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"My work chronicles my search for the spirit that touches the soul through the female and floral forms with a focus on color, expression, strength and the concept of the sacred feminine." - Michelle Leivan

Discover enriched living with Michelle Leivan Originals.

With gestural brushstrokes and unanticipated colors Michelle's paintings provide the enduring spark for a love affair filled with passion and mystery.

Your investment in these one of a kind expressions will provide you with a lifetime of beauty and comfort for your home or office.

For every original painting sold from this site, if you are not 100 percent satisfied simply return it to me and I'll refund the entire purchase price.

Also, lay-away available contact me for options.



  
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The Stroke of Genius Game

Declare yourself an
Art Genius! By Michelle Leivan

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Landscapes in the Abstract

by Michelle Leivan on 2/4/2010 7:20:04 AM
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Tomorrow during the First Friday Art Walk, SouthWind Art Gallery is hosting a bold new show of contemporary abstract landscapes for which I have created some new pieces.

Artists' Reception
Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 6 - 8:30 p.m.

I am stepping out of my box a little for these, but I am having a load of fun! It is going to be a fantastic show with artist's from across the country. Also, my necklaces, winecharms, tiles and cards are available at SouthWind Art Gallery. Not everything is available online, but stop in and see me 10-6 Monday through Thursday.

Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Landscapes in the Abstract
is the title of our annual all-abstract exhibit featuring the work of 33 artists from Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Canada.

This year's all-abstract show focuses on the landscape, but rather than literal translations, the artists interpret nature in fresh and powerful abstract forms that capture atmosphere and mood instead of detail The artists' have used shape, color, texture and line that elicits both contemplation and excitement for the viewer.

The stylistic variety in Landscapes in the Abstract is highly engaging with 33 artists participating, each using his or her own visual impressions and emotions to create works of art. The paintings in the exhibit include all mediums from acrylic to oils, to watercolor and encaustic, as well as mixed media pieces.

Landscapes in the Abstract Artists:
Janet Bailey, Ed Balda, Carol A. Bradbury, Steve Denny, Dana Hassett, Mike Henry, Phillip Hershberger, Linda Humphries, Cally Krallman, Michelle Leivan, Jancy Pettit, Beverly Radefeld, and Barbara Waterman-Peters (Topeka, KS); John Gary Brown, Jane R. Flanders, Robert Sudlow, and Joanie Whitenight (Lawrence, KS); James Pringle Cook (Tucson, AZ); Gary Ozias (Downs, KS); Debra J. Groesser (Ralston, NE); Nicole and Wes Hyde (Denver, CO); Stephen Kilborn (Taos, NM); Alyson, KinKade (Loveland, CO); Scott Lennox (Ft. Worth, TX); Mary Binford Miller (Eldorado, KS); Neil Patterson (Alberta, Canada); Jim Rigg (Manhattan, KS); Don Tiller (Port Townsend, WA). To see more go to

 www.SouthWindArtGallery.com


Also,
February Newsletter Link from Michelle Leivan Original Painting

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Two Opportunities to play Stroke of Genius Game this week!

by Michelle Leivan on 10/15/2009 7:52:02 AM
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Greetings!

I want to invite you to two Stroke of Genius Game Night opportunities.

The first is at Ice and Olives in Topeka on October 15, 2009 at 5:30. Ice and Olives' Java Bar, at 29th and Croco, Topeka has a wonderful menu and great coffee. So make plans for supper and free games!

The other opportunity will be at the Arty Party a fun filled fundraiser for Arts Connect on October 17th  7:00pm.-11:00pm
College Hill Apartments, 1425 SW Lane, Topeka. Click here to make your reservations for this event.

Also, catch me on Ralph Hipp's 13 news at 4 on WIBW channel 13 show, October 12th to learn more about the Stroke of Genius Game!

It will be wild and exciting evenings of artsy game fun! Let me know if you are planning to attend either or both of these events!
 
Sincerely,
 
Michelle Leivan
Stroke of Genius Game Night
Ice and Olives on Thursday October 15th
Stroke of Genius Game
5:30 pm - Play Stroke of Genius Game for FREE!

"All you game groupies need to mark your calendar and visit us beginning at 5:30 PM to play "Stroke of Genius", an innovative new game which uses art as its focal point, invented by local artist Michelle Levian." - Barry Busch owner of Ice & Olives' Java Bar.

This game night is a little earlier than the last one at Ice and Olives, and it's because they have GREAT food and coffee. You can make your evening of Food, Fun and Games!

Stroke of Genius is a creative game that challenges you to take a single drawn Stroke and transform it into an imaginative picture that reflects the Spark Word, please the Juror and collect the Spark Word cards to win the game.

I am an Art Genius!Offering fun for three or more players, each spontaneous stroke challenges you, sparks the imagination and offers limitless possibilities and healthy self expression. Your fellow Artist provides that first stroke and the Juror a word of thought provoking direction. Your task is to quickly finish the picture, in any way you want. Keep in mind, you must please the ever subjective Juror to earn enough Spark Cards to declare yourself the Art Genius and win!

And there will even be Stroke of Genius Game Swag as prizes! But surely you'd come even if I didn't bribe you...

You can see some home videos of game play and various comments about the game at www.strokeofgeniusgame.com (it's a facebook page, so why not become a fan while you are there too!)
 
Ice and Olives
Starting at 5:30 p.m.
Thunderbird Square Shopping Center
29th and Croco Rd.
Topeka, KS
785.215.8460
Celebrate the Arts in Topeka with the Stroke of Genius Game!
at the Arty Party!
The Arty Party - Arts Connect Topeka
It's Part Art, Part Party

Celebrating Topeka:
A Great Arts Town!

Cool Cocktails
Delectable Desserts
Interactive Art
Art Market
Stroke of Genius Game play!

Live Music by
Josh Vowell & the Rumble (winner of the Topeka IBC International Blues Challenge)
The Nick Hern Band &Stroke of Genius Game
DJs Ebony & Ivory

Reservation costs:
$35 per person
$75 VIP Includes an exclusive, limited edition, signed and numbered Mike Savage print AND access to the Splash! VIP Lounge
$135 Couple's VIP Includes 2 tickets with Splash! VIP Lounge, and 1 Mike Savage print

Kansas Wildflower Stemware CharmsI will have a display of my artwork in the Art Kansas Wildflower NecklacesMarket where you can buy not only the game but some wonderful gifts of Kansas Wildflower original paintings, necklaces, wine charm sets and notecards for the upcoming holidays! There will be game tables on the patio available so you can to learn how to play Stroke of Genius Game before you buy it for everyone you know!
Where & When
College Hill Apartments
1425 SW Lane
Topeka, Kansas
Saturday, October 17th, 2009
7pm-11pm
Please click here to
make your reservations
for this event!

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Take Kansas Home dot com!

by Michelle Leivan on 8/20/2009 10:16:08 PM
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Take Kansas Home.com
Echinacea Tile Set

Take Kansas Home!
TakeKansasHome.com was created through a public-private partnership between the Kansas Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Division and Free Bird Business Solutions.  The goal of this venture is to feature Kansas culture as it is represented in the fine artisan goods produced in our state. Kansas artists offer a host of wonderful handcrafted items, from specialty foods, to artwork, crafts and glassware.

You can find specially selected 8x10 prints, ceramic art tile sets, wine charm sets, note card sets and my Stroke of Genius Game.

http://www.TakeKansasHome.com Go check it out! Find out more about the site, and
do a search for my name!
 

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Stroke of Genius Game Night - Public Premier

by Michelle Leivan on 8/13/2009 11:37:46 AM
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Stroke of Genius Game Night
Public Premier
Stroke of Genius Game

"Wednesday August 19, 2009 - 7:00 pm Stroke of Genius Game
is our first "Game Night". All you game groupies need to mark your calendar and visit us beginning at 7 PM to play "Stroke of Genius", an innovative new game which uses art as its focal point, invented by local artist Michelle Levian." - Ice and Olives!

Wow do I need to say more! I am so excited! Oh, maybe a little about the game itself!

Stroke of Genius is a creative, wacky drawing game that sparks the imagination! Come an try it out at the event and get one for your next family game night!

I am an Art Genius!Offering fun for three or more players, each spontaneous stroke challenges you, sparks the imagination and offers limitless possibilities and healthy self expression. Your fellow Artist provides that first stroke and the Juror a word of thought provoking direction. Your task is to quickly finish the picture, in any way you want. Keep in mind, you must please the ever subjective Juror to earn enough Spark Cards to declare yourself the Art Genius and win!

And there will even be Stroke of Genius Game Swag as prizes! SWEET! But surely you'd come even if I didn't bribe you...

