Half Snow Day = Some Painting

So, we had a half snow day today....shut down around 2:00pm (not quite half day for me as I would normally be off at 3:30)...battled through traffic (they must have all had summer tires on and also didn't know how to slow down either) for over an hour....relaxed for a bit...got supper....showered...and now to check e-mails and blog before painting!

Starting a new painting tonight, one for our next show (stay tuned for details soon). Working title "April Showers Bring May Flowers in Boots". A little long, but kinda catchy I think....or maybe not. LOL

All I Can say for now is there will be flowers...tulips I think. Colour to be determined....

Flexible Flyer III

My latest painting....

I had one of these as a child....the Flexible Flyer III....with it's red runners. It came with another rope I'm sure, but all I ever remember is the yellow rope my Dad put on it....

Ready to Fly

10" x 14"

Acrylic on Canvas

$300



It went really fast down the hill behind my Grandparents house on Campbell Avenue (where the former Lester Hotel, not the Bristol, is nowadays). And I'm sure I used it at the sliding hill at Bowring Park too....and perhaps even sliding at Pippy Park (I only ever remember sliding there once as a child, Bowring Park was only a 15 minute walk from our house, so there was no real need to go anywhere else).

Did anyone else have a Flexible Flyer too?

First Painting of 2012

It's finished....my first painting of 2012. I seem to have some sort of trend going that monochromatic paintings (well this one is almost monochromatic) are my first painting each year....hmmmm.....

This one brings me back to childhood memories, of picking dandelion flowers to bring home, and then your hands being sticky from the milk flowing in the stems. And then in a few weeks, the sea of yellow that was your lawn turns into a sea of silvery-white when the yellow flowers turn to seed. We would pick these as well and blow the seeds into the wind, making wishes as we blew. I suspect our parents and neighbours wished we wouldn't help the weeds propagate so, unless they of course liked their feed of dandelion each spring!

 "Wishes" - Acrylic on 8" x 8" gallery wrapped canvas

As always, I wrap the paint around the edges to give a continuous flow around each side. Gallery canvas is meant to be hung without framing; however, it can be framed if one so desires, or in this case wishes!

From Wikipedia, for those who are curious about botany.....

Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion (often simply called "dandelion"), is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae (Compositae). It can be found growing in temperate regions of the world, in lawns, on roadsides, on disturbed banks and shores of water ways, and other areas with moist soils. T. officinale is considered a weedy species, especially in lawns and along roadsides, but it is sometimes used as a medical herb and in food preparation. As a nearly cosmopolitan weed, common dandelion is best known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of silver tufted fruits that blow away on the wind.

Welcome 2012!

I've been busy the past couple of weeks...not just with Christmas holidays! I've been trying to plan my 2012!

I have already posted my 2012 goals here on my blog. I have spent time updating the format and look of my blog and my website and it seems Facebook has a new timeline format, so I updated my FB page as well. I have also signed up for Twitter, although I have not quite ventured into that quite yet.

I have also set-up an account with Fine Art America to sell a select offering on my prints (in differing sizes than I now offer them on my own website) and also NEW is a select offering of my original photographs for sale.

I will also be setting-up accounts to sell with Etsy and Zazzle in the near future. Stay tuned for more info on these as they become active.

I have been completing a fair amount of research for my theme this year as well as other research for other projects/exhibitions that are upcoming in 2012. Boy does this ever take up time!

I am also planning a monthly art challenge that will be posted here on my blog...check back soon for more information on this.

I will also be holding another contest starting later this week, so also check back for more on this new contest!

I also have some mini-tutorials on acrylic painting  techniques planned for 2012. Let me know if there are any techniques you'd like to see.

I also have some SALES planned for 2012 as well....March Madness is soon approaching again! More details in February on the MADNESS!!!

However, no actual painting has occurred so far this year....I had planned on starting my first piece last night, but alas, life got in the way. Hopefully tonight and maybe a sneak peak post will soon follow.

