Mad Cat, Fat Cat, Cat Art Art Journals

Cat Sketch Fever:  Fat Cat Series

I usually get over my bad moods pretty quickly. Not so, Cat.

She is still sulking and it's not pretty.

Colorado artists, oil paintings, plein air paintings,art for sale,

Here are some works from the last few days of the #30paintingsin30days challenge. 

Ken Caryl Towards Deer Creek 16x20 oil/canvas by Tracy Haines
Bid here!

 I find the bigger challenge is not so much in the daily painting, but in all the stuff that follows!  Uploading to  the computer, resizing the photos, then uploading the paintings to eBay,blogs, website and facebook is time consuming.

Deer Creek Valley Barn 16x20 oil by Tracy Haines

Bid Here!

Yesterday,  I was interviewed by the Columbine Courier on this project.  That was fun and exciting and I am also very glad to know Extended Hands of Hope will get some exposure!
Please consider supporting this non-profit group which seeks to help young, traumatized victims of sex trafficking. You can do this by bidding on these works. For the month of September I am dontating 50% of proceeds to them.

A Steamboat Cabin, 8x10 oil on board by Tracy Haines
Bid here!

pastel paintings daily paintings #30paintingsin30days Colorado landscapes

Reflections on a Pond ll,  7x7 pastel on watercolor paper by Tracy Haines, $ 55.00, unframed

Day # 2 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge!

This is a 7x7 study in pastel on H20 Color paper.
It is sold unframed and must be mounted behind glass when framed.

This piece is available for purchase via paypal on my website:

http://tracyhaines.fineartstudioonline.com

Tracy Haines Original art acrylic paintings oil and pastel affordable works studio tips organization art for sale summer reading recommendations

The Summer Art Market was a success and is so much fun to do , despite the hard work.
It's always interesting to me to watch and listen to find out what art patrons like or don't care for as much.
This painting, which was done last minute- just a couple days before the show- was the most popular.
I would not have predicted this; quite a surprise to me.

The Garden, 30x30 acrylic

I am taking one of Alyson Stanfield's 6 week  marketing webinars.  One of the things I am learning is the importance of developing and maintaining an e-mail list and sending out regular newsletters.  I simply have not focused on this much in the past but finally created and mailed out my first one yesterday!  If you are interested in receiving it ( and it will go out only 4 times a year), please sign up.
Go to  this link to sign up ( and scroll to bottom of the page) :Newsletter Sign Up

To help get my newsletter off and running, I offered a free painting giveaway raffle for those signing up for the newsletter. 
Ann LaForte was the lucky winner of this little bird: ( and the birds were really a hit; they literally flew out of the booth!

It is fun and rewarding to give recipients a nicely packaged piece of art!  It takes so little effort and can make such a difference for someone.  One of my clients mentioned how much she enjoys the quotes that I stick on the back of some paintings or packaging materials.

Would you like a bird?

4x4x1 1/2 oil/canvas, sides painted black 

$ 45.00

Speaking of birds,  looking for a FANTASTIC read for a lazy summer day? I absolutely loved the book, Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien

It is a true and heartwarming story about a girl and her owl.  You'll not only not be able to put the book down, but you will learn a lot about owls. I think it's a must read and it renewed my love and fascination with birds.

Studio Tip of the Week:

Print out a small thumbnail of each painting. Have several copies of each on hand.  Paste one in the upper corner of a page.  On that page document the painting's history (where the paintings have shown , when it sells or is donated, etc.)

Place these sheets in a binder.  I number each painting and file them by number, since names get forgotten or re-used.

The other thumbnails I place on the box in which the painting is stored, on a bullitin board to remind me which paintings are earmarked for upcoming shows or competitions, etc.  This system is really working well for me.  I hope it helps you.

Please consider clicking this link to " like" my facebook business page:

Tracy Haines Fine Art Facebook 

 I will start adding more painting giveaways from the facebook page in order to continue to grow my newsletter sign ups!

My goal this year is to become a better businesswoman.  I appreciate your support and thank you for reading this!