You can see some home videos of game play and various comments about the game at www.strokeofgeniusgame.com (it's a facebook page, so why not become a fan while you are there too!)
 
Ice and Olives

Starting at 7:00 p.m.
Thunderbird Square Shopping Center
29th and Croco Rd.
Topeka, KS
785.215.8460

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Creations Unique With Originals!

by Michelle Leivan on 8/13/2009 11:31:21 AM
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Creations Unique in Topeka now Showing Several of My Originals! 4028 SW Huntoon (Gage Village) Phone: 785-271-8288Playful Peek
I had the pleasure of meeting Tamra at Creations Unique.
She was gracious enough to offer me her entire south wall to exhibit my originals. You have got to stop in this month to take a look!

I was thrilled when I stumbled upon her store a few weeks back, a customer at Framewoods was needing stain glass repair and we guided him to Creations Unique. So, I thought I'd better go see where we were sending people. Tamra teaches classes on stained glass, fused glass and glass bead making. I also discovered that she sells the glass tiles that I've been coveting for my jewelry design. One of the things that is important to me is to find the items I use to create my work in the local economy and nearly jumped up and down when she brought out exactly what I spent all summer looking for!

Along with my originals, you will also find my Stroke of Genius game, note cards, wine charms and tiles and hopefully soon, my jewelry!

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Dreamy Wildflower Necklaces!

by Michelle Leivan on 8/8/2009 8:01:25 AM
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Can Be Found at
Dreamy Wildflower Necklaces
I have been working all summer designing a new product line. In our current economy it's good to have a variety of options for the art lover and I wanted to make something fun and can be worn next to your heart!
 
Kansas romance in its finest form can be found with these glass tile and ribbon necklaces featuring a print of a wildflower painting from the Kansas Wildflower Series, handmade, by me!
 
Pendant measures approximately 1" in length are made with a selected print which is adhered to a slumped glass tile and covered with water resistant glaze. This necklace also features 19" coordinating ribbon and cord strands with gold tone Aanraku bail and clasp. All displayed delightfully on a gift card and packaged with an envelope.
 
There are several designs to choose from and they make a wonderfully unique gift!

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Aaron Douglas Art Fair

by Michelle Leivan on 8/5/2009 8:25:46 PM
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Still accepting artist's entries until August 28th!
Aaron Douglas Art Fair

Youth, High School, College Student, Amateur, and Professional so artists of all ages can apply!

Don't miss out on this Family event! 4th Annual Aaron Douglas Art Fair Don't miss out on this great family event!
Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Aaron Douglas Art Fair coming this fall on Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Aaron Douglas Art Park 12th and Lane in Topeka. This year's fair will be bigger than ever, featuring:
  • Over 30 local artist exhibiting original artwork in a variety of mediums
  • "Kansas Silkers" will be doing demonstrations of their art process
  • Live musical entertainment
  • Lots of fun FREE children's activities
  • Affordable Food and Beverages sold by community NIA's
The fair will showcase the work of diverse and emerging artists from the region to keep alive the legacy of Aaron Douglas, a renowned artist from Topeka who was the leading visual artist of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s.

Initiated in 2006 by the Topeka TurnAround Team, the Aaron Douglas Art Fair simultaneously celebrates the memory of Douglas, nurtures up-and-coming artists from all walks of life, and provides a fun and creative environment for residents of Topeka and beyond.

Check it out, apply - forward to your artist friends!
www.AaronDouglasArtFair.com

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Game Premier!

by Michelle Leivan on 8/5/2009 8:16:40 PM
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Stroke of Genious Card Game!
A Stroke of Genius Game Night!
"Wednesday August 19, 2009 - 7:00 pm is our first "Game Night". All you game groupies need to mark your calendar and visit us beginning at 7 PM to play "Stroke of Genius", an innovative new game which uses art as its focal point, invented by local artist Michelle Levian." - Ice and Olives! 
Thunderbird Square Shopping Center
29th and Croco Rd.
Topeka, KS
785.215.8460

Wow do I need to say more! I am so excited! Oh, maybe a little about the game itself! Stroke of Genius is a creative, wacky drawing game that sparks the imagination! Come and try it out and order one for your next family game night!

