Art :: Surf's Up!

It's July 1st which means summer is officially in full-swing!  This month is jam-packed with weddings, out-of-town visitors, and weekend getaways...but what I'm most excited about is our upcoming family vacation to St. Maarten at the end of the month.  It will be so nice to lay in the sun, read by our pool, and swim in the sea.  And these paintings by John Holm are just what I need to get me into that tropical mentality.  Surf's up!

Images via Honestly WTF

Art :: Teil Duncan's Studio

I first came across artist Teil Duncan's work a couple of months ago in this Glitter Guide feature, and absolutely fell in love with her colorful, feminine, and summery aesthetic.  Isn't her pint-sized studio just packed to the brim with gorgeousness?  I'd love to add a few of her pieces to our gallery wall.  Shop her work here!

Images via The Glitter Guide

Art :: Lisa Golightly

Even though it has been years since I have had an official summer break, I still get the same feeling of excitement and anticipation that I did when I was in school.  And what better way to get the summer vibe than the gorgeous work of Portland painter Lisa Golightly of Kiki and Polly?  There is something about the over-exposed, hazy paintings that make me feel like a little girl back at the pool again.  Just lovely!

Images via {1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} {7} {8} {9} {10} {11} {12}

Art :: Just Breathe

Happy Friday!  Today I'm guest blogging on Melinda's Musings, so make sure to stop by her blog to see my five favorite links from the week.  I am very much looking forward to our upcoming trip to Florida {only three more days!}  Ryan's cousin is getting married on the beach and his family decided to extend the trip for a family reunion, so we will be spending all next week in Clearwater Beach enjoying the sun and sand.  After this brutal winter, it will be a much welcomed getaway!  In the spirit of warm weather, today I wanted to share with you the work of one of my favorite artists, Samantha French.  I love the hyperrealistic look of her oil paintings, can't you just feel the warm sunshine and cool water on your skin?  From the artist...

"My current body of work is focused on swimmers underwater and above. Using vague yet consuming memories from my childhood summers spent immersed in the tepid lakes of northern Minnesota, I attempt to recreate the quiet tranquility of water and nature; of days spent sinking and floating, still and peaceful. These paintings are a link to my home and continual search for the feeling of the sun on my face and warm summer days at the lake. They are my escape, a subtle reprieve from the day-to-day. At the same time, I am drawn to an idealistic time before my own, where swim caps and wool swimsuits were commonplace. This combination of memory, observation and photography (old and new) has allowed me to preserve the transitory qualities of water and remembrance." 

Learn more about Samantha here and purchase her work here.  Have a great weekend!

Images via Samantha French

Art :: Etsy Art 03.

Beach Sunset by Sixth and Maine // Shirley Poppy by Emily Winfield Martin // Old Blue by Erika Lee Sears // French Love Print by Old English Co. // Prada Marfa by Hannah Gentiles //  Abstract Composition 316 by Jesús Perea

A very happy Friday to you all!  What are you up to this weekend?  Ryan has been traveling quite frequently so I am very much looking forward to his return later this afternoon.  Tomorrow my dad and our dog Witt will be visiting and I am planning on spending as much time outside in the 50+ degree weather they are forecasting...the first real glimpse of spring!  Today I wanted to share with you six of my favorite pieces of art from Etsy, including one from one of my favorite bloggers Erika Lee Sears of A Tiny Rocket.  For all of my favorite Etsy picks you can follow me here.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Guest Blogger :: Fresh Flowers from Happiness Is...

Today is a very special day here on Dreams in HD.  First, of all it's Valentine's Day.  I'm not sure what we are up to {Ryan likes to keep it a surprise} but personally I am just happy to be able to spend the day with him and Yoda, and hopefully eat a little chocolate :) Secondly, I am thrilled to tell you that today's post will feature the first official guest blog post in Dreams in HD's history.  And you guys, it's a good one.  

I "met" Shannon of Happiness Is... about eight months ago and since then have developed what you might call a *total* girl crush on her.  Shannon's blog, dedicated to all things happy, has become a source of creative and personal inspiration for me since first visiting it last year.  She is an incredibly talented songwriter, singer, ukulele player, illustrator, reiki healer, painter, and all-around amazing person.  Her nostalgic movie-inspired wedding {which you can read all about here...please take five minutes watch their video, it will melt your heart} was featured by none other than MARTHA STEWART herself!  If I ever get out to Seattle Shannon is the first person I will call.  Oh, and did I mention that instead of just providing me a photo to include in this post she sent me this watercolor that she painted herself?  Yup, I told you she is amazing!  If you like her work, be sure to follow her here because she will be starting an Etsy shop later this year :) So without further adieu...

