Abstracted Figurative Paintings A subset of the Annabelle Series

The Good Model
24x24x1.5 Mixed Media/Cnv

A busy last two weeks as I begin yet another series in a slightly different style.  Prevailing wisdom in the art world says the artist should develop and hold fast to one particular and recognizable style.  Galleries prefer this when taking on an artist.  Collectors don't always appreciate an artist's change in direction.
I started my art career focused on landscapes. I still love landscapes.  
But right now I'm in love with abstracting the figure. 
Last month floral mixed media pieces had my heart.
I don't mean to thumb my nose at prevailing wisdom, but I do believe my best art will come by following my gut and painting only what excites and delights me, regardless of style, medium or subject matter.

Ladies Night 56x24x1" Acrylic/canvas

Birds, Bird Paintings, Original Art, Holiday Art Show, Oil paintings, Tracy Haines, fine art, Gift ideas

Below are a few more of the bird paintings I will have on hand for the Holiday Show Dec 5th.
I hope you stop by. Location:  1597 W. Nevada Place, Denver 80223.  I will be there Saturday only from 10-4pm

I am listing these for purchase for those who are interested but cannot make the show.

These come mounted to a black plaque and ready to hang on the wall. ( See the example at the bottom of this page.)

Thank you for looking.

" Poised and Ready" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"What's Going on over There?" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"Good Morning" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"Come on Now" 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

pastel paintings Breckenridge Colorado mountains aspen fall trees Breckenridge art festival

It's been a busy, crazy week for me here in Studio 8!

Some mildew from a previous leak, combined with a new, recent, quickly discovered flood from an AC gone bad, has kept me busy cleaning out and re-organizing my studio.

Thank goodness no paintings were damaged, and I have plenty of work for the upcoming Breckenridge outdoor Art Festival, July 24-26.

There is always a bright side to things and it is up to us to discover and embrace that side!
"Accent the positive, eliminate the negative......"  remember that song?

Indian Mountain Fall

18x24 pastel, framed

$ 1200.00 plus shipping ($85.00)

Prints of this piece also available here: FineArtAmerica

I am looking forward to showing some of my newer pastel works at the Breckenridge Art Festival, located off of Main Street in Breckenridge.  This is one of my favorite pieces this year.  I wanted to hold it for entry into some upcoming national shows, but with the glass and frame it would be expensive and a little risky to ship off.

What a joy and privilege to get to paint every day.  I am very thankful.
Have a wonderful week.

Art studios,organization,oil paintings,acrylic paintings, studio tips,Tracy Haines art, flowers,floral paintings

Why my studio ( and perhaps yours too) must remain in a state of perpetual organized messy chaos:

Try as I may, I cannot, for the life of me, KEEP my studio neat and clean.  I do actually clean and organize it fairly regularly, but it immediately and always reverts back to something similar to the shot posted above.  I have fought this for years, but- no longer!  I am going to embrace the mess instead.  I'm going to have a mind-set change.
After listening to yet another #Artist Helping Artist podcast on the subject I finally gained some insight into this.
Artists are visual people, through and through.  Out of sight, out of mind.  We need to see it to know that we have it in our possession. The overly organized artist that hasn't yet recognized this, has, you can bet, more frames on hand than she thinks she has, extra tubes of that particular paint color he thought he'd run out of, and so on.

Which leads me to the....

Studio Tip of the Week

Install open shelving in the studio.  Place wire baskets on the shelves and label everything. This "open" storage system is working much better for me than the old "neatly tucked away" system ever did.   

Open shelving and open baskets, installed and ready and waiting to be filled in an organized manner of some sort. ( it's on the To Do list, towards the bottom.....I'm getting there!)

A non-artist friend, a neat-nik,  ( you know who you are, JB) told me open wire baskets, though neat-looking, would look messy on the shelves once I filled them up. She's right, they do look a bit messy once filled with my stuff, but at least I always know what I have on hand and where it is.

So, learn to live with a bit more of a mess than you like-embrace it, and drop the guilt. It's your studio!

*************************************************

Playing around with a different palette the other day, and with a different style, I produced this piece, which I really ended up liking.  It's currently at a local boutique.  I am interested in hearing some feedback on it!

             Flowers, 20x20x1 1/2 acrylic on wrapped canvas
                                           $ 495.00

This painting and many others are now available as prints ( on paper, canvas, tote bags, pillows,etc).
Here is one example of a painting on a tote bag:

Prints from Fine Art America

Well that is it for now!  Thank you for reading! Until next week:

EnJOY your days, embrace your mess :)

Colorful abstract impressionist Floral pastel painting Colorado artist Tracy Haines

Floral Pastel for sale on Etsy!

Ahhhhhhhh it feels good to be back home!  Back home with pastels for a change.  This was my first medium, and really, probably the one I am forever most comfortable in.

I am exploring more abstraction in my work. In the design, the color- all aspects.

Many have asked me if I teach workshops.  I will eventually. 

Meantime, I am thinking of doing a short video on the process of painting!  I'm taking short help sessions from the local Apple store. Much to learn!

Stay tuned!

Cow painting original art Tracy Haines oil paintings animals farm

Tagged and Mad is a 5x7 oil on canvas panel.
This painting is on eBay now.  Click link below if you would like to bid on this
cow.
Click here to bid on eBay