The Creations of M. Nicole van Dam ®

The Water Fountain

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Artimagination

Water FountainThe Water Fountain

The Water Fountain was inspired both by my love of gardens and water features, and by the magic memory of the story “The Secret Garden” where children find and revive a forgotten hidden garden. Perhaps that’s why the following memory I have related to The Water Fountain artwork resonates with me so much: One of my collectors sent me an email, sharing that the collector’s daughter asked if she could live in the Water Fountain garden someday. It means so much to me when my work makes a child imagine beyond the canvas and happy. Re The Water Fountain, I love the joyous dance of garden water features and the secret havens they create, and tried to express that in this artwork.

If you are interested in purchasing a print or other fun items with this artwork or licensing this artwork, please contact me at M. Nicole van Dam.

The Water Fountain is available in Limited Edition prints and many lovely stationery, household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? If you are interested in purchasing a print or other fun items with this artwork or licensing this artwork, please contact me at M. Nicole van Dam.

This site contains the valuable intellectual property of M. Nicole van Dam. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, M. Nicole van Dam® and Artimagination® are respectively federally registered trademarks owned by M. Nicole van Dam, and the contents of this site, including each artwork, each artwork element, title, storyline, book, character, poetry and text, are each respectively TM and (c) 1999-2014 M. Nicole van Dam. All Rights Reserved. Similarly, the artwork on this site, including also the look and feel and style of the artwork and individual elements within the artwork, constitutes the valuable trade dress of M. Nicole van Dam. No contents of this site or any artwork or writing on this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of M. Nicole van Dam. To request such consent or to license the artwork or other contents of this site, please contact M. Nicole van Dam.

Posted in In the Garden, Nature and Animals, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio, Scapes, Water Features | Tagged animals, art, bird, feature, floral, fountain, garden, in the garden, living green, M. Nicole van Dam, nvd, plein air, rose, water, water feature | Leave a comment

Spring Flowers

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Artimagination

Inspired by Nicole’s garden and the happy surprises that Spring brings. All the artwork you see here is available in Limited Edition prints and many household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Posted in Abstracts, In the Garden, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio | Tagged art, daffodil, daisy, garden, gerbera, in the garden, living green, M. Nicole van Dam, nvd, spring flower, still life, sunflower, tulip | Leave a comment

The Letter ‘A’

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Artimagination

The Letter ‘A’ marks the beginning of my grand quest to create an artwork for every letter of the alphabet. It was fun to create, and brought me back to my childhood and learning the alphabet and to read. Enjoy finding the many things that begin with the letter ‘A’ included in this fun artwork. All the artwork you see here is available in Limited Edition prints and many household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Available in Limited Edition prints and more, available at Create.bz.

This site contains the valuable intellectual property of M. Nicole van Dam. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, M. Nicole van Dam® and Artimagination® are respectively federally registered trademarks owned by M. Nicole van Dam, and the contents of this site, including each artwork, each artwork element, title, storyline, book, character, poetry and text, are each respectively TM and (c) 1999-2016 M. Nicole van Dam. All Rights Reserved. Similarly, the artwork on this site, including also the look and feel and style of the artwork and individual elements within the artwork, constitutes the valuable trade dress of M. Nicole van Dam. No contents of this site or any artwork or writing on this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of M. Nicole van Dam. To request such consent or to license the artwork or other contents of this site, please contact M. Nicole van Dam.

Posted in Abstracts, Emoticons, Nature and Animals, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio | Tagged aardvark, acorn, alpaca, alphabet, animals, ant eater, anteater, antelope, ape, Apple, armadillo, emoticon, letter, nicole van dam, nvd, the letter 'a' | Leave a comment

The WaterFall

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Artimagination

The WaterFall
The WaterFall was inspired by the water feature at the West Los Angeles Ghetty Museum gardens. I visited when the water garden had just been planted, and the underpinnings of how they built it had not yet been hidden by plant growth. I imagined how spectacular it could be, and that was what inspired this artwork. The WaterFall is a mixed media work including a carved slate mosaic and painting. For the waterfall flow, I tried to capture the waterfalls I had experienced in nature in Ithaca, New York. Instead of the waterfalls leading to ponds of water, I created The WaterFall so the water bursts into into blossoms as the water cascades.

If you are interested in purchasing a print or other fun items with this artwork or licensing this artwork, please contact me at M. Nicole van Dam.