Hello lovely Dreams in HD readers! I'm Shannon of Happiness Is and I'm extremely honored to guest post on Molly's delightful blog today. Especially since it's Valentine's Day. A day you either love or hate. I'm one of those girls who milks it for what it's worth. I'm an unapologetic romantic, so bring me a dozen red roses and I'll be yours for the taking. Any extra reason to celebrate LOVE is good in my book.

I have a regular series on my blog called Get Happy, where I share some tips and tricks to boost your mood, create a positive thoughts and raise your vibration. For today's installment, I have a fun fact about those cliche dozen red roses. Flowers are beautiful, sure. But did you know they've been scientifically proven to make you happy? 

A recent study at Rutgers University found evidence that flowers induce long-term powerful positive emotion. Half of the participants were given flowers and half were given other gifts. When the two groups were compared, here's what they found...

1. Women given a mixed floral bouquet reported more positive moods 3 days later.
2. Daisies offered to both men and women in an elevator elicited greater social interaction.
3. Flowers presented to elderly individuals showed improved memory.
4. And my favorite discovery has to do with smell: Students who were asked to write an essay in a floral-scneted room, compared with those in a  neutral-scented room, wrote happier stories.

The researchers speculate it may have something to do with the co-evolution of plants and people, which can happen when two species evolve in response to changes in the other. Fascinating, right?

So if you didn't get flowers for Valentine's Day, stop by the florist on your way home from work and treat yourself to some sweet-smelling blooms. Or gift them to someone you live with and reap the benefits. I'm making a promise to myself, starting now, to swing by the local farmer's market once a week for a fresh $5 bouquet. I owe it to myself and my happiness.

Do you keep flowers in the home? Do you find that they elevate your mood?

Art :: Etsy Art 02.

Flower Photograph No. 88237 by Keri Herer // Team Effort by Lisa Golightly // Virginia's Vice by Janet Hill // Non Je Ne Regrette Rien by veronika // Cafe Nemours by The Paris Print Shop

Happy Friday friends!  Today I wanted to bring you another round-up of a few of my favorite pieces of art from Etsy.  Inspired by the interior design book "Black and White (and a Bit Between)," I pulled five pieces which feature this timeless neutral palette {with a few pops of color, of course}.  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend, and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by this little blog of mine...it means the world to me!

Art :: Colorfully

'Unknown' by Diana Delgado

Happy Friday dears!  What are you up to this weekend?  Today we are heading to Cincinnati for a Birthday / Housewarming Party for my boyfriend's brother and wife, and I am hoping to spend some time catching up on my to-do list {I swear I have going been non-stop for weeks}.  

Today is the last day of my posts inspired by Kate Spade's "Live Colorfully" campaign {see earlier posts about travel, fashion, interiors, and food}.  It is apparent to those who visit my home that I love art with a pop of color.  Our walls are mostly neural, partly because it is a rental, but mostly because it acts as a great base for standout art and decor.  We aren't at the time in our lives where it is smart to invest in expensive furniture {moving into a new place every year wreaks havoc on my poor bed}, so it is fun to experiment and be able to be a bit more adventurous when designing our living spaces {read: commitment-phobe}.  As I have mentioned before, I love buying art on Etsy, and have a bunch of colorful and inexpensive pieces from there {plus a few I painted myself}.  I have rounded up some of my favorite colorful pieces of art, most of which are available to buy and very reasonably priced.  I'd have to say my favorite is the unknown piece by Diana Delgado, but I also really love the abstracts from LEIF and Caitlin Shearer's moody portraits.  What's your favorite?

On a side note, I hope this week inspired you to inject a little color in your life - be it with a new recipe, a new purchase, or a new experience. My thought was to {at least sometimes} create weekly themes to allow my posts to be more cohesive, versus just writing about what strikes my fancy on any particular day.  What do you think so far?  Do you think it gets a bit monotonous?  Or do you like the fact that every week has an overarching vision?  I'd love to know your thoughts, good or bad :) Thanks as always for following, it seriously means the world to me!

'Hopeful' by Belinda Marshall

'No Man's Land' by Lola Donoghue

'Things Hidden Since Creation' by Mishel Valentine

'Fancy Fox' by Starla Michelle Halfmann

'Solar Pink' by Malissa Ryder

'Possibility' by Belinda Marshall

'Pocket Detail' by Caitlin Shearer

'Gala' by Mishel Valentine