I am a firm believer is finding the beauty in life’s simple pleasures. And don’t you find life more inspiring when you are able to delight in the things around you? I love the way Boston artist Marian Dioguardi‘s paintings celebrate ordinary treasures.
Sitting Pretty in Turquoise, oil on cradled panel, 36×24
I am a nester. I like to be surrounded by lovely things, things that carry meaning for me, objects that are not only functional but inspire me– whether through their color, design or the memories they hold. Our current lifestyle means that we travel relatively light. Most of my favorite things are in storage in Florida. But there are pieces we travel with that make each place feel like home– my turquoise tea kettle, used every day to boil water for coffee, a framed photo from our wedding day, a small painting I did for George of Mt. Rainier.
My Little Cupcake, oil on cradled panel, 24×36
Whenever we reach a new place, it begins to feel like home once I hang the pictures, place the tea kettle on the stove. Their presence is comforting, reassuring.. they are constants in a life that is ever changing.
Inner Glow- Citrine, oil on cradled panel, 30×30
One day, we’ll dig our feet in and put down roots. And all my every day treasures will come home with me, filling a new home with the love and beauty and memories they carry. There will also be new treasures, ones that George & I will find together through our travels and one day, they’ll remind us of what an amazing life it has been.
Simplicity Itself, oil on cradled panel, 4 panels at 5×5 each
To see more of Marian Dioguardi’s work, please visit her website. What about you? Do you have any cherished every day treasures?
Featured image is Sitting Pretty in Turquoise, oil on cradled panel, 36×24. All images are via the artist’s website.
matateishi
July 2, 2012 at 10:04 AMI was attracted initially by the vibrant images, but I really enjoyed your beautiful essay, your words remind me of books I used to read as child like Anne of Green Gables or Girl of the Limberlost. It’s the idea of an old fashioned minimalism: a few treasured possessions used daily, which we forget when it’s too easy to buy whatever we desire. While others might complain, you make your peripatetic lifestyle sound like something to be envied!
Lesley
July 4, 2012 at 8:06 PMWhen living in one place, I too often fell into the trap of buying whatever just because. We are very deliberate with our purchases now, which I hope we will continue once we settle in one spot! I love your phrase “a few treasured possessions used daily”. That’s really how we hope to live someday. 🙂
The Glory of Everyday Things: Marian Dioguardi « Artsy Forager | Welcome To Florida
July 2, 2012 at 11:12 AM[…] us of what an amazing life it has been. Simplicity Itself … … See the rest here: The Glory of Everyday Things: Marian Dioguardi « Artsy Forager ← FIU, Jewish Museum of Florida Create Historic Partnership Venezuelans Celebrate 5 De […]
MIO
July 2, 2012 at 1:12 PMThis is inspiring! I want to try a painting like this for my kitchen which has black and gray furniture with white walls, definitively needs some color! 🙂 I am thinking about the one with colored cups on top of each other…it is my favorite 🙂
Marian Dioguardi
July 10, 2012 at 10:58 AMArt Mio, I am complimented that my paintings inspire you to paint. But I am sure that as an artist you have your own original ideas that will serve you well. No need to copy from me.
Thank you Lesley, you are an artist with words ” afew treasured possessions used daily”. Couldn’t say it better.
MIO
July 10, 2012 at 11:13 PMI did not mean copying yours, I am sorry if this was understood. I will just make a tower of my own colored cups and paint them on a white background for my kitchen. (I prefer realistic style) “Cups” are a subject often used for paintings! Every artist paints them in his original way!
http://www.dailypainters.com/paintings?search=cups