Have a wonderful Joy-filled week!

Abstract acrylic paintings studio tips good books, quotes, art festivals Tracy Haines art

Happy June!

It is summer and that means......... Summer Art Market time!

Be sure to stop by the 2015 SUMMER ART MARKET!!  June 13&14th , 9-5 Saturday and Sunday
2nd and Grant st in Denver, Colorado.  Please stop by booth #6 and say hi!

I am excited to showcase new work in a very different style this year.  I will have many large ( up to 36x48") mixed media and acrylic paintings in a more stylized landscape format and a few purely abstract works like the one below.

Fresh off the easel:

Lazy Summer Day
16x20 acrylic on stretched canvas
$ 395.00

I've a new and huge respect for abstract artists.  I had no idea how difficult the struggle in painting something without reference material as a guide.  This new endeavor has been challenging and very exciting.

Today's studio tip:

Make your workplace as inviting as possible; a place you look forward to spending time. Hours and hours of time ;)

My studio is located in my basement.  For good lighting, and after quite a bit of research, I ordered the natural spectrum fluorescent lights from Verilux Lighting Company.  I can paint any time of night or day with these.   Still, the studio feels basement-like and sometimes a bit dark, despite the lights.  To make it a comfortable place to spend time, it helps to light a candle ( kept a good and safe distance from things volatile, of course!) and put on music while working.  Keeping the studio clean and organized  helps.  I am slowly decluttering and adding small touches here and there to make the studio itself feel like a piece of art.  It's a work in progress and I will keep you updated.

Quote of the Day:

Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling. ~G.K. Chesterton

Current books on my bedside dresser:

Acrylic Solutions by Chris Cozen and Julie Prichard- excellent review of materials and techniques in abstract and acrylic art plus great images.

Burn Your Portfolio by Michael Janda-  fun read with tips on succeeding in business and life.

One Nation by Ben Carson, MD-  This presidential candidate gives a clear overview of his ideas for healing the political and many other divisions in our country.  His life story is fascinating.

Coming soon:

You Tube pastel demo

Enjoy your day!

Tracy Haines how to art videos on pastel painting Pastel painting for beginners, materials and techniques for painting in pastel

Hello!

I recently launched a YouTube channel where I will post short video tutorials on art.

As mentioned on my recent YouTube video,  I am happy to provide a written list of materials mentioned in the course of the teaching demonstrations.
(View videos on YouTube under Tracy Haines Fine Art)

In the Getting Started in Pastel video, pastel papers and various brands of pastels were mentioned.
Find most of these at your local art supply store or check out Blick or Jerry's Artorama online.

Pastels:
-small box of hard pastels such as Nupastels ( a box of 36-96, depending on your budget)
-box of soft pastels: Rembrandt is high quality and budget friendly- they are of medium hardness.  Other soft pastels to consider:  Terry Ludwig ( these are square and luscious- my favorites), Unison ( I love these- they are soft, round and thick and don't break and crumble easily) Sennelier and Schmincke.
I recommend visiting an art supply store and buying a few of the various brands to see what you like before investing in a large box of any one brand.

Papers:

If you are new to pastel, buy a 9x12 pad of Canson mi Tientes paper in earth colors. This is a good quality paper and reasonable in price.  Buy a small pad of Wallis sanded paper if you can find it.
Pick up a single sheet of Art Spectrum Colourfix Coated pastel paper or UArt Sanded pastel paper.  The Wallis , UArt and Art Spectrum will allow you to try my wet underpainting technique. ( Sennelier La Carte Pastel Card does not allow for a wet treatment)

Other items:  vine charcoal, workable fixative,   box of vinylgloves (or Gloves in a Bottle or ArtGaurd) to protect your skin, turpenoid or Gamsol odorless mineral spirits by Gamblin.

I suggest subscribing to Pastel Journal.  I learned so much when I began pastel painting from this monthly magazine.


Fresh off the easel!

Lair Abstracted is a 9x9 pastel painting on Canson mi Tientes paper.
Sold unframed,   $ 55.00