As time moves through us and we move through time, there are cases when the world around us leaves us desolate and hollow. It is at these times I have noticed more often than not, I can hear my heart longing for something more in this life. While I cannot exactly name this inner harkening towards timelessness, I desperately want to chase after it; sometimes, I find that it is calling me towards something specific, and other times, it is beckoning me towards greater ideas. What I know about these times in my life for sure is this: I walk to find myself surrounded by darkness and uncertainty, and I walk alone through the shrouded forest of my soul.

I believe the path to discover the inner secret of my soul is necessary for me to appreciate the outer life; I go deep inside myself, not only to find new treasures of my inner self as I grow and see the world, but to give my soul new memories, new items to cherish, and more people to keep. While I walk through the valleys of my shame, the hovels of my courage, over the mountaintops of my pride, and around the rivers of laughter, all bubbling with life’s goodness and pain inside of my mind, I am able to contemplate my time. The past, the present, and the future become more of a weaving of a dreamscape as it sparks to life and grows, ferreting out new places for my curiosity to seek, spreading out new canvases for my creativity to play on, and growing wide branches for my carefreeness and ambition to conquer. 

Soul searching begins inside with the recognition of despair and trouble with the outer world, and the maturity to look for hope and understanding despite the temptation to give up. While the rest of the world weights itself against the human spirit, the soul caves in, not to collapse, but to turn itself from a metaphorical lump of coal into a diamond. As things around you start to grow darker – whether it is from pain, suffering, frustration, or loss – you will be able to see more of the light inside of you as it gathers together in the center, like the full moon lighting up the night sky. It is at this time when you must continue on, moving past the cynicism and disillusionment to a higher level of hope, purpose, and meaning. 

While this might seem just pretty imagery as you walk along on an inner journey to the heart of your being, this is also backed up by psychology. When you grow up and begin to see things around the world differently, and you happen to notice more of the fear and hate, you set yourself on an adventure much like the path of character development in a novel: you have a problem, and begin climbing up the ‘rising action’ towards a decision which will determine the outcome of the character arc.  
Once you set out on your inner journey of soul searching and self-contemplation, you take it one step at a time; as you go further up and further in, you notice that all around you is darkness, so thick it is hard to see past it. 
But you continue on, resolved, and you push past it, to find the light of truth

This experience, according to psychology, is the same path of a crisis, where values are tested and, if found wanting, redesigned and realigned with the soul’s priorities. Once you find yourself at such a place, it could also mean that it is time to grow a new priority; plant the seed in your heart, and water it, care for it, nourish it, and let it grow. 
Your soul is constantly barraged by the world and its many changes, like water lapping on the rocks. The water can erode the rocks, but it can smooth out the edges and leave them clean and shining in the sunlight. Your soul changes and grows, and as it is pruned, more fruit comes from the places we seek to become. When it comes, that seed in your heart will bloom into blossoms and beauty, and you will be able to enjoy it yourself, inside yourself, as well as reflect that to other people in the world. 
The soul needs the inner life understood as it interacts with the outer. No life can be fully experienced without a journey into its dark corners of the mind and the secret passages of the soul. Being happy all the time turns out to be too shallow; your emotional range of sorrow and sacrifice, underdeveloped, leaves the heart with withered roots and poor support, leaving the echo of your life’s imprint upon the world incomplete, like a piano only half-played, or a tree without flowers. 

Great news!! Tote bags with my art on it! 

Introducing our newest product...  tote bags! Make a fashion statement with Lourry Legarde tote bags.

Our tote bags are made from soft, durable fabrics, and include a 1" black shoulder strap for easy carrying." Tote bags are available in three sizes from 13" x 13" up to 18" x 18". Each tote bag is printed on both sides (same image) and can be machine washed with cold water.

Perfect for on the go, Eco-friendly, and Easy-to-Use! 

