A little Patriotism on a quiet winter morning

View from my studio after Atlanta snow

This is the view from my studio window, looking past the backyard through the trees, after a 3 day ice and snow storm which has kept all of Atlanta indoors.  The winter morning has been quiet, with nothing but a bird and a squirrel to interrupt the serenity of the scene.  I took some snap shots on my phone to text to friends with hopes of seeing their views in return.

Eventually, I made it down to my studio, which I lovingly call, "The Dungeon," even though it's in a daylight basement with a window.  This morning, though, it is my fortress of Solitude.  I continued to marvel at the beautiful snow covered scene from this vantage point, and as I gazed, listening to my morning Mozart, I discovered something rare and precious.  What looked at first to be a nearly black and white photograph, suddenly revealed the most startling tiny and wondrous spot of color.  Out through the woods, far off in the distance, across a road which is camouflaged from view, there stands a lonely flagpole, upon it flying the lovely red and white stripes and blue and white stars of the American flag.  "Wow!" I thought, with real awe, "How beautiful is that?"

I find it fitting that this scene would present itself to me during the Olympics, when I am most likely to feel Patriotic.

Small moments like this make me want to slow down just a bit more to enjoy the view, pay just a little more attention to those nearly hidden little gems of contrast that make things more interesting. My husband will be happy I pulled out my new camera (for the first time since receiving it at Christmas) to take this 300 yard shot of this one small but precious moment in time.

Have a nice day,
Rebecca

A little Patriotism on a quiet winter morning

Shoprags, and other things that are working for me...

I know it's already February, but I haven't taken a moment to say Happy New Year yet.  Unbelievable! I have been habitually accustomed to an end of year message, and then a sparkling next year's message inciting problems establishing good habits and breaking old ones, and my particular brand of obstinate laziness, aka, procrastination, followed by the fluff of my intentions for the year.

This year, I want to do something different. No. I want to do a lot of things differently. I want to improve, as I think I do a little each year, but I also want to remember some really great things that worked for me.  So, that's how I begin the year, with little posts about things that worked and how I plan to improve them!

Shop rags, freshly folded out the dryer.  My trusty companions in the studio. They carry the stains of my efforts, the memories of every painting I've painted in the last 6 years since I began my career as an artist.  It's pretty cool when I think about it, and really, it hadn't occurred to me until I began folding them just about 15 minutes ago, that they really do have the marks of all of my combined works since 2008.

The first major success I want to mention, one that has been steadily climbing the past three years in a row, are my custom painted pet ornaments. Yep, painting those cute little critters have REALLY worked for me. My customers even seem to enjoy the ordering process as well as receiving my work. They even enjoy sharing their little treasures with others, which has proved to be a wonderful referral business for me.  The only downside to painting ornaments is handling the volume that comes in late in the year. I even had to extend the deadline from Halloween to November 15th in 2013 because people still weren't in the mood for Christmas shopping. But, then, the floodgates opened and wow, what a year I had. What a delight to paint so many sweet lovely little creatures, but I was so swamped that I hardly had time to enjoy my own holiday. I was also disappointed to have to turn away a large number of ornament orders, because many found me very late in the year and there just wasn't enough time to paint them all. Fortunately, there were a number of clients who opted to receive a gift certificate or who were willing to wait for delivery after Christmas. I learned that I need to better understand how to reach people year round so I can be painting these ornaments all the time. So, my goal for improvement is to reach my audience earlier, continue to deliver an outstanding product, delight my customer, and enjoy every part of my holiday to the max!

Thank you for giving me the joy of painting as I begin year 7 of my adventures in painting. If I could share with you how happy this makes me, it would be in the form of a gigantic smile and big hug.

Have a nice day,
Rebecca

Shoprags, and other things that are working for me...

It's all Gouach-y and such that is..

Pinkham

2.5x3.5"; Gouache on matboard

Fundraiser, Part Deux

This little piggy has gone to market.  eBay auction!

If you haven't read my post from earlier in the week about the little ornament painting, it will read similar to this one. I am repeating myself for some fortuitous reason.  Ah, I know! It's because I have been listening to a Spanish composer well know for his repetition in themes.  I need another cup of coffee, because I can't remember his name any longer.  It was yesterday. That day has come and gone and today is what matters (besides, as I age, the storage capacity is getting used up.  I need to free up some disk space, or defrag perhaps. Do they do that anymore?)

