlfriends go to lunch and one mentions that she has two boxes of her GORGEOUS pottery in her car. We all go running!
THE JOY OF SUMMER ART EXHIBITION AT SQUARE PEAR FINE ART GALLERY
There was a great turnout on August 2, 2019 for "The Joy of Summer" group art exhibition at Square Pear Fine Art Gallery in picturesque Kennett Square, PA.
THE MAKING OF PRETTY BOY, RECYCLED CARDBOARD MALE PEACOCK DRESS
After a recent trip to Mexico, where gorgeous male peacocks turned in circles fanning their feathers, I knew that my entry would be a male peacock dress.
INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN SOLO EXHIBITION
I am thrilled to be painting a series of Inspirational Women --- these are incredible women who overcame hardships, broke records and blazed trails, shattering glass ceilings along the way.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MALALA YOUSAFZAI
Happy 22nd Birthday to the fearless change maker, Malala Yousafzai! Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
POLYPHARMACIZED: THE FACE OF AUTISM PILL BOTTLE PAINTING
Polypharmacized received the Award of Excellence (highest honor) during Chester County Art Association's Fine Art exhibition. In creating “Polypharmacized: The Face of Autism,” a 48x60-inch painted sculpture made from over 1,200 prescription pill bottles, I show my concern for my adult son Justin and those with autism, vulnerable people.