This week I had the pleasure of working on one of my favorite types of projects ... a large format custom canvas! It brings me such joy because I have felt the frustration of having an empty space but not being able to find the right piece of art for it. Many of us have a wall in our home that is begging for something special to hang on it... something that pulls your color palette together. I have the ability to create abstract paintings that are all about the specific mood and colors you want to convey. I find it particularly interesting that this savvy client wanted something round, curvy, bubbly and full of motion and layers. I was just reading how this is going to be a strong theme for 2022 in terms of design trends. Check out this quote from Adobe's website calling these sort of shapes, "Soft Pop."
If this sort of thing interests you, you can read more about Adobe's predicted upcoming design trends here. So how does this work? If you are local, we can schedule a home visit for me to see your colors. However, if you live out of town, you can send me photos of your wall, your decor style and your color palette. I'll give you a price on creating a unique piece just for your home. Contact me if you have questions about this process, or simply if you have a space needing some Creative Collaboration ; )
![]() It's been a dozen years in the making... a dedicated place to create. If you or your children have ever taken an art class with me, you know that it's been at the dining room table of my big kitchen. We've sipped tea together, laughed, learned and experimented in this space. While it has served us well, it's been tugging at me to have a separate, bigger place to create with you. A Create Place. An attached art studio that I can hardly wait to move my giant, paint splattered desk into. We are about a week away from occupying it! We don't know all of the ways that God will use A Create Place , but we do know it will be a place to more comfortably collaborate with students and clients, explore different mediums, practice, learn, gather with community and be inspired together. Beginning September 8th, |
As the summer wraps up, I have lots of plans that I'm trying to be patient with. There seems to be so little time left just to rest and play with our kiddos. I don't recall a July ever flying by so fast. Many of you know that we've been adding a large art studio on to our home. As it's been being built, I've been dreaming of all the ways we can use it for creative pursuits... community keeps coming to mind. Can't wait to share it with you as it comes into completion and the plans crystalize. In the meantime, here is a little gift from me to you. A gentle reminder in the form of a desktop or phone wallpaper to abide in God. Give over all of your concerns, unknowns and anxious thoughts in prayer. He will produce much fruit! Click on the image and save it to your phone or desktop. |

I'm not a gadget girl. I try to stick to what I know works in terms of kitchen untensils, woodworking tools and yes paint brushes! That said, I've wondered how people make those mini paintings the size of a dime without their hands getting in the way of their view! I like to quip that I have man hands. They are not big in size, but are certainly not slender in form. It's tough to see around my chunky fingers to what I'm painting if it is in a small area. While working on this piece, I decided to purchase and try out the Princeton Velvet Touch Tight Spot angled brush. I have to say, although the brush looks a little funny, I loved using it! Here is one of those, "form follows function" moments. I could easily see what delicate areas I was working with without getting in my own way.
| Here is a little video of me working around the eye of the cardinal. Something that I usually have to use liquid mask for when I'm trying to retain a little highlight. With the Princeton Tight Spot, I didn't have to use the mask. It was so easy to see what I was doing. |
Let me know what you think if you try out the Princeton brush or if you ever want a special piece made just for your family.
Caryn Dahm
Whether I am painting custom artwork, creating a water colored logo for a client, or teaching art students, I hope to refresh and inspire others with my work. Read more ...
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