SPRING IS IN THE AIR..A PAINTING THIS MORNING!!

I painted this morning...not a magnificent anything..just a tree with little sprigs of green coming out...I am impatiently waiting for this winter to be OVER....It's 16 x 20 on stretched canvas. I am able to paint these so quickly because I have had them primed for over a year. I had a ton of  large canvas' ready to paint on, when  I switched to wood. I have been procrastinating going to Lowe's or Home Depot and getting some wood cut to size, so I am basically "making do" with what is at hand...
Live Artfully!!

Durn..I haven't even had a cup of coffee yet!!LOL

TWO 16 x 20 PAINTINGS ON CANVAS!

I did these two tonight..they aren't great, but I am trying to teach myself a new technique..which means a lot of trial and errors. They are both 16 x 20 on stretched canvas.
Live Artfully!!

TWO TREE PAINTINGS--and THE NEW MARKETING BLOG

two tree paintings--each 9 x 12 inches, acrylics on wood.

I am now ready to start doing my 9 x 12's, 6 x 6's, and 8 x 10's...I will need at least ...oh I don't know....50 of each size should do me..LOL..I hope to be ready by April when the shows and the Chattanooga Market starts. These are MUCH brighter in person. I am not going to unprepared this year for shows.(Hopefully). If the pain in my shoulders will just stay at dull throb, I will be able to do it. I think I have been painting non-stop since the middle of February.

NOW..about my new blog..The marketing one, not the art one...It will definitely be a little different. The definition of marketing in Webster's is:

Pronunciation: \ˈmär-kə-tiŋ\

Function: noun

Date: 1561

1 a : the act or process of selling or purchasing in a market b : the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service.

Three year ago, I told a person --"we need to learn how to market our art...it's the only thing lacking. It's what we need." She then went off on a psycho binge of reading, obsessing, and reading more about marketing. I still to this day, don't know if she's marketed anything...LOL...I on the other hand chose a different path. I chose to MAKE ART, and SELL ART. So, I feel like a learned SOMETHING, and have done OK with it, and I want to share what I have learned.

So, basically I am going to tell you what I know. It may not be much, but it will be realistic. I can't teach you how to sell your art for hundreds of dollars, or how to get into galleries, how to get collectors that will pay you thousands. I can tell you how to set up for a show, how to talk to people, how to put yourself out there..because I have done it. I am not rich, nor famous, but having sold approximately 300 pieces of art (not including Nature Boy's stuff), and I feel that qualifies me for something...LOL....I have a WONDERFUL (secret) co-author, who is going to help with information about online stuff. Together, I hope we can show you how to sell your every day art. How to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF as an artist, and how to make a little money doing so.

I WON'T be 1.)competing with other "marketing" websites. 2.)PROMOTING other marketers or their books, cd's, dvd's, etc.3.) Making ANY money off of the site. I am not doing this to make money. I am doing this "to give back" a little to those whose have so wonderously followed my art, and made me happy every day! That, with some tutorials on art, is my way of saying Thank You! 

Anyway...Some of you have been asking about THE DOG THAT ADOPTED ME..the beautiful wolf/dog that was a fixture around here for a month or so...well, he left. I woke up one morning, and he was gone. I drove around looking for him, asking everyone if they saw him...but, he just simply disappeared. I still don't think that he was full blooded DOG..so maybe it's for the better. I do miss him terribly. Not as much as my beloved Petey the Wonderdog (who I STILL cry over), but it was nice having wolf-dog around. THEN..the other day....

These TWO babies showed up. DON'T TELL ANYONE...Nature Boy and I are running a secret over night DOGGIE HOSTEL..for strays..LOL..I was IN HEAVEN....Let me tell you!! I fell SO HARD in LOVE with this pair...it took about 3 minutes flat. OMG..they were SO WONDERFUL. They just showed up. I fed them, and they were starving, I got them some toys, and fluffed the big doggie bed...and NAMED THEM...(All in about the first 10 minutes of them showing up). I SWEAR..the MARRIOT wouldn't give such good service. I named them GIMP and NUB...just because it made me laugh when I said it. I loved on them (regardless of the SKUNK smell that they were obviously BATHED in..LOL LOL..)..they seemed happy. I had plans on bathing them the next day, and bringing them right on into the house to live, I made a vet appointment the following Wednesday (about a week away)..for them...I shut them in, (we have a "gate" on our large front porch)..I went to bed..and woke up the next morning---and THEY WERE GONE. Haven't seen hide or hair from them since....::::SIGH::::God, I want another Petey the Wonderdog. Please send me a house-broken beautiful animal who NEEDS a good set of  humans.LOL...I won't actively go "get" a dog. I want one, that wants us ....so, I will just wait...and PRAY.

