downtown scene

This Michael Birawer painting is one of my favorites. It's a scene of 10th and Nicollet in 2002.

I have a framed print that hangs in the hallway reminding me of the years spent downtown.
Ten years working in three of these four buildings:  A fast-paced, creative interior architecture + design firm, and at a large corporation.  Time stands still in this fabulously funky Birawer original!

http://www.michaelbirawer.com/

inspired by scotland

I created a series of etchings from my sketches and photographs while in Scotland.

This extraordinary tree captured my attention on the grounds of the Dalkeith Castle. It has seen many years...oh, if trees could talk!

And the "hairy coos" are so strange and amusing!

just do it

three's company

Two pears and a plum.

I was inspired to paint this simply because

I love the color combination!

(I found the perfect spot for it -- add character to the kitchen & conveniently cover the unsightly phone jack!)

fresh paint

"In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

priceless view

This original etching is now painted with watercolor & framed!

the lookout:

(7" x 8" print)

I have a few more etchings coming soon!

contemporary prairie

Prairie Style, the inspiration for this Minnetonka home. The concept was executed beautifully throughout the interior, exterior, and landscape design.

The banding of rich wood trim on the walls and ceilings, and long horizontal details, are signature features in prairie style design.

In the master bedroom, the prairie landscape is expressed in long horizontal bands of paint which I applied with various rollers. Modern and tranquil.

the little things

Ahhh, those carpet squares -- designers love 'em! A few years ago I knew if I was in the home of an interior designer because of commercial carpet tiles creatively placed throughout (we are very resourceful with our extra samples)!

Now these modular squares are sold for residential use online, http://www.flor.com/ in catalogs, and I saw them on an end-cap at Target last year.

(Here's a photo from my friend's cute baby room).

For me -- I'm content with my mini carpet coasters!

flutter

Yesterday I finished two paintings:

"Butterflies & Dragonflies" for a little girl's room.

I had the windows open and my ipod on shuffle,

what a nice Spring day!

(11"x 14" acrylic on canvas board; black metal frame)

sienna logo

The sienna lynn logo is complete! Thank you to my friend Stephanie with Stelie Designs http://steliedesigns.blogspot.com/ for helping me turn my hand-drawn logo into a real one!

blu print

I created this one-of-a-kind etching titled, "blu print" in a print making course. The image was etched on a metal plate with acid and mesh wire used to add depth. The plate was then covered in blue ink, pressed onto thick paper, and hand-torn. I think I'll put some of my prints on the etsy site soon.

seventh grade art

I painted this green pepper in 7th grade art class! I had an awesome art teacher: Mr. Gulstrand, I will never forget the expression on his face and the words of encouragement that he gave me when he saw my pepper painting.

We all start out as artists, so proud of our finger paintings and stick drawings! Do you remember the little artist in you?

friday at four

cheers to an eclectic happy hour!
"friday at four" showcases a colorful arrangement of topsy-turvy cocktails:

(18.5" x 30" acrylic on masonite)

tuscan faux finish

Paint was applied with brushes and rags to create this Italian trattoria finish.

Rustic orange tones are layered to give this space a Tuscan feel.

The look would not be complete without the finishing touch... painted cracks!

blossoms in the sky

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

-Henry David Thoreau



(I snapped this photo last month in Nevada. In a few weeks we can start seeing blossoms on our trees in MN -- yay!)

oliver and friends

I love how these paintings turned out for a baby boy's nursery! These have been top sellers from Sienna Lynn Studio, I've been commissioned to paint several versions of these colorful friends.

"Oliver and Friends" will look great over the dark wood changing table and near the retro owl mobile from modernnursery.com.

bird house in my studio

I can hear it now, "hmmmm, interesting..."

The Gauguin painting below from 1894, is one of the influences for my piece titled, "Bird House in Tahiti." One of the interesting pieces in my studio!

Paul Gaugin's work is characterized by clear outlines, flat forms, and vibrant colors, derived from the native art. Over a hundred years old, it still has a modern-art feel.
I wonder if the plastic bananas will stand the test of time too... ;-)

nowhaus

I just got back from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Monday event:

A Green living tour of nowHaus01, a sustainable urban dwelling near Cedar Lake, designed and built by LOCUS Architecture.
This Minneapolis firm is the creator of nowHaus – "an initiative to reinvent the urban family home in a more artistic and sustainable manner."

It was fun to hear stories directly from the Architect/Builder who currently lives in the house with his wife and two sons.

http://www.locusarchitecture.com/showcase/nowhaus01.html

bamboo

Long stalks of bamboo in this bathroom sparked the client's idea for a bamboo-inspired faux finish.

For this technique, I used a variety of tools to brush and comb paint onto the wall. So much fun!

The result: a unique natural bamboo look.

freckles

I discovered these press-on wall graphics from modernseed.com. The finish is similar to matte paint, so it looks like hand-painted circles...but they can be removed and re-used without damaging the painted walls. Great find!

yourself

"You have to leave the city of your comfort

and go into the wilderness of your intuition.

What you'll discover will be wonderful.

What you'll discover is yourself."

- Alan Alda

(Me at Peace Park, AZ March 2009)