|
It’s been some time since I’ve written a blog post but I wanted to share some exciting news with you. Last year, I made a bold decision. I’ve always wanted to go to art school but never had the chance. I had a milestone birthday coming up and it seemed like an excellent time to reflect on what gives me great joy and dedicate myself to it.
I enrolled in the Milan Art Institute Mastery Program. It took me a long time to decide to enroll in this program, mostly because I wasn’t all that interested in learning oil painting. I was happy painting in acrylics and didn’t think I needed to know oils. I’d only dabbled in oils years ago and didn’t remember having a super positive experience. 
One unexpected but welcome surprise has been discovering just how much I enjoy working with oils. There’s something so captivating about the richness and depth they bring to each painting—it’s opened up a whole new side of creativity I hadn’t anticipated! The oil painting techniques I learned through Milan Art have elevated my work, helping me to portray my visions and hopes onto the canvas more beautifully. I can’t tell you how happy I am that I made the decision to enroll even with my hesitation (maybe even trepidation!) around oils.
I had so many questions before I started to enroll with the Milan Art Institute that I wished I could have asked someone. I’ve decided to become an ambassador for this program so I can help answer questions others might have. As an ambassador, I receive a bonus if you click a link and choose to purchase something at no additional cost to you. This is the only program I’ve decided to support in this way as I’ve personally experienced how much I’ve learned. The structure of the program has changed a bit since I started but if you love to create art, want to strengthen your painting skills and want to find your voice as an artist, learn more here.
Over the past few months, I've been working steadily on my new art collection, pouring my energy into each piece and leaning into a whole new direction and process for my art. This body of work is coming together after exploring and studying a wide variety of techniques and materials through the Milan Art Institute.
I have loved that I could do the Mastery Program at my own pace, balancing it with everything else in my life. Some weeks I have more time than others so having this flexibility has been wonderful.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me. Thank you for stopping by! P.S. This would be an excellent time to join my email community below. I’ll be sharing all about my new art collection soon and that way you won’t miss the exciting news! 
0 Comments
Wow! I’m thrilled and feel so honored…. I was voted 2024 Local Business Person of the Year for Rose City Park in Portland Oregon for the second year in a row! I received this special badge through alignable which is a platform for small businesses to connect and support each other. Besides painting and actually creating art, there are many behind the scenes activities in managing a creative business, such as updating my website, writing blog posts and newsletters, bookkeeping, packaging up orders and ordering supplies.
One of the business activities I enjoy most of all is connecting with other small business owners. In running my art business, I strive to support small businesses whenever I can. For example, my stickers and hummingbird art prints are printed by local small companies here in Portland Oregon. I offer these stickers and art prints on a wholesale basis to small businesses such as gift shops, bird shops, etc. I also work with small businesses to license my artwork as I did to create this hummingbird jigsaw puzzle. If you’re interested in either wholesale or art licensing, please contact me.
As a strong believer in building community in these ways, it really meant so much to me to receive this special badge! So I wanted to take a moment to say I really appreciate all of your support and encouragement for my art. I feel I’m continually learning and striving to improve in any way I can. And yes, I’m always open to feedback if you have any ideas on how I can make things better for you!
Through all the unknowns and uncertainties, I can tell you one thing for sure…. I’ll never take for granted when people share with me how my art is meaningful to them. It’s what keeps me creating and finding ways to express what’s in my heart. Truly beyond grateful I get to share the joy of art with you!
Thank you!!
’t Is the season of finding gifts and for us people who love hummingbirds, I thought it’d be helpful to create a gift guide with all things hummingbird themed!
I included gifts at different price points so I hope you can find a thoughtful gift whether you’re shopping for a family member, a friend, a holiday party hostess or colleague. When you click on the images, it will take you where this product is sold online and you can read more details about the item. Happy shopping!
Hummingbird Gifts under $25
Handmade Hummingbird Ornaments
These hummingbird ornaments are hand cut and painted by hand on real, foraged wood from the Pacific Northwest. Tied with a natural jute twine, they're a cute decoration for your Christmas tree or to present as a thoughtful hostess gift.