The WaterFall is available in Limited Edition prints and many lovely stationery, household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? If you are interested in purchasing a print or other fun items with this artwork or licensing this artwork, please contact me at M. Nicole van Dam.

Posted in In the Garden, Most Popular, Nature and Animals, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio, Scapes, Water Features | Tagged field, Ghetty, in the garden, landscape, M. Nicole van Dam, nvd, plein air, romantic destin, stream, water, water fall, water feature, waterfall | Leave a comment

Flower Faeries

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Artimagination

Flower Faeries is perhaps the first work in which I find what I consider to be my artistic nirvana, where my imagination was set free in color and less inhibited composition, far less fettered to the earthly ties of reality. This work was inspired by the playful, joyous dance of flowers and nature in my garden, my years of imaginings, and the intricate geometric interplay nature creates in our everyday surroundings. I had so much fun creating this artwork! This work has been internationally licensed for boots – at see photos. All the artwork you see here is available in Limited Edition prints and many household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Available in Limited Edition prints and more, available atCreate.bz.

This site contains the valuable intellectual property of M. Nicole van Dam. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, M. Nicole van Dam® and Artimagination® are respectively federally registered trademarks owned by M. Nicole van Dam, and the contents of this site, including each artwork, each artwork element, title, storyline, book, character, poetry and text, are each respectively TM and (c) 1999-2016 M. Nicole van Dam. All Rights Reserved. Similarly, the artwork on this site, including also the look and feel and style of the artwork and individual elements within the artwork, constitutes the valuable trade dress of M. Nicole van Dam. No contents of this site or any artwork or writing on this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of M. Nicole van Dam. To request such consent or to license the artwork or other contents of this site, please contact M. Nicole van Dam.

Posted in Abstracts, In the Garden, Most Popular, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio | Tagged art, dance, dancing, faerie, fairy, floral, flower, garden, in the garden, lilies, lily, living green, M. Nicole van Dam, magic, most popular, nvd, tulip | Leave a comment

Tea Time

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Artimagination

Inspired by the enticing foods Nicole didn’t eat at an afternoon tea, Nicole went home and painted the breads and butter she had wished to eat, but hadn’t due to one of her many diets. Licensed internationally for glass plates, and in addition all the artwork you see here is available in Limited Edition prints and many household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Posted in Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio, Still Life | Tagged Apple, art, bread, breakfast, butter, coffee, diet, emoticon, M. Nicole van Dam, meal, most popular, muffin, nvd, pansies, pansy, porcelain, rose, still life, tea, tea cup, tea pot, tea time | Leave a comment

Country Cottage

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Artimagination

Inspired by the thatched roof cozy cottages of the English countryside,with their adjacent farms and rose gardens, and the secret havens they create. Enjoy the bit of whimsy in the little black sheep grazing with his flock. All the artwork you see here is available in Limited Edition prints and many household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Posted in In the Garden, Nature and Animals, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio, Romantic Destinations | Tagged animals, art, black sheep, climbing rose, cottage, countryside, in the garden, lamb, landscapes, M. Nicole van Dam, nvd, romantic destionations, rose, sheep, thatched roof, village, yellow rose | Leave a comment

Dolphins at the Harbor

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Artimagination

Dolphins at the HarborDolphins at the Harbor
Dolphins at the Harbor was inspired by the both the dolphins I grew up (and even swam) with, and the picturesque harbor at Santa Barbara with its lovely dolphin statue by Bud Bottoms. I admire each dolphin statue I’ve seen by sculptor Bud Bottoms. An especial treat for me was when Bud Bottoms visited my Santa Barbara Gallery when I first completed the artwork and had a lovely chat about how he got started with his first sculpture in his pickup truck. What a story! -and I was so happy he liked my artwork!

If you are interested in purchasing a print or other fun items with this artwork or licensing this artwork, please contact me at M. Nicole van Dam.

Dolphins at the Harbor is available in Limited Edition prints and many lovely stationery, household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? If you are interested in purchasing a print or other fun items with this artwork or licensing this artwork, please contact me at M. Nicole van Dam.

Posted in Nature and Animals, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio, Romantic Destinations, Scapes | Tagged animals, art, bay, california, dolphin, harbor, landscape, M. Nicole van Dam, nvd, ocean, plein air, romantic destinations, Santa Barbara, water, water feature | Leave a comment

Our injured Black-Headed Grosbeak has a friend!

