Mary Liz Ingram Art | Tag Archive

Gift Away!

Mary Liz Ingram — August 10, 2013 — Leave a comment

Sometimes it’s so hard to choose a piece of art for a friend! Or you want to commission a portrait for a family member, but you’re not sure which photo they would like. If you’re stuck, I have a new option for you:

I’m happy to announce that I now offer Gift Cards for artwork!

Gift cards can be purchased in any amount and are redeemable for commissioned or available pastel paintings of chosen value.

Gift cards will be written for the amount paid & purchase intention noted (ex: 5×7 framed pastel; 8×10 unframed portrait, etc.). Gift cards will be signed by the artist for authenticity. Those receiving gift cards may upgrade to higher-priced artwork by paying the balance.

In Art Alabama, Art, artist, Birmingham, card, drawing, gift, Ingram, Liz, Mary, painting, pastel, pastels, soft pastel

Hop, Skip & a Jump

Mary Liz Ingram — August 8, 2013 — Leave a comment

Day 1: Legs itched like crazy. Had to stop.

Day 2: I’m going to DIE. Seriously, I might.

Day 3: I’m not going to die. But it’s close.

Day 4: I ran the first mile without stopping.

I bought new shoes.

This was my motivation to begin jogging again. They are fabulously bright, with neon orange shoestrings and grass-green insoles. That, and my coordinated running clothes (dressing the part always makes it more fun), are about the only thing I like about exercising. I really don’t like exercising at all: I have to get up really early, I’m sore most of the day, and I fall asleep on the couch at 9:30.

Exercise is one of those nagging reminders that a healthy lifestyle brings to my guilty mind. So this week I started trying to relieve that guilt, and get in shape. GO TEAM INGRAM!

I do enjoy “going somewhere,” which is why I only like to jog outside: no track, no gym for me. I’m too tired in the morning to do yoga, and the cat gets all up in my business. So ear phones in, new shoes on, and off I go down the street for the sunrise.

Here’s hoping I can keep it up when it gets chilly! I’m an exercise wimp!

New Shoes, ink & colored pencil sketch

In Uncategorized Alabama, Art, artist, Birmingham, colored pencil, drawing, exercise, health, humor, Ingram, ink, jog, life, Liz, Mary, Nike, run, shoes, sketch

Art Sale!

Mary Liz Ingram — August 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

tiny house + busy artist = lack of space

I’m a problem solver, and I’ve run into a problem. You see, I’ve got quite a lot of art work on my hands: prize winners, larger show pieces, old favorites that I’ve held onto for awhile, higher-priced items waiting for the right home. But, being the industrious artist I try to be, I keep making new ones. And there’s no room left in my tiny house, with 5 people and a cat, to store these framed and ready works of art. Plus, they really want a nice home, with wall to decorate and people to view them, instead of living in my son’s dark closet surrounded by winter coats.

What kind of life is that, I ask you?

To correct this unfortunate situation (drum roll, please…….)

I’m having an ART SALE!

Yep, that’s right folks: 50% off original prices on the pastel paintings below. They are framed and ready for a wall near you! Just send me an email if you’re interested, and we’ll get these old friends off to new and much more exciting places! You can reach me at: marylizingramart@gmail.com

: Brown Cow, 8×10 pastel in matte & frame.Was $250, now $125 SOLD

: Curious, 9×12 pastel in frame, winner Best of Show, Hampton Fine Art Gallery Juried Show 2010.Was $250, now $125 SOLD

: Day’s Work Done, 12×16 oil pastel in matte & frame, winner Honorable Mention for Drawing, Shelby County Arts Council Juried Show 2010. Was $350, now $175

: The Weaver, 16×20 pastel in frame. Was $375, now $185

: Autumn Grass, 9×12 pastel in frame.Was $225, now $110 SOLD

: Still Waters, 8×8 pastel in matte & frame.Was $185, now $92 SOLD

: The Raven, 8×10 pastel in frame. Was $175, now $87

: Country Road, 11×14 pastel in matte & frame. Was $250, now $125

: Split Rail Fence, 12×16 pastel in frame. Was $300, now $150

: Hay Bales, 11×14 pastel in frame.Was $250, now $125 SOLD

Find out more about these pieces! Visit the links below:

The Raven

Hay Fields

The Weaver

In Art Alabama, Art, artist, Birmingham, Cotton, cow, crow, drawing, farm, Ingram, Liz, Mary, painting, pastel, pastels, raven, sale, Sennelier, sheep, soft pastel, Southern, weaver

Hospital Viewing…

Mary Liz Ingram — August 4, 2013 — Leave a comment

Full of fun, for kicks & grins, a hospital is not.

