March 15, 2015 - Happy St. Patrick's Day


This show gave me some good ideas about blog writing.  Leslie Saeta interviewed Dreama Tolle Perry. 

Click here for radio show about 10 ways to write a better blog

Also, I need feedback, questions about topics that might interest you. Just write the questions in comments at the bottom of each post.   I was thinking about showing different ways to start a painting.    I start my own in different ways depending on the subject and how I want the painting to look in the end. 

This canvas  was toned with Indian yellow at the beginning, then I did my drawing with burnt sienna, both added to make the painting feel warm.

 

I used Rembrandt Transparent Red to tone the gessobord for this one because I want the geraniums to really sing.

Business Part of Art

Marketing

  I have had to accept that there has to be the ingredient of marketing in art, not a class that I took in college or anywhere so learning from the internet, blogs and the generosity of other artists has been my path. 

30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days by Leslie Saeta jump started me into learning about the subject.  I recently found this online class called ART Biz Blog and that was through the advice of another artist.  There is an assignment at the end of each short video.  I'll add the links in the next 6 blogs. 

The first video talked about having a discipline of creating art.  The point was that you have to have a product to market.  The assignment was put up a sign with your studio hours and make the commitment to spend time creating art in your studio.    (pretty good hours....)


Check out this blog for marketing ideas and short videos  http://www.artbizcoach.com/


Daily Paintworks Website - a great motivator to paint everyday and see your progress.

What Subjects to Paint

February 12, 2014

What to Paint?

This is always on my mind. Last week's blog radio show was about that very thing, "What Subject to Paint".  I just finished listening to it and took notes throughout because it is filled with great ideas.  The co-host, Carrie Waller, is a fantastic water color artist.  Leslie Saeta is the host and does this show weekly.  It's worth listening to it. 

HOW TO FIND RADIO SHOW "ARTISTS HELPING ARTISTS"

I embedded the radio show on the right hand column of this blog.  It turned out so big and I don't know how to fix it, but if you click on it you can listen to the show. 

My own subjects right now are close-up views of Fredericksburg and pie.  I think I might like pie better than donuts.  My husband loves this project because we are on the third pie which is a key lime.  I'm painting that one today so far I've only had a small taste of it. 

I'm always looking for new ideas.  The radio show gave me new ones.  Any ideas on what would be interesting to paint in Fredericksburg.  I'm trying to keep it to close-ups of gardens and gates and.....????

Pie Series - #1

I painted and ate a lot of donuts for this series.  There is a huge pile of donuts shown in my ETSY mini shop on the right side of the page. 

Fredericksburg Close-up Series - #2

30 Day Challenge

January 31, 2014

Thank you to Leslie Saeta for doing another 30 day challenge.  If you have the chance, look at this link to be inspired by the work of so many artists.  You can look at their blogs and be inspired all over again.  

I confess to not doing all thirty, maybe only 1/3 of that.  If it were not the challenge, I might have spent the month of January just trying to organize my studio and be distracted by other things. 

Here is my mini-challenge.  I learned how to do collages from Leslie's marketing challenge.  Go to "ipiccy" to make your own. 

 

This month I've been adding more paintings to ETSY and still trying to improve my photos.  At least I stopped using my phone for pictures and use my little camera.  I'm not doing that well on using a big fancy camera.  (the picture of the apples posted  on ETSY recently is one of the worst).  I 'm giving myself a year to improve. 

30 Day Challenge

January 15, 2014

I've at least added paintings two days in a row on the 30 Day Challenge with Leslie Saeta.  More than that I've done another study of the flowers with the inspiration of Qiang Huang.  I admire his devotion to staying with a subject to learn everything about it. 

It is true that doing the same subject improves your understanding and skill of whatever you are painting.  I hope to master the lights and darks and the variety of edges. 

Qiang Huang has many paintings listed on Daily Paintworks and he has a blog.

Here is the second study of the same flowers.  (The photo of the still life is on yesterday's post)

  Painting is 4 x 5 inches

30 Day Challenge

January 10, 2014


Over the holidays I watched the DVD set by Quang Ho.  It was so inspirational.  He summarized the important concepts so well and demonstrated while describing his ideas about what is important in a painting. 

While I was painting this little one (6 x 6) I kept thinking about what he said about shapes and values and painting the light.

I'm including this in the "30 Day Challenge", but am embarrassed to say this is only the 3rd painting for me and it is day 10.  I was obsessed with organizing my studio and it is still not finished, but I can let go for awhile and get back to painting.

I'll put this on ETSY.  So far that is working well.  I'm mailing the salt and pepper shakers today.  Here is a photo of that one.  I figured out how to put the mini-ETSY shop on the side of the blog.  The instructions were pretty good.

Wow, this photo is really bad, that is why improving my photo taking skills is one of my goals.  The painting looks better than the photo.  

3 Roses to celebrate 30 in 30.

September 30, 2013

Something to celebrate.  I made it for 30 in 30.  Roses always say special occasion to me. 

 

 

 

It wasn't easy to do 30 in 30.  I almost gave up one time, but I'm glad that I stuck with it.  I really liked getting to know some other artists and I appreciated very much comments from other people.  That is always very encouraging. 

 

Thank you to Leslie Saeta for organizing this event.  Leslie, I know you have been very busy.  Not only did you do a workshop, but you moved into a new house.  How did you do it?



http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Back to the subject of Marketing:

During the 30-day Marketing Challenge with Leslie Saeta, we were encouraged to let people know when something sells, and to spruce up our packaging.  I still need to add a nice bow, but want to buy those clear plastic bags first.  Now that I have decided on the frame size, I need to order bags, but in the meantime I think including the cards as a thank you make it a nice colorful surprise. 

The frames from my favorite, Franken Frames, gives the painting a nice finished look.  My husband puts paper and wire on the back so they look very professional. 

 

I still need to do a better job of advertising that the paintings are for sale. I have the DPW widget on the side panel of my blog, but half of the time I forget to put a link to DPW under the photo.  Here it is DAILY PAINTWORKS