Hello 2016!

Well hello everyone. It's been quite some time since my last post! Thanksgiving, the Holidays and the New Year flew right by. 2015 was a great year for me all around - I painted often and participated in art shows, moved back to New York (although I dearly miss CA), started a new position with Restoration Hardware, and my sweet niece and Goddaughter, Andriana, was born. I cannot wait to see what 2016 has in store for me. My goal is to push myself to take my art and blog to another level and focus on growing in the design field. I'd love to see where it can go if I truly put my all into it. In the meantime, I've had my eye on some new pieces for our place so I wanted to share a sneak peek. Stay tuned for which ones end up in our home :) 

1930's Martini Side Table / RH 

Go-Cart White Rolling Desk / cb2

Mini Industrial Cage Lamp / west elm

Parisian Cornice Single Shelving in Black Oak / RH 

Reclaimed Russian Oak Parquet Coffee Table / RH

Vintage Steel Desk Chair in Antiqued Brass / RH Teen

xo, 

Serena & Lily Fine Art

Whoa, it's been some time since I've posted last and not once did I post in October. So much has happened -- birthdays (including mine), a trip to Boston for the first time, the launch of RH Modern in the gallery I work in, and the list goes on. It's also been 3 full months since my boyfriend and I moved into our new place and it still isn't complete. I have so many ideas but there really is no rush. I've been browsing through websites for art to complete our kitchen space and living room and came across Serena & Lily (I actually didn't go on their website for art at all but did fall in love with their art collection, naturally). I absolutely love finding and exploring new artists, especially since I'm a painter myself. I thought I'd share some of my top picks with all of you. There's way more so it's definitely worth checking out the website. Enjoy :) 

"Faceted Gem #1" by Natasha Marie

"Underwater Plantlife #7" by Jennifer Ament

"Indigo #1" by Jenny Prinn

"Flight" by Stephanie Sherman

"Stormy Sea #2" by Jerry Schwabe

Xo, 

June Art Event Sat 6/6

Happy June! Oh boy, it's been a while. I've been busy working and painting not only a large custom piece I am working on but a handful of smaller ones for my upcoming event! As some of you may know, I have an Etsy shop called Lauren Maiorana Art (link on main page). Although I've been painting for quite some time and have sold many of my paintings, I am so excited that I recently had my first Etsy sale. I revamped my Etsy shop and re-listed some older paintings and added new ones and I'm so happy I did. Not only did I get my first sale but I also was reached out to by the NOIR Event Coordinator to participate in a local art/music/fashion event this upcoming Saturday. The event is THIS Saturday 6/6 from 7:30-10 pm at Sutra Nightclub in Costa Mesa and after there will be a DJ contest (which is normally $20 to get in). If you're local, come support me and other talented artists! Tickets are only $5 at the door, you just tell the doorman who you are there to see and then they tally it all up. Here are some photos of my paintings that you can expect to see!

There's some sneak peeks for ya. To sum it all up, if you don't have plans this Saturday

come by Sutra Nightclub in Costa Mesa frm 7:30-10 (DJ after the event) and support

me and other local artists and makers. Really hope to see you there. SO excited :)

Xo,

DIY Abstract Art

Hello everyone :) One more day to get through until the weekend! Except for me, I work this weekend but today was one of my days off. I had some free time so I decided to get back into painting and create a tutorial for you all.  Abstract art is huge right now and although it takes some skill really anyone can create an amazing piece of art! If you follow me on instagram @laurenmaiorana you already saw my sneak peek of the finished product. Here is the how to:

Materials: 

blank canvas

scraping tool

thin 1/2 inch paint brush

cup for water to clean brush

white paint

any 3-4 paint colors of choice

paper plate or easel

First, start by painting the blank canvas white. This is going to be the background color. Even though a canvas is already white, it's amazing how much of a difference a fresh coat of white paint will make. 

Next, decide what few colors you want to use. I chose a magenta, gold and apricot. 

Then, squirt the paint somewhat randomly  - don't use too much in one spot, you will be scraping it around the canvas. Remember, you can always add more.

Then scrape the paint around in different directions. Now this is the part that takes some skill. It's not difficult but just try your best.

Scrape and add some more paint if needed until it will kind of look like this...

You can add more paint or another color if you would like and call it day or like you will see here you can add another element by creating dotted lines in the white areas. Now, put some black paint on a paper plate or an easel if you have one. Wet the small paintbrush to get the bristles loose, dip in the black paint and start to create some dotted lines. I totally made mine up. This is where you can really get creative...

And there you have it! Follow me on pinterest (lauren_maiorana) and on instagram @laurenmaiorana for some more design and art inspiration! 