Hummingbird Bookmarks
These paper bookmarks are a fun gift to include with the hummingbird book above as well as a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves to read. They are printed with my artwork and tied with a colorful ribbon that makes it easy to find where you left off in a book.
Hummingbird Vinyl Sticker
These vinyl hummingbird stickers are durable and so fun to stick on anything that could use some hummingbird cheer, like water bottles, coffee mugs, you name it! These stickers with my hummingbird art make fun stocking stuffers!
Hummingbird Gifts between $25-$50
Hummingbird Mini Paintings
My hummingbird mini paintings are not printed but small original works of art. They come with a cute wooden easel that makes it easy to display in a kitchen window sill, on a book shelf or home office desk.
Hummingbird Jigsaw Puzzle by Portland Puzzle Company x Marieke Mertz Art
These jigsaw puzzles are produced by Portland Puzzle Company with my artwork "Surprise Encounter" which shows two Anna's hummingbirds in a flower garden. With 500 pieces, they're the perfect size for entertainment on a cold winter night or for a fun family get together.
Hummingbird Art Prints
I recently added a brand new art print to my collection: Hummingbird with Holly. My art print collection now has four different designs. They're professionally printed on high quality paper and beautifully packaged to create a thoughtful gift!
Hummingbird Necklace
These hummingbird necklaces are playful, fun gifts! They're not only adjustable, they also have a hummingbird design on both sides of the pendant so that if the pendant flips over with movement, the necklace still looks pretty.
Hummingbird Gifts over $100
Hummingbird Original Painting on Canvas
Collecting art sounds like a very fancy hobby but you can own or gift an original painting where you see the textures and brushstrokes the artist deliberately applied to the canvas at the price of a nice dinner out. My original paintings come in a variety of sizes and price points. You can see all my available originals in my online art shop.
I hope you liked these gift ideas and that this gift guide made your holiday shopping for the hummingbird lover in your life just a little easier and more fun!
If you liked this gift guide, please share it with friends and via social media so they can find it more easily on this vast internet. Thank you for supporting artists and small businesses this holiday season!
Hello! I haven’t written a blog post update about happenings in my Portland Oregon art studio for awhile so I thought I’d sit down and let you know what’s new.
Brand New Hummingbird Art Print Exciting news! I’m adding a brand new hummingbird art print to my print collection! I’ve had three designs in my online art shop for the past couple of years. I’ve received very positive feedback on these prints as they make thoughtful gifts and fun, affordable wall decor. 
This brand new art print is named “Hummingbird with Holly” and created from my December Birth Month Flower painting. It shows a male Anna’s Hummingbird perched on a holly branch. This print is perfect as a holiday gift (shop early to avoid stress later ? ) but not too holiday themed so you can enjoy it all year.
Just like my other art prints, it was printed by a local printer on high quality paper, individually signed by me and then carefully assembled by hand to protect it. You can find more details on this new art print by clicking here. I hope you’re as excited about this new art print as I am!
Mastery Art Program
A few months ago, I enrolled in a program for professional artists called the Mastery Program by Milan Art Institute to help me strengthen my technical skills and continue to grow. The first unit in the program covers oil painting and drawing. I was brand new to oil painting as I’ve been working with acrylics on canvas. I’ve been not only learning a new medium, but I’m definitely becoming a stronger artist through some challenges assignments, stretching me outside of my comfort zone and getting me to create subjects I would not have chosen (or thought of choosing!) on my own. 
I’ve been posting these new artwork pieces on my instagram. I have a series of oil paintings on canvas (mostly 16” x 20” in size) as well as charcoal drawings. You can see the work created in this program under the “Mastery Program Art” highlight on my profile. I’m offering these pieces at a discounted rate so if you see something you like, please contact me for more details.
In the next unit, I’ll be working in mixed media. Especially excited for this part of the program! Follow along if you’re interested in how my art journey evolves! 