You go there when you’re injured. You go there when a friend or loved one is sick. You go there to get well, to encourage others in their healing. Granted, you do go there to celebrate life, especially when babies are born, but for the most part, a hospital is not the picture of excitement.

But in this hospital (and many others) you can find a picture of peace, a picture of beauty, a picture of humor, a picture of escape.

Several area hospitals have art galleries, and this month, my art is on display and for sale at the Brookwood Medical Center’s Art Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama.

Twelve pastel pieces ranging in size and price are featured for the month of August. I hope the images brighten the days of those who pass by, and maybe spark a happy memory to bring a little courage into a struggle, and peace into the day.

In Art Alabama, Art, artist, Birmingham, Brookwood, Center, drawing, gallery, hospital, Ingram, Liz, Mary, medical, painting, pastel, pastels, Sennelier, soft pastel, Southern

It Figures…

Mary Liz Ingram — July 31, 2013 — 2 Comments

“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future…. A day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.” -Maya Angelou, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey

Sometimes you just need a break… get away from it all, clear your head, breathe in life.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. He so sweetly surprised me by taking me on a long journey, far away to a Scottish resort.

Okay, really we dropped off our three kids at my parents’ house and drove 15 minutes to a lovely resort which felt very far away (and they did play bagpipes at sunset!). It was a fabulous 18 hours of relaxation and peace. We were both able to hang out in our respective spa areas for quite awhile and have a massage.

Now let me tell you something about Mary Liz and massages:

I’m a bit uptight. Massages stress me out a bit. I get nervous beforehand, and try my best, in my yammering stream of consciousness, to relax. But still…massages are lovely. Somewhere in between feeling awkward, wondering how many nasty feet the guy rubs a day, and finding my happy place, I began contemplating the human body: muscles, skin, shapes of calves…we people are pretty cool.

When we returned from our mini vacation, refreshed and ready to hug our tiny people, I felt inspired to do some figure drawing.

Right down the road, there is a figure drawing class once a week in the evening. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work in my family schedule, so… I tried the next best thing. Home alone, kids asleep, I had to draw myself. I’m not a fan of pictures or drawings of myself, but you do what you gotta do to feed a whim.

So I present to you two self-portrait sketches, in graphite on paper.

Self portrait, graphite sketch

In Art, Uncategorized Alabama, Art, artist, Birmingham, drawing, family, figure, graphite, Ingram, life, Liz, Mary, pencil, portrait, self, sketch, thoughts

Following Whims

Mary Liz Ingram — July 30, 2013 — 2 Comments

Maybe it’s my artistic nature.

Maybe it’s the quirkiness inherited from my granny, as my family attests.

Maybe it’s because I can’t seem to grow up.

Whatever the reason, I get carried away by whims fairly often.

This time, my mother says, I’ve used up my “whim allowance” for awhile. My latest whim was a little larger than usual.

About 4x8x10 feet large, if I estimate correctly (and, as an artist, I’m not the best measurer. Eyeball it!!!).

We built a fort of all forts. It is spectacular. My children are in heaven.

I had to rope in reinforcements = my parents & husband.

But here is our fabulous, home-made (or built) result!

: Debris

: Homey touches

: Finished in the nick of time

: Ready for fun!

In Uncategorized Alabama, Art, artist, backyard, Birmingham, building, family, fort, Ingram, life, Liz, Mary, whim

Flying Pastels

Mary Liz Ingram — July 28, 2013 — Leave a comment

So while my blog posts have been lagging, my pastels have been flying.

This week I completed 9 pastels in anticipation of upcoming opportunities. I worked hard every afternoon after work, usually while the baby snoozed.

They range in price from $55 for the 4×4, $135 for 8x8s, and $175 for 8x10s.