Xo,

My Abstract Art

Hi there! For those who do not know, I love to paint! My style is abstract, coastal and colorful although I have done many custom pieces as well. For the first time ever, I displayed my art at a local vendor event at west elm where I work. My art was for sale and I donated $10 from each painting towards St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital as part of their Thanks and Giving campaign. Other local artists and vendors were there as well that are so talented so it was an honor to have my art alongside theirs. I was also working during the event so I couldn't stay at my table to talk to too many people about my art but I did sell a painting and get my name and art out there! There were a few handfuls of inquiries about doing custom pieces as well which I love doing and am currently working on a few right now. I wanted to share some of my art with you that is still for sale unless stated otherwise but I can customize any piece you want! Let me know if you're interested! You can reach out to me via email, lmaiorana1014@gmail.com. I'm starting a new instagram for my art and interior design work separate from my personal account so i'll keep you posted on that, too! I hope you like my paintings as much as I enjoy creating them :)

{abstract waterfall SOLD / will recreate to order - price varies with size, email to inquire}

{desert / 12x16in staple back canvas / acrylic paint / gloss sealer / $45}

{waves / 9x11in staple back canvas / acrylic paint / gloss sealer / }

{ocean / SOLD / will recreate to order - price varies with size, email to inquire}

{energy / 12x12in staple back canvas / acrylic paint / gloss sealer / $50}

{carribean / 18x24in gallery wrapped canvas / acrylic paint / gloss sealer / $85}

 {feather / 10x10in staple back canvas / SOLD / will recreate to order - price varies with size, email to inquire}

{ikat / 12x16in staple back canvas / acrylic paint / gloss sealer / $45}

 {lovebirds / 12x16in staple back canvas / acrylic paint / gloss sealer / $45}

{pink clouds / 10x10in staple back canvas / acrylic paint / gloss sealer / $35}

{lips / SOLD / will recreate to order - price varies with size, email to inquire}

{sugar skull / SOLD /will recreate to order - price varies with size, email to inquire}

{nyc skyline / SOLD / will recreate to order - price varies with size, email to inquire}

{abstract flowers / SOLD / will recreate to order - price varies, email to inquire}

At the west elm south coast plaza event this Saturday! 

I will recreate any piece if you would like a different size, colors, anything. Just shoot me an email so we can go over what you want and then I will be able to give a price! Thanks everyone who has supported me thus far - I love to paint but never thought people would love it so much to buy. I will also be at another west elm orange county event soon so stay tuned :) 

Xo,

DIY Coastal Painting

I've been in a very DIY mood lately (if you haven't checked out my last post on creating a festive fall wreath click here) and this time I'm creating an acrylic coastal painting. I came across a picture on pinterest of a bedroom with a painting that was screaming for me to recreate it so naturally that's what I had to do. The colors were just stunning. 

What you'll need:

1. Any size canvas you want (regular or gallery wrapped)
2. Smooth paint brushes with a thick tip so the bristles won't come off in the paint
3. A spray bottle with water in it (refill an empty cleaner bottle if you need one)
4. Old towel
5. Acrylic and watercolor paint (I use ones I get from Michaels -- artists loft and craftsmart brands -- and the colors I used were prussian blue, peacock blue, sand, turquoise, white and viridian) along with a sealer of some sort or a satin varnish
6. Paper plate 
7. Cup of water

Luckily for me I had an 18x24" gallery wrapped canvas in my car and all the paint colors and brushes in my art bin. The only downfall is not having my easel set up so I used an old towel under the canvas and leaned the canvas against the wall on top of some paper towel taped to the wall -- so this is what you can do if you don't have an easel set up either. Plus, I did a water dripping technique so you need something under the canvas to not make a mess either way. Or if you have a space outside in the grass to paint then that works, too!

First, flip the canvas vertical so the water drips that way. Squeeze the paint onto a paper plate if you don't have a palette. Then, spray the canvas with water to start the dripping technique. Then start with any color you like -- I started with the prussian blue to the left -- the paint will start dripping and continue to spray with water to create desired look. Continue this process for each color and don't be afraid to blend the colors a little so they fade into each other --just make sure you're either using different paint brushes or dipping them in water so it keeps them from mixing too much. Do one layer and then let it dry. The key is layers, layers and more layers of paint when doing this technique. After it's dry flip the canvas -- so it's still vertical but the other way. Continue by spraying water again and adding paint. Mix white in some spots in the sand and turquoise so you get variations in color. Continue to spray with water to create desired look. Once dried your painting should look something like this (before sealer which is why it may look a little dull)...

Once sealed and put in some very appealing natural light your painting should look more like this...

I really love the way this came out not to mention this one is for sale -- but if you're up for it try to DIY and I'd love to see it once it's done! Happy painting :)

Xo,