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Thursday, October 30, 2008

BETTY HAS BEEN ADDED TO MY SHOP!


I can't believe I forgot to add her. The poor girl has been sitting here on my desk right in front of me just waiting for a home. I have also added some really pretty purple organza ribbon for hanging; I will have more pictures in my shop of the whole piece. If you are interested, please visit my shop here.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!


Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Painting Revisited



A few posts back I spoke of a friend of mine (Shannon) who passed away. I painted a portrait to relieve some of my pain, but I ended up giving it to the family. I am very happy to say the painting ended up in the hands of her 7 year old son. Well, Shannon's mother is having an extremely hard time with the loss of one of her children (understandably so) and keeps inquiring about that painting. I was contacted by a mutual friend and asked if I would paint another one and mail it to her mother. I was happy to oblige and stayed up until 2 am this morning finishing it. As a mother myself, I just cannot imagine the pain she must be feeling right now. We are not supposed to outlive our children and my heart just breaks for her. I also made her a pendant with a picture of Shannon from my wedding back in 2000. I really hope this will help her in some small way find some peace. Prayers for this family would be much appreciated as they all are feeling such a tremendous loss.


Thursday, October 23, 2008

CHRISTMAS BOXES AND SHOP UPDATE!!!



SOLD






I have been working until all hours of the night this week to finish these boxes and I am very pleased with how they turned out!!! These boxes along with the recent Christmas ornaments I made are now in my Etsy Shop (there is no shipping fee for US residents). Making these cute little items have put me in the Holiday spirit (in October?). I hope they put you in the spirit as well!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Featured Etsy Shop!

Hi everyone!!!!
I Just want everyone to check out fellow artist and etsyian Miz Katie. Her work is very inspiring!!!! She has also featured my Etsy shop on her blog as well. Go check it out here.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
mizkatie

Saturday, October 18, 2008

More Christmas Ornaments!



SOLD





Here are some more ornaments I have been working on. I am going to work on some more boxes now. These were a lot of fun to make!

Monday, October 13, 2008

WE MAKE ART FOR OURSELVES!


When I started this blog in March of this year, I just wanted to document my artistic journey by posting pictures of my work. I didn't really want to use this platform for anything other than that, but something has been on my mind and I can't help but post about it.

As you know (If you are a regular reader of my blog), I was recently involved in an awesome workshop with the amazing and inspiring Suzi Blu. I met a wonderful group of women in this workshop. We had a private forum where we could share our work and chit chat etc. Everyone was so encouraging and helpful towards one another. Really, it was just an awesome experience. I highly recommend taking one of Suzi's workshops! Anyway, by the time class completed, I painted about 4 girlies and recently listed some of them for sale in my Etsy shop. I also posted the pictures to some blog groups I belong. Well I was contacted by one of the group's blog moderators that someone made a comment that she felt she should delete and wanted me to see it. Someone made a nasty comment about my work and said that basically I was riding the coattails of Suzi and that it was pathetic (oh, this person took the time to set up a whole new blogger name with no contact information just to make this comment about my work). This really through me for a loop! Here I just came from this loving and nurturing environment to this nastiness!! The moderator ended up deleting the comment.

I sent Suzi an E-mail about the situation. She (of course) was super cool and sweet about it. She basically reminded me that I don't do art for others, that I do it for myself. Wow, I almost forgot that! I love getting sweet comments about how much people like my art, but honestly, I paint because it satisfies something in my soul! It relaxes me and takes me to another world where everything is beautiful and happy! And yes, I do want to sell my art. Why? Well for a few reasons: 1. It brings me great joy that my art may speak to someone enough for them to want it for their own. 2. For extra money for more art supplies and so I can join workshops like Suzi's (knowledge is power). And, 3. Because frankly, I don't have the room in my house for all of them (LOL).

Well, what does Suzi think about her students selling artwork that has all of the techniques she uses in her artwork you ask? This is what she said: "I'm a teacher it doesn't bother me if girls are selling art that looks like mine. I am okay with that. I'm happy to help women make an income off their creative voice! I don't want to just make art for a living Id rather inspire others." I already knew she felt this way because I asked her at the beginning of the class. If she was NOT OK with it, I would have never listed them in my shop to begin with.



She is so inspiring and is the person that helped me get the nerve almost a year ago to pick up a paintbrush in the first place. Personally, I really don't see that much of a similarity to my girls and hers, but I'm flattered in a way that "nasty-chick" thinks so. I mean seriously, if someone is a fan of Suzi then they are going to buy HER art. No matter how many others have a similar style.

SO, the main reason I decided to write about this is for the other 500+ people that took Suzi's workshop. You may encounter the same thing if you (God Forbid) try and sell art that looks similar to Suzi's. I guess we should learn the techniques she taught us, but do nothing with that knowledge. Just remember that Suzi is OK with you selling the art you made from the techniques she taught you and most importantly, don't forget ..."We make art for ourselves!!"

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Merry Christmas?????




I have been thinking about Christmas lately and I would like to make some new items for my shop. I am going to make some ornaments and boxes. Here are two that I have been playing around with.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

New painting!!!!


Aren't my post titles so creative??? I really hate having to come up with something clever...so I don't.


Here is a new piece I just finished. I still need to add a coat of hot beeswax, but overall she is complete.


Don't forget to enter in Aimee's blog giveaway to try and win one of my originals. Let her know that you would like to be entered to win a Twisted Figures freebie. You won't be dissapointed. Oh and this is a "Birthday" giveaway so don't forget to wish her a happy b-day!!!

ETSY SHOP UPDATE!!!!


I added some new originals to my shop!!!!!! I am also going to be adding prints as soon as I figure out the best way for me to get them printed.

Monday, October 6, 2008

BLOG GIVE-A-WAY!!!!!







First I would like to thank everyone who commented about my newest painting; I felt a lot better knowing that all my friends in blog world were there for me. The wake was really sad, but I feel better knowing that she had so many people who cared for her and that she is now in a much better place.






Ok, now for the exciting news... I have been wanting to do a blog giveaway for a long time, but for some reason things come up (yada yada yada). Well I saw a post by the very talented Aimee of CreativeFlutter where she was asking for items to donate for her blog giveaway. So I contacted her and mailed her one of my recent paintings. She is not disclosing the painting on her blog, but I have posted it here recently . Here is a hint...It is one of the paintings I painted as a homework assignment in the online workshop with Suzi Blu. Anyway, if you would like to enter Aimee's drawing for one of my paintings then click here for details.






Also, my baby turned 3 last thursday, so I thought I would post a cute picture of him. Happy Birthday JD!!!!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

A Tribute to a Friend


Sorry I have been gone for awhile. I have had a tough week and 1/2. First I found out a guy I went to high school with died in a helicopter crash (he was a rescue diver) and then last week I found out a friend of mine had a brain embolism and was brain dead. It was really hard to find out information because the family wanted privacy (understandably so). Well I found out that she was taken off life support and her funeral is this Friday. This has hit me hard even though we kind of lost touch over the years when I moved to a different city. She was so young (only 41) and had a 9 year old son. I have been feeling really sad, but this has taught me not to take anything or anyone for granted. I painted a portrait in her honor and it has helped me to feel a little better. The wording reads "My sweet friend, go and be free forever." I am leaving tomorrow for the wake and some closure.