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Artimagination

Injured Grosbeak has a new friend!

We are thrilled that so many black-headed grosbeaks have returned with the warmer weather, to keep our injured black-headed grosbeak company. Sometimes our little guy has as many as three fellow grosbeaks around him – all males. Once I saw a different male grosbeak with a gorgeous ethereal female, but that was the only female I’ve seen recently. I asked the kind folks at Cornell Ornithology about how long these male grosbeak friendships will last, and apparently they will last as long as there is no lady grosbeak around! I don’t know what to wish for now! Here is the video – ENJOY!

Posted in Gardening & Animals & Inspirations | Tagged bird, black-headed grosbeak, environment, garden, living green, M. Nicole van Dam | Leave a comment

Inspiring Santa Barbara “Ever-Bloom” Nursery Tour

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Artimagination

Thanks to my amazing friend Carol, we went with the Ventura County Garden Club on a SPECTACULAR tour of Santa Babara’s Ever-Bloom nursery – and all I can say is… LOOK AT THESE PICTURES! I am so inspired! Imagine acres and acres of gorgeous gerbera daisies, seemingly dancing a colorful ballet as far as the eye can see. These gerberas are all from imported plants from Holland (The Netherlands). MANY THANKS to Louise and Janet and the Ventura County Garden Club for making me feel so welcome and arranging this tour, and to my talented friend Carol, and to the lovely Ever-Bloom nursery. What an inspiring treat for an Impressionist artist!

Here are just a few examples of the lovely gerbera daisies we saw:

Have you ever seen gerbera daisies like this? WOW!

Look at these spikey petals combined with that blaze of color - Van Gogh watch out!

Cheery Sunny Gerbera - I got to take this one home! On a blue vase, it is AMAZING!

Another unique gerbera daisy at Ever-Bloom nursery

A "sea" of gerberas - this photo reminds me of a wave!

How can you look at these and not be happy? B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !

Such a variety of color! These cut gerbera daisies in line to be boxed and shipped.

Tis Bliss To Be Surrounded By This!

The above is a video to show how huge just ONE greenhouse is – and Ever-Bloom has several greenhouses like this, and other greenhouses serving younger plants at various stages of growth – a full 15 acres under glass, as they say! -And the technology behind it all is IMPRESSIVE

It won’t surprise anybody when these lovely gerbera daisies pop up in my garden AND in my paintings!

Posted in Gardening & Animals & Inspirations, The Artist's Thoughts | Tagged art, conservation, daisies, daisy, environment, garden, garden tour, gerbera, living green, M. Nicole van Dam, nursery, vegetable garden | Leave a comment

Rising Stallion

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Artimagination

Inspired by the powerful majestic movement of the horse – these gentle giants are beautiful, romantic creatures. All the artwork you see here is available in Limited Edition prints and many household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Posted in Most Popular, Nature and Animals, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio | Tagged animals, art, equestrian, flower, horse, living green, M. Nicole van Dam, most popular, nvd, plein air, rose, stallion | Leave a comment

Young Colt

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Artimagination

Inspired by the exuberant, curious, playful innocence of the young colt, fresh as a Spring day. Nicole loves horses and all things equestrian. All the artwork you see here is available in Limited Edition prints and many household and wearable products, at Create.bz.

Posted in Nature and Animals, Nicole's News Hot Sheet, Portfolio | Tagged animals, art, colt, equestrian, foal, horse, M. Nicole van Dam, nvd, plein air | Leave a comment

Next Painting to be of the Veggie Garden!

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Artimagination

How can one not be inspired by this time of year in the garden? We just planted the vegetable garden, and it is amazing! Just as these little plants are the start of this year’s vegetable crop, so too shall these plants be the start of my painting! I have a feeling the harvest bounty that I will show in my painting might be just a bit bigger than the yield of my crop! -But this time of year, I’m always so hopeful. I see the six pack of tiny corn plants already full grown, with at least one big, inviting ear on each plant. Gophers are unheard of in my painting! -And insect pests? Forget about it! The only insects in my painting garden are friendly and inviting, like butterflies, ladybugs, and the friendliest of spiders (all these kindly spiders related to Charlotte of E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web,” no doubt!). Mosquitos won’t exist in my painting. Bunnies only eat their fair share, and no more, always leaving at least half of each lettuce for me. That’s what I love about painting – each canvas is my little world, to populate with all the things I love, and to disregard those that, well, aren’t up to snuff! Here are some photos of this newly planted garden, my inspiration for the painting I am working on:

It may be only young plants now, but in my painting they will be full of tomatoes and corn!

