"And We Have Winners!!"

"November's Winner!"

Workshop Demo/ 12 x 12

Ahhh....one of the good things in life.  Sharing what you do with those you love:) 

Don't look now, but I am just  drawing for Nov and Dec.  

Blame Eddie.  I have been asking and asking  him to draw the winning number, but he says that would create too many losers....sometimes Eddie makes sense...almost...in a weird sort of way. 

Oh well, back to the winners.....drum roll please.....(Eddie is providing tale thumping instead)..

November's winner.... is papatee!!

December's winner is..... pgoodrich!!

(Papatee and pgoodrich--if you are reading this--check your inbox--I need your mailing address:))!

(Note: December's painting is a demo too, 8 x 8)

I have given away a lot of art in my lifetime---even to family members who really didn't want it, but were too polite to say so:))  It makes my heart smile when I do.  I have a confession to make though, I have had a more difficult time this past year having enough art on hand to give away.  I want to always do my giveaways, so to make it happen, I will be mixing it up--giving away paintings some months and books, prints, calendars, Eddies,  and other things of my art in other months.  Just depends on what I have on hand at the time--but I will make it something I would want myself--not to worry (which means you will not receive Eddie as the winning prize...I can hear your sigh of relief from here:)) 

Speaking of giving away art--came across this on Steven Doherty's facebook page where he had posed the question:

"What comments and questions have you heard from passers-by while you are painting outdoors?" 

 Comment from Arni Anderson....."I was at Lake Arkabuttla, near Tunica, Mississippi, painting reflections in the lake and had just started when a bright eyed little boy about 11 yrs old rode up on his bicycle and started watching me. He never said a word while I finished it in about 30 mins. while I was putting things in the car he said "Mr. That's very pretty, are you gonna sell it"? I said Maybe would you like to buy it? he said my mommie probably would but I don't have much money. I asked him how much he had and he told me he had about 30 cents in his pocket. I said that's exactly what I was going to ask for it. He gave me his pennies and nickles and rode off with the painting. Perhaps the most happy and appreciative patron I've ever seen."

Nothing else to say. Giving is what we all do best:)

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"France, Color, You 'n' Me" SOLD

"France, Color, Me 'n' You"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

  Colors need each other like we need each other. 

Blue looks bluer with a little bit of orange by its side. 

 Purple sings a little more true with yellow holding its hand. 

As much as I love blue,

 it would be a boring world if everything were blue. 

Blue needs orange to sing its bluesy song. 

My yin to your yang.  My tomato to your tomato.

Thanks for being the red to my green. 

We help each other to shine. 

And that's a thing of beauty:)

Meet me at the green stripe cafe to celebrate--

France,

 Color,

You 'n' Me!

Note:  I'm holding a big mirror up for you to see how truly beautiful you are, inside and out, perfect just as  you are, exactly as you are meant to be. 
Your true colors are shining through:)))

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"Lined Out" SOLD

"Lined Out"
6" x 12" oil on museum quality panel

$350

When I was a kid my Mom would tell me I had better get myself lined out or she would do it for me.  Somehow I don't think she was referring to hanging laundry. 
Well, here I am....a few decades later and I still don't have myself lined out.
But I do like  fresh laundry when it is.
Lined out, I mean.
Does that count????

In Other News:

If you were looking for a sign--there are still a few remaining spots in my first workshop of 2011 in Atlanta with my buddy, Leslie Saeta.  Get your buns in motion and join us:))  You can get the juicy details by clicking here! and here!

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"Eddie Goes Hollywood" SOLD

"Eddie Goes Hollywood"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

The star that appeared on the door to Eddie's room should have warned me that something was up.

Then the photographer showed up today to begin shooting...you guessed it..Head Shots! 

Eddie says he needs them so his agent can get things cranking in LaLa  Land aka Hollywood!

Phyllis of course has been skittering through the house with mousse and a blow dryer, fussing over Eddie's hair/fur.  Has even taken to calling him Mr. Eddie Bill .

I know I should have nipped that Johnny Depp/Eddie Bill  "twins separated at birth"  theory in the bud---but then I just decided to roll with it.  Asked him if I could immortalize those sterling, handsome, James Dean looks in a portrait before he becomes really famous.  Which of course he was totally on board with. 

