A FEW PAINTINGS..I AM PAINTING BIG!!

Wow..Time flies when you are having fun! I'm down to the last two shows of the season, after having done Monte Sano Art Show in Huntsville, AL this past weekend. It was a great show! I sold a lot of medium and small paintings, and one 36 x 36!! I had to deliver it, because it would not fit into the man's car!

I had a solo exhibit at Kamama's Gallery in Mentone that lasted 2 weeks (in July), and other than getting ready for Monte Sano Art Show (Huntsville,AL), Bluff Park Art Show (Birmingham, AL -- Oct. 4th, 2015), and KENTUCK (Northport, AL -- Oct. 18th and 19th)..I haven't been doing too much.

I spent some time helping one of my oldest and dearest friends find a house. He ended up buying a beautiful large house in Ft. Payne, AL. I am very excited about his plans for it, and how it is going to involve art. (Think Collaboration between him and I)!!  I am trying to work out something that will allow me to NOT have to do so many shows per a year. I want to cut it back to no more than 5 next year. It is just really hard on Chuck and I, and I do not enjoy doing them. I have some donations that I was to paint up, and actually I want to start "giving back" to the art community..so, we have some plans, but for right now, that is what they are..just plans.

I was featured in the 2014 Fall issue of LOOKOUT ALABAMA MAGAZINE!! It was a wonderful article! They titled it "BETWEEN FOLK AND FINE" because of a quote that one of my friends/collectors said about my art. If you would like a copy, or to read it online, just click the link above, and you can subscribe for an entire year (LOTS of good articles) for $8.95. It is well worth the subscription--Not only to read my article, but to see all the beauty and activity in this area! It is sure to make you want to move here.

Also--The children's book--"THE GRINNIN' POSSUM", written by Ray Padgett of Mentone, AL, is at the printers. It should be out in a few weeks!! I am VERY EXCITED about this--it turned out absolutely beautiful! I will let you all know when it is out, and published for sale!

The other thing that I want to share with you..I HAVE STARTED PAINTING BIG!! By big, I mean 36 x 36. It is SO LIBERATING!! I found a great deal on that size canvas..and bought a few..and I LOVE IT. I have already sold 5 in that size--and I would have had to paint many, many smaller pieces to make the same money..so I AM LOVING, LOVING, LOVING IT!!! If you are intimidated by large painting..TRY IT. It is a whole different world!!

I am looking forward to 2015! Especially since it's barely 3 months away. (HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE??) I would like to return to journaling, and maybe (a BIG MAYBE) some online classes for you all. I would LOVE to see a revival of BLOGGING! I think Facebook is at it's downhill slide..and I really miss blogging. You can do so much more with it!! Anyway..I am also going to concentrate on series, instead of one painting in one style..I will take a theme, and play it out, push it, and reinvent it. The other thing that I REALLY want in 2015 is to spend more time with my family in Florida, and see my daughter more. So, maybe I will be able to travel a bit, and enjoy life, instead of working, working, working...(Not that I mind working)...but, well..my family is not going to around forever.

So..That is all...I'm now caught up. Live Artfully!!

Much Love, Suzan

SEPT. 20th --MONTE SANO ART SHOW !! THEN BLUFF PARK AND KENTUCK!!!

THE OLD WATERING CAN..

NEW PUPPY DOG IN TOWN!!

Live Artfully!!

NEW WORK.. ENJOY!

Live Artfully!

BOCK BOCK BOCK BOCK...APRIL IS HERE!!!

It's a glorious day!! Praise the Lord!! The sun is out, the sky is bright and sunshiny, and all is wonderful in my world! Four more days until I will be on the longest stretch of back to back shows that I have ever done! The first show is in Atlanta at FESTIVAL ON PONCE ART SHOW. So, if you are in Atlanta this weekend, please come by and buy some new art!! We have a lot of new and exciting pieces...guaranteed not to disappoint!!

Nature Boy and I have been working hard to get ready for this show season! We are excited to be doing some old favorites, and some new places this year!! I've got a lot of new things coming up..the children's book should be out soon, and I have a couple of secrets ...can't say anything..but, I will say they involve guitars and clothes....shhhh..we do not want to let the cat out of the bag..hehhee.

My daughter sent me a present yesterday....an awesome Galaxy Samsung Note...it's an AMAZING large phone, and I LOVE IT. It's super fast too..can't wait to use it!! She is going to be 27 years old in 12 days, and I am in awe of the person that she has become!! She is weight lifting, and has lost almost 100 pounds this past year!! That in itself is a major feat of accomplishment!! I am so proud of her!!

