Cinnamon Pink

Monochromatic Portrait Painting

This is a monochromatic painting that I created before doing the Demo Painting. I may go back and work on her eyes a bit to give her a softer look.

I used the techniques that I recently learned about in Misty Mawn's Workshop at Art & Soul.

Related articles

Demo of a Monochromatic Portrait Painting

Demo of a Monochromatic Portrait Painting

Our project for Day Nine of the 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days was to pull out a camera and take a few Demo Photographs while we were working on our next painting.

Here is the sequence of steps that I took to paint this monochromatic portrait. Please ignore the numbers on the photos. I worked too quickly and messed up on the numbering system. (There actually is no #4 photograph).

 

This was actually a fun exercise. I encourage you to try it too.

Check Out the Art Journalist Site

Image from ArtJournalist site

Today, I discovered this information-rich site called ArtJournalist (Exploring Art Journaling) that is hosted by Chelle Stein.

There's a lot to explore here: Art Journal Techniques, Art Journal Prompts, The Official (In)Complete List of Art Journal Supplies, When You Hate Your Handwriting - and much more. Take some time to check it out and then get started on your Art Journaling.

BTW, Happy Mother's Day To All, including those moms of fur babies. That includes me.

Start Licensing Your Art from Lateral Action

Via Lateral Action, I discovered this post, How to Start Licensing Your Art (and Why You Should) written by Natasha Wescoat.

I like what Natasha says about Making the Pitch:

"You can create your own opportunities. Make yourself known to companies you want to work with. Research their sites, their brand and then write a thoughtful letter describing your interest and make a brief introduction of yourself."

"Offer links to your work, as sometimes attachments are marked spam or they won’t open. Show them how THEY can benefit. Not just that you want to work with them. Show how you two fit. Link to the best examples of your work that complement what they already license."

Check out the rest of this informative post. And start taking that first step to Licensing Your Art. 

Sketching Advice from Katherine Tyrrell

As I mentioned in earlier posts, I have a daily sketching habit. Lately, I've been working with colored pencils.

I was looking for some good reference material and visited artist Katherine Tyrrell's blog, Making a Mark. Katherine regularly provides quality information for artists.

Here are two sources, from Katherine, that you may find helpful:

• Coloured Pencils - Information, Advice & Resources for Artists.
• Drawing & Sketching - Resources for Artists

Make sure that you make some time for sketching this weekend.

Art Career Advice from Artsy Shark

Image from Artsy Shark site

Here's an inspiring post from Artsy Shark on How to Become a Successful Freelance Artist written by guest author & artist, Noah Bradley. I especially like his points on working hard - and doing the work you love.

You may also be interested in the Artsy Shark post on How Artists Can Build a Brand written by artist, John Borys. I like his messsage on style:

"If your work is quirky, whimsical or fun, your Web site, messaging, and social media efforts should reflect that vibe. If you are a traditional or realist painter, your Web site needs to look and feel like that. Colors, typeface, copy, images and layout are all tools to further communicate your brand, whatever that might be."

Check out these two posts and start working on incorporating some of the ideas into your own artist career today.

 

Day 6 of 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days,

The Day Six Challenge, for 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days, is to create a photo badge for your website and blog. I created the badge for my Etsy Shop.

I made the badge with the intention of publishing it on my Facebook page and linking it to my Shop. Somehow, things didn't work out. I need to work on my Facebook page some more.

Create a Collage of Your Paintings - Day 5 of 30 Marketing Ideas

For Day 5 of 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days, Leslie Saeta challenged us to create a collage featuring some of our paintings. To create the collage, Leslie suggested we go to the website ipiccy and click on "collage."

The tool is very easy to use and you can save the collage to your hard drive. This was a fun exercise to do. Thank You for the idea Leslie! If you want to participate in Leslie's Marketing Challenge, check out the details here.

Jet Pens Order Arrived

My order from Jet Pens recently arrived. As you can see, I got a little carried away with purchasing blue pens.

I like ordering from this company because of the unique Japanese products that they offer. Also, I'm always in search of the perfect pen for sketching and art journaling. Here are descriptions of some of the items that I ordered.

The pen that I most look forward to using is the Ohto Graphic Liner Needle Point Drawing Pen. It "produces the same kind of line as your typical fiber-tipped drawing pens, but with a sturdy metal needle point instead." According to the company description, "you'll never have to worry about smashing the pen tip over time, and can use every last drop of the waterproof, archival-safe pigment ink." I hope this is true because I do think I tend to press too hard on my Micron pens.