Looking forward to hearing from everyone as the 2012 painting journey continues on.....

B

2012 Artist Goals

The time of the year has come to reflect upon what has been accomplished (see my recent post - 2011 Progress Update) and what should be planned for the following year. Below you will find the list of what I am striving to accomplish in 2012 with my artwork.

Artist Goals 2012: To continue to find avenues to learn, produce and display artwork.

Learn:

·         Continue to increase my knowledge of various painting techniques and styles through online courses and/or local workshops.

·         Start a monthly painting challenge where we will focus on a particular technique or subject to explore.

·         Start a “create together” day once a month for the members of Arts Northeast to learn from each other, and perhaps have guest participants to increase our knowledge.

Produce:

·         Create a defined body of work (10-20 pieces) using a theme.

·         Create up to 30 pieces of artwork for 2 exhibitions in 2012 with Arts Northeast.

·         Spend more time sketching/drawing by completing one small piece per week.

·         Complete more plein air paintings.

·         Complete several winter/Christmas theme artwork.

Display:

·         Increase my online presence through use of facebook, my website, my blog and online art stores, such as Kijiji, Fine Art America, Esty, and Zazzle.

·         Explore venues for two exhibitions with Arts Northeast.

·         Explore venues for exhibitions outside of the Northeast Avalon.

·         Submit artwork to juried and non-juried art competitions/exhibits locally and globally.

Fun Fact Friday on a Tuesday - Trees

I've been very bad at keeping my Fun Fact Fridays going....hopefully 2012 will be better!

But I had to share this tip before I forget it...courtesy of Art Apprentice Online....

When painting trees, paint the outer branches with transparent paint, this keeps them soft and delicate.

2011 - Progress Update

Well, 2011 is almost over....I didn't get to post my third quarter update with exhibits and vacation taking over....so here's my update for the second half of 2011....up to and including the rest of December. I have to get busy this week with my 2012 plan...I have a lot of ideas already in my head, so they need to just be written down in a logical manner.....

My statement for 2011..."My focus will now get back to what it originally was...the production, marketing and sale of my own artwork. Most of my goals for 2011 can be subdivided into three main categories - learning activities, productivity, and visibility:"

Learning Activities:

Increase my knowledge of various painting techniques and styles through courses online and/or participate in local workshops or classes - I have signed up for a couple of online courses, so some progress here. Ok, so I signed up but haven't had time to work on them. Tomorrow is hopefully a holiday, so I hope to do some painting and tackle one of the courses. I was able to spend some time on some of my online courses, no local workshops or classes have really interested me, except one which clashed with something else I had happening, so hopefully I'll be able to do that one in 2012.

Work on further expanding my existing classes and workshops offered to students - Well, slight hiccup in this one....I had intended on continuing my classes with the City of St. John's past my current schedule which finishes in May....short version, the City seems to be changing some of it's rules and I do not agree with how they are handling things...so I have decided to move on in the fall. I will be increasing classes of my Artist's Choice and various Workshops in "the Shed" instead. Not exactly my original plan, but we'll have to go with it. I have scheduled 2 nights for Artist's Choice (which one is full and the other almost full) as well as 4 Workshops for the fall in "the Shed". I have loaded up on Workshops for the Fall as many students do not like to venture out in the Winter. I have now expanded to 3 classes each week, plus workshops. I think 3 nights will be my limit, especially as I have a lot planned for 2012. My schedule for the winter is posted, classes are almost full (registration started last week) and I have my spring/summer schedule figured out as well. I just have to figure out which workshops I'll plan for the spring.

Research local art groups/organizations to determine benefits of memberships and learning opportunities - VANL looks promising, but have decided to hold off on joining until 2012. Status quo. I've done some research, but nothing is striking me right now....I'll speak with my art friends to get their opinions and decide if I'll sign-up anywhere for 2012 to give it a shot. 