Choose your favorite tote bags from hundreds of my available designs. All tote bags ship within 48 hours and include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Shop my great collection of images starting  HERE:

Art + Wine = Perfect Companions!
Limited Time Only




Are you a wine lover?   If you have  been considering an art purchase from my art website,  now is your chance to purchase some new art while enjoying a glass of wine for a fun and relaxing experience!


This whole month of May, we're running a special promotion.   All orders on lourrylegarde.com come with a $100 gift certificate good towards your first purchase of wine onNakedWines.com.

Naked Wines is a company based in Napa, California, that supports independent wine makers from all over the world.

Once you receive the gift certificate, all you have to do is visit NakedWines.com, enter in your gift certificate code, buy some wine, and you're done!   Then, just sit back and wait for the wine to arrive on your doorstep.   If the logistical stars are in alignment, maybe your wine and your order from Fine Art America will arrive at the same time!

When you order anything on lourrylegarde.com, no matter what size it is, you will still receive the gift certificate! 



Before using your gift certificate on NakedWines.com, please note the following restrictions:
 
Terms & Restrictions

The $100 gift certificate is only valid for first-time buyers on NakedWines.com and can only be applied towards purchases of $160 or more.   You must be 21 years or 

older to redeem the gift certificate.   Wine can not be shipped outside of the United States.   Additional restrictions apply.   Void where prohibited.   See complete details at http://us.nakedwines.com/100voucher.   Naked Wines is not affiliated with Naked Winery (http://nakedwinery.com) in Hood River, Oregon.

Note that some states may not be eligible for this promotion. By law they don't ship to all states. They don't ship to counties or cities where wine shipping is prohibited. 

The list of those states that don’t allow it are: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Utah.


 If you have questions, please let me know. If you or your friends love wine and art, this is a pretty good deal!

Gray is currently the most known neutral shade and interior designers have preferred it for the last few years. Whereas shades such as black, silver, and white are commonly used with gray, why not use a different, brighter shade with it such as a yellow hue? In most of the modern homes, you will find the interior beaming with one of the shades of gray.

However, you can make your home outstanding by incorporating pops of gorgeous yellow that will work wonders in summer and throughout the year too. Modern, playful, and yet classy, the gray and yellow combination strikes a good balance between the snazzy and the sophisticated.

A gray living room looks both stylish and formal. While gray is a neutral color, it can be very attractive and beautiful when you combine it with a bright color such as yellow. And since gray isn't so dynamic, you should include certain focal points in the room. For instance, a zebra rug with yellow marks will make a fantastic addition to the gray living room.

There are several ways to incorporate the yellow and gray color combination in your living room. A great way is to let gray be the backdrop while using yellow accents on your throw pillows, chairs, fresh flowers, and vases to brighten up your space. The approach is not only cost effective but also simple. It enables you to switch from one color scheme to another without any difficulty. 

Using a gray and yellow color scheme doesn't really mean that you will commit to it in the long term; you can change it anytime. However, the mild yellow shade gives the accent wall a classy look when combined with light gray.

Typically, a light gray background works well with brighter yellow accents. Nevertheless, you can still use deeper grays to come up with a warmer and bigger space. This strategy works effectively in predominantly cold areas or in winter when darker hues play a significant role to your living room’s overall ambiance.

When using yellow and gray, the most important thing is to ensure there is proper color coordination. This is best achieved through the furniture and other fittings in your living room. For example, a dark gray couch with light yellow pillow throws creates an interesting contrast in the room. 

Besides, you can use a carpet that’s gray in color with a few yellow marks. This will not only make your living room glamorous, but it will also create the best color coordination between your carpet, furniture and the accent walls. Some homeowners go ahead to paint the ceiling with light gray. Why not go for blinds that are gray in color too?

When the carpet, furniture and accent wall look all gray, you may want to include a few more focal points such as yellow flowers in a vase at different sections of the room, awesome photographs in yellow frames and even some wall papers with yellow color. It is amazing to see how creative you can get when it comes to using gray and yellow colors in your home. In fact, you can apply similar color tactics in your bedroom as well. 