Local Art Show My hummingbird paintings were accepted into the Re/Max Equity Group art show benefiting Taking Ownership PDX. I’m thrilled to be part of this event again this year! The public event is happening on Sunday Oct. 15, 2023 from 1pm-3pm. Address: 541 NE 20th Ave, Suite 210, Portland OR 97232.
If you know someone who you think would like my art, I'd so appreciate if you introduce them to my work. It's a wide, wide world so any help in making connections is so appreciated!
Thank you so much for supporting my art!
Summer is here in the Pacific Northwest! The month of June was quite full with family celebrations and travel but I still have some exciting updates for you on happenings in my art studio! I’m so excited to be the guest artist at Artistic Portland for the month of July! This art gallery in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood (4110 NE Fremont St, Portland Oregon) has an amazing selection of both original art as well as unique gifts by a variety of artists working in media such as glass, encaustic, acrylic painting, sculpture, watercolor and more. I have a good number of my hummingbird paintings on display as well as a nice selection of hummingbird themed gifts that would make thoughtful birthday presents for a friend who loves hummingbirds. If you live in Portland Oregon or are visiting, this art show is an excellent opportunity to see my work in person! 
I’m also thrilled to share that my art is now available at Portland Nursery! I’m so grateful to have my hummingbirds at this popular store (5050 SE Stark St, Portland Oregon) that is known for being the best place to shop for plants and flowers if you have any question at all. These people will have the answers! Besides all the beautiful greenery, they have a wonderful gift department where you can find the best presents for anyone who loves nature/gardening and this is where you’ll find my art!
I hope you have a chance to stop by any of the local places that carry my work but if you’re not in Portland Oregon, please visit my online art shop. I currently ship to any addresses in the United States and Canada. If you’d like to ship to any other international location, please contact me via email.
Thank you so much for all the support for my art! I absolutely love what I do and it’s such a privilege to share my work with you!
I feel so honored and excited…. I got awesome news! I was voted 2023 Local Business Person of the Year for Rose City Park in Portland Oregon! I received this special badge through alignable which is a platform for small businesses to connect and support each other.
Besides the actual painting on canvas, there are many behind the scenes activities in managing a creative business, such as updating my website, writing blog posts and newsletters, bookkeeping, packaging up orders and ordering supplies. One of the business activities I enjoy most of all is connecting with other small business owners. In running my art business, I strive to support small businesses whenever I can. For example, my stickers and hummingbird art prints are printed by local small companies here in Portland Oregon. I offer these stickers and art prints on a wholesale basis to small businesses such as gift shops, bird shops, etc. I also work with small businesses to license my artwork as I did to create this hummingbird jigsaw puzzle. If you’re interested in either wholesale or art licensing, please contact me. As a strong believer in building community in these ways, it really meant so much to me to receive this special badge! So I wanted to take a moment to say I really appreciate all of your support and encouragement for my art. I feel I’m continually learning and striving to improve in any way I can. And yes, I’m always open to feedback if you have any ideas on how I can make things better for you! Through all the unknowns and uncertainties, I can tell you one thing for sure…. I’ll never take for granted when people share with me how my art is meaningful to them. It’s what keeps me creating and finding ways to express what’s in my heart. Truly beyond grateful I get to share the joy and beauty of hummingbirds with you through my art! Thank you!!
Since I’ve been painting lots of hummingbirds, people often ask me how they can best care for the hummingbirds they see in their garden and keep them safe. Once you start truly noticing hummingbirds and enjoying their acrobatics, you can’t help but want to learn more about how to support these fascinating birds!
I’ve done a good amount of reading about hummingbirds and also share tips with fellow hummingbird fans in the Facebook group I manage for people living on the West Coast (if that’s you, please consider joining our fun group via this link). 
For a quick list on how to care for hummingbirds and keep them safe, here are five noteworthy tips:
1. Provide a source of hummingbird food by filling a hummingbird feeder with a solution of four parts water to one part white granulated sugar. Don't use red dye or red food coloring in your nectar, as it could be harmful to hummingbirds. It’s really important that you clean the feeder regularly to prevent mold and bacteria growth.*
2. Place the feeder in a location that is easily visible to hummingbirds but protected from the wind and direct sunlight. Keeping feeders in a shaded area helps to prevent the nectar from fermenting as quickly. If you have a front porch to your home or roof overhang, these areas might work really well.
