Wednesday, January 31, 2007

January 2007 Newsletter

I've been busy trying to get my to do list for January completed! Almost there, don't know that I will finish everything, but pretty darn close! Yesterday I finished my January '07 newsletter, you can see it HERE.

For today only, I have a special running in my Etsy shop. Buy one print in my clearance section and get one free!! Also, I still have FREE shipping until Midnight EST tonight!

I am very close to finishing the large painting I posted the progress photo of in the last post. I will try to get a photo of it today if I have time. This afternoon I am going to judge the Westside High School Art Show! Should be fun, although it is so difficult to make choices!

Friday, January 26, 2007

Couldn't do it!



Stay away from my blog that is! So, I'm weak! Kidding, but seriously, I wanted to build up some suspense for my new paintings. I can't do it, I miss the feedback! So, anyway, the top one is the finished larger canvas I mentioned a few days ago, haven't named it yet. It is a 20 inch square h2o oils on canvas. The second one is a much larger painting still in progress. It's a 36 inch square h20 oils on canvas. I plan to make this one the center piece for my gallery show coming up. Still a ways to go to finish it. I'm really loving working larger, may have to do more!


I have been able to get quite a bit of work done this week, with cutting myself off from the internet. Of course I've still been surfing around every morning and today I spent way too much time online, making up for lost time, right??? Yeah, right!!


Anyway, hope everyone is well, happy and feeling creative today!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Busy at work

I don't have a photo to post today. I came to the realization the other day that I am WAY behind on my to do list for January! I'm still painting everyday, in fact, I'm working on a large canvas right now. I have a show in March to get ready for and I'm thinking about waiting to reveal the new paintings until then. At least the larger ones.

As far as work goes, I am working on a catalog for 2007 of all my new work. I'm still contemplating whether or not to axe my older work to make my catalog more cohesive. So, heads up, my landscape prints and paintings may not be available for sale after January is over. The Beck prints will for sure be gone from my shop in February. If you were thinking of purchasing any, best do it before January is over.

Another heads up, my prices will be going up in February. I have no choice in this matter, my supplies have gone up and after doing my books for 2006 I have discovered that I'm not making any profit! The price hike won't be huge, but if you are one that likes to save money, get 'em now before the price goes up!

2007 is the year that I go back to selling wholesale to shops. While I love selling directly to the public, I need to get my work out in the public eye more. So, if you know of a shop that would be a good fit for my art, or you have a shop that would be a good fit, please contact me.

So, because of all the work I have to do, I will not be blogging as often. My 2007 catalog of prints will be listed in my Etsy shop in February and I will blog more about that then.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Today's Daily Journal Painting

Arches, SOLD
Today's painting was begun long ago in a galaxy far away! Actually, it's been sitting around the studio for at least 6 months. I decided to paint over the attempted landscape with a new spiral abstract.(inspired by Jessica Torrant) Figured I would keep the name, Arches. This is another H2O oil on canvas board, 8 x 10. It can be found in my Etsy shop.

All over the place

I am all over the place this week. Portrait on Wednesday, painting furniture on Thursday and back to canvas on Friday!

This is a photo of a new project I'm working on. It's a handmade, handpainted table. My husband cut the top and attached the legs for me. I started with gesso and then painted with my H2O oils. I still have to varnish it, waiting to make sure it's completely dry. I've always wanted to make some functional art and when we found some used table legs for a dollar at Goodwill I decided there was no better time. This will be going into my Etsy shop once it's finished.


I received an email from a gallery owner in Gallup that saw my work at the NM State fair. He is reopening his gallery in March(after renovations) and wants me to show my work for the Grand opening. He's even going to put us up in a hotel for the night! I will post more information once I know all the particulars. My hubby will be playing his guitar for opening night. So, if you just happen to be in Gallup, NM on March 10th, I hope to see you there!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Unfinished portrait


Today I'm working on a portrait that I started at least a year ago. To be completely honest, I don't remember when I started it. It was meant to be a gift for my mother in law and since today is her birthday, I decided to try finishing it up so I can give it to her.....FINALLY!! This is a portrait of one of my nieces. I have already given my mother in law portraits of my other niece and my two nephews. Now, of course, I have a new niece who just turned one, so I'm a little behind! Anyway, I guess it's better late than never! This started as a watercolor, but I decided to finish it with my new favorite...H2O oils.

In other news, I have to take my youngest son to the Dr. for an ultrasound today. He has a lump in his left breast that is most likely a cist, but the Dr. wants to be sure. So....keep some positive thoughts going for him please!

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Today and yesterday

Here are my daily journal paintings for yesterday and today, Winter Sun and Warmth. These are going up in my Etsy shop today. Once again, they are H2O oils on canvas board, 8 x 8 inches. The difference with these and paintings I have done in the past is that these were painted on handmade recycled canvas boards. I used acid free matboard scraps and canvas scraps that I had lying around. I figure why do I keep spending money on canvas boards when I can make them out of recycled materials around the studio?!

