"New Website!"

Big News - New Website!

Don't miss out on new art, event notices and invitations...

Effective immediately (6/15/18), all of my art updates will appear on my new website. Located at www.moniquestraub.com, many of you have already visited my new site...thank you :)

But for those of you that follow my blog feed, hop on over to the new site and enter your email address so you don't miss out on the latest info. I have discontinued my blog posts, and will use the new website exclusively.

Upcoming Show Alert!

The excitement is building! Did I tell you I've been selected as one of 120 artists to show my paintings at the Laguna Beach Art A-Fair this summer? I'm jazzed, and to add to the excitement, my husband John has also been selected to show his photography. It will be an exciting, and exhausting show this summer. We'll be driving up a minimum of once a week for two months to fulfill our work requirements at the show on Thursdays, then returning on most weekends to work our respective booths.  I've been up to my eyeballs working on new paintings to show.

BTW, if you would like free season passes for two to the Art A-Fair, email your mailing address to me, and I'll mail them to you. Hope to see you there!

"Lofty"

"Lofty"
12" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

The flutter of palm fronds means just one thing here in sunny San Diego...summer is here! I'm ready for the smell of bbq, coconut oil, and the beach. Tourists are everywhere already, and it reminds me of a funny story. Back when I had a studio in Balboa Park at Spanish Village, the folks from the midwest would come into my studio remarking about the palm trees. It seemed so funny to me to think that there are folks that have only seen a palm tree in the movies. They're like weeds here :)

"Lofty" is painted in the cheery colors of Summer, on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $385 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

"Blue Noon"

"Blue Noon"
20" x 20" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

The hard shadows of the noontime sun were the inspiration for this scene that I spied on my way to the dentist office. Artistic license was at play, as I removed the concrete sidewalk and replaced it with a dirt path, and removed the eight story building in the background. Artists are like that, we move stuff!

"Blue Noon" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. This one is also the perfect size to hang in a guest bath, or kitchen. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $480 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

"Special Event!"

June is my birthday month...and you get the gift!

I'm celebrating with a special "Kick Off to Summer" event.

Prices as currently posted will have you enjoying up to 30% off Gallery prices on all of my available work.  Have a favorite in mind? Now is the time to pounce!

Just click on the "Available Original Works" button here, or on the tabs at the top of my website page and see what tickles your fancy. Also enjoy free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

Ready, set, go...!

"Dreamscape"

"Dreamscape"
20" x 20" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

My mornings always begin with an almond milk latte, and a nice long walk. With my trusty cellphone camera in hand, I usually snap away at interesting scenes that later become inspiration for my paintings. A recent walk along Fourth Avenue in Bankers Hill resulted in several snaps of interesting branch formations, and a few curious homeowners, wondering what I was doing taking pictures in their front yards! This time of year the trees are just starting to leaf out, and the branches are still mostly exposed...just perfect!

"Dreamscape" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. The perfect size to hang in a guest bath, or kitchen! You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $480 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

"Light & Shadow"

"Light & Shadow"
12" x 36" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Driving past groves of trees often brings on one of those, "Honey stop the car!" moments. This particular scene was at the side of the road overlooking the Pacific Ocean off La Jolla Shores Drive. In the life of an artist, a simple Sunday drive to brunch can bring on an entire series of paintings.

"Light & Shadow" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. Bring the cool hues of a coastal morning into your home! You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $495 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

"Lucky 13"

"Lucky 13"
© Monique Straub
12" x 36" Oil on Canvas

Talk about luck...did I tell you I have been selected as one of 120 artists to show my work in Laguna Beach at the Laguna Art A-Fair this summer? I'm thrilled, and to add to the excitement, my husband John has also been selected to show his photography. It will be an exciting, and exhausting show this summer. We will be driving up a minimum of once per week for two months to work the show and attend the many festivities and parties that are planned. I have been "burning up the brushes" in my studio in preparation, and will be offering "first dibs" on all of my newest work to my long time collectors and new collectors (that could be you!) Stay tuned for more info in future posts.

"Lucky 13" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $495 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

"Saturday Morning"

"Saturday Morning"
12" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Headed out for a walk in the trees this morning. As a city dweller here in the burbs of San Diego, I'm lucky to have a nearby lake to stroll. The smell of sage in the morning is almost as pleasing as the smell of freshly brewed coffee...almost.

"Saturday Morning" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $400 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S. Updated 5/14/18: Sold...and on its way to Arizona!

"Jive"

"Jive"
12" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Poppies dancing in the wind, the smell of warm garden soil, the chorus of birds singing in the morning. These are some of my favorite things. I recently noticed that the song birds have returned to my neighborhood. Waking to their morning "jive" is a sure sign that we are heading into summer. I'm often visited by the birds during my evening watering in the back yard. I hold the hose high and spray into the sky as the hummingbirds dive through the water, back and forth. It's the simple things in life that make life so enjoyable :)

"Jive" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $385 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

The life of a festival artist...

"Another happy collector..."