I ordered the Sakura Pigma Sensei Drawing Pen. The description says that "the ink is archival quality, smear- and feather-resistant, waterproof, chemical proof, and fade-resistant. It also does not bleed through most papers." Although the pen is promoted to manga artists, I think I will enjoy sketching with it.

I also ordered the Marvy LePen Technical Drawing Pen. It is described as having "pigmented black ink that resists bleed-through and is permanent when dry." 

Because I often make detailed pencil sketches and need a slim eraser, I ordered the Seed Radarknock eraser encased in a pen-like form. It has "an unusual tip shape resembling a three-quarter moon, making erasing small areas easier than with wider erasers."

Some how, I also ordered the Tombow Mono Knock 3.8 Eraser encased in a pen-like form. "With the push of a button you can extend the Tombow Mono eraser" and it's ready to use.

The shocking pink item in the photo is the Sun-Star, Paper Stitch Lock Staple-Less Stapler. It "requires absolutely no metal staples, and will hold up to 4 sheets of paper together (average copy weight). The mechanism punches the paper and stitches it together in one press." I really got tired of messing with metal staples. Most of the hard copy that I keep are two to four pages in length so the stapler will work for me.

I have no association with Jet Pens. I just like their products. And aren't all mixed-media artists also office supply and stationery hoarders too?

30 Marketing Ideas in 30 days - Day Two

I am participating in Leslie Saeta's Challenge: 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 days. I must confess that I tend to get focused on creating Art - and spend little time on marketing my Art. I should know better since I have a marketing background. So I signed up for the Challenge with the goal of increasing my art marketing efforts.

Today is Day Two of the Challenge and our Marketing task is to promote one of our favorite paintings that hasn't sold yet. I'm promoting the above painting entitled Sweetie Pie. 

Are you participating in the 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 days challenge? If not, why don't you take a risk and join me and the other participants in this fun event?

30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days Challenge - Check it Out

Image from Leslie Saeta's site

Today I came across this innovative challenge hosted by artist, Leslie Saeta. Here's the back story in Saeta's own words:

"Welcome to the 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days Challenge. Every day I will post a marketing task for you to complete. Each one shouldn't take more than half an hour and by completing all of them in the next 30 days you will have done a lot to promote your art! Don't forget that there is only one rule for this challenge and that is to HAVE FUN! If you miss a day then don't sweat it. Just have fun and complete as many as you can." (The Challenge began May 1.)

To date, there are over 300 artists participating in the Challenge. That means by the end of May, over 10,000 marketing ideas will be generated by this Challenge.

Here's more information about Saeta: 

"Leslie Saeta is an award winning artist who paints fresh and colorful paintings using only a palette knife. She paints in her studio full time and has over 30 years of marketing experience."  

"In addition to painting, she is devoted to helping other artists sell their art, especially online. She hosts a weekly talk radio show titled Artists Helping Artists which is a great resource tool for all artists.  The show is currently listened to by over 5000 artists per week."

Check it out - and then start Creating!

Abbott Handerson Thayer's Angels

 

Thayer Angel Painting

I have always admired this painting of an Angel but I did not know much about the artist. I was surprised to find that Thayer's Angels are his best-known paintings.

 

Thayer Angel Painting

Here's some more background information on the artist: "Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849-1921), is recognized today for his ethereal angels, portraits of women and children, landscapes, and delicate flower paintings. A New Englander who expressed the spiritual in much of his work, he was known as a "soul painter." In his own time, his work was praised by critics even as it was popular with the public and sought after by collectors."

I'm currently working on painting mixed-media art portraits and Thayer's angels are an inspiration to me.

 

Salvage Scores

I recently visited Country Boy Antiques, in Norfolk VA, and scored some great finds.

I already have an idea for an assemblage art piece using one of the door plates. The glass bottle has the words baking powder engraved on it. I'm soaking the bottle in a solution of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and water. It may take a few soakings to get the bottle clean.

Generate Leads for Your Art Business with Social Media

A while back I did a post about Selling with Social Media. Aldo Baker contacted me about a follow-up post on this topic: 50 Ways to Generate Leads with Social Media. Check it out!

