TWO NEW PAINTINGS!! ONE HOUR!

Both paintings are 12 x 18 inches.

Good Happy Morning Everyone!! The day is beautiful. I got up before noon today, and painted these two paintings during the Gilmore Girls (I am telling you--It's been what?--3 years of watching the Gilmore Girls almost EVERY day, and I am just so free when they are on.) I literally painted these two paintings in ONE HOUR. Sure, they are not great, but, I was just doing warm-ups to loosen up, since I haven't painted in a week. I took time out early this week to read the last book of the Harry Potter series. I think I am going to reread them all...and then I want to go to Orlando, and go to the Hogwarts thing that they are opening up down there. I am such a child at heart.

A word of advice...Don't let your husband near your art with a sander...lol..I had Nature Boy sand this painting that I had messed up on, and it came back looking very lovely and enticing to me..so I gave him another..except this one had already been varnished...WELL...can we spell D-E-S-T-R-O-Y??? LOL..it mutilated it..and he's asking..."ummm..can you FIX this?"...LOL ... oh well..

On April 17-18, There are two art shows in Chattanooga Tennessee coming on the weekend of April 17-18. There's this huge fine art show called Four Bridges, and a better, smaller show called Faux Bridges. I am doing the Faux Bridges show. It's on Frasier Avenue at Winder Binder gallery, in case any of you that are nearby want to come and see us there!

Anyway..Need to run..got to go "to town"..

Live Artfully!

TWO COLORS PLUS WHITE PAINTING

I was watching Harry Potter (which I seem to do at least once a week), and painted this lady on an dictionary page, which was mounted on wood (6 x 6 inches). (I had glued the paper to the wood some time last week). I painted her using ONLY two colors plus white. I used Burnt Sienna, and Prussian Blue and white. I  did it using my simple face technique..which I am going to do in a tutorial for you all.
I am passing away at the boredom here. If any of you are out there, and having fun, please think of me.
Live Artfully!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS

In case you don't know, Michael W. Smith is a contemporary gospel singer. He's amazing..LOL..quite a difference from the Bollywood belly-dancing that I showed you last.
Live Artfully!

SKETCHBOOK MADNESS!! MY LITTLE MOLESKINE!!

Something else that I have started this week. I have started to fill my little Moleskine journal this week. Drawing is something that I haven't done much of this past year, and it felt good to do some fast sketches. I hope to continue this little book every day. It's small enough to fit in my purse, so maybe I can think to take it with me, and sketch things I see.
Live Artfully!

FINALLY..AFTER NOT DOING IT FOR A YEAR..SOME ART JOURNALING!!

I had a BLAST doing these! I choose a book, started gluing random stuff, then just painted, and peeled, and scribbled my little heart out..It was fun, and relaxing....though I will have to admit, that I did stare at the book for about an hour, before I did anything. I am really going for a ballistic/devil-may-care abstract look..so, it's working a bit. Just praticing loosening up. On the second picture..see the blue face? I painted that..LOL..it kinda amazed me..because I REALLY like the one eye..heheheh. VERY PROUD of that one eye. If you want to print these pages out..cut them up, keep them, line your birdcages with them..whatever..feel free to take them.
LIVE ARTFULLY!

I WON I WON I WON!!! ALSO...ARTELLA ART JOURNALING ZINE!! A BLOG AWARD!!

I won Mixed Media Dollhouses from the Mixed Media Dollhouses Facebook Fanpage. Julie from the Mad Hat Blog pulled my name out of the magical hat! I am so excited!! I won!! So many good artist, mixed with a love of mine. I adore doll houses!! (Get ready Nature Boy..it's time to build me some dollhouses!!LOL)

You can buy this book HERE on Amazon!

Also, My art journal tutorial has been reprinted in The Art Journal Journey 16 published by Artella‏. Check out Artella if you get the chance. It's a wonderful place for Mixed Media Collage Artists! Thank you Cheryl!!

Lisa of  THE REST IS STILL UNWRITTEN blog awarded me with the Kreative Blogger Award

Thank you Lisa!! That was so sweet of you!!

OH! Did I tell you? The Saturday and Sunday that we did Art Till Dark in Chattanooga, Nature Boy and I went early on Sunday morning, and the place was locked up..so we went down the road to get a cup of coffee, and I bought a lottery scratchie-ticket. WOOOOHOOO...I won $25!!!hehehee..I love winning on scratchies..we never play them anymore...Oh well..I was just sharing..

Live Artfully!!

INSPIRED DURING RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE...LOL

Hello!! Today has been one of those dreary days, just struggling to stay warm..The weather has been weird this year. I was watching RuPaul's Drag Race..my favorite reality show, and I painted this. I guess it's a man /woman..LOL ..

