the Creative Thursday blog

the horns have it!

Can you believe, we have a tie? I love both of these designs and need help choosing. And maybe we won't have to choose? With enough pre-orders we can print one of each design! or if you have a favorite, cast your vote below through the end of the day tomorrow, Tuesday. thank you! 

Pre-order your pin here

enamel pins! choose your favorite + a giveaway!

Better late than never. I'm joining the party that is enamel pins!

I just started collecting pins from other artists. And Hello?! I need a Creative Thursday pin. Maybe you do too?

Problem is, I can't narrow it down to just 1. And clearly I couldn't narrow it down to less than 21...So I need your help to choose. 

List your top 3 designs below by Sunday, February 18 by 11:59 pm PST and you'll be entered to win the giveaway. I'll be sending a pin to 3 of you!

To help you choose, numbered in sort of a clockwise order

1. Unicorn
2. Panda
3. Oscar the Owl
4. Lewis the Lion
5. Pepita Pup
6. Kitten
7. Love for You Bear
8. Party Pup
9. Little Bear
10. Fox
11. Thoughtful Bear
12. Narwhal
13. Alpaca
14. Baby Whale
15. Papillon
16. Bunny Egg
17. Peep 1
18. Peep 2
19. Lucky Elephant
20. Pinky the T-Rex
21. Halo

This is a limited edition collectible. If you want to be sure to get a pin you can pre-order yours at a special early bird price only available through Sunday. 

Pre-Order your pin here.

Thanks for helping me choose! Can't wait to see which one is your favorite.

***and chosen by Random.org the WINNERS are*** 1) Erin W. and 18) Susan Foltz and 26) Beth yay! Congrats Ladies! Email me your ship to address and you'll be getting a pin as soon as they're ready!

Happy LOVE Day!

Sending love to you today and every day. Happy Valentine's Day!

xo Marisa and the Creative Thursday characters including the newest member of the family Pinky the T-Rex ;)

Hello 2017!

Happy New Year everyone!

I didn't choose a word for the year. I always want to and then there always have several words that come to mind and narrowing then down to one feels too limiting. But I did choose an image for 2017. I'm picturing a year with more focus, clarity, ease and breathing space that has room for beautiful art and twinkly lights...plenty of twinkly lights.

journal painting workshop

Join us Sunday November 13 for our first painting workshop in the new studio!

Thank you to everyone who joined us! It was so much fun that we're looking to host another one before February 2017. Sign up to the mailing list to be notified as soon as we open registration.

hello! hi! we need names! a giveaway

After staying with us for almost eight weeks? already? {And almost as big as Pepita now} I think we need to call these two something other than "kittens" "kiddens" "tinies" "clowns" and the "shining twins" ;)

We've been waiting for the right names to come up but they haven't yet...

So! I thought since many of you have been watching them grow up from teeny, tiny fellows on social media and are already bonded to these sweeties, you might have some good name ideas? 

And we'll celebrate with a giveaway! Share your name ideas in the comments below and enter to win a new print of your choice, either Pepita and the "kittens" {above} or "I heart cats" or "I heart dogs" {below} in all black and white or your favorite color way. The little boy is the white one with blue eyes and a peach tipped tale, ears and nose and the little girl is the siamese one with blue eyes, little cream colored sock paws and a white tipped tail. The giveaway is open to international friends too! It starts now and closes at the end of the day 11:59 PST Thursday, October 25 2016. A random winner will be announced on the following Friday morning. 

 

**The winner is #22 Debbie! Thank you everyone for your name suggestions. A lot of good ones! There are a few we're thinking about and will decide on soon!**

 

Empty Walls Just Aren't Right! join us this Saturday!

Ok friends! Here we go!

This morning we realized that pulling together a new space and a group show featuring almost twenty artists in 3 weeks might be a bit ambitious ;) But we're excited!!! And the momentum is going!  We also invited lovely, "on it" artist friends for this first show who are talented, efficient and {thankfully} move as fast we do. 

An Eclectic and Awesome group show featuring Outi Harma  Jenean Morrison Cathy Nichols, Melissa Moss, Matt Adrian, Kim Bagwill, Jaime Derringer, Lori Portka, Amadea Bailey, Gus Harper, Christine Mason Miller, Sarah Stevenson, Matt Hanover, Liz Kalloch, Isabelle Bryer, Sarah Stone and Brad Davis and me!

If you'd like to share this opening with your Los Angeles friends you can invite them here via Facebook. And now we're all official with a website, so you can keep up with us there too!

Can't wait!

See you Saturday! @ the pArty 5522 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019

We're opening a Studio!

I kid you not. A lot has happened in exactly 2 weeks. 

On the wish list; a studio big enough to paint much larger paintings. So just a couple of months ago, I started talking to a few friends about the possibility of sharing a space?

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, a space came up {that another friend was leaving} that hadn't even occurred to me to take it as a painting studio because it has a retail storefront in a great central LA location?! What, what? you mean we can have a studio space that also acts as a gallery/shop? And what? I could finally have a space to host those events I've been thinking about for years? And I will now have the perfect place to teach, shoot video, and host all of my talented {even out of town} creative friends who want a place to teach workshops in L.A.?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes!!

Done and done. 3 friends, me, Outi Harma {who I met in 2004 and used to share space with in the 10 women gallery} and Jenean Morrison who I met designing fabric in 2011. Also a former Groundlings Theater Member, Holly Mandel will be teaching Improv classes starting this month. A creative collective, filled with favorite people and creative pursuits all under one roof. You know, we have big plans, BIG PLANS! The photo above was taken minutes after Outi and I signed the lease this past Sunday :) You can also a quick time lapse video of us starting our first paintings in the new space on Instagram.

Still in a little bit of shock with how fast this all came together, there's a lot more to share! Stay tuned! but first save the date October 22nd: our first art show opening in our new space! 

Box of BOO!

I added some special Halloween treats to the shop this year! Along with a new {2nd} annual Halloween Tee design. 

kittens are staying!!

Just over one week in, they all became friends :)