Leslie Saeta started a 30 day marketing challenge today, May 1st.

  I am working on the first challenge to start a mentoring group, one that exchanges ideas and helps one another. 

I just realized that it would be a good idea to link my blog to my website. 

April 22, 2013

 

 

This is the second painting of donuts, but these donuts are from Paul's Bakery in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  It's showing at the Backdoor Gallery, also in Fredericksburg.  The chocolate with white filling is my favorite one.  It may be the best donut I have ever eaten. 

I put an album of most of the paintings at Backdoor Gallery on Facebook.  Backdoor Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA

In my last workshop,  Dreama Tolle Perry talked about marketing.  I started a newsletter last November and do more on Facebook now.  Leslie Saeta also shares good advice about marketing and I included her challenge for the month of May on my side panel here on my blog.  If you are an artist I recommend looking at Leslie's website: Leslie's website  and  getting Dreama Tolle Perry's book called the The Artist's Toolbox.

Thanks for reading my blog.

PS - If you want a copy of my newsletter next month just post me your email address. 

April 19, 2013

 

 

 

12 x 12

Oil

 

This is another painting from the workshop with Dreama Tolle Perry.  My goal was to keep color vibrant and have loose and big brushwork.  This was just the right workshop for me.  The technique using transparent oils and then thinking about shapes and values as you progress through the paintings helped me accomplish this. Some of the darks were added in the final layer,  but most darks are from the first transparent layer of the painting. 



 

 April 15 -17, 2013

 

For the last three days I had the chance to attend a painting workshop by Dreama Tolle Perry.  Her paintings are vibrant and happy.  Dreama demonstrated and explained her method of maintaining such luscious and beautiful colors.   The painting on the easel is the beginning of the painting done by Dreama, emphasizing the use of transparent colors. 

 

I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this workshop.  Not only did I learn about the techniques to accomplish pure and beautiful color, but I was inspired by Dreama's love of art and her joy in helping others.  Thank you to Dreama and the wonderful artists in the class for making it such a meaningful experience. 

 

 

 

 

 

If you go to Dreama's website, you will see the finished painting. 

Dreama's website

 

Burst of Spring

18 x 24

Oil and acrylic

 

I wish I had taken photos of this painting through its many phases.  It started as a purely abstract painting based on colors I liked using acrylics.  On this size canvas I decided it wasn't a stand alone painting so I tried doing another abstract with oils.  Maybe I'm just used to doing my abstracts on larger canvases, usually 36 x 36.  I liked the colors so I kept going and did what is one of my favorites things and, that is paint flowers and use a lot of heavy paint.  It was fun to do. 

 

 

I recently had the chance to meet Cait Jarrod, a local Fredericksburg, Virginia, author.  Her book, Kidnapped Hearts, takes place right here in Fredericksburg and is exciting and suspenseful. 

On the 15^th, learn how to be entered in Cait Jarrod's give-a-way of two eBooks: Kidnapped Hearts and Rekindled, a beautiful painting by Carol Josefiak, and a gift certificate to an additional eBook from any Evernight author.

Click here to learn more about Cait Jarrod and her books. 
Cait's Website

Painting that I finished today.

April 11, 2013

 

 

Whenever I take a workshop I save the photos of the still life set-ups from the class.  I took this workshop several years ago, but just completed the painting. 

8 x 10

Oil on board

Painting for April 10, 2013

 

 

Cupcake from the Carrot Tree Bakery in Williamsburg, Virginia

Thank you, we just loved it.  The chocolate one was fantastic,  too.  

Color Board - Terra Rosa

 

color board using terra rosa which is very similar to burnt sienna.  Notice the nice grays on the right hand side.   I did these quite a while ago so I apologise for how beat up they look.  I'll post a few more colors.  Has anyone tried doing these?

 

 

Striptease

 

 

Daily Paintworks