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.
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
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:
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!
Lily won 3rd place in a recent CFAI art contest. I entered very last minute on a whim and didn't think much more about it . What a nice surprise!
Studio quote of the Day: If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each mans heart sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Studio tip of the Day: Murphy oil soap is a less expensive and great way to clean oil painting brushes. It cleans them well and also conditions them. I am following the advice of artist, writer and businessman Jack White and selling select small studies on eBay. It's a bit of a risky venture for me; some pieces sell for very little. I begin the bidding usually at a dollar, and sometimes the bids go way up, sometimes I lose a painting for a dollar. The idea is that over time, you develop a following and bids begin to consistently rise. I was seeing this happen, when suddenly sales stopped. eBay is changing policy and many sellers are finding inconsistent results now. Not sure I will be able to continue this for much longer.
If you would like a chance to win a painting for a whole lot less than it sells for anywhere else, check out my stuff currently on eBay: eBay Paintings
