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

Sweet Cat Sketch and Mixed Media Painting

This IS Cat's "Come Pet Me I'm Irresistible" look.  It works for Cat; she knows it.
Despite all the rotten things I've said about her lately, she has a nice side. A calm side. A cuddly, loving, caring side.

I liked this pose and , at a friends suggestion, did a mixed media painting of this sketch.

18x24x1.5

Mixed Media

$ 750.00

Shipping or local pick up

Local pick up $750.00 USD Shipping $800.00 USD

Cat Sketch Fever Bad Cat Naughty Cat

I got my face right up close and personal to Cat one time. ONE TIME.  Never again.  She actually bit my face.  I was stunned.  Never had a cat done that to me before.  I thought they were all much too sensitive to do anything like that.  I didn't like her for quite a while after that. 
Now I try to read her carefully before approaching her. Rarely do I put my face up to hers.
She's a tough read.  
I'm still disappointed in the face bite incident. It was just so uncalled for.

Mixed Media Floral Painting

Mimsy
24x18x1.5
Mixed Media
$ 750.00

Shipping or local pick up

Local pick up $750.00 USD Shipping $800.00 USD

Finally I found the nerve this past year to try some radically different (for me) art.  I've recently become intrigued by mixed media but couldn't bring myself to try some out.
I was held back by the false and negative belief that this sort of art was "decorative" and not "real" or "serious" art. What a snob. Glad I found my way out of that mind set.

I love the colors and textures and the bigness of the canvases on which I'm painting this "Annabelle" series.  People respond to the colors and tell me they feel a sense of joy and happiness.  This thrills me; it's exactly what I want to convey in these paintings.

I am so thankful to get to do what I love every day.

Fat Cat Series, Daily drawings and sketches of Cats,Art Journaling,Doodles,Drawing

It's been a couple of months since I made the commitment to draw every single day.  I should have started this 10 years ago when I began my art career in earnest.   I'm loving it and it's a great discipline.

An easy subject is my cat, Cat.  She's the first thing I see each morning (since she sleeps at the foot of the bed and since hubby is up by 4:30 am), so I just grab one of my art journals, a cup of coffee, and start drawing away!  I thought I'd resurrect my blog by sharing the sketches.

So here is the first of:

The story of my cat, take her home.
Drove for hours, kept her warm inside.
Story of my cat. ( story of, story of)
Story of my cat, I gave her milk
Stayed up all night
Nursed her back to health.
Story of my cat.  ( story of, story of)

As you can see, Cat loves to eat.  She developed a problem with food shortly after she was spayed. I'm not going into theories of why that might be; just providing a bit of the back story.
She spends a great deal of time on the bed.
Or at her food dish.

This cat has personality plus.  And she exudes it in her body language, which makes her a great sketching subject.

See you tomorrow.

Awesome Art Studio Tips Fine Art Original Paintings by Tracy Haines

Hello and welcome to my blog that's being resurrected for my tens of followers. Well....... fives? OK- one or two? But we are going to change that! Maybe.  I'm currently re-evaluating which social media sites it's best to focus on since time, for all of us, is limited!


If you'd love a preview of next Tuesdays Tuesday Art Tips, here it is below as promised on the facebook trailer you probably just watched.  Click the active link below.  Let me know what you think!

Awesome Art Studio Tips

Storing Acrylic Paints by Tracy Haines

If you paint in acrylics and are tired of wasting paint because of the fast dry time, try this!


A short video on storing acrylic paints:

This painting has SOLD

How to Frame a Pastel Painting by Tracy Haines

Remember Mario Brothers?  Well, either my computer is acting up or I don't know what I'm doing exactly on today's blog post.  ( It has been a while since I've posted.)  If you would like to see a short video clip on how to frame a pastel painting, you must click on this link, then another link will pop up and that will activate the movie.
ENJOY!
How to frame a pastel painting

Please feel free to share this, and "like" my facebook business page, Tracy Haines Fine Art!
Thanks and have a GREAT day!

Birds, Bird paintings, Holiday Art Show, Gift ideas,Original Art,Tracy Haines Fine Art,

"I'm all Ears" 6x6 oil SOLD

Phat and Happy 6x6 oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

" I Wasn't Born Yesterday" 6x6 oil

At Ease 6x6 Oil

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

Four more recent paintings that will be at the Holiday Show ( details below, on previous post) unless they sell from the blog.
The birds come mounted on a nice, black board ready to hang on the wall.  Below is an example.