Click here to view more on Yellow And Gray and other Interior Color Schemes Fine Art Collection

I have been painting a lot over the last weeks or so. I have expanded my Sports Collection particularly my Equine and Horse Racing series. 
Normally, I will paint in spontaneity, with no specific style or painting method  in mind. But lately I have been specifically drawn to brilliantly colored impressionist style painting. 

The lack of detail in a painting  makes it more interesting. It helps the viewers to focus towards the overall aesthetic essence of the scene , its shading, movement and how the color flows, emphasizing and accentuating the changing of lights. There are times that that I'm leading more into impressionism with a little bit of realism feel to it.

Creating art has been a continuous journey for me. I hope you enjoy my creations. 
 There will be more that remains to be seen!  :) 

Click here to view more of my Equine Fine Art Collection

Some communities consider owls to be guardians of the afterlife or a ruler of the night. Greeks attributed the owl to Athena. Many of them believed that the association of Athena and the owl was attributed to the fact that owls were able to see in the dark- something that was considered a sign of wisdom. The light that reflected off their eyes in the dark signified an inner light or wisdom. There are also those who believe that Athena’s association with owls was due to the fact that there were so many owls at the hilltop that was dedicated to Athena.

Athenians used to produce owls in vases. They were used as a motivator during battles. Greek armies would go with an owl to war as a symbol of protection from Athena. During battle, the Greek army believed they would win whenever an owl flew over the soldiers. They took it as a sign of victory from the goddess herself. 

Artists have come up with beautiful pieces of art that try to evoke the mysterious power of Athena. The beautiful images represent the power of Athena and beauty showcased by the owls. In Greek, owls are not only used in military banners but also in their coins and pieces of artwork. They signify wealth, wisdom and power. 



 

There’s always a high level of anticipation whenever Pantone, a leading authority in color and design, is about to announce the color of the year. This year, Pantone’s pick was 18-1438 Marsala- a strong and earthy wine red color. According to Pantone, the rich and charismatic nature of that color brings out some sophistication which is what people are looking for.

This year’s selection is quite different from, Pantone 18-3224 Radiant Orchid which was their choice for last year. While Radiant Orchid was introduced to promote creativity and innovation, this year Marsala embodies richness and sophistication in a natural way. Pantone arrived at this decision with the help of Pantone Color Institute. Marsala has been described as a reddish brown hue with a sophisticated and organic air. Its vintage and pleasant feel evokes elegance. Unfortunately, some people find it boring and outdated probably because they are used to bolder colors.

Marsala is expected to transform the beauty scene, fashion, graphic design and interiors. In my opinion, this earthy and sophisticated hue could work perfectly for the home. It does not have to turn your interior into a dull and boring place. It just needs to be complemented with other colors that bring out a bit more life in order to prevent the interior from looking drab.

You may try incorporate beautiful pieces of artwork made using this color scheme in your interior. Art inspired by Marsala shades will work well in a traditional setting like a living area or bedroom. The Gray and Red Birch Trees – Marsala Art painting I painted can look amazing hang on a plain white wall. 

You can pair other elements in the area with reds and true browns to make the space feel a little cozier. But because the color is a little middy, it needs lots of natural light so make sure the room has expansive windows to let in adequate amount of light. The color will look even richer and more sophisticated if it is complemented with beautiful chandelier and other decorative elements and lighting fixtures. 

Instead of painting a bedroom in bright red, Marsala can be a great choice because it’s not so high energy in a place where you simply want to relax and sleep. Marsala is like a combination of deep red and plenty of brown which helps tone it down and create a mellower atmosphere for relaxing.

Instead of painting the walls in Marsala, you can use it minimally in built-in cabinetry and other accessories in your home. This is actually a great idea because it allows you to easily make changes in the future. You can also work more easily with other colors if you do not go overboard with Marsala in your interior decorations.