Here's Baker's favorite tips in what he calls a Tweet Sheet:

• Crowdsource content and credit your community as a way of giving back.
• Make ads visually appealing for Pinterest pins, since this market is growing fast!
• Integrate keywords into your LinkedIn page(s).
• Monitor Twitter tags for new and relevant conversations.
• Reach out to industry leaders with a Google Hangout.
• Host a video webinar answering questions for your customers.

Although SalesForce is a business-oriented site, I believe mixed-media artists can gather some great tips to use in selling their art.

 

Art & Soul, Color My World & Vendor Night

On Saturday, I took the Color My World Workshop with Lisa Kaus at the Art & Soul Retreat. Lisa first reviewed the textural elements behind her unique painting techniques. Then we began to create. After our paintings were completed, we applied a luminous layer of beeswax over our art. Of course, I had to incorporate hearts and a sweet cake into my painting.

Later, our Tidewater Artists Group (TAG) held our 2nd annual Potluck Soiree at the Retreat's hotel. The food was delicious - and it was wonderful to gather all of our members in one room for lively conversation and laughter.

Finally, a greatly anticipated event took place on Saturday evening: Vendor Night. Sellers offered: finished artwork, art supplies, vintage findings, fabrics, jewelry, collage items, assemblage pieces, ephemera and so much more. A very tempting shopping experience!

Ideas & Sam Harrison

I subscribe to Sam Harrison's inspirational Speaking of Ideas e-newsletter list. Harrison is a speaker, writer and coach on creativity-related topics. His mission is: Helping People Express and expand their Creativity. 

This week's newsletter topic asks readers: Are You Stopping Too Soon with Ideas?

Here is Harrison's view on the topic in his own words: "We often need to go past obvious, expected answers. Likewise, we usually need to keep going and dig deeper when we're coming up with ideas for projects. Otherwise, we'll tend to have predictable solutions and ordinary ideas." 

 "When facing a new project, try putting aside the first idea that pops in your head. That's likely the same idea everyone else would have. And it may be the same idea you've already used for similar situations. Instead, keep going. Brainstorm by yourself or with others to find fresh ideas and bolder solutions. When we go past the ordinary, we move toward the extraordinary!"

Check out Harrison's Web site, ZingZone, for more information about him and his books. I'm sure you'll come away inspired.

You might also be interested in this article written by Harrison: Putting Lines Around Ideas.

 

 

 

Paper Bag Expressions at Art & Soul Retreat 2013

 

An Opening Night Party (on 4/23/13) for the Art & Soul Retreat was sponsored by The Bead Goes On. The latter is located in Virginia Beach. A delicious buffet, including animal character cupcakes, was served. The theme for this year's Retreat is On Safari.

The Bead Goes On also sponsored a wonderful giveaway - and I was lucky enough to win one of the prizes. The bag, shown above, contained a generous amount of beautiful beads in many sizes shapes and colors - as well as other goodies.

My Wednesday Workshop was Paper Bag Expressions with Misty Mawn. We began the session by creating simple brown paper bag journals. Misty offered us many great techniques on how to create faces with different expressions. The photo shows my faces-in-progress. My paper bag journal is in the upper left hand corner of the photograph.

I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and highly recommend it to every one. Misty is a natural when it comes to teaching and she creates a mellow environment in the classroom.

Misty was so sweet to create a face on a small brown paper bag for each of us. And we even got her to sign them.

On Saturday, I will be taking the Color My World Workshop with Lisa Kaus. I'm looking forward to it.

Sketching and Art & Soul

I'm always interested in reading articles on the subject of sketching. Via  Design Sojourn (a Singapore-based company), I discovered this post, How to Improve Your Drawing Ability. 

There are many good tips in this post. Here's one of the ideas that I plan to try:  "Draw with a pen. Sketching with a pen, instead of a pencil, is really about losing the ability to erase your lines, or erase your mistakes." Check out the rest of the article for more tips.

I'm leaving for Virginia Beach today. The Art & Soul Retreat is happening this week, April 24-28, at the Virginia Beach Resort & Hotel. On Wednesday, I'm taking a workshop led by Misty Mawn entitled Paper Bag Expressions. The course will cover: drawing, painting, coloring and collaging the portrait expressively.

Promote Your Art with Notecards & Post Cards

Check out this informative post from Artsy Shark: 7 Ways to Promote Your Art with Notecards.

