The Royal Wedding - Friday Fun Fact

Today is a day for all Royal fans...including me....ROYAL SOFT-GRIP BRUSHES!!!!

They are my favourite brand of brushes....They are a very good price and are of excellent quality. They have a great range of brushes, from "regular" brushes (flats, liners, rounds, filberts) to "Specialty" brushes (fans, foliages).

I've had some of my Royal brushes for more than 10 years....and as many know, I'm not the best at giving my brushes a good cleaning (with Murphy's Oil Soap....see a previous Friday Fun Fact) after every painting session. These brushes hold up to my abuse!

So today after you have watched the Royal event over and over again and had your tea and crumpets, head out to your local craft and art supply store and try a Royal Soft-Grip brush. You'll like it!

The Grass is Indeed Greener....

And yes, some of you will read more into this statement...go for it! HA

I have been painting, although not getting as much accomplished as I wished....a lot of washes to build this piece up, so it took a while to dry in between coats. And the canvas is a gallery wrapped 30" x 40"!!!

But this is my latest painting....yes, more monochromatic...but perhaps a little more colourful than the last!

I have another painting almost finished, so hopefully I'll be able to post that one soon as well.....

2011 - First Quarter Update

As many of us are wokring diligently on year end activities at work, it is the end of the first quarter of 2011....a reminder to me to revisit my goals for 2011 to see how I'm progressing.....so from my January 2011 post:

"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.

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.

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.

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".

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/

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.

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.....

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.....

Increase my advertising for commissions using online advertising methods - Did post some online ads...got a few students, but no commissions.

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.

Participate in more public showcases - I have a few venues secured....looking at a few more.....

Submit artwork to juried and non-juried art competitions in the Province and globally - Not yet.

Not a bad start for the first quarter of 2011....now to keep on track.....

Friday Fun Fact - Q-Tips

Sorry...Friday has come and gone...but a tip (no pun intended) is ready to go....

Q-Tips can be your best friend when painting.....

Sometimes you paint something you shouldn't....quickly wet a Q-Tip and lightly rub over the paint you don't want to stay on your painting. As long as you get the paint before it has completely dried, you can remove your boo boo.

However, if you think Q-Tips can only help you when things go wrong, think again.....

You can actually paint using a Q-Tip! Small berries are quick and easy with the end of a Q-Tip that has been dipped in one (or two) colours of paint. Press the Q-Tip straight down firmly and give a slight twist when lifting. Presto - a berry!

I've also used a Q-Tip to lightly bend the edge of a colour into another when applying a new colour over top of an existing dry colour.

I'm sure there are many other painting-related uses for Q-Tips.....Please share!!!

It's been a while.....

Since I posted....so much going on....I've got 2 paintings going at once...one of a Sand Ladder from a pix courtesy of a great photograher and biologist from Ontario (Melanie) and the second of a close-up of grass with dew on the blades from a pix courtesy of a friend of my Aunt Michele in Ontario (Shannon). I see a pattern here....pix not taken by me and all taken by people in Ontario...interesting!

Some big plans are shaping up for some exhibits...stay tuned for more on the shows at a later date....planning art exhibitions takes a lot more time than one would think....especially when you are trying to do it right!

Hopefully the Sand Ladder will be posted on the blog by the end of this week....the grass painting is rather large...30" x 40", so it will take a little while to get that one finished.

And when that one is complete, on to a pix of Pouch Cove (I took this pix!).

I'll be getting back to the Friday Fun Facts starting this week as well....March was just MADNESS!!! (Thanks to those who supported the March Madness Sale!!!)