The other option is to combine a very bold color with Marsala especially during the hot summer months. The rich color is going to add life to the room. You can paint Marsala on your exterior walls and it will look amazing too.

Click here to see more artwork inspired by this color scheme.

I'm now officially selling throw pillows from my online store! If you're looking  to spruce up your living room or bedroom, one of the great ways to add flair and easily update your decor in a flash  is by adding and mixing up throw pillows.

I'm offering unique designs that are uncommon to see for a throw pillow. I think most of my art are suitable for throw pillows specially the graphic designs I have in my "Interior Color Schemes" and "Modern Abstract Art Collections. "They are all perfect as accents depending on the color of your furniture or interior. 


 

I have throw pillows that are complementing for Yellow and Gray color schemes, Turquoise and Red color schemes, shades of Blue such as Turquoise and Aquamarine interior color schemes, the naturally and earthy toned Marsala color schemes, Navy and different shades of Gray and more!

 You'll see variety of it that will definitely suit your preference!

Just select the size that you prefer and then click and drag to re-position the image if desired.  You have the option to change the orientation of the image, it really depends on you.  You can also choose whether you want to include the insert in your order or not. For me, this is a great option especially if you have some existing pillows and you just want to redesign or have a different look in your bedroom or living room without spending a lot.  You just have to know the size of your existing pillows by measuring them and then order the same size without the inserts.  In this case, you'll achieve a new look which is also cost friendly because the pillows without the inserts are really affordable!

Our throw pillows are made of 100% polyester fabric and are available in sizes from 14" x  14" up to 26" x 26". 
And I think the most interesting feature of these throw pillows is the design, which is printed on both sides, of course using the same image. Also, these pillows include a concealed zipper and removable insert for easy cleaning.

All my paintings, photography and designs are available to be made as throw pillows. You can visit my store and  check out how each art and designs will look on a pillow. 

So toss these beautiful pillows and add personality to your stylish and classy decor.  :-)


Click here to see all the Throw Pillows  I have available. 

I successfully managed to have a break from my ordinary routine by refraining from being in front of my laptop and creating art even for a couple of days.

Actually sort of. 
I recently visited the charming town of Woodstock, Vermont not because I want to stop creating art but mainly because I want to create more art by gathering inspirations from this beautiful scenic town. I have been expanding my pastoral scenes collection thus visiting Vermont is an absolute must in my bucket list.

It took around four hours to get to this quintessential New England town. The scenery was spectacular regardless of the fact that it was past peak season. There are still some trees that retained their vivid colors. The diverse shades of red to yellow to gold was calming for the soul for the eyes to behold. 

Once off the main highways, the scenic drive is  absolutely breathtaking, as the leaves were falling and swirling around. The sun glaring on the leaves heightened the amber color of the overall autumn atmosphere. Also, the rustling of dry, whirling leaves can be heard as the wind blows which added to the magnificence of touring the state.

The town of Woodstock is encompassed by several stores, bistros and restaurants. 
Strolling in this charming town  brought you back to a gentler lifestyle.  Meandering and perusing the storefronts was setting you in a typical New England town of yesteryear. 

We stayed at the Farmhouse Inn at Robinson Farm. The picturesque property is located on 17 breathtaking acres fronting the Ottauquechee River along the  scenic Vermont countryside.  

This historic farmstead is perfectly situated within a 10-minute drive to shops and dining restaurants or a  stroll in and around the town of Woodstock. 

Robinson farm is a completely delightful approach to dispose of all your repressed overabundance mental thoughts. As you arrive there by way of route 4, you will already notice the calmness of the setting. 


When you enter the inn, you're welcomed by the keeper of the domain, you are taken back in time by the tranquil ambiance of the place. The host made us feel like guests in a friend's home rather than paying guests.