Live Artfully (Sorry the post is SO LONG!)

THE PAINTING PROCESS...

I was going to show this blog post last week, when I finished this painting, but got side-tracked, and didn't get around to it.
1.I liked the paint worn look on my re-purposed board..so, I didn't gesso it or anything. I drew my picture out--something that I rarely do--and then watered down some paint and just "glazed" the background.
2.Next, I blackened in some areas with black gesso. I do this if I want something to "pop". I did the fish, the dog, and the tree.
3. Next I took white paint, and added some detail to the gesso-ed elements.Also put some blue in the eye. The eye was an afterthought--I didn't initially have it in mind, but thought about it as the white lines sort of formed an eye shape.
4. Next I added the first layer of glaze (thinned down paint) to the body..I continued to add glaze to it, and some more solid colors..then added some colors to the fish, dog, and face....kept adding..
5. TA-DA...finished!!(actually once I got "into" painting, I forgot to take more pictures...lol.
Live Artfully!!

TONIGHT

Live Artfully!

TWO NEW PAINTINGS..

Not sure that I am finished with either one..but..this is what I did out of extreme boredom last night...Live Artfully!!

WORKING ON A NEW MARKETING BLOG FOR YOU ALL!!

I am just lining my little ducks all in a row today...Please scroll down if you have a Wordpress blog/website..I need your help!

I can't believe I got rid of my green blog..with a simple click of a few buttons. Blogspot has certainly made it easier to make our blogs pretty!

I have also just started a marketing blog. I don't know much, but I am willing to share what I have learned. This will be a blog where I talk about what works and what mistakes I have made. (I have made some doozies...)..heheehe...

I will let you know when it's up and running! Live Artfully! Suzan

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK..what have I done..hehehehe..

WORD PRESS BLOGS..and OTHER PONDERINGS...

Have any of you ever used Wordpress for your website?? If so, PLEASE email me, leave a long comment, call me...pigeon carrier me...anything. I think it might be cheaper than my current website--suzanbuckner.com--and I can have the domain changed for pennies...so, then it won't be Wordpress, but suzanbuckner.com. Did that make sense???? LOL.

ALSO..for all you blogspot bloggers..and I love blogspot, so I am keeping my two blogs on here...have you used the "PAGES" feature yet?? IT's wonderful!!!

I am eliminating some of my sidebar clutter, and putting up pages..(See above top post)...Goodness, it's a lot of work to maintain your life online!! I am also thinking of a MARKETING BLOG for you all to use. So many artist will not give you the juice on HOW TO SELL YOUR ART..I Will...and I will do it for free. I don't know EVERYTHING..but, have learned a thing or two this past year..MANY things I KNOW to do, but don't, because I am basically lazy...LOL

THE DAY

I actually drew this out first, as opposed to normally, I just start painting. This was an old board that my husband had, and it's painted surface was peeling and flaking. I wanted to use that in the painting. So, the background is done with thin layers of glazing. This piece is 8 x 10 and it is acrylics on wood. ($65)
Live Artfully!! STAY TUNED tomorrow. I have step by step pictures on how this was done.

MY NEW ART BLOG..and ...

You can see my new art blog  HERE. For over a year, I have wanted to pull my art out and separate it to a non- mixed media collage blog. I love the mixed media, but I feel that my paintings need a separate place to reside. More for the customers to see, and more of what is going on artistically. I am NOT changing this blog, or leaving it. But, it will be more of a place for tutorials, rants, ...you KNOW --FUN STUFF. Just like it's always been. That place will have more refined stuff. Like art gallery showings, shows, etc..(this one will have those things too...I'll just have to double post).In FACT..there are TWO (OMGGGG ..TWO) little puppies on my porch as we speak, ( THEY STINK TO HIGH HEAVEN!!) ..but, they are on my porch..they may ADOPT me...(PRAY), and I have PICTURES to post..but, I am tired, so that'll be for later.