Offering fun for three or more players, each spontaneousI am an Art Genius stroke challenges you, sparks the imagination and offers limitless possibilities and healthy self expression. Your fellow Artist provides that first stroke and the Juror a word of thought provoking direction. Your task is to quickly finish the picture, in any way you want. Keep in mind, you must please the ever subjective Juror to earn enough Spark Cards to declare yourself the Art Genius and win!

And there will even be Stroke of Genius Swag for prizes at Game Night! SWEET! But surely you'd come even if I didn't bribe you...

You can see some home videos of game play and various comments about the game at www.strokeofgeniusgame.com (it's a facebook page, so why not become a fan while you are there too!)

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Stressed? Reduce Stress with Flower Paintings in Your Rooms

by Kathleen Karlsen on 5/30/2009 2:37:11 PM
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Expanding Reach by Michelle Leivan
I don't know about you, but just watching the news stresses me out. I found this little article that offers more than a suggestion to help make the places that you live and work a little less stressful. And I have a few flower paintings that just might fit the bill if you decide to feed your spirit and destress your rooms.

Reducing Stress With Flower Paintings
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Karlsen]Kathleen Karlsen

Can the decor in a room help relieve stress? A 1996 study conducted by Virginia Lohr and others showed that rooms and offices decorated with plants and flowers helped reduce stress as measured by decreased blood pressure and pulse rates. Researchers have further determined that there is a direct link between flowers and life satisfaction.

A study done at Rutgers demonstrated that flowers decrease anxiety, depression and agitation. Flowers also lead to a higher sense of enjoyment and increased contact with family and friends. Flowers make a home more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere.

Additional research by Diane Relf of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute has shown that people communicate better in the presence of flowers or plants and they tend to eat more slowly. Others studies focused specifically on seniors and tracked improvements in memory in the presence of flowers.

By decorating your home or office with flower paintings rather than fresh flowers, you introduce flowers into your decor that will never fade. Having flowers as a permanent element into your home can be a positive influence for both inhabitants and visitors. With all of the prints and posters available today, choose a flower painting to decorate any area of your home or business is relatively easy.

Floral paintings can be used in almost every area of a home or business. Small flower paintings are perfect for bathrooms, hallways, entryways or bedrooms. Large flower paintings add cheer and color to dining rooms, living rooms and family rooms. For businesses or offices, flower paintings are traditional for waiting areas and reception areas. Flowers have universal appeal and work well in just about any decor to lower stress and uplift everyone's mood!

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is a professional artist, a freelance writer and marketing consultant residing in Bozeman, Montana. For unique decorative gifts for flower lovers and an in-depth article on flower meanings, see http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm



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Summer Solstice

by Michelle Leivan on 4/17/2009 7:07:58 PM
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Acrylic on Canvas 48"x36"
This piece features the Kansas wildflower St. John’s The dark spots on the petals are said to represent drops of St. John's blood. KSwildflower.org

Saint John who had been sentenced to death was beheaded violently. Saint John’s splashing holy blood formed the red oil spots on the translucent yellow leaves of St. john's wort . The Saint’s healing power passed to St. John’s wort and the plant was called the root of Saint John.

The medicinal property of St. John’s wort for many different health problems raised it to a legendary level and made it the subject matter of myths and folk beliefs.

In Ancient Rome they called the St. John’s wort the “demon scare”. It was a talisman hanged in houses for driving away and being protected from the evil spirits. Besides that, it was believed to be protecting the house from thunderbolt and death. Ottoman soldiers used to carry with them the oil of St. John’s wort for to treat wounds. Much more at StJohnsWortOil.com The magickal herb

It was customary in Britain and Europe on St John’s Eve, to gather certain herbs, such as St John’s wort, vervain, trefoil and rue, all of which were believed to have magical properties. St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) does, in fact, have scientifically proven anti -depressant qualities. Drinks were brewed from it to cure madness, sciatica, epilepsy and paralysis. The salve made from the herb cured wounds from spears and swords - or, so it is said.

Flowers of St John’s wort used to be collected in Britain and Europe on St John’s Eve (June 23rd) and worn on the body or hung over doorways as protection against witches. It was also placed near windows as witches can look in to cast a spell. Even in recent times the people of the Landes district of France would make crosses of wort on their doors. In Britain, one old custom was for a maiden to pick a sprig of St John’s wort and wear it in her bosom until Christmas, by which time the man who was to be her husband, and he alone, would see it and take it from her. More at WilsonsAlmanac.com

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