Well..that's about it...Keep my little secret, and Live Artfully!!

I WILL NOT TALK IN CLASS

Have you ever had to write on a chalkboard that you would not do something? I remember once--a teacher drew a circle on the chalkboard, and told me to put my nose in the circle. I told her "NO". I was sent to the principles office, and my grandfather was called. I didn't get in trouble, because my grandfather stood up for me. hahahha. I was such a bad child..spoiled, and pretty much did what I wanted...and imagine that I am still spoiled, and I STILL do pretty much what I want to...hahah. Only now, it's my sweet husband that spoils me, and not my grandfather.

I have been painting. I am no longer showing ALL of my paintings..but, I will post one or two a week. When shows start, and they start selling, I will post them..but, I've been painting like crazy, and I post the pictures to Facebook, and they immediately sell..and I'm grateful, and I'm blessed, but I HAVE to get up inventory for shows...that is just the simple fact of the matter!

I won $12 on the Georgia Lottery Powerball this week!! I was so happy!! YES, I would have loved to win millions, but I will be happy that I won more than I spent! If I won millions--there are so many people ( I have a list already written up), that I would give money to, and help.

Well..that's about all..I am boring this week. Live Artfully!!

A CLEAN, NEW LOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR!

Ok--The painting above is the first painting for 2014--then, I decided that I needed a week off from everything..to regroup, refresh and revive after the busy holidays. I feel like all I have done is ship paintings for the last 3 months!! I'm not complaining!! I am VERY blessed!! Thank you Lord!!

I am going with a cleaner look this year. I have revamped my website, and now my blog.

I have a big list of "things I want to accomplish" in 2014.
Among them are:

1. Buy a kiln, and learn how to work with clay.
2. Do 20-30 shows.
3. Produce bigger work than ever before (the painting above is 36 x 48 inches!)
4. Work in a more disciplined manner. Not so scattered all over the place.
5. Blog REGULARLY. I think I will make Thursday morning my normal blogging day. That way--it's the day before I leave out for shows, and everyone will know where to find me.

There are a few more things..but, I am keeping it simple, so I don't overwhelm myself.

I have added a new section to my website--Called Chuck's Nature Photography, so check it out HERE. This is what my husband loves to do...he walks daily in the woods, and takes the most beautiful pictures!! I have also added sections called AVAILABLE ART and AVAILABLE ART ON CARDBOARD. So if you are interested in any of them, just let me know!

Well, that's about it. Live Artfully!!

LAST POST OF 2013

I'M STARTING MY NEW YEARS EARLY!

Good Morning!! I am starting my New Year's resolutions early! One of the resolutions is to get up, have coffee (because without it, life is not going to happen), and then start practicing---sketching, drawing, painting in something that makes me uncomfortable, etc. Painting in black, white, creams..etc..makes me totally uncomfortable. It is very hard for me..because you all know that I REALLY wanted to make something as simple as these baby shoes all hot pink with a turquoise background, and possibly a splash of bright yellow..hahah. I have the absolute hardest time with neutrals...I find them boring, and trite. I have a friend named Lisa Patencio, who paints almost strictly in blacks, whites and grays...and her work is amazing, NOT AT ALL BORING, and very beautiful. I think I want to be her when I grow up..hehehe.

Anyway..Feel free to join in with me, and take the first hour of your day to sketch and force yourself to do something different. Doing the same old stuff day after day after day is not what being an artist is about. So..step out, and do something different.

Live Artfully!

THE CRAZINESS THAT WAS YESTERDAY...

Well..I got a little obsessed yesterday, uploading probably 100 or more pictures onto this blog. My problem was that since I deleted my FLICKR account, I have had no place where all my images of my art were in one place. The other day, someone emailed me and asked why I didn't have a board on PINTEREST with my work on it..they were missing my art, or something..so, I figured that I would just upload a few images, and well...I ended up loading over 1000 images--I found paintings, paper mache' pieces, journal pages, etc that I had forgotten about long ago.

It seriously overwhelmed me ...the sheer volume of art that I have created in 5 years. In March, I will have been painting for five years. I am so very blessed to be able to paint, it is all I ever wanted to do...and it's been a great 5 years. I cannot imagine how much art (Good Lord willing) that I will create in the next 5, 10 or more years...it excites me..and fuels my heart and soul!

Live Artfully!!