Today I am giving away three paintings... here is the first :

To win this painting, answer these two questions: 

1. what is the name of the song playing in this video?

2. What is the name of the man with the flowy white scarf in this video?

I'm behind on my painting giveaways...but I plan on catching up! :-[) 

Today's painting that is up for grabs is this fella....

the question:

Name ONE of the movies these photos are from... 

if you can name both.... gosh you're good!!!  First person to answer correctly on my instagram wins! :-[)

This lil painting here is up for grabs.... 

how to score this.... answer these 3 questions: 

1. What is the name of the artist that did this painting?

2. what movie made this song popular?

hint: 

3. Who said this quote:

HAPPIEST GIRLS ARE THE PRETTIEST 

Today's painting giveaway question is this: 

Name the movie that was filmed mostly in this building pictured below and has

this song [video underneath building pic] at the very end of the movie...

hint: I was about 9 or 10 when it came out...and it's one of my very favorite movies ever! 

First person to answer correctly on Instagram wins my buffalo portrait... 

Feeling "off " with my painting today.... those days happen though... :] 

Here she is, I imagine she's walking through a blizzard carrying warm baked potatoes that warm her body...

To win this painting, tell who the name of this group is pictured below,

 first person with the correct answer on my instagram wins... :) 

This is the December 13th point 2 giveaway - FOR AUSTRALIA instagramers ONLY!!! :-[) 

Here is the painting up for grabs! 

This one makes me want to blast some remixed jazz while cleaning house, you? 

First person to answer these three questions [all together] on my instagram wins! 

1. What is the last name of this family [pictured]

2. what art movement is this chair from?

3. In my blog post just before this one, in the kickstarter video, 

name at least one place that Adrien has designed for.

What's a great way to give back, especially this holiday season? Support hard working entrepreneurs on kickstarter! A friend of mine, Shawn Reddy [whom I went to school with at Parsons] recently told me of his boyfriend Adrien Dacquel's campaign to get his line of t-shirts off and running. With the help from me, you, and so many others.... we have the opportunity to literally help make a person's dream come true!  *oh, and...it's a tax right off as well. Woot Woot! :-[)

Here is one of Adrien's designs that is my favorite, 

this guy is a fantastic illustrator....hello! don't you want this tee or tote??!! 

jPlease help in supporting Adrien, if you're financially not able to make even the smallest donation, sharing his video will help just as well!Good luck Adrien, I hope you reach your goal. :)  - Best, Roxy Marj

view Adrien's Kickstarter page HERE

Today's giveaway if for EUROPE ONLY!!! Because of time differences around the world and wanting to give everyone everywhere a fair chance, I will break some of the giveaways up into continents!  :-) Later today, in about 7 hours I will do another painting giveaway for Australia.. :)

This painting is of my character "The Traveling Salesman by Day, Golddigger by Night" and the quote basically means that you appreciate things more when you work hard for them, the "warming twice" is about feeling good about yourself when you're working hard i.e. chopping wood and then feeling good again when you get to enjoy the rewards, like a fire or whatever it may be... :) At least this is what the quote means to me.  First person to answer all three questions correctly on my instagram wins! Good luck!

Please answer these three questions:

1. Who was this fireplace designed by? 

2. What school did this person study at?

3. Where is the person singing from? [see video]

Today's painting has a quote that I like a lot, and had pinned awhile ago on pinterest... 

I felt that today seemed like a good day to use it. :)  There a handful of people in my life that genuinely 

seem like they are happy all the time...and probably have the same issues [perhaps more] that you and I have, yet there is something different about them.... I guarantee it's their thoughts. ;-) 

To win this painting, please tell me what movie this odd looking creature is from...this is another tricky one!   First person with the correct answer on my Instagram wins.  If you have won a painting already, please allow 30 days to win something from me again. Gotta be fair here. :) Thanks so much for playing! 

Today's painting that is being given away is a 10"x8"

Tthis was originally started a couple years ago and  forgot about it...I found it this

afternoon and decided to finish it for the giveaway.... excited to see who the lucky winner will be... 

To win this lil lamb painting, please answer the following questions.

Below are 4 photographs, please tell me the name of what movies the top two and bottom left hand corner are from, the bottom right hand corner I would like to know who that lady is married too...  good luck!

 First person to write all four answers correctly on my instagram wins! 

Okay here is today's [really yesterday's...im 15 min late in posting] painting up for grabs!

How to win this?  Tell me the name of this band pictured below... first person to answer correctly on my instagram wins this lambydeer..... Good luck! :-[) Tricky hint* they were my fav. band when I was in 4th grade! 

 a musican that makes me smile... El Perro Del Mar

speaking of which, apparently this is something we are designed to do. 

i believe it.  

today's painting hopefully will make you smile, and even more so if you win it! 

Tooo win... in the song El Perro says she is doing something for hours...what is it? 

First correct answer on my instagram wins this painting. Good luck! xo

. g l i t t e r .

today's painting involves this precious and enchanting particle. 

I've shared this Etsy video about glitter on my blog before,

 but it's so fascinating to watch that it's worth sharing multiple times. 

To win my little painting...please finish this sentence: 

Those who wear it obviously carry __________________

answer found in this short video. Good luck and as always, 

first person to give the correct answer on my instagram wins. :) 

Well, it's officially Sunday... but i'm still counting today's painting for Saturday [yesterday]I had a busier day than had planned.  On instagram I follow Naomi [ @rynomiandtheboys ] and her absolutely darling two boys. Oliver in particular is quite hilarious in pictures, and seems like a sweet older brother to his lil brother Arlo. Their world inspires me, and today my painting was inspired by this picture of Oliver. In Naomi's words: "I love that Oliver thought it was necessary to wear his top hat to the grocery store." This kid kills me!

I have to confess...this was much harder for me then I had anticipated. I don't feel like I captured Oliver's stance, hand placement and expression the way I wanted to in character form...but, it was a good challenge for me to do, and I need to just keep working at it. I may have a couple do-overs with this one... :/ 

But to win this painting! 

 Please answer 3 of the 5 questions regardingjs the Wendy Williams interview that I posted about yesterday...

Q 1 :  What's the one place she couldn't tell what costs what? 

Q 2 :  What's the secret to her success? 

Q 3 : What is the biggest fear in America? 

Q 4 : What does she think of Miley Cyrus? lol :-p 

Q 5: Finish the word in this sentence: "To not be able to _____ has got to be crippling. 

Tomorrow's giveaway is gonna be more involved! I am going to ask a question that has to do with Larry King's interview with Wendy Williams [interview below] and even if you're not interested in trying to win tomorrows painting, this is still a good watch, Wendy Williams is something else and such a riot!

 Good Luck everyone! I will post my painting tomorrow evening, so there is enough time for everyone around the world to watch and play.

Today's painting is a near copy of a digital illustration I a couple years back... I decided it needed to be in real painted form. Up until today, this character of mine has never had a name...but today I shall name shirtless character who wears gloves and boots that are 5 sizes too big...Cliff!

How to win this little painting of Cliff :

Tell me the name of this person pictured 

*hint - he relied greatly on orchestration for melodic effects.

Today'sgiveaway painting is of my character Bjorn the Woodsman 2.0 

 I originally did this illustration 4 years ago....

but today I gave Bjorn  an upgrade: some yellow suspenders and blue check jeans...along

with a snowy backdrop...oh, and a more simplified face.. :) 

How to win this little painting...

Question : What was the most visited National Park in the United States in 2012? 

First person to post the correct answer [well the one thakt matches mine] on 

my instagram wins this painting of Bjorn!  Good Luck! :) 

Today's painting that is up for grabs: 

How to win: 

In this holiday shopping video with Simon Doonan [if you don't know who he is, google him..he's worth it!] he talks about all the different kinds of gifts you can get for your many loved ones.  One of the gifts he holds up is a very large book about Perfume... what little red things are all over the cover?  First person to give the correct answer on my INSTAGRAM jwins this 5.5" x 7.5" gouache painting on bristol... good luck! :-[) 

Today's painting is inspired by Francis and the Lights' song "Like a Dream"  

Last night while watching the video it made me think of my character Moon and the painting I did over 4 years ago of him going to work. To bring you up to speed: The story behind Moon is that he is a hard worker and takes his job very seriously, unlike Sun...who is careless, forgetful and just wants to have fun all the time. Moon wears a business suit to work every night, along with a top hat and carries a briefcase full of newspapers. On the outside he comes across somewhat mysterious, and sort of intimidating...but really Moon is probably the most sensitive character you will ever meet. Because he is so serious though, he rarely makes time to let loose and just have fun. While watching this video "Like a Dream" I instantly transferred Moon into this man [Francis] and imagined that he was on his way to work as usual...and then out of nowhere decided to start skipping... well after 30+ plus repeats of this song [i'm pretty obsessed] I came up with this lil painting.  Now, how do you win this? In the video he says he was waiting for something to start.... first person to tell me the correct answer on my instagram, will get this painting of Moon skipping his way to work! :) Good Luck! 

This was the painting of Moon from 2009 that my friend Christopher Palazzo

 [pictured] bought at my art show... it's a little small, but this is the only picture I have of 

Moon walking upstairs, going to work. :)

Today's clue is.... "we could fall in love again tonight"  

*hint*  this musician was named after a type of scale...

- first person to leave the correct answer on my INSTAGRAM  :) 

dnwins this  5.5" x 7.5" painting, done in gouache on cold pressed bristol 

It's been so long since my last post that I have almost forgotten how to do this all together. 

A lot has happened --- but more importantly, it's the month of December today...that month that hosts Christmas...my very favorite holiday. I have been brainstorming the last couple weeks of what I could do this holiday season  that would be extra special, and something everyone would [hopefully] look forward to every day. 

The idea to give away mini paintings came to mind, and that is what's going down each and every day this month. So...how can you score a painting?  Every day I will give you a clue here on my blog... the first person to leave a comment on my INSTAGRAM [@roxymarj] of the painting of that day with the RIGHT ANSWER, wins the painting...no matter where you live, no need to repost pics, or sign up for anything... just leave the right answer...but be the first! ;-[)  GOOD LUCK!! xoxo

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Today's clue is "Just Breathe"  

BE THE FIRST to tell me the band who sings this song...clue: the space needle  & 

you will win this 7.5" x 5.5" bearded man gouache painting on cold pressed bristol

A couple weeks ago I entered the Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search

I found out last week that I didn't make the top 50.  My heart totally sank but then at the same time.... I wasn't surprised. I still have a long way to go with character development. I am pretty much self taught... I do count the fashion illustration classes I had in school and the collections we designed weekly as contributors to my level of illustration.. but still, I struggle with showing expression, action, storytelling etc. 

BUT, you just have to keep drawing and painting right?!? Looking back to where I was 5..10 years ago...there's huge improvement. So you just focus on that and keep making work. I love all the illustrators work who did make the cut! One of my friends and whose work I really admire is Denise Holmes...she's in the top 50 and her Journal cover is so darling! Good luck to you Denise, I hope you win this thing lady!! :-[)

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Participants were asked to illustrate a journal cover with the theme being "Playground" - this was a good exercise for me that pushed me in directions I probably wouldn't have taken myself. :)

Here are a couple of my thumbnail sketches and then my cover design:

I just entered Harley in abc's show, The View's Pedigree Mutt contest!

 I hope he wins... he really deserves a vacation! :-[) hehehe 

Here are all my best/favorite photos of Harley...so lucky that he gets to live with us. His personality is just so endearing... aren't you glad we have animals on this planet!!! And I will say it again, but if you haven't read "Animals in Translation" by Temple Grandin, and you too are an animal lover...well, you just gotta read it! It is literally one of my very favorite books out there! Harley, here's to you and your awesomeness...win this contest dude! 

Friends, neighbors, countrymen! I am in search of a female business partner for my company Roxy Marj. I have been running my business full time for the last year now and things just keep getting better. My company was growing at a pace that I was able to maintain on my own, but with the launch of new products since November, things have really taken speed. The growth is not gargantuan by any means, but it has come to the point where positions need to be created, and duties delegated. I am hoping to find someone who has the means of investing in my company [not a whole lot right now $5,000 or lower] but who also wants to take the reigns of the business side and steer it in the direction upwards. I prefer a female and hopefully someone who is a mother and loves/knows the children's industry as well as design. I am not looking for someone with a degree in business necessarily, but a background, yes.... as well as someone who has experience and ENJOYS managing production.  I am an open-minded, laid back person who works well with others, and am looking for the same kind of person... You don't need to be local [Utah] but you do need to be within the United States.  If you are interested or know someone who might be, please email me for consideration. I have a small business plan already written up that I would be happy to email you.  

The ULTIMATE main goal for my company Roxy Marj is to not only create products that people love and adore, and won't ever give away...but a company whose culture is exciting, positive and a place that people will never want to leave. 

 I look forward to finding a fantastic, fun, motivated 

and very sweet person to work with!

Please email with any questions, hot topics, or funny jokes :) to:  r o x y m a r j d e s i g n @ gmail.com

This past weekend, we went to Jackson Hole with two other couples. That place is a mecca for mother nature inspiration! And I have to say that the fly fishing in Jackson is waaay prettier than the places I have been to here in Utah... or I mean the landscape of where we fished just seamed more peaceful... I don't know if it was because of the widespread openness or the lack of mosquitoes... either way, i'm hankering to go back!

One of the highlights of visiting Jackson Hole is that my older brother Paul lives there. He is a plethora of knowledge - all things Jackson Hole/the Tetons/ rivers/hikes etc. We were able to pack a lot in, in a short amount of time. Here are some photos from our trip... some taken by me, my husband Jesse and Liybie Cerar, who was also on the trip with us.

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so many things to get inspired by in the outdoors... I could spend all day wandering around in the woods, on a river, at the beach, in the dessert... you name it. There is such an abundance of inspiration! 

Yesterday morning, the Gros ventre river my brother took us too was so lovely...

I loved how there were all these split or crushed rocks everywhere in between the river rock. 

This was giving me some really great ideas for our yard among other things. :)

with our two other couples friends hiking around Jenny Lake

from L-R [ Ravi, Liybie, Me, Jesse, my bro. Paul, Tara & Adam]

Liybie just finished college, majoring in photography.

 She's dang good and she also rides horses...even cooler huh! :-[) 

I am so glad she came with us to the Gros ventre yesterday morning, she captured some really

beautiful images of Jesse, Paul, and I fishing...& there was no one out there but us... it was awesome.

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and then we ended our trip looking for some Buffalo and Moose... we were only successful with the first. 

and there were tons of them all over, close to the cars...obviously used to having their photos taken. BUT when the guys were all fishing Friday evening they spotted 4 Moose, so not a total loss one bit. 

am sad for our trip to be over, but also really glad to be home. I desperately missed Harley...but knowing he was in good hands with my Mom while she house-sat for us eased a lot of stress... I missed our lil house, our yard and especially our bed. With that said, I am truly looking forward to our next visit to Jackson and hanging out with my brother again! :)