Wow...what a weekend at Mission Federal ArtWalk! A big thank you is in order to my social media pals, collectors, friends and neighbors for adding my work to their homes. Special thanks to Gustavo (pictured above) for swooping in on two of my favorite paintings at 5:59 p.m. on Sunday afternoon...you made my day!

The months of May and June will be busy in the studio, since I am now painting new works for the Laguna Art A-Fair festival, taking place July through August. This festival is one of three major art shows that take place in Laguna Beach each summer. I will have my very own booth with ten to fifteen paintings on display for the duration of the show. I'll be working at the festival grounds one or two days per week, and hope to have my schedule finalized soon so I can share that info with you.

As always, I would love to paint something special for you! Drop me an email if you have ideas.

It's Art Festival Season!

I hope you can join me for the 34th Annual Mission Federal ArtWalk, San Diego's premier arts and culture event. It's next weekend, it's free, and covers 17 blocks in the Little Italy neighborhood. This is a fun filled two day festival of music, photography, sculpture, glass work, jewelry and of course painting. The times are 11:00 to 6:00pm both days. Hope to see you there.

You can get directions and parking info here: www.artwalksandiego.org/missionfederal

Sunday Drive

"Sunday Drive"
24" x 24 " Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Driving the road from San Diego to Palm Desert is one of my happy places! Not a lot of traffic, clear blue sky, and I know I'm in for a fun filled weekend. I have many happy memories of vacationing in Palm Springs in the 60's with my parents. I was about 10, and back in those days, when things were much safer, they would think nothing of going out for dinner and dancing, leaving me at the swanky hotel, poolside with the room service menu and my little french poodle. Suzie and I would delight in a dinner of hamburger, fries and a coke...all the while watching the cute pool boys. John and I vacation there often, and some day, we may make the permanent move. I will relive my childhood ...minus the pool boys :)

"Sunday Drive" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $650 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

"Just Beachy"

"Just Beachy"
24" x 36" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Yes, things are going "Just Beachy" in the studio lately. Preparing for Mission Federal ArtWalk at the end of this month, and the Laguna Beach Art A-Fair in July/August this summer has provided the perfect set of deadlines to keep things humming. I'm looking forward to showing all of my latest  works...unless you would like to beat me to it, and snap them up here...

"Just Beachy" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $1200 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S. Updated 4/27/18: Sold!

Sunny Times Ahead

"Sunny Times Ahead"
24" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Sunflowers...who doesn't love them? Their bright faces bring joy to my studio, and I gaze at them often throughout the day. A sure sign of summer, they spring up at random on the hillside behind my house, and the birds flutter with delight. The perfect painting subject, they are very cooperative :)

"Sunny Times Ahead" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $650 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

Five O'Clock Somewhere

"Five O'Clock Somewhere"
24" x 24" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

The long shadows of fall are slowly being replaced by fresh green grasses. The painters palette has changed yet again, and soon brilliant greens will command center stage. I've taken to mixing up the color combos in the last few paintings, still deciding which pieces will fit the bill at Laguna Art A-Fair this summer. My new booth will be built soon, and it will be time to paint, install lighting and signage. For now, I'm stumped on what the wall color will be. Something between a neutral gray, or a warm golden...

"Five O'Clock Somewhere" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $650 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

Happy Trails

"Happy Trails"
12" x 36" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Hiking and picnic season is finally upon us here in San Diego...yippee! I can't wait to get back to Torrey Pines State Park, Mission Trails Regional Park, and a few of my other favorite places for painting inspiration. Sycamore Canyon is on my list this year, I've only spied it from trips to the coast via Hwy. 52, but the giant California Sycamores are just begging to be painted...and I must oblige :)

"Happy Trails" is painted on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $650 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S. Updated 4/27/18: Sold!

The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour
24" x 36" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

With the arrival of Spring, the late afternoon golden glow is slowly returning to the sky. Palette changes are in order, and I'm up to the task. This familiar scene of traveling through central California will spark another series of new paintings, as it always has. It's the beginning of art show season, and oil paint is flying in the studio. First up is Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy here in San Diego, April 28-29...I'll be there...will you?

"The Golden Hour" is painted in the warm colors of a springtime afternoon, on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $1200 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S. Updated 4/27/18: Sold!

"Bird Candy"

"Bird Candy"
12" x 36" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

Spring has made an early appearance in the garden, and the birds are singing about it! I regularly take a morning walk through the neighborhood, and there is a "birdie tree" right down the street. This time of year the tree is a riot of singing birdies, happy to announce the flowers have arrived. This piece is another of the new sizes I'm trying out, and it was lots of fun to create.

"Bird Candy" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $650 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S. Updated 4/27/18: Sold!

"Spring Break"

"Spring Break"
12" x 36" Oil on Canvas
© Monique Straub

It's that pink again...it has worked its way into another painting! With all things Spring happening everywhere lately, my color palette has definitely taken a turn. This new piece is also a fun experiment with new canvas sizes and shapes, sure to fit nicely into any room.  I'm even painting one for my guest powder room, that way I can match some bold new towel colors for a quick Spring lift.

"Spring Break" is painted in oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted black, ready to hang and enjoy. You can purchase here and have it delivered to your door. $495 with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.