A Fisherartist's Colors Casting for Art and Nature

Both avid fisherman and artist, Mike Savlen has the outdoorsman's dream of submerging himself into the elements of nature to take them as his subjects to create a medium full of lively and contrasting colors that builds his paintings with every brush stroke.

Mike is the owner and full-time artist behind Savlen Studios, but his journey to becoming one of the most recognized artists in the fly and sport fishing art world started when he was just 16 years old. He sold his first painting as a young teenager to the wife of famed author and artist Rudy de Reyna, most know for his Draw What You See instructional books and his realistic oil and watercolor paintings. In addition to producing his own art, Mike has previously been a Victorian restoration painter, art director, commercial fisherman, and has served the United States of America in two branches of the military!

"I am constantly inspired by what I experience outdoors. I am an avid hunter and fisherman, and proud of it. From beautiful to brutal, hilarious to heartbreaking; I find nature is truth in the purest form. Never asking for praise and having no need for forgiveness." Mike's experiences have led him to see what truly makes up the reflection of marine life, land animals, landscapes, and more - the reflection of millions of different colors coming together to transform his subjects into a beautiful piece of art.

Mike's paintings don't just come in the form of different mediums on canvas and paper, in fact how awesome would it be to have your favorite original Savlen painting, or have your favorite piece on the backsplash of your kitchen, the bottom of your pool, walls in your bathroom shower... the possibilities are endless for tiled and mural art by Mike if your creative imagination can think of it. I personally love the pool idea :)

His paintings are like a breath of life. When observing one you can hear the movement of the fish in the water, the sun-kissed sizzle of the sand, the air bubbles swimming through the different layers of water temperatures, a summer day breeze rolling through the puffy white clouds, some even make you wonder what would be around the corner if the canvas was bigger.

Mike's popularity has stretched across the world into different countries, and into dozens of publications and magazines such as the Marlin Magazine, GAFF Magazine, Fly Rod & Reel, On The Water, American Angler, On The Edge, as well as so many more in the fishing and lifestyle industry.

One of the most unique art services Mike offers is his Bragging Rights Portraits in which Mike will personally create a digital painting from a photograph you provide to him. Maybe you went on a deep sea fishing trip with some friends and snapped a shot of your biggest catches, went on a hunting trip and shot your best buck, or your husband, brother, sister, or wife caught a great fish (maybe it was even their first fish!). Mike can turn these special outdoor moments into a work of art you can hang in your office or home. This portrait can make the PERFECT unique and special gift for anyone during their birthday, anniversary, Christmas, and especially Father's Day (so everyone who didn't get dad something, hurry and call or email Mike to help you out!).

Bragging Rights Portrait by Mike Savlen

Check out this progression of a painting that took Mike 4 years to complete when he started the 8.5 foot permit piece featuring bonefish and tarpon in Costa Rica and then finished in New Hampshire!

Mike's art is just incredible, don't you agree? With the extraordinary help of Mike's wife, Donna-lee, Savlen Studios has partnered with ArtSea Chic to GIVEAWAY one professional giclee 16x16x1.25'' Conch Shell Nautical Coastal Art Study Painting Print on premium canvas, stretched on a wooden frame (1.25''x1.25'') with stretcher bars, and features black sides and ready-to-hang mounting hardware and hanger.Valued at over $100!

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept entrants outside of the United States into this giveaway due to increased shipping costs at this time. Sorry for the inconvenience!

The giveaway starts today and will end at midnight CST on Thursday, June 20. One lucky winner will be announced the morning of Friday, June 21 on the ArtSea Chic Facebook page.

Pin the fishing quotes below with Mike's art on them!