Hope you enjoy my new blog...give me time, I will transfer most of the links and blog roll to that one too.
Live Artfully!


PS..The 24 x 24 painting of the girl, and the I'M LATE painting of the rabbit are SOLD! Thank you so much Renee and Staci!!!

STEPPING OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE! I'M LATE, I'M LATE...

...for a very important date. 11 x 11 inches, acrylic on wood ($75)...in honor of ALICE IN WONDERLAND...TIM BURTON..and MARCH 5th!!!! We can't wait!
Live Artfully!!

REVISIONS..

Oh..I am liking it ok now...happy with it at least..added some different colors, and a crow..He's a good fellow now.

Today was a fairly "laugh in your face" kind of day! Pretty good!! It was sunny, and warm feeling...even though the temperature didn't go above 40! Nature Boy and I drove to town..woohoooooo...the big day out this week..hehehe.
Live Artfully----gotta hurry..still have time to put out another painting..got a goal..100 paintings before April!!!!

A CHANGE OF PACE..

This is titled "BYE"...it's 13 x 29 on wood....did it tonight. I kinda like it.
Live Artfully!

GOOD NIGHT...UM... I MEAN GOOD MORNING!!

2 x 2 feet, acrylic on wood. Tissue pattern paper background.

Well..I KNOW that I went to bed last night..at 10:30pm, in hopes of getting on a regular schedule, and I know that I had full intent to sleep 8 hours and get up refreshed and revitalized...but it didn't happen. At 1:30 am, I awoke from my 3 hour "nap"..LOL...so, I decided to use the time wisely (after I had played all of my Facebook games)...and I did this. She's much, much prettier in person. The camera washed out the earthy blue in the background, and on her hair...I might do a little more to her.. I think she needs a little frontal body work..but, basically she's finished.

I want you all to do me a favor. Get a white sheet of paper out. Now...hold it about 3 inches from your face, and stare into it...THAT is what my front yard looks like, and the road, and the trees, and my van....:::sigh::::...Time for bed. Good night everyone!!
Live Artfully!

MORE LARGE ART...

Wohooooooooo! I'm on a roll with these big paintings! 15 x 29 inches, acrylic on old kitchen cabinet (wood). This looks so much better in real life. It's title is "THREE BROTHERS FROM DIFFERENT MOTHERS"....LOL..they are all a little wonky looking...But, it was fun. Sorry to be so boring lately...there's not much to talk about when the cold weather is keeping me locked inside my house, like a prisoner.
Live Artfully!!

GEISHA..NEW PAINTING..

Large 15 x 29 inches. Acrylic on wood. I was sitting there earlier and painting away, and Nature Boy stuck his head in the studio, and says .."ummm..are we eating dinner tonight?" It was 9 pm, and we normally eat at 7...LOL..I had forgotten to cook dinner..::sigh:::and No, he won't go fix something for himself..he'll just sit and starve, and let me keep painting....sweet, dear man.

When I wake up..(around noon) tomorrow, it'll be Valentines Day...so HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to you all. I love you!!
Live Artfully!!

ONE HOUR PAINTING-- BAD DREAM

Watching Harry Potter (again!)..and painting...
Live Artfully!

TWO NEW ONES!!!

The one above is 15 x 29 inches, acrylic on wood...the one below is 10 x 10..both started out as "studies"..discovered FINALLY that burnt sienna and white makes the perfect flesh tone...I have been struggling with flesh colors FOREVER!! I have thought that most of my faces look "pasty"...LOVEEEEEEEEE the new color combo though!!
Live Artfully!!

I WILL TEACH YOU TO FLY

Hello!! I have been working on this for a couple of days now, and finally got it to the varnishing stage. It's HUGE...24 x 36..acrylic on wood..$275. Hope you like it!
Live Artfully!