Hence the dashing pose.

Note:  This is No.8 in the Eddie and Phyllis Series.  Click here to see the rest!

In Other News:
There are some great articles for artists on Kevin Macpherson's Artist Mentors Online site.  If you sign up for the his free newsletter, you will get the free article of the month @ month.  I am happy to say that I am the first in their featured writer line-up:))  You can click here to read my featured article, "How to Find Your Authentic Voice and Stay Motivated in the Process".  Here are some add'l articles with contributors:
Self Discovery by Kevin Macpherson
3 “P’s” of Professionalism: Painter, Promoter, Planner by Wanda Macpherson
First Impressions and Your Artist Statement by Linda Fisler
Plein Air Painting: A Vehicle Not a Destination by Jean Stern
Controlling Fear by Paul Willard
Keeping, Maintaining, and Using a Mailing List by William Plage
The FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) of Print Making by Jack Leustig
Timely is the Hard Part: Victoria Secret Shows Artists the Solution by Clint Watson
How to Take Great Photos of Your Artwork by Amy Jeynes

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"A French Moment" SOLD

"A French Moment"

6 x 6in on museum quality panel

$200

There are, can we say,  moments  in life.  I have certainly had mine.

There was the time I asked for a sign.

 and got one.

There are Ed moments

And moments of ecstatic joy

at the sight of more snow

But, just in the nick of time, you have the  MOMENT.  The silly thing that makes you laugh out loud, the perfect rose in your garden, a phone call from someone special, a swimsuit you can actually wear out in public without bringing shame on the family---and voila, your back in the game!!

May your day be filled with great  moments. ...:))

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"Venice Time" SOLD

"Venice Time"
8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

Gondola rides preclude "being in a hurry" or "running behind".  They glide silently down passage ways inaccessible by cars.  One has no choice but to  relax and soak in the surroundings.  Buildings  from Marco Polo's time, stand in water to their waist.  Sunlight dances on laundry, flowers, clothes lines and the like, as it snakes its way between.  Setting your watch to Venice time means it's impossible to hurry..:))

In Other News:

New Assitant Hired for Getting Organized!!  The letter of recommendation accompanying the application stated, "Possesses the qualities needed to immerse themselves totally in filing."
What it didn't state was that they might also leave your files in a hairy mess (see photo)

Yep, check out the odd shaped file in the middle basket--that would be my office assistant, Ed,  "immersing himself in his work".....

Shipping Your Artwork--This week on the #1 Art Show on Blog Talk Radio, Artists Helping Artists, we'll be covering the low down on how to deliver the goods! Click here for times and details (all shows are recorded and archived!)

Atlanta Workshop!! Kick off the new year with my workshop in Atlanta, Feb 10-12.:)) I will be teaching for 3 days, alongside Leslie Saeta, for my first workshop of 2011--can't wait!! Would love to see you -- there are still some spots available. Click here to read more and also visit Leslie Saeta's site to see her great palette knife work. Pin It

"Snow Blind" SOLD

 "Snow Blind"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

It's a curious thing.  We usually find in life that for which we are looking. 

I always loved the simple test of challenging a room full of people to look around and take note of everything red.  Then have 'em close their eyes and name the blue things in the room.  This is usually met  with dead silence.  When the same folks open their eyes and look around they are surprised to see...blue carpet, blue chairs, BLUE everywhere!  How could they have missed it??  In looking only for the red, they were blind to the blue. 

So I told myself to look for color, lots of it, before I go crazy in this snow. 

At least that's my story and I'm stickin' too it.

Note:  I have some rose color glasses to loan if you need them.

That is if I can get them off of Eddie......he fancies himself as a Johnny Depp look alike with them on (since Johnny is from Louisville and has a home in France, Eddie has drawn the obvious conclusion-- they are twins, separated at birth.)

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"Morning Gold in France" SOLD

"Morning Gold in France"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

 

This pretty much sums up why I paint what I paint.  Call it escape, call it running away, calling it running towards, call it whatever you want.

Just be sure and call me when you get ready to go

I wanna  come too..:))

 

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"Viva, Eddie, Snow, and Jamaica"

"Snow, snow, and did I say....SNOW???"