A while back, I took the (above) photograph of one of my favorite flowers, the hydrangea, and then had post cards printed up. I like to include complimentary post cards along with the orders that I send to my customers.

I especially liked this idea from Carolyn Edlund's article: "Got a hot prospect? Send a whole boxed set of mixed cards showing a selection of your portfolio, inside of a larger box. It’s sure to get opened, and makes a much bigger impression than just one piece."

Carolyn also offered this marketing tip in her post: "Don’t forget to include your name, information about the image, a statement about your work, and your website address on the back of each card."

Check out the rest of the Artsy Shark post for more great ideas.

Hand-Dyeing Muslin with Avocado Skins

Natural hand-dyeing with plants has been a popular post on Pinterest. I decided to experiment with avocado skins. I am quite pleased with the results: a vintage dusty rose color. I used white muslin fabric and beige lace. Here are some things that I learned:

• Use a stainless-steel pot that is dedicated to hand-dyeing.
• Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the water. Vinegar acts as a fixative for the dye.
• Boil the skins for about 25-40 minutes. I used skins from two avocados for my experiment.
• Strain the resulting dye and discard the skins.
• Boil the fabric for about 25-40 minutes in the dye water, depending on the desired shade that you want. 
• For a darker rose-colored shade, allow the fabric to seep in the dye overnight.
• Rinse the fabric in cold water.

In my experiment, I did not drain the skins. I boiled the skins and fabric in one pot. This technique resulted in small brown spots on the fabric. I'm not concerned about the spots because I wanted a vintage, aged look.

I plan to use my hand-dyed fabric in a mixed-media art piece.

 

Day at the Outer Banks

Yesterday, Ron and I spent the day at the Outer Banks. The weather was beautiful for walking on the beach.

My two editorial assistants, Tia & Teddie, were not interested in posing for photos after their run on the beach.

We also went to the Vintage Bodega by the Sea which is a three-day Arts Market. Vendors offered vintage furniture, handcrafted items, antiques, jewelry, snacks and more. I wasn't able to score that special find. But I discovered a vendor new to me: Country Boy Antiques who specializes in wonderful  architectural salvage. Alvin Jones' shop is in Norfolk, VA. I plan to visit the shop soon.

Earlier in the week I acquired this vintage Pepsi crate at a local antique store. I plan to use the crate for storage in my Studio. I love the small cubby holes. Only the bottom row of cubbies is deep. The other three rows of cubbies are shallow. I just have to figure how to add some wood to make these three rows deeper.

Beyond the First Idea from Sean McCabe

I recently discovered the site (Seanwes) of Sean McCabe who is a Hand Lettering Artist, Type Designer, Illustrator and Musician.

I like what she says in her post entitled Beyond the First Idea:

"As designers, it’s our job to pursue a unique direction that effectively enables the project to stand apart. The quickest way to get to this point is to hurry up and have that first idea. Once you’ve got it, throw it out. Completely toss your first idea. If you can do this, you’re one step closer to making something distinctive and notable."

I believe her suggestion could also be applied to mixed-media art projects. What do you do with your first ideas for art projects?

 Read the rest of Sean's post andcCheck out the other interesting articles on her site.

 

Revisiting 2013 Art Goals

Now that the first quarter of 2013 is almost finished, have you thought of revisiting your Art Goals for this year?

I decided to review my goals and realized that one of my objectives was to practice my handlettering on a daily basis. Well, I got involved in other mixed-media art projects - deadlines - and daily life. Regrettably, my daily practice of hand lettering fell by the wayside.

I decided that I needed a constant (in my face) reminder if I was going to get back on track. So I took a composition book, printed out my reminder on pale purple paper and glued it on the book cover.

I placed the book on my desk right next to my laptop and there it will stay. Since I use my laptop multiple times each day, my goal is to squeeze in hand lettering practice on a daily basis.

What is the status of your 2013 Art Goals?

Two Benefits of Art Journaling

Although I had a variety of mixed-media art projects to work on today, I couldn't seem to settle down and focus on one particular art piece. So I decided to create an Art Journal page.

After a few pleasant hours of choosing images, cutting scraps of paper and pasting, I felt a sense of calm envelope me. Now I was ready to work on my art projects.

I've spoken with other artists who also say that Art Journaling brings them to a sense of flow. It may be the repetitive nature of the task - or giving one's spirit a chance to daydream without any pressure.

