Etsy Treasury feature - I love this one!

I am always so excited to get featured in a treasury on Etsy.  I particularly love this one because of the theme and Purple is a great color.  Elizabeth Graf is the treasury queen.  She selflessly uses her time too promote others!

My Purple Clematis canvas print fits right in.  This item is even on Sale now!!!

Commercial Art Vs. Fine Art - the lines are blurring.

I saw a blog post asking about the difference between commercial art and Fine art.  This got me thinking about what many artists are doing, myself included, to market their work.

This is the comment I posted on his blog as my 2 cents on the matter.

'Commercial art is more of a commodity, originally produced in mass quantities for the purpose of affordability. This makes it less unique and more commonplace.

Fine art is originally created as a one-of-a-kind work giving it more value just by it's rareness and uniqueness.

I am aware that the lines are getting blurred with Print on Demand websites and sites like Zazzle where pieces originally created as fine art can be sold as commodities on t-shirts and mugs. I am guilty of taking part in these venues to get my art seen.

Alternately, with the popularity of digital art, commercial art can be just as beautiful and creative as fine art. '

I don't know if this makes any sense, but I do enjoy seeing my work on postage stamps and even sneakers.  I will never be a famous artist, but I want to share my work any way I can.  The internet offers the ability for anyone in the world to see and purchase my art.   It is such a high to open up my inbox and see that I made a sale on Cafepress or Etsy!

Check out these sneakers that you can buy on Zazzle - commercial art or fine art? - either way it is MY art.  The piece was created ACEO (2.5x3.5") size and sold as an original ACEO.
http://www.zazzle.com/jelly_bean_keds_shoes-167680426837330327

I would love to hear your comments on this subject! 

Business card giveaway winner!

We have a winner of the 500 free business cards !   Congratulations, Margo of orchidlandedesigns !  Random.org picked #11 as the winning comment number.

I will pass her info on to Uprinting and she can create and upload her design for her personalized cards! 

Thanks to everyone that entered!  Special thanks to Uprinting for providing the great prize!

Le Peacock est FINI!!! painting work in progress done!

I have finished the bird!  I really enjoyed this one though stone work is not on my top list of subjects.  The peacock himself was surprisingly easier than expected.  I have a tip for you if you are painting something intimidating.  Rotate your canvas so it just looks like shapes!  It is amazing how it will look like your subject when you turn it right side up.  I use this technique all the time.

I have to try to photograph it again - once the sun is out.  I really hate photographing my paintings, but between a tripod and Paint shop pro, I usually manage to get a decent likeness. 

I also really enjoyed the 24x12 canvas size.  It helps modernize the piece even though the subject is tried and true.  Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

Don't forget that my business card giveaway ends tomorrow so be sure to enter.

Great business card Giveaway! 500 Cards FREE!

I am offering another great Giveaway sponsered by Uprinting!  This month we have the latest business card online styles!  I love these new formats - very classy and contemporary.  Of course we also have the standard size as well.

You can never have too many business cards - get another style to pass out, use as hang tags on your products,  affix to your products.  What will you do?

Giveaway Prize:

500 Business Cards
2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)
14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only. Must be 18 years old and up.
You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

I am really excited about this one!  I even get a set for hosting the giveaway!

You can create all your promotional needs using the printing services at Uprinting.com.

Contest ends 11:59pm on Thursday May 13th! Get those comments in! You have multiple ways to win!  All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post that includes your name and email address. Your address will not be used for anything other than allowing Uprinting to contact you if you win the prize.

You can also blog about this giveaway, linking back here and to http://www.uprinting.com/ . Leave another comment that you did so to get another entry and/or Tweet about the giveaway and leave a comment that you did so!

If you would like to receive my newsletter, please sign up to the right and leave a comment that you did so to get another entry. I offer certain sales and specials only to subscribers!

If you are the lucky winner I will pass your info on to Uprinting.com and they will contact you directly.
Thanks again to Uprinting for providing the prize~!

The Blog Sponsorship Team
Twitter: @uprinting
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GOOD LUCK!

Acrylic peacock painting Bird Part III - next to last!

OK!  We are getting to the home stretch!  I finished the shutters and am getting some color on the bird - finally!  At this stage, I did an underpainting and am just starting to work on the feather detail.  I am using various mixtures with Phthalo green - cerelean blue for lighter and purple for darker.  I am also using some interference paint in the sun kissed areas.

I will use this as an opportunity to give a plug for my favorite acrylic paints.  I use Golden Artist Colors.  They use no fillers and are more true to color.  You can get them for a reasonable price at Dick Blick and such places.  They make a great selection of interference colors.  GOLDEN Interference Acrylic colors offer a unique "interference flip." When viewed from difference perspectives, Interference colors flip between a bright opalescent color and its complement. 

I am quite happy with the stone work and the shutters.  Now the main event is going to be challenging.  I'll tell you a secret - I am further along right now than in this pic and the tail feathers are not too bad.  I am not looking forward to the wing detail though!