Also, choose an area protected from predators such as cats. Hanging the feeder too low to the ground can make hummingbirds vulnerable to a predator attack. 
3. Provide shelter and nesting sites by planting native plants that produce nectar-rich flowers. If you’d like more information on which plants might work well for your region, please visit https://www.pollinator.org/guides. I’m not affiliated with this website but have found it very helpful. You can enter your zip code to find the ecoregional planting guide specific to where you live.
4. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides in your garden, as these chemicals can harm hummingbirds, beneficial insects and other wildlife. Besides nectar from flowers, hummingbirds eat insects for protein so chemicals in your garden can impact the birds negatively.
5. Hummingbirds live year around in the Pacific Northwest (specifically the Anna’s hummingbird) so offering clean feeders filled with fresh food all year is an excellent way to support them. In other parts of the country, hummingbirds migrate at certain times of the year so being aware of the migration patterns is important as you’ll want to make sure even those last hummingbirds coming through will find food on their long trek.
* I wrote a little e-book all about the joy of hummingbirds that shares the recipe for making homemade hummingbird food and goes into more detail. You receive this e-book instantly when you join my email community via the form below.
I hope you find this post helpful in taking care of hummingbirds. If you enjoyed reading it, please share it via social media so others can find it more easily on the vast internet.
Also, I’d love to hear where you’re from! Do you have hummingbirds in your area? Please share in the comments. Thank you for visiting my blog!
’t Is the season of finding gifts and for us people who love hummingbirds, I thought it’d be helpful to create a gift guide with all things hummingbird themed! I want to cultivate community over competition and supporting small businesses and/or non-profits so I made it a point to include gifts that represent those values.
I included gifts at different price points so I hope you can find a thoughtful gift whether you’re shopping for a family member, a friend, a holiday party hostess or colleague. Besides my own art, I’m NOT an affiliate for any of these companies but have included them in this gift guide as I personally liked the items. When you click on the images, it will take you to the site where this product is sold online and you can read more details about the item. Happy shopping! Hummingbird Gifts under $25
Aspects HighView Mini Hummingbird Feeder
The Aspects hummingbird feeders are my absolute favorite. I initially was introduced to them via a local birding shop called Backyard Bird Shop. If you're local to Portland, I'd recommend you visit these stores as they have a variety of these feeders.
What makes them so great? They're super easy to clean! It's very important that you refresh the hummingbird food often and keep the feeder very clean as otherwise, the hummingbirds can get quite sick. You can find these hummingbird feeders at many online stores but I included the link to the Nature Store via the image below as any purchases done at the Nature Store supports Portland Audubon. 
This Hummingbird Feeder, sold by the Portland Audubon Nature Store, is easy to clean and has a perch so hummingbirds can comfortably feed.
Hummingbird Jigsaw Puzzle by Portland Puzzle Company x Marieke Mertz Art
These jigsaw puzzles are produced by Portland Puzzle Company with my artwork "Surprise Encounter" which shows two Anna's hummingbirds in a flower garden. With 500 pieces, they're the perfect size for entertainment on a cold winter night or for a fun family get together.
Hummingbird Jigsaw Puzzle for cozy family nights and entertainment
The Hummingbird Handbook
This beautiful book covers everything you've wanted to know about hummingbirds! The gorgeous photography makes this book a lovely coffee table book that you can pick up anytime you have a moment to enjoy it.
This book has gorgeous photography and everything you want to know about hummingbirds! Purchasing through the Nature Store supports Portland Audubon.
Hummingbird Bookmarks
These paper bookmarks are a fun gift to include with the hummingbird book above as well as a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves to read. They are printed with my artwork and tied with a colorful ribbon that makes it easy to find where you left off in a book.
These bookmarks with hummingbird art are perfect to go with The Hummingbird Handbook!