Complete the studio and hold grand opening in the Fall - Now that the warmer weather is here (wishful thinking I suspect), work will continue in "The Shed". Work on the studio is continuing and we now have running water! Progress! Almost ready for more paint and then onto the ceiling. The studio is almost complete...just a few baseboards and trim left....that should be finished during the Christmas break. Fred did a wonderful job on the banister at the top of the stairs!

Productivity:

Create a defined body of work using a theme of my choice for the purpose of an art show. At least 8 major paintings should be produced for this endeavour - Well, no theme unless you count lack of a theme, a theme! I have changed this goal a little which was a result of the formation of our own art group. My loose working terms right now are textures....The art show is booked for late July-early August for 3 weeks, so more painting must be completed. If I get 6 new paintings done for this show, I'll be happy. The show is on now! 8 major paintings were produced and I also decided to put in 2 former paintings that I previously did not wish to sell....time does wonders! The next theme is nature, so I'm well in my comfort zone there. Second exhibition was titled "Window into Nature" at MUN Botanical Garden in October - 5 new pieces painted for that one for a total of 16 pieces on display. I exceeded my goals for this one!

Create at least one painting a month that is not part of the defined body of work or commissions - Month 4 and I'm just finishing off paintings 3 and 4 (There was one commission in there too). So on track. 8 new paintings were completed for the show, which doesn't include 2 others that I had completed early in the year that are going in the next show. 5 new pieces painted for the second show, so I have a total of 15 new originals produced this year!

Create more artwork that is focused on the market demands - Right now I've been picking subjects I like, so I'm not really focusing on market demands...YET.....seems at least one of my counterparts will be joining me at a Christmas Fair, so I decided today I have to paint some Christmas/Winter subjects....so sort of on track? I have an idea, sort of a theme...maybe I need to revise the goal above....it's a secret right now though..... Ok, so decided against the Christmas fair with so much going on with exhibits/sales and teaching. Apparently need to sleep sometime. Haven't started a winter painting yet...must find one to do soon. Haven't really done that, but have started research and have some firm painting ideas for 2012...a theme for myself as well, on top of the theme we will have for our Arts Northeast exhibitions.

Visibility:

Increase my online presence through use of my website, facebook, blog, and venturing into sales online - Website updated and PayPal added, Blog is going well so far, Facebook has my Blog updates posted, and have secured one local online company, working on another local one that I have a commitment from, and also checking out some global print-on-demand sites.... Hoping to do some work in these areas in the next few weeks.... Didn't get to the global print-on-demand sites this year...major effort will go into this for 2012.

Increase my advertising for commissions using online advertising methods - Did post some online ads...got a few students, but no commissions. Will post ads again online for the fall.... Did not repost any ads for commissions....did receive one through other means though....

Creation of an artist's group who will be focused on increasing our visibility and also in sharing meaningful critiques and knowledge - Well underway, a somewhat slow start, but we have a group of 4 now and have our first show booked (mentioned above) and working on 1-2 more for this year. Have a plan for a proposal for 2012. Very Excited...more details to follow. First show is in progress, second show is booked, third show still possible....will decide that in a few weeks. Second show completed, decided against the third show for this year...pushed that one into 2012 perhaps in Gander....

Participate in more public showcases - I have a few venues secured....looking at a few more..... Truly haven't gotten to this yet..... This one got by the wayside, so I'll add this to the "to do" list for 2012.

Submit artwork to juried and non-juried art competitions in the Province and globally - Not yet. Deadline for Arts and Letters is in September...will enter this year. Submitted to a few....waiting to hear back. Creating a calendar for deadlines for 2012 to make it easier to plan for submissions.

So 2011 has been quite productive, even if I didn't get everything on my list completed...a great start...the Arts Northeast group has been wonderful and we are looking forward to what 2012 brings...

Any and all comments on my 2011 plan and/or suggestions for 2012 are welcome.....