Nothing going on here. Ready for this long boring winter to be O-V-E-R!!
Live Artfully!

LOBSTER IS READY..COME ON EVERYONE!

Hehehehe...12 x 18--acrylics on canvas.
Live Artfully!

READY FOR SOME LOBSTER??

soon..

ANOTHER PAINTING..and A REVISION

The first picture is the REVISION--why don't I wait 24 hours before posting a painting, then I would not have to constantly bore you all with my revisions. They are inevitable. I always do them...so, why not wait..LOL. The second one is just a quick painting...Both are 12 x 18 inches/ acrylics on wood.

Didn't do anything exciting today. I feel like I am in a painting slump, so I am just painting through it.
Anyway..Live Artfully!

NEW PAINTING..OMG!!! THE NUMBERS!!! LOOKY!!!!!

OMG! LOOK at the little ticker tape counter thingie on the side---->. It says 1 MONTH 4 WEEKS!!!WOHOOOHOOO..that's when my wonderful daughter will graduate from nursing school!!! I am SO PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO KIM! GO KIM!!

Painted this morning for a bit. This is 12 x 18 acrylic on wood.
Live Artfully!!

GETTING BACK TO PAINTING

WoW!! It feels weird painting, after being away from it for 3 days! This weekend went well, it was a lot of fun, made some money, got some sun, saw some friends...what else could you ask for? Yesterday, we went to lunch, and went to buy some wood. I decided to work on 12 x 18. It's a good size. Not too big, not too small.

We went to Lowe's, and they did a miserable job of cutting wood for me. So bad, that I spoke to a manager, who did nothing. So needless to say, I didn't spend my money there, left the wood, and a pile of stuff in my cart, and left. It took us 4 hours to eat lunch, and get a stack of wood. Geesh..the customer service in this area (I hope it's not ALL OVER) just plainly stinks!! But, anyway..all is good. I would have ranted like a mad person if I had posted yesterday--but today..it really seems insignificant.

Anyway...blah, blah, blah...
Live Artfully!!

ART TILL DARK-- NEW GALLERY REPRESENTATION

We did Art Till Dark in Chattanooga, Tennessee yesterday. It's an all day bi-weekly show that this Folk Art Gallery called Winder Binder puts on. It was so much FUN!!! A lot of my friends from the Chattanooga Market were there, and some customers from the market came by. We were directly across from this artist, who I first met at Folk Fest this past summer. His name is R. Michael Wimmer. He's an amazing artist, and a super-nice person. His work just makes me swoon.  It's probably some of the best assemblage art that I have EVER seen. He loves my work, and to have an artist of that calliber love my work, just blows mind! But, anyway..it was all good fun!! We are going back today..hence, the 4am post on here...lol.

The owner of the gallery asked me again to put work in his gallery. This man is so nice. Last year, when I started selling at the market, and was still very insecure about my work, he asked me to do this large art show. I remember being like a deer caught by headlights. That feeling of oh my god..I am SO NOT READY for this...Now, a year later, many shows under my belt, and a more comfortable feeling with myself as an artist..I think I am ready to embrace all that is offered to me. I have (I think) agreed to put some of my pieces in his gallery. I hope also to be able to do the large show this year! I may have to step up to the plate, give up Facebook games, and actually paint for 8-10 hours a day...LOL..

So, yesterday..the day went on, and we had a lot of lookers...we sat there all day, and walked around..Nature Boy went on two adventures and walked for MILES..he found a real carousel in a park..which was quite fascinating! Anyway..the day went on..and no sales..no sales..THEN at 5:00, one hour before we were to pack up and go home..this woman came by and saved the day!!!  She bought my 2 largest, most expensive pieces!!!! WOOHOOOO..jump for joy..happy dancing!!! I even threw in a free 12 x 12 painting, just because she liked it too...LOL..(customers LIKE little gifts for spending their money!).

But, like I said, we are on our way back to Chattanooga. Tired, but excited for another BEAUTIFUL day!! The sun FELT like GOLD yesterday. I kept thanking God for warmth and sunshine!! hehehe.
I hope you ALL have a beautiful day!
Live Artfully!!

ANOTHER NEW BLOG LOOK, and A NEW PAINTING!!

I changed my blogs (all 3 of them actually) today. I think I like this better. I actually deleted about 400 post..all of 2007, anything that had to do with mixed media collages that I had done..(except journal pages), I want to forget them all..so I got rid of them. I kept the tutorials and the FREEBIES..but, got rid of 2007. Next, I am going through 2008, and disposing of them too..LOL

I was sitting at the art table and this is what I "doodled"..The background (the colored part) was already done, and I just started painting a face on it...just kind of doodling with my paint brush as I was watching tv.. It's small..8 x 10 --acrylic on canvas.
I don't have much more to say tonight..I have hurt my calf muscle, and can't walk without pain...so, I am not in the best moods.(Of course..this proves that even pain won't keep me from painting..lol ..lol..) Thinking of going to bed early..
Live Artfully.