Hmmmmmingbird Knee High Socks by Sock It To Me
I love colorful socks! These knee high socks by local Portland company Sock It To Me are both fun and comfy. They'll keep you warm and no way you can be in a bad mood wearing these hummingbird socks!
Fun, Colorful socks with Hummingbirds from local Portland company Sock It To Me
Handmade Hummingbird Ornaments
These hummingbird ornaments are hand cut and painted by hand on real, foraged wood from the Pacific Northwest. Tied with a natural jute twine, they're a cute decoration for your Christmas tree or to present as a thoughtful hostess gift.
Handmade Hummingbird Ornaments on Real Wood Foraged in the Pacific Northwest
Mini Brushes to Clean Hummingbird Feeders
Keeping hummingbird feeders clean is so very important for the safety and well being of these amazing birds! Cleaning the feeder ports is easy peasy with these awesome mini brushes.
Mini Brushes to Clean Hummingbird Feeders sold by Birds Choice
Hummingbird Earrings by Jabebo Studio
These Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Earrings by Jabebo Studio are truly unique for two reasons. They're mismatched in a cute way with two different hummingbird designs. They're also made out of recycled cereal boxes!
These earrings are carried locally here in Portland Oregon by Backyard Bird Shop. If you're not local, you can check them out via their etsy shop by clicking the image below. 
These hummingbird earrings by Jabebo Studio were created from recycled cereal boxes!
Hummingbird Vinyl Stickers
These vinyl hummingbird stickers are durable and so fun to stick on anything that could use some hummingbird cheer, like water bottles, coffee mugs, you name it! These stickers with my hummingbird art make fun stocking stuffers!
These durable vinyl stickers with hummingbird art make perfect stocking stuffers!
Hummingbird Gifts between $25-$50
Hummingbird Earrings from Coco Wagner Jewelry
I love the elegant, minimalist style of these stud hummingbird earrings by Coco Wagner Jewelry.
These hummingbird earrings from Coco Wagner Jewelry are so elegant in minimalist style.
Hummingbird Necklace from Coco Wagner Jewelry
This sweet hummingbird necklace by Coco Wagner Jewelry is a welcome gift for anyone who loves hummingbirds.
Coco Wagner Hummingbird Necklace in Silver
Hummingbird Mini Paintings
My hummingbird mini paintings are not printed but small original works of art. They come with a cute wooden easel that makes it easy to display in a kitchen window sill, on a book shelf or home office desk.
Hummingbird Mini Paintings make wonderful gifts as these are original art, not prints!
Hummingbird Gifts between $50-$100
Silk Scarf with Hummingbird Design by SilkSquirrel
This soft silk scarf, printed with art from silk artist Tina Gleave, is a lovely addition to any outfit whether you're dressing up or need a fun, colorful accessory on a more casual day.
Add a fashionable touch to any outfit with a soft, silk scarf with hummingbird design
I hope you liked these gift ideas and that this gift guide made your holiday shopping for the hummingbird lover in your life just a little easier and more fun!
If you liked this gift guide, please share it with friends and via social media so they can find it more easily on this vast internet. Thank you for supporting artists, small businesses and non-profits this holiday season!
This contemporary painting shows an Anna's hummingbird with the birth month flower for May, the Lily of the Valley.
Last week was a fun-filled, art-filled week! I shared early access to my new hummingbird painting collection with my email community and enjoyed a reception for a local charity art show here in Portland Oregon in which three of my hummingbird paintings were accepted. I love chatting with people about art and hummingbirds and there was lots of that last week! I also met a number of fellow artists which is always a blast, sharing stories and techniques.
To tell you a bit more about my new art collection, a few months ago, I read an article about birth month flowers. Kind of like how people wear jewelry with their birth month stone, each month of the year is associated with a particular flower as well. Growing up in the Netherlands, I was fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of flowers. It didn’t take long before I got really excited about the idea of starting a new collection combining birth month flowers with hummingbirds! I mean, bringing together the joy of birthday celebrations, flowers and hummingbirds…. Seems like such a fun and perfect match, right?! I’m so excited to share my new art collection with you as it’s now live and publicly available on my website! You can see it when you click on the shop for art tab or this link will take you directly there. 