Let me introduce you to our new barnyard friends:

: Beatrice, 8×10 pastel on card

: Sgt. Pepper, 8×10 pastel on card

: Smug, 8×8 pastel on card

: Mr. Pig, 8×8 pastel on card

: Lewis, 8×8 pastel on card

: Marley, 8×8 pastel on card

: Puddleduck, 5×7 pastel on card

: Wee Pig, 4×4 pastel on card

: Hen, 8×8 pastel on card

In Art, Uncategorized Alabama, animal, Art, artist, Birmingham, chicken, cow, donkey, drawing, duck, farm, hen, Ingram, Liz, Mary, mule, painting, pastel, pastels, pig, Sennelier, sheep, soft pastel, Southern

Lounging

Mary Liz Ingram — July 16, 2013 — 2 Comments

Chair with apple, graphite sketch

Sunday mornings are made for lounging, an always calming day of rest.

We’re always on the go: working, playing, living. It’s important to me to also stop. To rest, to reset, to pause and refresh.

Some might say that Sundays are made for church-going, especially since we live in the southern U.S., aka “the Bible Belt.” My husband works at a Methodist church, a published and well-known youth minister (www.organicstudentminstry.com!). The kids and I get up and go fairly often, but not in a rush or in perfection. It’s taken me awhile, and much attitude-adjusting, to go without stress or pressure or guilt, to go without feeling a burden of expectations. This is also part of the South.

I’m just beginning to go in restfulness, often meaning my hair is still damp, my dress is comfortable, and I’m there with my family in peace. It’s hard to add another place to be, and sometimes staying home in quiet is most needed.

This past Sunday we didn’t go to church. We rested well together. We loved and laughed and lived. We learned about bugs and plants, we ate three meals at our table together, we built forts and unloaded the dishwasher together, and we took care of one another.

These things are important too.

: On the floor, graphite sketch

: Sweet Boy, graphite sketch

: Relaxed, graphite sketch

In Art Alabama, Art, artist, Bible Belt, Birmingham, church, doodle, drawing, family, graphite, Ingram, life, Liz, lounging, Mary, pencil, rest, sketch, Southern, Sunday, thoughts

Happy Distraction

Mary Liz Ingram — July 13, 2013 — 4 Comments

Yellow’s my favorite color, and flowers make me happy.

I was using this vase of flowers to prop up my phone at the kitchen table, as I doodled pictures from past adventures. Leaning back to take a break (well, honestly to internally fuss that my husband was still using the computer when I wanted to blog), I noticed how pretty this simple arrangement was.

So I drew them with a pen and colored pencils. Ta da… That was nice.

Yellow Flowers, ink & colored pencil doodle

In Art Alabama, Art, artist, Birmingham, colored, doodle, drawing, flowers, Ingram, ink, Liz, Mary, pencil, sketch, yellow

Capacitors, Handy Manny & Me

Mary Liz Ingram — July 11, 2013 — 1 Comment

I see Rosie the Riveter and Handy Manny in my mind. I hear the theme song from Rocky in the background of my thoughts… we got this.

I am a champion.

I dash back and forth a few times, 5 in 1 screwdriver in hand, and head down the front stairs. My older children watch me in confusion, eating their messy ice cream bars that I absentmindedly allowed in the flurry of sweaty chaos.

My AC is broken. My handyman Dad is out of town. My husband is at a funeral. It is h.o.t.

I’ve seen it done. I can do it. I am woman. Hear me roar.

Maybe that’s taking it too far…but still. I fixed my AC.

In my work dress and chignon, I took off the side panel of the unit, exposing the blower motor, capacitor and wires. I see that the capacitor has burned up (and YES! I even know what a capacitor DOES! Go team me!).

With my dad on the phone, we confirm the need to get a new capacitor. With the help of neighbors watching my kids, I’m able to pop off to the edges of downtown Birmingham, take my little self into the Washer & Refrigeration Supply Co., ask for and purchase a 5 microfarad capacitor for $10. Oh yeah.

: panel removed

: bad capacitor

: shiny new capacitor

I zip home in a jiffy and plug that sucker in. Voila! We have air flow.

I floated along in an internal cloud of success for quite a few hours that afternoon. I, Mary Liz Ingram, repaired my AC.

Washer & Refrigeration, 7x7 ink, colored pencil & pastel pencil on card

Washer & Refrigeration, 7×7 ink, colored pencil & pastel pencil on card

In Art, story AC, Alabama, Art, artist, Birmingham, capacitor, colored, doodle, drawing, humor, Ingram, ink, life, Liz, Mary, pastel, pencil, sketch, story

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