Showing a little leg

This is a peek at a portion of one of my new vintage pieces. I am still debating how many of the full pieces I am going to reveal before the show, but I wanted to give you this view because I am so excited about how it is progressing!

Making Progress

None of these pieces is finished yet, but I did want to show off the fact that I am making quite a bit of progress. Just have about 15 more to do...

Making Preparations

This weekend, my dad helped me cut down some masonite panels for my new vintage pieces. I spent a lot of yesterday painting in the background colors on several of them so that I won't have to spend so much time waiting for paint to dry. This was the sight that greeted me when I got in to the studio this morning- all these brightly colored panels just begging to be painted on.

You can find out more information about my vintage show, Oil and Rouge: A Vintage Affair, as well as information about vintage art and style in Greenville and beyond, on our new blog, http://OilandRouge.wordpress.com. Check it out!

Growing Up

I spent much of the weekend painting my nephew's new room. His new baby brother will be here soon, so in preparation we fixed up his new "big boy" room. I decided to paint vintage automobiles, and found these by searching vintage posters and toy ads. It ended up being a really fun and colorful room!

Celebrating one year

Ali commissioned this piece for her husband for their one year anniversary. This is the spot where he proposed. Congrats guys!

I Can Be Anything

I created this piece for the "I Can Be Anything" exhibit at the new Children's Museum of the Upstate. The exhibit features portraits by local artists of famous South Carolinians. I got to paint musician Edwin McCain. This piece came together a lot easier than I expected, and I think the likeness is pretty good. So, Edwin if you are seeing this, I hope you are satisfied.

Precious

This piece is from one of my favorite photos I took after my nephew was born just over 4 years ago. I have always wanted to paint it. Now that we are expecting my second nephew to arrive, it seemed like a good time!

CafePress shop!

I am very excited to announce that you can now purchase mugs, aprons, and tile coasters featuring images from my Modern Conveniences series in my CafePress Shop! Sip your morning coffee from a mug printed with one of my vintage housewives. Look stylish while you are baking wearing one of my custom aprons. Or, set your drinks on a coaster featuring a festive 1940's house party. Just click on the link above, or visit www.cafepress.com/EmilyClarke, and you too can start living the vintage lifestyle!

A behind the scenes look

As promised, a few behind the scenes shots from last Saturday's vintage photo shoot. From top to bottom: Our first set-up in a corner of the Art & Light Gallery; the talented Shantel Lowe working her make-up magic on model Caroline Davis,;the fabulous Keith Carson- lighting and photography wizard; and Shantel's husband Jody reluctantly letting me turn him into a 40's Navy man.

Congratulations Jameson and Brian!

Part of my marathon weekend was spent celebrating Jameson and Brian's wedding. Even though I had to duck out of the reception early, I am sure they saw this on the gift table, not wrapped and with no card. Hopefully they figured out who it was from. Congrats guys!

I will post a couple behind the scenes pictures from my vintage photo shoot tomorrow!

"Number Please"

24"x 36"
Oil on cardboard

I keep mentioning my vintage photo shoot, which is happening this Saturday. I have been busy gathering up props, finalizing clothing, hair, talking with models, and even interviewing with G Magazine. A friend lent me this 50's rotary phone, and I couldn't resist painting it. It is just like one that was at my grandparents' house when I was little. I love the sound of the dial going around. If these phones would still work, I would so have one at my house!

I recently finished this commission for my cousin. It is such a pretty picture, and I was so happy with how it turned out that I had to go ahead and post it. It is also the first horse painting I have ever done. Enjoy Kristi!

"Sitting and Waiting"

4 1/4"x 5 1/2"
Oil on Mat board
$65

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

I haven't done one of my daily paintings in a while, but I finished everything I needed to get done today before lunch. I was looking around for something to work on, and saw this photo of dad on top of a pile on my desk. He looked so sweet that I just had to paint it!

"Climb On Board"

20"x 24"
Oil on Canvas
$475

To purchase, email me with the title in the subject line.

A big thanks to the friends, and strangers, who stopped by my demonstration on Saturday. This is the piece that I was working on. I feel like I say this a lot, but this was done from one of my favorite photos of my family. My grandmother is turning towards the camera, her dress blowing a bit in the wind, with my dad and aunt in front of her. She just looks so glamorous. In my own wardrobe, this is the look that I have been trying to replicate. This piece was fun because I painted the canvas a dark blue first and then painted in the entire thing in white. I finished by adding in a few very dark details, which I hope show up in the photograph.

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife: Give Away! Give Away!#links

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife: Give Away! Give Away!#links

In my constant search for inspiration for my paintings, not to mention inspiration for my wardrobe, I read a number of vintage sytle blogs. These ladies are so fun and stylish, and I find myself wishing we were friends so that I could raid their closets!

Currently The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife is having a fantastic give away. Click on the link above, enter the give away, and check out her amazing style!

Preparations

Yes, I know this is just a big canvas painted blue, but it is in preparation for my painting demonstration this Saturday, from 11am-noon at my studio at Art Crossing on the riverfront, Suite 111. Come watch me start to fill it up with a beautiful vintage image of my Grandmother, father and aunt. Let me know if you are planning to come so I know how many to prepare for. Hope to see you there!

Congratulations Joy and Jeff!

Joy commissioned this piece for Jeff for their one year anniversary. It was a surprise for him, and his reaction was great when she brought him to pick it up. Congrats guys!

Congratulations Amy and Josh!

I got through my crazy week last week, and spent much of this weekend celebrating my cousin's wedding in Asheville. Congrats Amy and Josh!

Preparations are well under way for my vintage photo shoot. The models are lined up, all the clothes are being provided by Threads in Time Vintage on Stone Avenue, jewelry by Blue Moss, and make-up by the amazing Shantel Lowe. I will post some behind the scenes photos after the shoot in a few weeks.

And, if you have ever wondered about the process I go through to create my paintings, you will get a chance to see it firsthand this Saturday from 11am-noon at my studio at Art Crossing on the river front. Come see some of my newest work and see the steps I go through to create my vintage oil paintings.

Swamped

I am sitting in the studio looking around at all the work to be done, and feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have a list of commissions to be finished, none of which I can post at the moment for fear of ruining the surprises. I also have a stack of blank canvases just begging for some vintage ladies to grace their surfaces. And, preparations are coming together for my vintage photo shoot at the end of the month. On top of all that, I am a spotlight operator for the Greenville Little Theater's production of Carousel, opening on Friday. All that to say, painting posts may be a little slim this week! Thanks for continuing to come back to the blog!

Progress

I spent some time today adding some color to the soldier, and I have to say, I really like it. Something about how he is just a shade lighter than the background, and how he fades out a bit around the edges makes him interesting, and yet she is still the focus. And, how could she not be with that dress on!

Congratulations Dion and Chelsea!

Arts on the Alley

I had a great time at Arts on the Alley in Seneca this weekend. The weather was actually pretty good, and it only rained a bit on Saturday. I was also pretty excited to be named Best in Show for one of my new vintage ad pieces, "Yes, I'll Take One" (the red piece in the corner of the top photograph). You can read about it in this article in the Anderson Independent News. Thanks to all who came out, and to all the wonderful people I met!