"Eddie's Failed Attempt to Mail Himself to Jamaica"

It has been snowing since Thanksgiving.  Okay, maybe not everyday, but it has, for the most part, been on the ground  since then.  

Cabin fever has officially hit.  Not that I live in a cabin.  Or have a fever for that matter. 

 But somehow, home-in-the-suburbs-if-I-don't-get-some-sunshine-and-warm-weather-soon-I-am-gonna-scream, 

doesn't have quite the same ring to it.  So we're going with cabin fever.

I have caught Eddie online, twice now, surfing the "all inclusive" resorts in the Caribbean.  Thankfully his searches go something like..."cat resorts, catnip plantation tours, cat-friendly beaches" so I am not too worried on him scoring a place, otherwise I would take back my credit card he has hidden in his room under his bed. 

He asked me to post his painting of him with his grass skirt and island hat (Phyllis on top) to help remind him that balmy days are still happening somewhere on the planet.  

"Eddie Goes Native (and Takes Phyllis with Him)
8 x 8in on museum quality panel
$350

Viva la sunshine!  Viva la balmy breeze!
Viva--------the paper towel I use in my studio.
Sorry folks--I warned you I had cabin fever...:))  

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"Single Tasking in France" SOLD

"Single Tasking in France"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

One wet garment shaken out.  

One corner folded squarely over the clothes line.  

One clothes pin plucked from the apron to secure it.  

One sun to dry and one breeze to blow.  

The beauty of one single thing at a time. 

 Savor your day today, one single thing at a time.

Single tasking.   There is beauty to be found in each portion of your life.  

Single tasking reveals it.

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"Magical Dance of Italy"

Music, color, dance---intoxicating formulas.  Magical even.  Defies understanding or explaining how it bypasses the brain and heads straight to the real us hidden from view to the casual observer.  It is what makes life bearable in our low points and ecstatic in our highs. 

Music is always present in my studio when I am painting, and as a result--I feel it is intrinsically part of each painting.  And just in case you're wondering---I do "dance like no one's watching."  

Only problem is, Eddie is. The little furry dude has a running commentary on my dancing.  

If he happens to post any dance videos on YouTube, if you love me, please let me know. 

I have a reputation  to protect.  

Although it may be too late.  

I mean, when you live with Eddie, there is no where to go but up.

In Other News:
Randy Higbee at www.KingofFrame makes the frames I love.  He was a guest on Artists Helping Artists this week and offered a "Leslie and Dreama Special" on his website--just for you!
Click here to get the details!

My Atlanta workshop with Leslie Saeta is coming up in February10-12.  It is going to be 3 fun-filled days packed full of painting, great food, and comaraderie with artists from all over the US.  Click here for more details--- and make your plans now to join in on the good times ahead! Pin It

"Venice Blue" SOLD

"Venice Blue"

6 x 6in oil on museum quality panel

$200

  Men are from Mars.  Women are from Venice.  Or at least that's what Eddie says.  And I am siding with Ed this time.  Women should be from Venice.
It's one of a kind, romantic and gets more beautiful with each passing year.
 Just like the women I know...:))!

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Goals for 2011





I have always been a "list" maker--going way back to when my sister and I used to plan our summer stays with our Aunt Louise in Ohio. Back then my lists included such things as "buy new bobby pins" and "get glitter nail polish". These goals were accomplished after loading cartons of  clanking Pepsi-Cola bottles from our back porch into the  '64 Ford Fairlane and selling them back to the local grocery store to raise the needed funds.

Well, here I am in 2011 and still making lists. Not so much has changed. I still like glitter nail polish and I still like soda pop..:))

I actually made a lengthy list of goals. I "aired" them on my radio show (Artists Helping Artists--recorded for your listening pleasure) along with my co-host, Leslie Saeta.

Then I did the shedding thing. I looked at everything and condensed it down to what I felt most drawn towards.

And it came down to 3 things

Writing.

Painting.

Silence.

I have found that my best self arrives in writing and painting when I employ the third.

Getting quiet.

I think I had to maneuver my way through the whole month of goal setting to arrive at finding myself once again.

As Thoreau said,

Simplify, simplify, simplify.

To which Emerson replied,
"I think one simplify would have sufficed."

A wondrous new year to you my beautiful friend.  Welcome to 2011! Pin It