So pretty and sunny!

Posted in The Artist's Thoughts | Tagged art, crop report, environment, garden, inspiration, living green, M. Nicole van Dam, new projects | Leave a comment

The Veggie Garden is Planted!!!

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Artimagination

This is such a miraculous time of the year. The garden boxes transform from barren to full of hope; the yard is all a-twitter with birds – even our blue bird houses have residents (but not blue birds!). As last year, we have four raised vegetable boxes total – one is our “berry box” (not shown, going on its 4th year) that has blueberries, black berries, strawberries and raspberries (and now one tomato that we just didn’t have room for anywhere else); one vegetable box has some sweet yellow corn, sweet bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, eggplant, kale, and romaine, as well as colorful Swiss Chard remaining from last season; a third box has newly planted tomatoes, peppers, and red and green romaine, and also has the previously planted “Methuselah” artichoke plant that has been there for four years now, as well as Swiss chard and spinach and even one brave miraculously-made-it-through-Winter tomato, each respectively planted from seed last season, and some remaining leek and brussel sprouts also from last season; and the final (fourth) box, fairly small in size, has a red flame seedless grape (3rd season) and a tomato. I still need to squeeze some fresh basil in there somewhere! Also what we hope to start this season: COMPOSTING! Oh my!!!!

A fun quip from my husband: Whenever we go to the garden to harvest some veggies for dinner (such as when we snip some Swiss Chard that has graced our dinners all winter long), we call our harvesting trips to the veggie garden “going grocery chopping” – I so love his sense of humor!

Here are some before and after photos, that show the transformation from barren beds to sunny gardening bliss:

BEFORE PHOTO: Lovely greens and marigolds waiting in their little six-packs to be planted and thrive!

BEFORE: Empty beds waiting - as you can see in this photo, before planting everything looks barren, but it won't be long before these boxes are full of happy little plants!!

BEFORE PHOTO: Little six packs of Veggie Hope all lined up!

AFTER: Such a Sunny transformation!

AFTER: View from the garden gate - so inviting! Bring your coffee!

View from inside the gate looking out - see our little Chihuahua-Pomeranian-Papillion-One-of-a-kinder dog waiting for us to toss his ever present tennis ball!

Another photo of our little dog - If you throw that tennis ball, that would be GREAT!

Everything looks sunny and happy!

This is our Swiss Chard grown from seed - I never knew how much I loved Swiss Chard until I had the fresh-from-the-garden variety! -And adds beautiful color too!

Squirrel Mort says hello! He's been eating some of the greens we planted, I think!

Posted in Gardening & Animals & Inspirations | Tagged berry box, blueberry, Chihuahua Papillion Pomeranian, compost, composting, conservation, crop report, dog, environment, garden, living green, M. Nicole van Dam, organic, strawberry, swiss chard, vegetable garden, veggie | Leave a comment

Thought for the Day

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Artimagination

Pursuing your dreams is like a fine wine – it gets better as it evolves through time.

(M. Nicole van Dam)

"The Bounty of Grapes" by M. Nicole van Dam

Posted in Thought for the Day | Tagged grapes, inspiration, M. Nicole van Dam, thought for the day, wine | Leave a comment

Thought for the Day

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Artimagination

The lessons learned on the path to success are your mind’s nourishment for the next step.

(M. Nicole van Dam)

"Tea Time" by M. Nicole van Dam

Posted in Thought for the Day | Tagged inspiration, M. Nicole van Dam, tea time, thought for the day | Leave a comment

Thought for the Day

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Artimagination

Accomplishment is Champagne for the Soul

(M. Nicole van Dam)

"High Spirits!" by M. Nicole van Dam

Posted in Thought for the Day | Tagged champagne, inspiration, M. Nicole van Dam, thought for the day, wine | Leave a comment

Thought for the Day

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Artimagination

Your biggest critic, your biggest hurdle, is that voice within you that says you won’t be able to accomplish things. I have never met anyone who doesn’t hear that voice. Just remember that the reward of giving your dream a chance is far greater than the reward of proving your negative self correct.

(M. Nicole van Dam)