 CLICK HERE TO ENTER

 

Spring's Coastal Home Storage Fix

Spring is going to be leaving us soon, have you finished all your spring cleaning in preparation for summer parties, an airy clean home, and a no-hassle summer day? I just finished my cleaning a few days ago - totally had to go through my entire closet and get that all straightened out ;)

Storage is so important to have for the little trinkets, books, and magazines around your living room - or the endless appearances of toys on the floor if you have kids...don't you just feel less stressed out if your rooms are all clean? I sure do, and I know you'd love to work towards that if you still have things laying around the house.

Coastal Seasons is the fix for having lovely coastal storage accented with beachy details within your home for a clutter-free look. Martha, the designer and owner behind Coastal Seasons's shop on Etsy, handcrafts each vintage item which mirrors coastal living relaxation within the newly created piece. From storage baskets and pillows to candle holders and the occasional stand-up paddle board from Epic Aqua Sports, Coastal Seasons is a stylish and affordable shop to meet your decor and storage needs, and has over 300 sales to prove it! Check out the interview with Martha and some of my favorite products of hers below.

1. How did you get the idea to launch Coastal Seasons, and what makes running the business so enjoyable for you?
"I love to sew and craft, and since I live on the coast of Florida and love everything to do with the beach and water, I decided to start a shop to sell my unique coastal theme items. The business is enjoyable because I can create whatever I want and really use my imagination and skills. I like the satisfaction of designing an item and then actually making it myself. I create the types of things I would want in my own home, with the thought that others will want them in their homes too, whether they live in a coastal area or not."



2. What product do you sell the most of?
"I sell more of my fabric baskets than any other item. I think it's because people are looking for a unique way to organize things, and I include a coastal accent to the baskets, usually in the form of a starfish or shell."

3. What's your favorite beach or destination to travel to?
"That's a difficult choice! Every beach is so unique and different. My lifelong favorite is Pass-A-Grille Beach on the West coast of Florida, and my new favorite is Green Turtle Bay in the Bahamas."

4. What do you hope people will see or feel when they buy, give, or look at your products?
"I hope they will feel the relaxation that comes while sitting on the beach, enjoying the warmth of the sun and listening to the sounds of the waves."



5. What is your favorite thing about living in New Smyrna Beach, Florida?
"New Smyrna Beach is a wonderful place to live and work. My favorite thing is having easy access to the beach and Intercoastal Way where you can enjoy seeing dolphins, manatee, and a variety of bird-life. The downside is that it's difficult to be indoors when the weather is so nice, when I would rather be walking on the beach, boating, or stand up paddle boarding!" (SUP!)

6. If you could have one of your products in the home of any celebrity, political figure, etc who would it be and why?
"I would choose Martha Stewart because she has done so much to bring the arts of sewing, crafting, and entertainment into the spotlight. Without her influence and creativity, I don't think the "handcrafting community" would have the presence and acceptance it currently enjoys."

O the possibilities of where these baskets could be in a home, don't you agree?!

Find Coastal Seasons on Etsy and Facebook

One lucky winner will be chosen Friday morning on June 14th. To enter go to the ArtSea Chic Facebook page and click on the giveaway app - or click the link below. Good luck!

Enter the giveaway!

CLICK HERE

6 Ideas For A Beach Baby Shower

Since we're on the topic of baby showers this weekend, thought I'd share a few finds that would work great for the cutest beach baby shower. Whether you're planning a shower or attending one, all these ideas are great to keep in mind. Pin them for later ;)

1. Tissue Paper Tassel Garland: This could easily be a DIY with a few tissue paper colors, rubberbands, and string. Hang them from the ceilings, front of tables, chair backs, or counter edges. If you don't feel like making your own, ThePaperJar Etsy shop has great handmade garlands in different colors to choose from!

2. Lifesaver Utensil Wraps: For a nautical touch on tables, wrap colored napkins and tie off with jute string with a white mint lifesaver.

3. Beach Ball Favors: These adorable beach ball favors inspired by Social Salutations are an easy DIY that take just a few minutes to put together. Staple the beach ball bag to two pieces of cardstock paper and you're done! The balls can be pink/white for a girl, and blue/white for a boy.