Being a Bed and Breakfast, most  part of your breakfast is garnered from the farm. The breakfast was plentiful and superb! . All ingredients are organic and locally grown and produced. 

The food is wholesome and pleasing to the palate. The gracious innkeeper,  tries to accommodate all your needs.  The inn has various rooms to keep you entertained during inclement weather. Even it rained, the inn was warm and cozy. The inn also offers numerous activities that you can do inside the house, from sitting parlors to an activity room with musical instruments to books and puzzles.

The foliage is present at the farmhouse even though it's past its peak. The leaves that have fallen are indications of what was.  Chickens meander uninhibitedly over the entire farm pecking for food amongst the fallen foliage which is similar to a rug of plethora of colors. 

As you stroll the farm, you will see this huge 5-story dairy Red Barn which is one of the attractions in Woodstock, Vermont. The red barn is for their livestock and other several barns from a distance are mainly used for other farming purposes.

There is a vintage truck in an open garage wherein the chickens have made it one of their hangouts. the scene just adds to a perfect pastoral composition.

There is a pasture for a stunning stallion named, Yuma.  He is free to meander in and pose for photos. He seems to be content to walk in as if were a king ruling over his kingdom. 

When you venture on the farm, there are Adirondacks for sitting. Unwinding is truly a sight to embrace here. The scenery of the hills with their panoramic vista of colors simply lulls you to a deep slumber and forget all your miseries. 
The entire setting simply puts you in a peaceful state of mind. 

After we've enjoyed our stay, it's time to say goodbye in  this moment of peace and tranquility. Till we venture here again in the future of our lives.

Today, the farm managers continue the tradition of the small family farm,  raising cattle and sheep according to methods of sustainable agriculture. Although,  the 1796 farmhouse, the farm managers' residence,  is not open to the public. 

The farmer sells meat which is produced from their animals that are 100% grass-fed. The products are phenomenal! Free from the added artificial preservatives. The sausage, patties and various other items are genuinely a thing to be savoured. They also produce wool blankets for local markets.

At the entrance, there are brochures and guide maps provided to lead you on a 2-mile walk around the farm. They're open June 1-October 15, Tuesday and Sunday, 1-5 PM.
$4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 students and children. Historic New England members free. 


Visitors are welcome to explore the farm on their own by following a self-guided walking tour. Here you can explore the farm fields and pastures, observe wildlife and view seasonal farm activities.

As you walk by the paths, you can take a path which leads through cows and sheep in fenced in grazing areas. The flock of sheep and cattle which are mostly Red Devon Cattle are freely roaming on the farm and and are moved between grazing areas. 
You can also take a path which leads to the stunning view of the Narragansett Bay. You casually stroll on these paths which give you a sense of peace to forgetting your troubles.

This old windmill has been an important feature of the farm since the late 18th century. The windmill pumps water from an 80 foot deep well, which flows through underground pipes to watering outlets for the animals in the pastures. the wooden tank at the base of the windmill stores 2,000 gallons of water, most of which is needed for the livestock because each cow drinks an average of ten gallons during a summer day. The strong winds that blow across Conanicut Island make windmills an economical means of pumping water, and today some residents also use windmills to generate electricity.

I was fortunate to be there on that day because it was just the impeccable timing and spot for the nature's display of her distinctive fall colors.  
Equipped with my camera, I managed to capture several delightful New England Autumnal Farm Scenes and I have been using them as reference photographs for my Pastoral Paintings Collection.

  I have commenced a series of paintings from Watson Farm and some of my work are still in progress. 
Hopefully, It will be completed afore the year ends, The Watson Farm setting is beautiful and so serene that you will forget all unpleasantness that are going on in your life. The farm is undoubtedly one of the gems of New England.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to visit this farm. And I think, every once in a while, it's a great idea to visit a place like this to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life. 

 So explore and experience authentic New England history by visiting Watson Farm and by viewing these several finished creations I am posting here, I hope you'll enjoy them!