This is my very first attempt at painting entirely in gouache!  I admit that on occasion, I have used gouache for a highlight on an ink or watercolor painting. (is that cheating? maybe)  I was chatting with some friends on Facebook about gouache and that got me inspired to try them.  I was determined to learn the technique, so I dove in.  There is a distinct learning curve with this medium as it wets itself each time you touch the paper!  You can apply watercolor techniques to a degree and, they say, oil, but truly, this medium stands alone as one not to be compared to others.  It just is what it is and what it is, is frustrating.  I wanted to chuck it, but I know that after time and layering I eventually get results..so, I stuck with it until, after many, many, many layers, I began to achieve a look that I could be satisfied with.  But hey, first time out there are bound to be a few lessons to learn!   I found lots of demos on Youtube.com.  I'm patting myself on the back for seeing it to the end. 

I'm going to donate the proceeds from the this painting to help someone in a very special way.  A different kind of help this holiday season.  I am going to help an artist be, well, arty!  Someone who creates and is destined to create, through no choice of her own.  Shucks, those are the cards she was dealt!  It's just something we artist types have to do!  I have a girl in mind, the 9 year old daughter of someone who works at the local grocery store, who I know is a budding artist.  Her Mom could not stop talking about her talents from the moment she found out that I am an artist.  Her exuberance has struck a chord with me!  When I was young, I didn't realize this would be a choice for me and although my parents knew I (and my brother) had some talent, I don't think they thought that art would be something we would pursue as a profession.  My brother got his education in fine art and education and became a school teacher.  I got my education in fine art and French!  I'm not a translator, so where did that leave me? Well, here!  I think I chose wisely.

It would be great if this painting earned enough to buy some decent supplies for the kid!  (It should be worth a mint if you include my time, but learning is time consuming. Oink!) Fuel the passion!

Our little ebay groups (Aceo artists - art card, editions and originals) creates and sells these tiny little works of art that have become highly collectible worldwide!  We wanted to up the anty and introduce are tiny art to some new fans and collectors!  Every other month or so, we, as a group, list for one week a bunch of these aceos at auction, starting at a penny!  It's called Pennyfest!  Please go to eBay and search "pennyfest" to find this listings!  This week, there are 5 pages of them, originals and prints. 

Go to the Auction

Kudos for getting to the end of this post.  You get the good humor award!

Have a nice day, Rebecca

It's all Gouach-y and such that is..

Penny Fest Bidding Frenzy Good Will Gesture!

Our little eBay group that creates and sell tiny little works of art called ACEO (Art cards, Editions and Originals) has thought up a fun way for the general audience to begin collecting.  Every so often, place a bunch of Aceos up for auction, beginning at a penny $.01!

I took some time to paint this little piece today so that I could offer it up for auction tomorrow in a 5 day auction, ending on the 17th.  

I'm going to donate the proceeds from this tiny painting to help someone in some way. Perhaps it will purchase a bag of food (or more) at the grocery store for the food bank, or it might make enough to buy a gift for the Toys For Tots program! 

Visit the auction, click here!

It might also help someone you hadn't thought would need help.  An artist!  Someone who creates and is destined to create, through no choice of their own.  It's just something we artist types have to do!  I have this girl in mind, the 9 year old daughter of someone who works at the grocery store, who I know is a budding artist, but the Mom is single and on a limited income.  It would be great if this painting could earn enough to buy her some modest supplies for her to create!  Fuel the passion!

Have a nice day, Rebecca

Penny Fest Bidding Frenzy Good Will Gesture!

Illustration Friday

#8 Fashinista Rhino

Bold and Daring! -Smelly Rhino Studio

This is from my 31 days of Rhinos, but I thought it would be a good day to show her to you again, as she is my logo girl!

News in the world of the Rhino this week was not good as the Western Black Rhino was officially declared extinct, and extinction made possible by ignorant humans.  The hunting of the Rhino worldwide continues, the senseless slaughter of an ancient and incredible animal for no other reason than for their horns which are believed by Eastern cultures to be medicine.  Well, they wont have their medicine anymore.  I hope that the killing will end now, I hope enlightenment will come soon to the people who continue to commit these atrocities.  There's always Karma, and what a bitch she can be when you harm others - perhaps poachers will pick them off, one by one.

For more on the 31 days of rhinos series, please search the blog!

Happy Friday!

Have a nice day.

Illustration Friday