A MIXED MEDIA PAINTING..AND WE GET TO SELL THIS WEEKEND!! WOOHOOOO!!!

16 x 20 mixed media/acrylics on canvas

The background is done with old letters, pattern tissue paper, and book pages...Then I painted on top of that. It really intense in real. I really like the way it turned out. I tried to do an antique-looking typical piece, but got bored, and went nutso on the canvas..LOL.

This weekend will be our first "set-up the tent, throw out the tables, and sell art (hopefully) event". I am participating in  "ART TILL DARK" in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It's in the parking lot of  Winder Binder Folk Art Gallery, and since I am literally biting at the bit to get out and about again...we decided to do it. I hope it's great fun!!! I love setting up and selling that way. It's so much more fun than just sending your art work off to hang on wall..(no offense to galleries)! It's suppose to be beautiful weather, and HOPEFULLY it will be warm by then. I have been frozen on this mountain for the last two days..and it's killing me!! Well...time for bed!! Live Artfully!

RUNNING A LITTLE LATE TODAY..ANOTHER REALISTIC BIRD ATTEMPT..

16 x 20 acrylic on canvas.Available on Etsy.

Well, I suppose that I should tell you what the heck I am doing with these bird paintings. I have decided that I need to push myself to learn how to paint better. This is going to be a  longggggggg process...but, I feel like it's my next step. I won't stop painting like I normally do..because it's fun..but I have to learn, and the best way to do that is to DO. I had to do this with mixed media collage..and then with painting, then with faces, now it's going to be with an occasional realistic attempt. I guess my next thing to conquer will be (hopefully) the fine art route. I have a long way to go...don't know if I'll even make it..because this kind of painting stifles me...smothers me..and is painful. It's too ...BORING..LOL..anyway...

Live Artfully!

A STOLEN QUOTE...

Here is to eliminating toxic people! Focus is everything. Goals are met by work and determination. People who still have a high school mentality need to grow up, get a clue, and realize they are acting like idiots or get GONE! We have too much to accomplish to deal with losers who resent people achieving because we don't live in a bottle and aren't afraid to work hard and take on responsibility!---Elisa Mason

My friend Elisa from early childhood on..just posted this on her Facebook page..I don't know what or who she is referring to..she's such a wonderful little firecracker of a person. She's amazing. Has shown her art in the White House, is a wonderful artist (don't know how that happened, since she didn't paint or draw when I knew her), and is now a high school art teacher...(Maybe she can teach me to paint seagulls--hehehe) Anyway--this is how I feel exactly about an online person (just ONE of you..not everyone..and you know who you are)...it's funny that Elisa summed it up perfectly..OK..off to question her about who she is talking about...LOL

Live Artfully!!

ETSY SHOP IS NOW RE-OPENED!! The paintings will be in the shop only until April..so if you want them...get them now!! Thank you!!
Live Artfully!
Suzan

GOOD MORNING FROM THE NORTH POLE..

Ok..I KNOW that late last night (around midnight), I went outside without a coat on..(because it wasn't THAT cold)...I KNOW that I walked on the green grass to my van..to get something out of it.....SEVEN hours later...THIS is what I wake up to.....The first picture is my front yard. The second picture is off to the right of my porch..and the third picture is off to the left of my porch...(See my bright yellow house?--I LOVE the color of my house!!). I don't like snow...so, I GUESS I'LL STAY INSIDE and PAINT ALL DAY!!!!Whooohooooooooo!!! Thank you Lord for giving me the ability to paint, because surely, on days like today, it'll save what little bit of sanity that I have left.LOL..it's really not THAT cold..so HOW did this happen???
:::sigh::::
LIVE ARTFULLY!!

DEATH BY REALISM...LOL..WHYYYY do I do this to myself?(SOLD) 16 x 20

Well..after my nap, we had dinner, and then I painted this. It is from a picture that Nature Boy took the other day when we were out feeding the seagulls. I don't know how I feel about it..I like the background...but the poor bird was intimidating to say the least. ...

 16 x 20--acrylic on stretched canvas

This was just purchased by a very nice man on Facebook.  He loves it! LOL..Thank you Jason!!
Live Artfully!

OUR ART IS BACK HOME!!!