I just have to share a movie that we watched the other night, I can't get it out of my mind. It's called Little Miss Sunshine and it was filmed here in New Mexico. It is about a fictional family from Albuquerque and it is the BEST movie I've seen in ages! Hilarious and sad, it has everything. It's most definitely a must see!

PS, I keep forgetting to mention....Joyce Brandon of Dream Horse Gallery blog, mentioned me on her blog and in thanks for the mention I'd like to add a link HERE to her blog, check it out!




"Warmth" Click Here to Buy

Friday, January 12, 2007

Happy Friday!

Good news, I sent a couple of emails this morning and now the copycat blog has been suspended! Hopefully it will be shut down for good. There were two more copied posts on the blog this morning.

Other than that, I've been busy in the studio. Below are yesterday and today's daily journal paintings (8 x 8 inch H2O oils on canvas board) and a progress photo of the current large painting (20 inch square H2O oils on canvas) I'm working on. I'm not sure but I think I'm done with it now. I have to live with it a little longer to be sure. I did decide on a name, it's called "A Million Pieces". I called it this because it was begun when I was going through the problems with my middle son and I felt like my heart had been broken into a million pieces.

One of my goals this year is to name every painting I do. I am so tired of the confusion caused by having numbered series names instead of individual names. I decided its just lazy to not name them. Even if it is more difficult to name abstract paintings, they need names!

"A Million Pieces"

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Strange Day!

Today is turning out to be a strange day. It started this morning at 4 a.m. when I got up to go the bathroom. I walked past the dining room window and glanced outside as I walked by. It looked like there was snow on the car, so I went back to the window to get a better look. Just as I looked out the window there was a guy walking into our driveway! He was eyeing my son's bike which is on the bike rack at the front of the driveway. As he walked in between the cars to go get the bike I pounded on the window, he looked up at me and motioned for me to come outside!! I just yelled "Get the F*CK out of here before I call the police!" Then he turned around and walked away. By this time my husband had come out from the bedroom to see what was going on, I had to talk him into not going outside to chase the guy down! My husband brought the bike into the living room and we went back to bed.

The fact that he almost stole my son's bike is not the part that freaks me out, we've had bikes stolen before. What freaks me out is the timing of my going to the bathroom and the pull to look out the window right at the moment he was walking up the driveway!! It was such a strange thing!

So now for the other strange thing that happened today. I checked my email and as usual there was a google alert for "spiral abstract". I clicked on the link because it actually said something about a flower spiral abstract painting and I was curious to see that there was another artist painting flower spiral abstracts! The strange thing is that it took me to a blog with two posts on it and both were posts that I wrote on my blog!! But....it wasn't my blog it was some other persons blog! The only difference is this blog doesn't have my images, it just has my wording. Check it out! My blog entry.......and the imposter blog entry. What do you think? How weird is that? Problem is, there is no way that I can see to contact this person to ask WTF!!???

I'm not sure what to do, if anything, about that. What would you do?

In between strange happenings, I spent the morning in the studio, playing some more. I completed one daily journal painting, did a couple of screen prints, finished carving my block and made a print of the block. So, the photos below are in that order. I printed overlapping designs on a tshirt, to cover up the mess up print I did the other day, and printed the design on a tote bag.

Click Here to Buy

Click Here to Buy

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Back in the Swing of Things

Daily Journal Painting "Fire"

Daily Journal Painting "Purple Sun"

First Screen Design


First Screen Print

Hubby and son went back to school yesterday, finally back to normal for me now. I've been busy working in the studio, or should I say playing in the studio. I completed my first screen print design and finally tried the first print last night. This morning I spent painting, I was so excited to get back to painting I finished two daily journal paintings today!

One of my goals(I dont call them resolutions!) for the new year is to be more efficient in my work and spend less time online. I have so many things I would like to accomplish this year that I need all the time I can get. So....if you are one of my blog friends, I'm sorry but I won't be commenting as much on other blogs. I will however continue to read all my favorite blogs! I couldn't live without you guys! I may blog every other day instead of everyday. I know, when have I ever been dedicated to everyday?!! Anyway, I hope that what this will result in is more art to share on my blog.


This afternoon I have to spend more time on my business plan and take my son to the doctor. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Happy New Year

Here it is January third and I haven't posted yet! I'm working on planning, setting goals for the year, cleaning the house, studio and office and all around wiping the slate clean so to speak.

I am very excited about the year to come. I have some great new ideas for my art this year, I will post them as they come to fruition. I was given a screen printing kit and a block print carving kit for Christmas, so I have new toys to play with! I am ready to move on to a new phase with my art, so stay tuned for updates.

I should get some new work painted and posted by the end of the week, until then, Happy New Year, may your year be filled with peace, joy and love!