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

Holiday Art Shows, Bird Paintings, miniature paintings,gift ideas,Birds

I've been buried in the studio again, getting ready for the Artisan Holiday Show.  Over the next several days I will be posting the 6x6 birds that will be for sale.
I'd love to have you stop by the show.  But if you cannot make it and want a bird, I am making them available from this site!
If you see one you'd like that is sold, I would be happy to do another similar bird.  No two are ever exactly alike, however.  All of these come mounted on a nice board for a beautiful presentation.  (See below)  Hanging gear is placed on back so paintings are ready to hang on your wall.

"Don't Give Me No Lip" 6x6 oil/GB

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"It's a New Day" 6x6 oil/GB

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

"Peeper" 6x6 oil/Gessobord

Shipping or Pick up

Local Pick up $55.00 USD Shipping $70.00 USD

Below is an example of a painting mounted on a black board

still life paintings, small art, #30paintingsin30days, oil paintings, Tracy Haines, daily paintings

Diet Root Beer,  6x6 oil on Gessobord
Bid here!

This is day 13 of the #30paintingsin30days challenge.  I like this challenge for many reasons.  
Tomorrow, I think I will post some of the benefits of taking a project like this on!

Meantime,  please consider helping in the fundraiser for Extended Hands of Hope- the non profit anti- sex trafficking organization I have been posting about.
You help when you bid for these pieces on eBay;  50% of proceeds during September will go to that group.

flowers, floral paintings, red flowers, daily paintings, Tracy Haines, fine art,

Day # 11 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge


And what a challenge this is, trying to paint a new piece every single day.  House is a bit more of a mess than usual and hubby and kid are getting by on left overs and take out. 

Sometimes, painting is the easy part.  It's more work and time consuming than one thinks, to do all the follow up stuff required.  I posted about this a few days ago on this blog, if you wonder about what actually does go into all of this.

"Christies", 6x8 oil/linen canvas

Bidding begins at a mere $ 25.00

Bid on eBay

As I have said ( and I hope folks aren't tired of hearing the same thing over and over, but this is a good cause), 50% of my proceeds from sales on the #30paintingsin30days challenge will go to support #ExtendedHandsofHope Colorado!

This non profit group helps severely traumatized young girls rescued from sex trafficking.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog.  With so many blogs out there, I really do appreciate your interest.

#30paintingsin30days, floral paintings, Botanic Gardens, oil paintings, Tracy Haines

Day # 8 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge! 

Today's painting was done en plein air at Denver's Botanic Gardens.  What a gorgeous day it was- perfect weather and unending material from which to paint.  It was amazing to see so many other artists out there today. Several groups were there including Plein Air Artists Colorado, Golden Triangle Plein air, and a class from the Art Students League. Seemed like about 40-50 painters and lots of curious onlookers!

Botanic Gardens is a 10x10" oil on 1" stretched canvas.

It is sold unframed and is up for bidding on eBay now until 9/15/15.
 Bid Here: eBay bidding for this piece

Below is an edited black and white version.  I like to drop my painting into photo editor to check the reading of the values; especially when I use bright colors, which can be deceiving.  The values MUST read, and be interesting, or the painting does not work, regardless of how nice the color might be.

50% of proceeds from the 30 in 30 challenge this month, September 2015, got to Extended hands of Hope. Pass the work and please bid! 

If you are interested in my Ladies Fall Artists' Retreat, please see post from August 31 for details.

paintings of flowers, oil paintings,original art,#30paintingsin30ays,Colorado, Ken Caryl

Day # 7 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge!

This is also a fundraiser for  Extended Hands of Hope, a non-profit organization that helps underaged victims of sex trafficking who have endured tremendous abuse. Please lend your support by bidding for this piece on eBay.  A full 50% of proceeds from the 30 in 30 challenge go to this organization.

