pen & paint {guest post & giveaway!}

Some of you may already know Lindsay from Pen & Paint and are familiar with her amazing work, but if you aren't then you are missing out! I was lucky enough to be given an amazing print from her (showing my Oregon pride!), and from our emails, her prompt delivery, the amazing quality of the print and the serious cuteness- I'm a legit fan of hers from here on out.


Today she is sharing a bit about herself, her business & finding inspiration.  Plus she is so graciously giving away a $25 shop credit to one of you.. so get to know her & become a huge fan like I am!



Hi, I'm Lindsay. I'm a busy mama of two silly little boys.  I am a southern girl with a loud laugh, a sensitive heart and a little bit of sarcasm on the side.  I like to draw and paint, a lot.

After taking a bit of a break from the blogging and handmade world, at the beginning of 2012 to refocus on myself and my family, I picked up a sketchbook and an ink pen and started drawing.  The more I drew, the more ideas I developed, and I saw the need to make a change in the name of my blog and shop of three years from Paint Me a Picture, to Pen and Paint.  Now I am back gathering inspiration from the blogging and handmade community, creating happy prints.  Every now and then I still love picking up my paintbrush and creating a fun piece of art.



how long have you been an artist and shop owner?

I have been drawing since I was four years old. I began painting and selling my work in 2008, but it wasn't until I started sketching at the beginning of this year that I actually felt like I could call myself an artist.






is there any advice you would give another artist to get out there? and what are some of your favorite tips for staying inspired or getting our of creative ruts?

Yes! Three big things:

1. Connect with other artist. My artist friends have helped and encouraged me SO much. They inspire you, pull you up when you are down, and remind you your art is beautiful.

2. PLEASE put your name/site/something on your images. The internet is an amazing place but there are mean people out there who don't respect you and your hard work. You'd never write a book without putting your name on the cover so make sure to "sign" your images. It helps people find you and protects your work as well.

3. Make things for yourself, things you love. Whenever I start getting foggy-headed worrying about what people will like I stop and make something I want to make, something I may never sell. It clears my head and makes me happy.




managing a family, a passion, a shop & a blog can keep you busy.. how do you keep yourself balance?

Obviously, this was something I struggled with. I took a big break, almost to the point of deleting my blog and closing my shop. Now that I am back I constantly remind myself what matters. What matters is my faith, my family and my health. I love my art and I am so very thankful I can share it and sell it, and though it matters, it cannot get in the way of my job as a wife and mother. I blog when I can now, no schedule, no plans. If I go for a week without a post, well, then the world will keep turning. If I don't make sales or don't have a new print, oh well. I have found I will probably always struggle with balance so I just try to take it one day at a time, and when I start seeing I am not happy or my family is not happy I know something has to change.


// SPECIAL JUSTLOVE.LY DISCOUNT //
take 10% off any purchase by using code: lovely10
good june 3rd-6th


a Rafflecopter giveaway

22 comments:

  1. yaaay thanks for this!! I entered! :)

    x.

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  2. love the state love prints and also the choose joy
    erincyoung (at) yahoo.com

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  3. Thanks so much for the sweet giveaway. I'd love to win a print for our nursery!

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  4. What a fun giveaway! Lindsay does awesome work :)

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  5. Great giveaway! I love other her designs so pretty!
    Hugs Brooke

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  6. I love the Pretty is as Pretty Does print!

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  7. Following her blog! I love seeing other artist's work.

    The Tall Blonde Artist

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  8. I love her shop. I added her as a favorite!

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  9. thank you so much for sharing this! i've already visited her etsy shop and have fallen in LOVE!

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  10. just discovered this shop YESTERDAY! I'd pick... DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE or TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

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  11. Wow. These are AWESOME! I love the seafoam green sea print, as well as pretty much all of the coffee ones!
    tiff(dot)r(dot)brand(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. Love her Colorful 8 x 10 Art Print, Coffee, I love coffee, Coffee Lover, Funny Quote.

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  13. Her work is so happy and beautiful!

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  14. Anonymous30 May, 2012

    My favorite is the yellow hombre mother Teresa.

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  15. Lovely, talented, unique!

    Is this giveaway open to Canadians? If so, please email me as I would love to enter.

    Regards, Sarah
    journeysofthezoo at hotmail dot com

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  16. Anonymous01 June, 2012

    She is amazing! I wish I had even just an inkling of her talent :D I can't wait to buy something from her shop!

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  17. Lindsey is an old friend of mine. She was in my wedding. She is amazing and I would love to own some of her art.

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  18. Lindsay is awesome and so very talented!

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