I've also noticed that an Art Journal page can tell me what's going on in my mind. After looking at all the clocks on my Journal page, I realized that I needed to make even more time for art. I do create on a daily basis but I could probably fit in more time for art making.

What benefits do you receive from Art Journaling? Do your Journal pages help you work out any issues or questions that you may be dwelling on?

To Do the Impossible...Quote

I just came across this quote by David Murdock. The quote really spoke to me - so I chose a template on the Recitethis site and created this image.

What quote inspires you?

Tracking Art Trends for 2013

Image from PRNewswire site

If you own an Indie Business, following trends in fashion, pop culture, crafts, color and interior design can be beneficial to your bottom line. You may also gain new ideas that you can incorporate into your own art product line. 

Via PRNewswire, I discovered this post: Michaels Reveals Top Craft Trends For 2013. The trends focus on the following four areas:

• Nostalgia/Vintage - e.g., jumbo pom-poms, laser-cut frames, mason jars.
• Eco-Chic - e.g., wood grain, natural fibers, rope, paper and cork.
• Unexpected Materials - Think of using unexpected materials in traditional crafts such as wreaths, banners and garlands. 
• Personalization - Initials and monograms are showing up on all kinds of projects.

 Here's another informative post on Tracking the trends for 2013  from Craft Focus Magazine.

Try to set aside time each week to track trends by visiting design & art-related blogs, Pinterest and other similar sites. Visit department stores and boutiques keeping an eye out for the next big thing. Make note of the trends you find. Then figure out how you can take a trend and apply your own unique ideas to create a new product. 

You may just start a new trend.

World of Possibilities Collage

I just finished working on this collage which was done on an 8" x 10" canvas board. My inspiration for this piece came from the cute image of the vintage trailer. 

I hooked the trailer to a small foreign car which I imagined was heading down the road to a world of possibilities.

What possibilities are you dreaming about today?

Video Library of Techniques from Stampington & Company

Image from Stampington and Company

Via Pinterest, I discovered a fantastic Video Library of mixed-media art techniques brought to you by Stampington and Company.

Here are a few of the video titles:

• Resin Paper
• Dry Color Wash for Art Journals
• Casting with Ice Resin and
• Beeswax Cards......and so much more.

Experimenting with some of these techniques could result in a very creative weekend. What technique will you try?

Sweet Love Etsy Treasury

' Sweet L.O.V.E ' by AnnaLela

SALE 20%-Nursing Ne... Simplyacircle $16	Flower Power Headba... morion $10	Racer back knitted ... duende74 $385	Rustic wedding, rus... FlowerDecorati... $10
Vanilla Cream Garde... rosesandlemons $14	Tan Cashmere and La... Sophiehines $80	Necklace in recycle... Giardinoblu $370	macaron macaroon mi... JEWELRYandPLEA... $4
Shabby chic - Flowe... EyePoetryPhoto... $30	butterfly summer we... mamableudesign... $195	White Orchid brooch... elsahats $5	Miss Tia (Cinnamon ... KoppelStudio $20
Ten Folded Cards Pa... Hamutelet $30	Illustration. Lover... Tutticonfetti $19	vintage 60s white a... GinnyandHarrio... $48	doll,Primitive Doll... AnnaDesigner $38.9

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

 

Talma Vardi, owner of the AnnaLela Etsy Shop curated an adorable Treasury entitled, S.W.E.E.T. Love. She was kind enough to feature my Miss Tia Wood Plaque. Thank you Talma!

Talma has handcrafted a Summer Collection of Pastel Cell Phone Cozies. You can find more details about them in her Shop. Aren't they cute?

Be sure to check out the complete S.W.E.E.T. Love Etsy Treasury - and Talma's Shop too. Lots of good stuff to see.

Work Is Not a Job Manifesto

Via Swiss Miss, I discovered this great manifesto on WorkIsNotAJob. I like the creative energy of this manifesto.

The site is hosted by Catharina Bruns, Founder, Designer and Believer in Human Potential - and Sophie Pester, Designer and Creative Partner.

What do you think about your own work?

Jumpstart Your Art Career - Tips from Lori McNeed

In the past, I've highlighted posts from other blogs on Jumpstarting Your Art Career.

Here's another article, from professional artist Lori McNee who is founder of Fine Art Tips, entitled, How to Jump Start Your Art Career.  You will surely find a plethora of valuable tips in Lori's post that you can use to promote your own  art career.

