Super-Size That?

On a recent trip to Dakota Art, I spied some brushes with inordinately long handles.  I wondered, "who paints with those?".   Uh, people doing very large paintings paint with long-handled brushes, that's who. 

With the Allied Arts holiday show set-up complete, my energy has turned to finishing the first in a series of commissioned pieces representing the four seasons.  I'm quite sure this is the biggest painting I've ever done...two panels totalling 48" wide x 24" tall, like a giant jigsaw puzzle until I would step back a couple of feet.  These pine cones were on a huge pine tree in my yard planted by my parents.  Beautiful in the snow.

Now that I'm warmed up, the next one will be even bigger!

In Praise of Small Shows

Many an artisan participating in art shows has probably taken a gamble on a first-year show.  This past weekend I participated in one such show.  The venue was beautiful, the weather sunny and autumn golden, the products diverse and well made and displayed, but sales overall were a bit lackluster.  As I have some past experience with this sort of thing, I decided that I would bring along some interesting props and do as many small paintings as I could.  As I tend to be a reclusive studio painter, these paintings are never as polished as my studio paintings, but I enjoy doing them and they stimulate conversation with onlookers. 

A couple of jewels for the day were:
1.  I finished the above little painting and started another.
2.  I had sales enough to cover my show expenses and a lovely buffet lunch was served.
3.  I made a possible wholesale contact in another state.
4.  I made two possible Art-Startz contacts for the spring.
5.  I made a possible show contact for the summer.
6.  I got a jump start on my inventory for the next 2 shows.
7.  I met and talked with some wonderful people I would not have met if I'd stayed home.
8.  The cards that were purchased will fly off into the world with kind words for people I'll probably never meet.  Those kind words will make my images look even better.

So, given all that, how could I consider the hours I spent a waste of time.  I don't.  Thanks to all who made the day such a success.

To Blog or Not to Blog

Well, after several years of pseudo-blogging (many thanks to the faithful few that have found and followed my posts), I'm taking the opportunity to attend a real class on blogging at Whatcom Community College.  Dawn Groves is our very capable and animated guide and I'm reminded of the original passion I felt when I started my journey into the blogosphere.  There is so much that can be done with a blog....even for the techno-challenged.  Community building is something that has been lacking in my blogging.  Twitter, affiliate marketing, back links, video, widgets--all so very exciting.

Letting Go

Summer is over.  Time, once again, for letting go of the anticipated days of warmth and beauty....time for embracing whatever winter brings.  Time to catch up on artistic projects.  Time to curl up with books.  Time to learn new skills, indulge in hot soup and warm bread and watch romantic movies.  I'll hold those thoughts for the next 5 months. 

Hot, Hot, Hot

While most of the U.S. has been suffering a long, hot summer, we here in the Pacific NW have been complaining of our numerous unseasonably gray days....until this past weekend.  That's why we live here...for the 2 days in a row of hot weather.  Today it's raining....but it's a warm rain. 

Cupcakes

With the mist lifting in my early-morning brain, I realize that today is my birthday.  Truly significant only to me and my mother, but Darth seems quite excited when I share that information with him....but then  Darth seems excited with just about anything I say.  Note to self, spend more time with Darth.  Having a summer birthday isn't as disappointing as it was in my grade-school years.  With school being out, there were no cupcakes to share with the class.  Over the years, I've learned to make my own fun and have adopted a personal birthday WEEK.  Let the party begin!

Little bundles of creativity

My earliest recollection of being interested in artistic endeavors was in first grade.  I was not an artistic whiz-kid.  Coloring inside the lines was not my strong suit, which caused me much angst.  My very wise mother kept the art supplies available and I kept trying to do something with them.  I'm so very glad my granddaughters are loving the creative process as well.  A new chalk-board door in my kitchen is decorated with wonderful designs that only children can think of.  Every grandmother should have one.  Priceless. 

Chalkboard paint (available in spray or brush-on applications) from Home Depot.