TonyaMaroney.com

Summer Tomato Bruschetta

July 2, 2009 – 9:10 pm | By Tonya Maroney

Tomato Bruschetta

French bread loaf

7 Tomatoes diced

Mozzarella cubed

1 Garlic head finely minced

½ Onion diced (if you like)

Basil leaves roughly torn as much or little as you like

Extra Virgin Olive Oil      

Sea salt

Black pepper freshly ground

 

Directions:

Mix all  ingredients - except for French bread and 1 clove of garlic - together in a bowl. After making the tomato mixture let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors marry.

While that is sitting and getting yummy, slice the French bread on the bias as thick as you prefer. Drizzle with EVOO. Turn the oven to Broil. Toast the bread slices until lightly browned. When you remove the bread from the oven, use one whole garlic clove and rub over bread.

When you are ready to serve. Place tomato mixture on the already toasted bread. Garnish with extra basil. Enjoy!!

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Hash Brown Quiche

June 3, 2009 – 5:50 am | By Tonya Maroney

4 cups frozen loose packed shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed

Pam - butter flavored

1 cup diced cooked ham

1 cup shredded cheese - I use Mexican mix with 4 cheese pregrated

¼ cup onions, chopped

½ cup mushrooms, sliced

2 eggs

½ cup milk

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425. Press hash browns between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Spray a 9 inch pie dish with Pam. Press hash browns into the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate. Spray the top of hash browns with the Pam, also. Bake for 25 minutes. While that is baking spray non-stick skillet with Pam and cook onions; then, add mushrooms and ham. Cook until onions and mushrooms are soft and not crunchy. Set aside and let cool. In a separate bowl place eggs, milk, salt and pepper; do not mix yet. Remove hash browns from the oven and reduce the heat to 350. Spread ham, mushrooms and onions over the hash browns. Sprinkle cheese in next. Beat the egg mixture until frothy. Pour over the stuff in the pie plate. Bake for 20 minutes.

Yields 6 servings.

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Found a piece of Fine Art you LOVE… Now what? part 1 of 4

March 28, 2009 – 2:11 am | By Tonya Maroney

Buy it! Right?

Wrong!!!

Now, you need to look at four other parts to the Fine Art decorating delimma. In this post we will discuss the first one.

1. Does the painting fit the space you have available?
2. Are the colors of the work of art complementary to the room?
3. Does it create the correct mood in the room you have chose to display it?
4. Do you LOVE the piece in the setting you have chosen?

1. Does the painting fit the space you have available?

Yes, in this instance, size does matter!!! The painting of course!!

Loving a piece of art will not make it fit the area you have chosen to display it. Unfortunately, you will fall in LOVE with some pieces that just won’t work because of their size. For this reason, it is good to know the size extremes you need (smallest to largest that will fit) BEFORE you start looking.

So, get out your handy dandy tape measure and get to work. The time you spend measuring now can save you much sadness later. You know how awful it is when you can’t have something that you LOVE. –And remember that is the only kind of art you should buy when you are decorating your living space. It must pass the “OMG!” Test. (See the previous post for the OMG! test.)

Other things to keep in mind when you are contemplating the size of artwork you are choosing are size in relation to the furniture and the size of the wall.

The “chosen” painting should not be longer than the piece of furniture it is behind/above. For example if you are hanging a painting behind a sofa, the piece should not extend past the width of the furniture. Otherwise it looks off balance, making the arrangement awkward.

When you have a narrow  wall you will want to look for a narrow creation. If you have a large area, go in search of  a huge piece of work. I know, it sounds like common sense. But you have to stop and think about what you need before buying art online or at an art show.

 

My motto…. Live with Art you LOVE!!

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I Have Fallen In Love…. Again!!

July 16, 2008 – 9:05 pm | By Tonya Maroney

I am in LOVE!!!!

What a  feeling!! And the object of my undying love isn’t even complete yet.

This piece is inspired by the spray of yellow flowers that grow along East Texas highways.

I remember my daughter bending to pluck these flowers. Then, she would run back to me with them clutched in her tiny hands. The yellow blooms were a demonstration of her love.

Each year, I wait for the same roads and hills to dance with the brilliant blanket of yellow flowers.  And when they do, I smile remembering the bouquets that were picked with such care just for me.

We all remembers bouquets that were picked with love by tiny trusting hands.

Now, I don’t have to wait for those flowers to bloom to take out that special memory. It will be hanging in my living room.

I will post the completed piece when I am finished with it. Keep checking back to see how it turns out.

Posted in Floral Paintings, Oil Paintings, Paintings, Uncategorized | No Comments »

What To Do??….Purchasing Art You LOVE Online or At An Art Show

July 9, 2008 – 11:25 am | By Tonya Maroney

Buying Fine art and Custom Art online or at an art show are both great ways to purchase artwork to decorate your home or office. Each venue offers different benefits and drawbacks.

Purchasing Art Online

When you are looking for fine art online you have tons of artist sites to visit. (Of course you will want to check out my Gallery.) Still, it can be almost overwhelming. To help you feel more comfortable, find an artist that you LOVE their style. Sometimes you will want to watch the artists site for a time period and other times you can tell they have been there for a while and aren’t going anywhere. Read the rest of this entry »

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Flowers Everywhere… All Year Long!

July 8, 2008 – 5:44 am | By Tonya Maroney

Flowers everywhere!! That would be fine with me. I enjoy their beauty and fragrance. Unfortunately, flowers are not in bloom all year long. For this reason, I paint them… so, I can enjoy their magnificent color on a canvas all the time.

This floral oil painting is 5″X7″. The coloration ranges form soft pinks to rich burgundies. It makes you want to pick the flowers off the canvas and place them in a vase on your side table.

Notice the rich texture of the oil paint that was used. It gives the flower an added dimension of feeling and depth.

Contact me for information on pricing and shipping. See the Gallery for other fine art floral paintings.

Posted in Floral Paintings, Oil Paintings | No Comments »

Bozo the Clown Statue Found in a Corner

July 8, 2008 – 4:42 am | By Tonya Maroney

Our family has a soft spot for quality and true to life clowns. This fellow definitely fits the bill! He makes me smile every time I see him.

Long ago, I started buying clowns for my husband, JP Maroney. JP has always loved them. His office is even decorated in fabulous clown figurines and paintings.

I recently found this red nosed fellow hidden in an antique store corner. He stands 24 inches tall and is playing a musical instrument. He has a tag that reads, “I spread laughter, joy and good cheer… so call me Bozo. Then follow my example! Laughter is good for the soul.”

Contact me for pricing and shipping information.

If you love clowns, see the art gallery for fantastic clown paintings.

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Choosing the “OMG!” piece of Fine Art to decorate your space…

June 26, 2008 – 1:53 am | By Tonya Maroney

How do you choose the perfect piece of Art? My answer to that is… Keep looking until it passes the “OMG!” test.

You know when you hate something, like something and when you LOVE something. You and I have both felt each of these feelings when looking at Art. Art is created to elicit an emotion. So, don’t be afraid of what you feel. Trust that instant reaction you have to a painting – whether it is like, hate or LOVE!

The OMG test is when you are viewing piece after piece of Art and all the sudden you stop in your tracks — or your mouse does — and you say, “OMG!” (Oh, my Gosh! or Oh, my Gawd! –Depending on where you are from and your religious convictions.)

When you utter those 3 words, you know you have found a contender for the area on your wall.

So the next time you are in the market for the PERFECT piece of art to grace the interior of your home or office, dig through oil paintings and water colors of all genres until you find the “OMG!” piece you can’t live without.

Trust me! If you don’t LOVE it, you won’t want to live with it and look at EVERY day.

Happy Fine Art Hunting…

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Tonya Maroney: Rock and Roll Soul Turned Artist!

June 22, 2008 – 7:01 am | By Tonya Maroney

A paintbrush, a glass of wine and 80’s rock and roll! These are the companions of choice as Texas-based artist Tonya Maroney takes her place in front of a fresh, white canvas.

 

At her side, tubes of paint lay waiting, as the sharp aroma of mineral spirits and the sounds of Bruce Springsteen fill the air.

 

This is the art of living well.

 

As Tonya places the first stroke of paint on the canvas, something inside energizes her. She is where she loves to be – creating, enjoying the moment.

 

Not for others, but for herself.

 

She and her brush dance to the tunes of Aerosmith, Prince, and Bon Jovi as a picture begins to form on the canvas surface. This is the essence of her communication.

 

The art of winemaking and the art of making good music are complimented by Tonya’s love and passion for creating fine art.

 

Like the note-by-note melody of a song, she creates her work, stroke-by-stroke. This rock and roll soul is an artist – a true artist.

 

She’s found her own way, her own style, her own voice. And through her art, she’s touching others in a special way – like the lyrics of a great song.

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Gallery Slideshow

June 20, 2008 – 5:49 am | By Tonya Maroney

Posted in Watercolor Paintings | No Comments »