WOOOHHHOOOO...I just got back from Georgia..and picking up the remains of the solo show that we did. I even took the sign that had our names on it, for a keepsake..We sold 8 pieces!! Pretty good show if you ask me, considering the small amount of stuff that I had to put in it.

I really appreciate the people involved in the show! Thank you again!!

I am so excited to have several of the pieces back. I want to have a large amount of for the Chattanooga Market when it starts. I have a plan, including some high goals for this upcoming year, but to fulfill them, I must have a 100 or more pieces before April. I think I can do it..remember Nature Boy contributes to this pile too...

Today is a sad day for me..it is the 20th anniversary of my grandfather passing away..it was  the worst day of my entire life. He, along with my grandmother, raised me. He was always my father, not grandfather..if that makes sense. Most of my earliest memories was of him. He would come home from work, and we would go sit out on this large, white glider that sat on our porch, and he'd talk to me about my day. (We moved from this house when I was 4--so these are EARLY memories) He would always bring me "Sixlets"..those little chocolate pebble-like candies...or a banana cream cake thingie..he would bring one or the other EVERY day. One day, I clearly remember this as if it were yesterday, he had a big glass of what I thought was milk...and I wanted a sip. He kept telling me that I wouldn't like it...and I kept on..until he let me have a big swallow....I took a big gulp and I SPIT it all over him..it was BUTTERMILK!!!! LOL LOL...He laughed until he hurt...with buttermilk running down his face and all over his clothes...LOL LOL. I haven't and don't miss much in this world....but, Lord..not a day goes by that I don't miss that old man with all of my heart. I SO wish he was alive to see what I have achieved with my art. I know he would be proud of me, of the person I became, and I know that if there is kindness in my heart, it was because he was part of my life...(which is the reason that I deleted the long, ugly, mean post that I wrote before this one.--LOL LOL)

Time for a nap..
LIVE ARTFULLY!!

IT IS TIME TO SUBMIT FOR THE 2011 DIARY PROJECT!!

IT is time for FANTAZYA'S 2011 DIARY PROJECT!!

Welcome to the fourth diary project !

voir cette page en français____ ver esta página en español

You want to design a page?

If you are an artist, crafter, photographer, musician, poet... and if you promote your art by the web, you can be part of this project.

It is free and it is an opportunity for you to have a free publicity, with no obligation of purchase.

New size: 8½" x 7". Each date will be designed by a different creator and will be printed on a high quality, opaque, recycled paper. There wil be 2 dates in each page, 3 notes pages, 7 address pages, 12 months pages, 1 introduction pages, 1 year pages, a 2012 page, and 7 positive message design. Total: 208 pages, with 397 different designs. Some covers will have a design, and some will be plain, to decorate it as you like.

There will be also the CD version that will contain the complete pdf file, ready to print, with instructions.

With the CD, you go to a photocopy center and you ask for the quantity of book you want, with the paper of your choice, the cover color of your choice, the color spiral of your choice.

note: each year the project is growing, thank you to all the participants and to all the buyers

New for this year

The book will be printed with recycled paper and some will have a design on the cover.

The book will be bigger, but thinner. Artists will have the same space to do their design, in another proportion, and there will be 2 design (2 dates) each date page. All the other pages: months, notes, address, calendar pages will be full page.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!!

YOU NEED TO BOOKMARK THIS NEW ADDRESS PLEASE!!!

HELLO!! GOOD MORNING WORLD!!! IT'S SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL..A NEW PAINTING

 "TRANSITION"--16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

OH!!! I TOTALLY LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE the way this came out!!! I love it, love it , love it...LOL..not at ALL what I had planned...just painted what I felt. HOW I felt. Ok..so, I agree with you! I have now went insane...
LIVE ARTFULLY!!!

WOOOHHOOOO...GOT ANOTHER ONE FINISHED!!

I had done this picture on a small piece of wood this past year..I decided to "re-do" it on a 16 x 20 canvas tonight!! If I can keep going..I will meet my 100 paintings before April! WHOOOOHOOOO!!
Live Artfully!

TWO MORE...and a nap...

 Both are 16 x 20 on canvas. The tree has tissue paper used on it, both are acrylics.

I have had one of those lazy days...Got up...painted the tree painting..took a nap..got up..painted the girl painting...LOL..now, it's time to cook dinner, and clean the art room...Anyone that comes to help can have everything in there that doesn't have to do with painting. I wish that all the mixed media collage artists lived nearby..so they could come box this stuff up, and take it away..:::smile:::
Live Artfully!!

ONE MORE BEFORE BEDTIME!

This painting was a stinker! It has went through so many processes today, it's a miracle that it isn't in shreds..LOL..It's a 16 x 20 acrylics on canvas.
Live Artfully!!

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..