4. Thank You Cards: A simple greeting that says so much, RoyalRegards Etsy shop's beach baby thank you cards are handmade from cardstock paper including the onesie cut in 3D. The lettering is hand-stamped in ink, and features an inside of white paper for writing. If you're feeling crafty this could easily be a DIY, but if not, check out RoyalRegards. Their cards come in a set of 10 with matching white envelopes.

5. Beach Mama To-Be Cake: I think this is the most adorable baby shower cake I have ever seen, and so creative! The bathing suit color reflects either a boy or girl, and has an imprint of a foot in the corner of the stomach. If you're good at making cakes, this might just be one of the easier baby shower cakes to make.

6. Beachy Diaper Cake: Accent a table with one of these super easy-to-make diaper cakes. There's tons of videos on YouTube on how to make one of your own. This one I particularly like beach it's so vibrant in color with the flower topper, and has a letter to symbolize the baby-to-be's name. On the ribbon seashells and starfish have been glued on to make it all that more beachy.














With so many good decorating and gifting ideas out there, find more on the ArtSea Chic The Baby Bump (AKA Get Kids To Like The Sea Too) Pinterest board.

DIY Baby Shower Airplane Diaper Cake Gift

It's a gorgeous day here in north Texas! I had a few requests for the baby shower diaper airplane cake gift I made last night via a YouTube video by Thom's Crafts and Treats. So here's all the lovely details on how to make one yourself for either a baby boy or girl (and I promise you can if I was able to do it)!

It took a total of 4.5 hours to make after I bought everything from Michaels and Target, so put aside 5 hours at least. First, you want to go to Target and find the baby accessories you'll use for making the plane so you'll be able to match the paper craft tape and ribbon's colors. This will be around $68 depending on the item brands you purchase. From Target look for:

36 Pampers Size 2 Diapers
2 Playtex Drop-In Liner Nursers
1 Flower Headwrap
4 Receiving Blankets
1 Fleece Blanket
1 Small Stuffed Animal 
2 Soft-Tip Infant Spoons
1 Rubberband Bag (large rubberbands)

Then you'll want to head to Michaels and find the materials that are going to help you build the actual airplane pieces. This purchase will be around $20. From Michaels look for:

8.5''x11'' Cardstock Paper
4 Craft Tape Rolls
1 Pipecleaner Bag
20''x30'' Foamboard 
1 Wide Ribbon Roll
2 Regular Ribbon Rolls

The final miscellaneous things you'll need on hand are:
Scissors
Tape Measure
Box Cutter Knife
Regular Tape
Masking Tape
Cardboard Paper Towel Roll 
Airplane Formation Building Layout (click here) 
Phone or Computer To Watch The Video


Once you have everything, lay them out on a table so you know what you're working with. First thing to tackle is drawing out the airplane formation. This is the hardest part, just follow the directions on the downloadable layout and you'll be fine.

Here's a few picks I took along the building process while watching the video. I did a few things that the video doesn't tell you to do, but as you build along you'll see what works best for you. I wanted everything super secure since it'll be going on a four hour roadtrip.

And that's everything you need to know to get started! The tutorial video is below, good luck! If you make one I'd love to see how it turned out. You can post a picture on the ArtSea Chic Facebook page.

2 Year Anniversary Celebration Giveaway Sponsored by Little Gift Basket Boutique, LLC

Guess what! ArtSea Chic is 2 years old today! It's been such an amazing two years and I can't thank all of you enough for supporting the blog and sharing your thoughts and what you like most from ArtSea Chic.  Within the past year the blog has gone international, reaching over 58 countries to date! This is truly an honor.

ArtSea Chic was born back in the summer of 2011 when I finished college at the University of Texas at Arlington while I was looking for a little (turned out to be big) project to put my newly learned marketing skills to good use on while I tried to find a job out in the real world. Needless to say I ended up at a great company and still find time for my love of blogging and sharing coastal finds, inspiring businesses, and spreading the word about environmental issues that impact our oceans and earth.