A selection of my hummingbird mini paintings spreading color and cheer!
Besides the birth month flower original paintings on canvas, I also painted a number of mini paintings with a hummingbird as they’ve been super popular! These small original artworks make thoughtful gifts for anyone who loves birds. Whether you’re doing piles of dishes or tackling stacks of paperwork, they will add cheer to your kitchen window sill or office desk! They even come with a cute little wooden easel for easy display!
 Hummingbird Vinyl Stickers "Love at First Sight"
A brand-new item in this new art collection is a hummingbird sticker!! I had these durable vinyl stickers made by a local sticker shop and couldn’t be happier with how they turned out! The art on this 3” x 3” square sticker shows a female Anna’s hummingbird sitting on a branch on a colorful background and is based on my contemporary hummingbird painting “Love at First Sight.” Since it’s printed on durable vinyl that is laminated with matte finish for additional scratch, UV and weather protection, you can even use it outdoors or an area exposed to water!
I’d love to hear which of my new paintings speaks to you most. If you know of anyone who loves hummingbirds, I'd really appreciate if you share this post with them via email or via the social media buttons so they can find it more easily on the vast internet.
Thank you for taking a peek at my new art collection here!
As the weather turns cooler and the leaves start turning into autumn colors falling from the trees, many hummingbirds migrate south to spend the winter season in warmer places. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird on the East Coast starts making its long journey south making the treacherous crossing over the Gulf of Mexico towards wintering sites in central Mexico and Central America. The Rufous Hummingbird on the West Coast has the longest migration route of all hummingbirds. Some of them come from as far north as Alaska traveling all the way back to Mexico.
Considering they don’t fly in a flock like geese do for example, this seems like an impossible feat for such a tiny bird with tiny wings! 
The more I learn about hummingbirds, the more amazing and fascinating they’ve become! Thankfully, for those of us living in the Pacific Northwest, we’re fortunate that the Anna’s hummingbird lives here year around (if you're interested in reading more about the Anna's hummingbird, I recently wrote this post all about this amazing bird). But if you’re from an area that doesn’t see any hummingbirds until the weather is warmer again or if you’re just not seeing as many hummingbirds outside, there’s hope!
There is a sure way to see them year-around: bringing the joy of hummingbirds inside through art and wall decor!
So where do you start?
Hummingbird wall decor and hummingbird paintings can transform a boring wall into one that makes you feel joy every time you walk past it and look at it. Whether it’s in the form of a high quality art print with a pretty frame or original painting on canvas, adding a piece of artwork can make such a big difference to your home or office environment!
There are three important considerations when it comes to selecting artwork: the placement area, the space available and your budget.
Are you looking for a statement piece for your living room? Or a painting for your bedroom wall that cheers you up the minute you open your eyes in the morning? The space available will not only narrow down how large of an art piece you can select, but also help guide you whether one single painting or a grouping of smaller artworks will look attractive. 
If your budget allows, an original painting on canvas is worth the investment as favorite art pieces often become family keepsakes. Seeing the individual brushstrokes and textures of a painting make it immediately clear that the artist’s hands were directly and intimately involved with the creation of this artwork.
However, even if you’re still saving up to bring an original painting by your favorite artist into your home, you can certainly find art prints of high quality that will still provide that feeling of joy with a newly decorated wall!
What area in your home is ready for a refreshed look? Can your office walls use a splash of color that will make your work space more inviting and fun?
I’d love to hear from you if you enjoy home decorating, searching out attractive wall decor items or working on remodeling a space.
Please leave a comment to share what project you’re working on! If you enjoyed this article, please share via social media so that others can find it more easily. Thank you!
|
Copyright 2024 mariekemertz.com / presentsoflove.com
All Rights Reserved. Images may not be used without permission of the artist.
Privacy Policy & Terms
All Rights Reserved. Images may not be used without permission of the artist.
Privacy Policy & Terms