 Here are a few ideas from Lori that I especially like:

• Make creative time a habit. Just like you make time to exercise, make time to create!

• Start producing finished, frame-worthy pieces of art.

• Document your artwork

Set aside time to read Lori's complete post - and then go forth and Make Art.

Promotional Opportunity from Handmadeologybiz

To Etsy Shop Owners: Here is a promotional opportunity from Timothy Adam, founder of Handmadeology. Following are details of the opportunity in Timothy's own words:

"We are looking for Etsy items to feature in our weekly featured treasury right here on our fan page. Last weeks treasury was NUMBER 1 for about 5 hrs!!!"

"Post your 5 best items in the comments section. Be sure to post then as single comments so the pics show up! Ready... Set.... Go!!! The only catch is you MUST check out the treasury and click around and share this POST!!!!" {{https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTIxNjY0Mjh8MjcyNDI1ODYwOA/fanpageology-featured-items-orange-and }}

Check it out!

Cra-Z-Art colored pencils

I came across these Cra-Z-Art colored pencils on the Walmart site. There were a few good customer reviews so I purchased them at my local Walmart. The pencils were not available as an online order.

There is a great range of colors in the 72 count set - and the cost is only $5.99. I did like how the pencils performed on paper. However, my favorite colored pencils are still the creamy Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. But I will also use the Cra-Z-Art pencils in my drawings.

Check Out Astrid's Artistic Efforts.

Collage Sheet from  Astrid's Artistic Efforts

If you love beautiful, vintage collage images, you must visit the blog of Astrid's Artistic Efforts.

Above is just one example of the gorgeous digital art which she creates. Here is the link to this collage sheet. 

Pour youself a cup of coffee and check out the rest of Astrid's site. (Note: Sorry about this last bolded sentence. Typepad is not cooperating today.)

 

Improving Your Drawing & Painting Skills

I was searching for an article on how to draw more loosely. Instead, I found this interesting post, Six Ways to Better Drawing written by Helen South, (About.com Guide). I especially liked the following suggestions:

• Schedule a Lesson Day. 
• Focus on Technique. 
• Focus on a Single Medium.

During my search I also came across this helpful post, 10 Techniques for Painting More Loosely written by Marion Boddy-Evans (About.com Guide). Here are three ideas that I plan to try:

• Don't Paint Outlines. 
• Let the Paint Drip. 
• Paint with Water.

For more details, check out the rest of these two informative articles.

Basics of Drawing from The New York Times

Via the online New York Times Opinion Page, I came across a series of columns focusing on the Basics of Drawing. The series is written by artist and author James McMullan.

As described on the site, "The series begins with installments on line, perspective, proportion and structure, and continues from there, using examples from art history to illuminate specific issues. Pencil and paper recommended."

Check it out!

Change Your Space & Enhance Your Creative Potential

Are you ready to kick your creativity up a notch? Then begin making some changes to your Art Studio. 

• Add more light to your studio by pulling up the shades, removing the window curtains or investing in an OttLite. The latter offers artists the ability to see the true colors in their art work and clear details. The light also reduces glare and eyestrain. I have been using an OttLite for many years for painting, bead embroidery and reading.
• When was the last time you changed your Inspiration Board? If you look at the same images day after day, they soon blend into the background – and become unnoticed. A revamp of your board may improve your focus and increase your creativity. Surrounding yourself with images and objects that have positive associations can also stir up happy and soothing feelings. As you can see, I just redid my own Inspiration Board.
• .Clear the clutter from your art table and room and you’ll feel more calm, organized and in control. If you can’t devote an entire day to clutter control, set aside ten minutes each day to tidy up your studio.
• Depending on your individual preferences, set a tranquil or energized atmosphere with your favorite music choices.
• Create a comforting ambiance with soft cozy chairs, pillows and thick rugs.
• Paint your walls in your favorite color. Scientists claim that creative tasks are performed most successfully when people are surrounded by blue walls. I think that wall color may depend on the individual. I function best and feel calmer when my walls are white.

What changes will you make to your Art Studio today?