So now, it's time to celebrate with all of you for this special occasion, and we couldn't have a better sponsor on board to spread the excitement than Little Gift Basket Boutique, LLC - because they too are celebrating their anniversary, yay! It has been one amazing year for Little Gift Basket Boutique who has wowed hundreds of customers with their unique and affordable quality gift baskets fit for any occasion you could think of.

Two weeks ago I ordered a Mother's Day It's A Bloomin Gardeners Bucket Gift Basket for my mom and she loved it! We planted the packages of Morning Glory, Sunflower, and Petunia flower seeds in little recycled water bottle pots I made the same day and look how far they've come! They'll be ready to put in the ground soon, they're fast little growers :)

Little Gift Basket Boutique's gift baskets make the perfect all-in-one gift for family members, friends, co-workers...pretty much anyone :) I asked Nicole Mantzke, owner of Little Gift Basket Boutique what her thoughts were on the business and what's in store for the future. See the interview below!

1. How did you get the idea to launch Little Gift Basket Boutique, and what are your plans for growing the business?
"I've known for a really long time that one day I would own my own business, but never really had any idea what it would be. I knew that I wanted it to be something I enjoy, something I'm passionate about, and something I could bring to other people to enjoy. I spent a few years researching everything I could about owning a business -- from brick and mortar to ecommerce, and towards the end of that research, one night it just came to me. I LOVE gift baskets! I love receiving them, I love sending them, and best of all, I always love the reactions of those I send them to. That night, I knew that my business was going to focus around gift baskets, and my research lead me to learning all I could about gift baskets and the industry. Not too long after that, I started working on the design of the website, and eventually Little Gift Basket Boutique was born!"

2. What gift basket category is your most popular?
"Spa & Relaxation gift baskets and Gourmet gift baskets. Both offer a wide variety and assortment for any budget!"

3. What is your favorite beach or destination to travel to?
"My favorite beach is New Smyrna Beach because it's relatively local, easy to travel to, and great for bike riding! But my favorite destination is Maui; nothing beats Maui beaches and the beautiful Pacific Ocean!"

4. What do you hope people will see or feel when they buy, give, or look at your baskets?
"I hope that people will see the uniqueness and quality that make up my gift baskets, and I want them to feel like they're special; that the gift basket is not just a gift, but a personal reflection of them in some way. I want them to enjoy every item found in the gift basket, and I want them to know just how much they mean to the person who selected it for them. There's a lot of pride and joy that goes into every gift basket I offer, and more than anything I hope that shines through to everyone who visits my website, as well as those who receive my gift baskets."

5. What's your favorite thing about living and working in Spring Hill, Florida?
"It's amazing for so many reasons, but the most favorite is the warm tropical weather, tranquility and the scenery I'm surrounded by every day. I work in a room out of my house that is mostly made up of windows that are floor-to-ceiling. I open them every morning before I sit down to work so I can feel and enjoy the breeze that blows off the lake - it's like working outside but without the hot Florida sun beating down on me."

6. If you could create a gift basket for anyone to receive (celebrity, political figure, etc) who would it be and why?
"I'd create a gift basket for Ellen DeGeneres. She's so entertaining and full of fun, watching her just makes me smile. Her fan base is massive, and it's also the perfect age group for targeting those who love gift baskets. I would love for her to get her hands on one of my gift baskets, perhaps one day..."


To celebrate both our anniversaries, Little Gift Basket Boutique is sponsoring a giveaway of their Seashells by the Seashore Tropical Gift Basket filled with yummy treats to take with you to the beach, pool-side, or out for a picnic!

Find Little Gift Basket Boutique on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!
 

One lucky winner will be chosen Friday morning on May 31st. To enter go to the ArtSea Chic Facebook page and click on the giveaway app tab - or click the link below. Good luck!

Enter the Anniversary Giveaway!

CLICK HERE