Permanent Magenta

I just came across the blog Permanent Magenta this week.  And it is wonderful.  Every day artist Margaret Owen completes a new oil painting, and she posts them on her blog, aptly subtitled “A Daily Painting Blog”.    So if we are being honest, I’ve never really been a huge fan of oil paintings. I guess I took too many art history classes in college because when I think of oil paintings it’s mostly of old dead guys and their awkward looking poses with their awkward looking families set against fake ostentatious backdrops.  And as a result the word “oil painting” conjures up images of stuffy basements of museums and old history books.  But Permanent Magenta is anything but stuffy.   Margaret Owen’s work is wonderful and fresh and colorful and full of life.  Oh, and did I mention that she recently held a giveaway for ANY piece of work in her shop to celebrate 100 daily paintings?  I found her blog the day after it closed and I am still kicking myself.  What a prize that would have been!  Anyway, here are some of my favorites from her shop where you can purchase originals and and prints, and a few from her flickr photostream.

[ Yellow Eames Chair in her shop, print also available ]

So cute right!  She has a few other Eames chair prints in blue and orange and green as well.  I kind of want all four to hang up together.  You know, in that new/old house that I keep dreaming about.

[ To The Museum… in her shop.  Painted from a vacation photograph and I love it!]

[ Painting #18, a very sweet pink dress from flickr ]

[ And she can do amazing custom portraits as well. ]

[ Puffer Fish print in her shop.  I love that little face, he’s so cute (for a fish). ]

[ Yellow Vespa with Pink Roses in her shop ]

[ #66 from flickr.  It makes me want cake.  Or ice cream.  Or both. ]

And then just a few days ago she posted this little cutie on her blog, and now it’s in her shop.  I LOVE this one.  It is by far my favorite of everything she’s posted so far.  I love that I played with these little toys when I was growing up.  I love the colors, I love the little suitcase.  I love everything about it.  And I want it hanging on my wall, and on the front of little notecards, or postcards.  And as an “on vacation be back soon” sign for my virtual front door.  I just can’t get enough of this little girl and her suitcase!

[ Girl with Baggage painting #103 ]

And if you’ve got a little boy who needs some great trucks hanging up on his wall, then check out her other shop grapplingdigger for a few garbage trucks and track hoe prints, like this one.

[ Grappling Digger print in her shop ]

And see, not stuffy.  Anyone who paints vespa’s and Eames Chairs, and garbage trucks and little people can not be stuffy.  And as if completing a new oil painting every day didn’t keep her busy enough, she also makes darling little (and big) tote bags which are in her shop too.  Here are two of my favorites, I am loving the little orange flower pins I guess.  Which brings me to my second point that anyone who puts cutie orange flower pins on purses can’t be stuffy either.  They can only be awesome.  Super Awesome.

[ Blue mini handbag lined with orange and with an orange flower pin in her shop ]

[ June Big Bag, also lined in orange and FULL of pockets! in her shop ]

I love that every day on her blog there is something new to look at! And judging from her paintings (and particularly my favorites) I think her favorite colors to paint with are blue and yellow.  And pink… which makes me like her even more!  Go check out her blog, her shop and her flickr photostream.  I’ve found dozens of paintings to love/favorite/heart and adore.  And a new found motivation to try my hand at painting, you know with all those painting supplies that are hanging out in my closet just waiting for me to dig in.  I am totally inspired by Margaret Owen.

[ Girl with Baggage ]

Oh, and I still think this is probably the greatest thing I’ve seen in a while.  Seriously.  Adorable, right?  I know.  I am right!  She is absolutely perfect.