Ken Caryl Flowers
9 3/4 x 12 oil on 1/4" board
Sold Unframed
Bidding starts at $ 25.00 Bidding ends 9/14/15 around 5:45 mountin time.
Bid here

#30paintingsin30days, Daily paintings, oil on linen, Colorado Landscape paintings,ladies fall plein air artists retreat,

View From Cabin Fire Pit
6x8 oil/linen
#6 of #30Paintingsin30days challenge
Price: Bidding starts at $5.00 on eBay

50% of all sales from this 30 in 30 challenge will be donated to Extended Hands of Hope, a local Denver non profit helping underage victims of sex trafficking.
If you would like to help, and would like to bid on this piece, here is the link to eBay for this painting:
Bid on eBay

If you are interested in joining our Ladies Fall Artists' Retreat coming in a few weeks, please scroll down to the August 31, 2015 entry below for details!

daily paintings, #30paintingsin30days, Tracy Haines,original art,Colorado landscapes,Ken Caryl,rocks

Ken Caryl Outcropping
8x10 oil/board
Bid on eBay:
eBay

This painting is # 5 in my #30paintingsin30days challenge.  More work goes into this than I thought.  I will describe the steps in the process below.

First,  this challenge is also a fundraiser.  Half of the money I receive from these paintings is earmarked for an emergency center for young girls rescued from sex trafficking.  Read more about this non-profit shelter at ExtendedHandsofhope.org

Daily Painting Process for the 30 in 30 challenge

The process from start to finish takes several hours every day.  First, I do thumbnail sketches of the idea I have for a painting.  Then, I lay out the paints and begin a value underpainting. When I am satisfied with that, I lay in the color.  The painting process takes me anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours for an 8x10.
Next,  I take the painting outside and photograph it.  After uploading to the computer I crop the work, title and number it, then save it in different sizes for uploading to facebook, eBay,etc.

Since these paintings are going on eBay for bidding, the process of uploading and describing the piece on eBay takes another 10-15 minutes.
Otherwise, I go into paypal and make a price-specific "buy now" button which goes up on both my blog and website.

Once on eBay, I copy and paste the bidding link for uploading onto my website , blog and facebook.  The blog itself takes time to prepare- anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes.

Finally, I upload to the 30paintingsin30days blog, my website, then facebook.

The order in which all of this is done matters, because links back to my own website and blog matter in order for my art to be seen by as many people as possible.  This is absolutely key to running a successful art business.

Well, thanks for taking the time to look over this blog, and please consider helping in the fund raiser by bidding on eBay!

fundraiser sex trafficking oil paintings for sale daily paintings landscapes Colorado

Deer Creek Road 8x10 oil/panel

Price determined my you!

Click here to bid:  eBay bidding

Day #4 of the 30 paintings in 30 Days Challenge!  This piece is from a scene I often pass as I drive to Deer Creek Park to hike or run.  The views along this lovely winding road are spectacular all year long, but particularly in the fall and spring.  And the winter! (Summer too) 
 Well, all year long.

Since I will be painting and posting daily this month, I have decided to place these paintings on eBay. In addition,  I thought it would be nice to put this month to good use and try a fund raiser.  50% of sales from the 30 in 30 paintings will go to help support a budding new operation: Extended Hands of Hope.  This local ( Colorado) non-profit organiziation seeks to help underage girls who have experienced extreme trauma through the horrors or sex trafficking. 

You may read more about this organization here:  Extended Hands of Help

Thanks for your support!

oil paintings landscapes,trees,Colorado landscapes original art daily paintings 30 paintings in 30 days

Day # 3 of 30 paintings in 30 days!

Coyote Trail by Tracy Haines
16x20 oil on wrapped canvas
$400.00, unframed

local pick up or shipping

Shipping within USA $430.00 USD local pick up $400.00 USD

I am very much enjoying this challenge.  A theme is developing too:  paintings in and around my home in Ken Caryl.
If you are interested in painting the Colorado mountains in the fall, take a look at the information from the August 31 st post on this blog and sign up!

Thank you for taking the time to view my art!

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

Daily paintings pastel paintings 30 paintings in 30 days art for sale Tracy Haines Colorado Landscapes

Reflections on a Pond

8x10 pastel, unframed

Tracy Haines

$ 95.00

This month, September, 2015,  I have joined Lesli Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  I had heard about this in the past and was looking forward to trying it myself.
The goal is to paint a completed work every day and post the pieces on her sight.  

If you are interested in joining me for the Ladies Plein Air Painting Retreat, see the post on August 31 st for details.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog!