My art-customised tote bags are manufactured by Fine Art America and ship from the U.S.A. within 2 to 3 days of your order being placed. They have a reliable delivery service worldwide and excellent customer service too.
Exact details of shipping times and delivery rates are available during their check-out process and may vary depending on the country you require delivery to.
Previous clients who have purchased have let me know that they were very pleased with their shopping experience and product.
"Each art piece has a variety of products to choose from (greetings cards, prints, fashion bags, cushion covers and more). See my handy video guide below to help you shop the full range of stylish gifts"
Art of Caroline Cunningham
Guide to my online shop for stylish creatvie affordable gifts
People often comment on my bag that I bought with your artwork on it. Creative gifts help the artist & will provide unique presents for Xmas 😊 https://t.co/bh4VR2ngbe
Join me in the Shaw Room of Carlow Library (2019) from October 1st to 11th October for my exhibition 'From the Ocean to the Tree',celebrating nature's influence on our capacity to feel well.
"Featuring colourful tree paintings from 'The Sacred Lives of Trees' and 'My Portugal' collections."
Art of Caroline
Art Honours Nature
Prior to my launch of 'The Sacred Lives of Tree's' I had never heard people openly discuss how they felt about trees.
Feelings expressed by many visitors to my exhibition were echoed by my on-line network of business community and friends.
Tree's provide comfort in times of lonliness and stress, they allow us to restore a connection within and to a greater source.
In keeping with this theme of nature and wellbeing, I've added some scenes influenced by time spent in Portugal in recent years.
The ocean is also a source of restoration and inspiration. Many people living in the Algarve referred to the healing energy of the water which is so refreshing after a long day working in the summer heat.
Meet Maria Lehtman, a truly inspiring Finnish author, digital designer and so much more.
My regular readers will be familiar with my passion for inspiring ‘authenticity’ as a means to well-being and personal freedom. Following the ‘Authentic Path’ is what led to my connection with Maria, who I have never met in person (Ireland is my home) but who I’ve come to know through digital communication and our subsequent collaboration on Maria’s latest book ‘Dreaming Doors’ (published in June 2018).
I am excited to introduce you to this fascinating author and artist who is the essence of kindness and who has a deep appreciation of nature.
Maria comes from very distinguished creative family line which includes a famous portrait photographer and writers. The creative arts were well nurtured in her family and throughout her youth and adult life Maria displayed a natural talent and love of drawing, music and singing. As always, the practicalities of life took hold and Maria had to find work to fund her studies. From there she became established in the telecommunications industry with responsibility for international people management and programs in digital communications.
While Maria’s work provided many opportunities for travel she managed to cultivate her love of photography and writing, and at one time had her own on-line business in digital photography.
The Dreaming Doors
"I have always believed that digitalization liberates artistic skills for anyone to express their creativity."
Maria Lehtman
I invited Maria to share her sources of inspiration and give tips for book creation and insights into the world of digital communications (social media).
Maria, what have been the greatest sources of inspiration in your life?
Travelling changed my life. My first "solo-travel" experience sparked up a flame that never died and made a difference in defining my identity. It helped me to value what I have, and who I am, as well as understanding other cultures. In addition, nature and art are great healers and I always wanted to share that beauty and empowerment with others.
Maria, considering your work in digital communications, can you tell us how you navigate these channels to identify the people who are your audience?
I work with social media constantly in my day job. Advocating the benefits of it in developing professional, digital footprint for employees and managers, I feel that I need to be at the forefront of understanding it. Written context can be difficult as you meet different individuals and you cannot always tell their motives based on how they appear on social media. I call it the looking glass effect. You need to see through the looking glass.
Having worked in a multinational business for several decades, I trust my gut, the same way I trust my gut when I interview and hire people.
People that I consider "my tribe" are typically very genuine, positive, helpful and open. I can sense when people are not as they want to appear. I look at the profiles, the way they interact with others in social media and read the signals from how they communicate and express themselves. Later on, when I think of an issue, a task or a next step, someone's name or profile pops into my mind.
Maria what inspired you to create your latest book ‘Dreaming Doors’:
This book is a tribute to the many old towns I had the privilege to visit. They are a mixture of historical sites and buildings, sites worn out by time and yet, making a mark in history just by being there. Someone, at some time in history, valued the doorways and spaces behind them.
I wanted to make these stories come alive while sharing my own. Every time I visited an old town, I took images of doorways and windows knowing that one day I would transform some of them into a book. The poems come with the imagery and the feelings I go through during the journeys. I use a Nikon to photograph and an iPad to write the poems. I created most of the content while flying above the clouds. I always feel a certain freedom during flights and use that time to write or meditate.
Maria, what advice do you give to people who are curious about creating a book of their own?
The most important step is to get started. Choose a topic close to your heart, keep it simple and tune out the inner critique.
Choose a method you are most comfortable with. Digital communication tools give you so many options e.g. create a blog series as a book, join communities to work with, or publish videos, podcasts etc. Instead of writing you can create imagery and quotes. A book can be many things.
Sketch out an idea, and every time you have an idea, save it on your mobile or other storage device/notebook. I use my mobile voice recorder when I don’t have time to write down thoughts.
Work with the book idea as a project, with main milestones and a deadline. If you don't have one, it won't happen
I usually have several topics in my mind, and I choose the one that I feel is the most important one for me personally to share. I start planning ideas years before I complete a project, so there are always 10 more in the pipeline for whenever I have the time.
So Maria, how does it feel to have accomplished the publication of your second book ‘Dreaming Doors’?
It’s a relief :). I feel like it's something that needed to be processed inside my soul. It’s been a healing process after many years of travel and hard work. I have had quite a few challenges in the past years with my health. Even though I was working long hours, I've always loved my work and the versatility that global communication provides and sharing my experiences.
And what’s on the horizon for Maria Lehtman, more books more travel?
While completing ‘Dreaming Doors’, many other book ideas came to mind. I would love to write a book about digital and intuitive leadership one day. Writing a researched book is very intensive work, so I mostly write blogs in that area at the moment. I'm currently looking into drone photography and micro-blogging ideas; perhaps these can bring another angle to my next book.
With regards to travel, I am recovering from an illness impacting my immune system that has kept me off airports for three years. For someone in a global industry it feels like a life-time. I have learned to take things one day at a time, and travel through social media channels instead. Perhaps I will visit Ireland. I have never been there, would love to visit!
Thank you for sharing these insights with us Maria!
The Dreaming Doors are available in hard-cover, e-book and kindle versions. They are an ideal, special gift for a loved one or even for yourself. Maria's photography and graphical display within the book are breath-taking. I am honoured to be the featured artist in Maria Lehtmans latest book which included two of my art images and poems (which were especially commissioned for the dreaming doors theme).
Do you recall a piece of artwork that resonated with you the moment you set eyes on it? Some pieces have a call that touch us in a deep place while others quietly beckon us to contemplate their meaning.
With my own artwork, there are three pieces that prompt decisive action from my buyers.
To bring you one step closer to your purchase decision I present my top three most popular limited edition prints.
Ganga Dreaming
The original oil painting was part of my 'Indian Heartway' collection. Ganga Dreaming was the most popular and first to sell. It's the same with the limited edition print version. Admirers comment on the timelessness and tranquility of the piece. One of my collectors purchased the piece after having a Feng Shui consultation for her home; the sail boat representing good fortune and prosperity.
Love's Light Upon Us
The much admired original acrylic painting (now sold) is from the collection 'The Sacred Lives of Trees', designed to honour the benefits of trees for our well-being. Many find the title appealing and there's something special about those two little leaves with the light shining in on them. Created after a visit to the Bamboo Garden in Glengarrif, West Cork.
Break True
This is piece is instantly recognised by those who are following their 'Authentic Path'. The original marked the start of my own path of transformation in healing and following my heart. It brought a tear to the eye of its new owner when presented as a gift from their friend. Similary, the limited edition print version has been purchased as gift to friends who need inspiration in life and it's also cherished by those starting out on a new career.
Print Details
My limited edition prints are produced using finest archival quality inks and paper. They come with a certificate of authenticity and are limited to 150 in an edition. The art prints are a fixed size and are shipped unframed.
They can be delivered worldwide by postal system, wrapped in acid-free tissue and rolled loosely in a sturdy cardboard tube.
‘Who are in the men in tree?’ A busy exhibition opening night had come to a close and a few of my friends were awaiting an answer to this question. Seeing my puzzled expression, they beckoned me to stand before my ‘Treedom Series 3' painting.
Inspired by a very old and majestic beech tree anchored at my home-place, Treedom had pride of place as part of my collection ‘The Sacred Lives of Trees’.
This particular Treedom had been cast in a very spontaneous moment of splashing and merging of paint. I had studied the tree many times throughout the seasons, watching the sun-light traversing its branches as autumn spun into winter. Treedom 1 and 2 had been more meticulous in my measurement of colours. ‘Treedom 3’ came like an avalanche to the canvas.
"Treedom 3’ came like an avalanche to the canvas."
My friends had been quietly observing the piece from across the room during my opening event. They pointed our the many faces and bodies of men peering from the branches of the tree. As I took a closer look they began to emerge. In truth, I hadn't noticed them before.
I've experienced things in my lifetime that point towards the unseen world which none can successfully identify or explain. Is there another realm that we cannot see except in dreams and trances and in creative passage?
I leave you to ponder it all. How many faces do you see in Treedom?
My art is an expression of stories that awaken dreams and keep them alive. I love vibrant colours and the freedom of allowing imagination to seep through reality.
Explore my artwork in the interest of feeding your own dreams and keeping them alive. Discover landscapes, trees, scenes from lands such as India and Portugal. Choose from original paintings in a variety of sizes or a range of prints including some limited editions.
See something you like, get in touch and make it yours.
Remember that Shaws radio advert back in the day? ‘Shaws! Almost nationwide!’In some typical Irish banter with friends, we en-acted the scenario of a Carlovian emigrant eager to know about things back home: ‘tell me this....did Shaws ever make it nationwide?’
Many Carlovians have grown up with Shaws department store at the heart of their shopping experience. A family owned business in its fourth generation, since Henry Shaw first opened its doors in 1864, it seems they have indeed ‘made it nationwide’, with stores in 16 locations across Ireland.
The new tag line for adverts: ‘Shaws, your complete department store!’
Art Show Case | 2017
Shaws Carlow have traditionally featured the work of a local artist during Carlow Arts Festival in June and this year, I'm delighted to have my work featured in their windows.
As you stroll through Tullow Street, watch out for a sample of my paintings from ‘The Sacred Lives of Trees’ collection, along with a selection of my limited edition prints.