Best Sites to Sell Art Online from Artonomy

A little while back, I blogged about Artsy Shark's post detailing 150 Places Artists Can Sell Online. Here is another great marketing source:

Helen Aldous, founder of Artonomy  (Business, Marketing & Survival Savvy for Creative Folks), provides a wealth of information for Indie artists on her site. Check out her post on where to Sell Art Online – A List of the Best Sites to Sell or Promote Your Art. Helen lives in West Yorkshire, England.

Visit Helen's site for additional focused Indie Business advice.

 

Happy Easter 2013

Wishing You a Lovely Holiday. Enjoy this Beautiful Day!

Try a Faux Venetian Plaster Finish for Your Next Mixed-Media Art Project

 

I came across this tutorial on how to Paint a Faux Venetian Plaster Finish. I love the texture of this finish. Although the tutorial focuses on painting walls, I believe the technique would also work on large canvases - as part of a mixed-media art piece.

Note: I believe this original post appeared on the Better Homes & Gardens site but I was not able to find the specific link.

 

Capturing Your Ideas

Let's say that you're out for your morning walk and a creative idea for an art project suddenly appears in your mind. And darn - you don't have a pencil or paper. You decide to note the idea down in your journal as soon as you arrive home. It's such a novel breakthrough - You won't forget it.

But when you come home - the idea is gone - floating around in the atmosphere somewhere - out of reach. Does this ever happen to you? Then check out these articles for tips on capturing your ideas.

• How Do You Dissipate Your Creative Energy? Part II written by Rice Freeman-Zachery
• Capture Creativity written by Aviv Shahar 
• How to Turn Ideas into Action written by Adarsh Menon

How do you capture your ideas?

Inspired: Free Digital Magazine from Artists Network

In need of some Inspiration?  Then check out the latest issue of the FREE digital publication, Inspired Magazine courtesy of Artists Network.

Magazine features include: 

• Artist Know Thyself - Discover Your Creative Voice & Artistic Style.
• Lost is Found -  Create Collage with a Zen Aesthetic.
• Fourteen Flower Paintings to Inspire You.........and more.

Check it out! If you missed the first issue of Inspired, you can read it here. I've found that Artist Network always puts out a quality product.

Colored Pencil Tips & Techniques Round-Up

Recently, I've been working with colored pencils. Today, I found some interesting posts on the topic of Colored Pencils Tips & Techniques. Hopefully, you will find these articles helpful too.

I even like to check out articles targeted to beginners because there is always something new to learn. For example, in the Beginners article, the following Col-Erase pencil tip was new to me:

Draw a light sketch with a Col-Erase pencil to guide your drawing and coloring. These latter pencils are the perfect partner to colored pencils. The Col-Erase pencils blend well with traditional colored pencils, and also let you erase if you make a mistake.

I had always used graphite pencils to create my initial sketches. But that can be messy. Now, I'll try sketching with Col-Erase pencils. Now, on to the Round-Up:

• 10 Tippy Top Colored Pencils Tips for Beginners from Making Art Fun.
• 16 Colored Pencil Tips from Artists Network.
• Colored Pencil Techniques from Fantasy Art Resource Project (FARP).
• Colored Pencils Tips & Techniques from Carol Moore.

 

 

 

 

GELLI ARTS Prints - Experiment # 2

To create the swirly and linear designs that you see above, I cut fun foam with inexpensive pinking shears. I made the small squares border by cutting into the foam. For the circles design, I used a drafting template.

Here is a photo of the actual foam tools that I made. After each pass that I made on the plate, I wiped the excess acrylic paint off the foam to achieve a sharp design. When I make new tools, I plan to glue two foam sheets together, before cutting designs, to give some weight to the tools.

For the right-hand print, I used a detailed stencil. So far, I've found that stencils with larger openings produce sharper designs.

Usually when I'm done with printing - and have already cleaned up the paint and plate, I begin getting new ideas for stencils/masks and substrates. Today, I wrote those ideas down so that I'll be ready for my next printing session.

Top Marketing Experts from Launch Grow Joy

If you sell your mixed-media art, take some time to check out this List of Top 36 Product Marketing Experts You Need to Know from Andreea, host of Launch Grow Joy.

Visit each expert's Web site, including Andreea's site, for a wealth of marketing knowledge and information. In fact, you may want to bookmark the post so that you can check back later.

Art & Spring Cleaning

What does Art have to do with Spring Cleaning? Well, I like to declutter my home when the Spring season arrives. I was in the middle of cleaning when I came upon this box filled with old copies of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. (I do hope Mary publishes this magazine again.)

I began leafing through the magazines. Soon, I quickly became engrossed in the inspiring articles and photographs. I had always enjoyed the magazine's stories about artists and their studios. Before I knew it, I was coming up with some new ideas for my own art work.

Why not take some time to dig into the boxes in your attic, basement or storage area. Check out those overstuffed drawers and cupboards in your home too. Your next idea for an awesome art project may be only a few boxes away.

Watercolor Painting - Taking a Risk

 

When I do a watercolor painting, I usually do a pencil sketch first. For this painting, I took a risk and drew all of my flowers with Liquid Frisket. After the latter dried, I added a blue sky, green grass and some text stamping to the background.

I rubbed the frisket off with my fingers and then painted in the flowers. I'm satisfied with the final result but I do see some areas that I can improve upon in subsequent paintings.

I actually did this painting in my Art Journal. I wanted to create a casual painting so I wasn't focused on perfect.

The frisket I used is Grumbacher Miskit (liquid frisket) which is orange in color. For best results, the frisket should be removed within 24 to 48 hours. This is the first time that I tried this product and I like the way it performs.

Keeping an Idea Notebook

I know that many of you do Art Journaling? But do you keep a Notebook of Ideas? I've been filling notebooks with ideas for many years now. I believe it's the writer in me that likes to capture my thoughts with pen and paper.

Here are two posts from other people who also keep Idea Notebooks:

• On Keeping a Notebook in the Digital Age by Elizabeth Spiers

• The Spark File by Steven Johnson

I like what Johnson says about ideas:  

"...... Most good ideas (whether they're ideas for narrative structure, a particular twist in the argument, or a broader topic) come into our minds as hunches: small fragments of a larger idea, hints and intimations. Many of these ideas sit around for months or years before they coalesce into something useful, often by colliding with another hunch."

In order to exploit this particular quality of idea formation, Johnson keeps what he calls a 'spark file.' He explains: “A single document where I keep all my hunches: ideas for articles, speeches, software features, startups, ways of framing a chapter I know I’m going to write, even whole books.”

Johnson doesn’t try to organize them. The randomness is intentional. He reads them over every few months and finds themes emerging — connections between fragments that wouldn’t seem apparent if those fragments were presented in isolation.

Take a few minutes and read both of the above articles to determine how you might benefit from cataloging your thoughts. In my own Idea Notebook, I jot down notes for articles as well as ideas for mixed-media art projects.

What kind of Idea Notebook would you keep?

Increasing Creative Output

Today, I was thinking about ways to increase my creative output. These thoughts led me to doing a Google search on the subject. I came up with two articles that caught my interest:

• 7 Steps to Take Now to Increase Your Creative Output written by Amy Neumann & Eliza Wing. I like what the authors say about Respect the Practice:

"The only way to create a habit is to start doing something habitually. As writer of the best-selling Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott says,'discipline is the path to freedom.' Setting expectations for yourself, forcing yourself to show up regularly and articulate what was just a wisp of a thought at the edge of your mind is what gives you a lift over your hopeful brethren -- you know the ones -- who are left wondering why they can't ever write more than the first chapter of that novel they know they have in them."

• How to Increase Your Creative Output written by Scott H. Young. I agreed with what he said about The Space Between Ideas:

"Boosting input can boost output because it allows you to form more connections between ideas. It’s the space between ideas where creativity comes from. If you are exposed to two high-quality ideas per week, that gives you one potential connection. If you are exposed to four high-quality ideas per week, there is at least six combinations. If you’re exposed to eight, that gives you 28 possible connections. An idea-rich diet offers far more space in-between ideas for you to create."

Take some time to read both of these articles for even more great ideas. BTW, how do you increase your creative output?

 

 

150 Places Artists Can Sell Online from Artsy Shark

Do you remember the Artsy Shark list, 125+ Places Artists Can Sell Online which I posted about a while back?

Well, Artsy Shark founder, Carolyn Edlund has expanded the list to 150 Places to Sell. The list is in alphabetical order and at the same link. Grab a cup of coffe and check out the additions to the list.

On a different note, my laptop crashed yesterday. It's at the Repair Shop now. I'm typing this post on Ron's laptop. I am feeling a bit lost since I don't have access to a scanner. Hopefully, I'll get my laptop back on Monday. Maybe Tuesday?