Take a peek at my Xmas Studio space

I have stolen a corner of my kitchen for my art studio space. I love it decorated for the holidays. We still need to get or live tree in the living room, but I have my little artificial tree up in the kitchen.

I also have listed a new framed watercolor that I just got back from a show. Please take a peek here..

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18003786

This painting was done en plein air in the garden of a local library. It was a nice fall day and great to remember now that it is cold and dreary here right now.

Tagged Again!

I was tagged again by Southshoreartist - http://southshoreartist.blogspot.com/

I need 6 quirky, boring facts (at least that is what it said)

1. I already have my Christmas decorations up because I cannot wait to do it.

2. I fell down the stairs a couple days ago - on my back, head first. I am fine, but my back is pretty bruised up. Bottom Line - I am a klutz!

3. I am addicted to gorp! It is a trail mix I make myself that consists of peanuts, raisons, craisons, and Dark M&M's. There must be enough M&M's so you always get at least one in each handful, preferably more.

4. I am almost done with my Christmas shopping. I always start right after Xmas for the following year. Hey, the sales are great then :)

5. I make a mean apple pie! My secret for any fruit pie is a teaspoon of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum.

6. Last but not least - I am procrastonating right now from painting that I really need to do!

Well I think I fulfilled the boring part anyway :)

I did some more hand painted pendants for my Etsy shop - I would love for you to check them out. If you have a particular design you would like I would love to work with you.

You can see them above. Check out my shop - they are on Sale now for $6 each.

http://artbylmr.etsy.com/

Inorganic Incandescence

Wha What? That is what I call my first real abstract painting! This one just glows. I used Cadmium Orange in the warm colors and WOW - do they ever Pop! I hope to throw some more abstracts in now and then. It was fun to do! I have this in my Etsy VAST sale section here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5381568&section_id=5528741

The Visual Artists Street Team is having a holiday sale so search for 'Vast Holiday' on etsy for all the sales.

Title: 'Inorganic Incandescence'

Medium/Support: Golden Acrylics on Gallery wrapped 16X20" canvas.

Original: Yes. Only one available.

Signed by the artist: Yes.

Certificate of Authenticity: Yes.

I've been Tagged!

I was tagged by a fellow artist Schar Freeman. Visit her at http://scharart.blogspot.com

Follow these points:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

So here goes!
1. I have a tattoo on my lower back of a celtic shamrock - very tasteful. My sister and I both got tattoos at the same time.

2. I have been married for 27 years - WOW I can hardly believe it. We have been together for 31 years.

3. I was a Senior System Analyst for 20 years and retired to persue art! It was not difficult to leave constant travel and 56 hour weeks behind.

4. I am working on my first real abstract painting. It is quite freeing and a good way to cleanse my palette so to speak.

5. I love warm spaghetti with mayonnaise - ate it as a kid and still have it once in a while.

6. I am a Sci Fi geek - Love The X-Files, Buffy the vampire slayer and Angel. I was in an episode of the X-Files once in the crowd of a fight scene.

7. I sell collectibles on Ebay to pay for my art classes and supplies. I particularly deal in 60's and 70's toys when I can find them. I once bought a vinyl Twiggy case for $1 and sold it for $275. That was my best so far!

You are tagged too!
http://whatshoesiwear.blogspot.com/
http://lilypangart.blogspot.com/
http://kae1crafts.blogspot.com/

I love Fall and Halloween!

As I am sitting here I can see leaves blowing off the trees out the windows. I just love the colors, sounds and smells of fall. Unfortunately, it is followed by winter which I also love in short doses. It just drags too long around here.

Anyway, my husband and I volunteered at a local art center to hand out candy Saturday night. They provided costumes and we were Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. (He was Dum :0) You could hear the young ones running and tripping up the stairs to get their candy until they got to the top and saw us. They then stopped dead in their tracks and waited for Mom to get there. We weren't scary, but they were big costumes. Some were very young and were just shy. It was a lot of fun though.

Here are a couple fall pieces that I just finished up. The building is located in Old Forge, New York in the heart of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. I call it 'A Brick in Time'.

The Halloween tile is hand painted and triple sealed for protection. Measures 6 X 6.

You can find them in my Etsy Shop at: http://www.artbylmr.etsy.com/

Hand Painted Pendants!

I am trying something new. Scrabble tile pendants are popular on Etsy and I just love them. Typically they are decoupaged, but I thought I would hand paint mine to kick things up a notch.

I attached a screw eye in the top to make them extra secure and triple sealed them so they will stay beautiful for a very long time. I left the back with the scrabble letter showing - pretty cool!

I sold a couple on etsy and this batch is headed for a brick and mortar store hopefully for bound for Christmas stockings this holiday season.

As you can see, I added a Follow ME widget. I have lots of friends already following me - please join in the list! It is super simple to add to your own blog - give it a try!

2 New ACEOs

The kitty and dragon is a fun piece done in Prisma Colored Pencil that I have titled 'Unlikely Friends'. This is for the kids out there :)

You can find it on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15030483

The rich, creamy chocolate is a reproduction from a colored pencil piece. The original sold so fast I didn't even get a chance to post it. You can find it on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15031504

Rmember the 60's

I wanted to use some of my favorite memories for a still life and this is the result. I had the lava lamp in my room as a teen and always used my my Panasonic Panapet radio when ruining my skin suntanning before we knew about the dangers of the sun. I had many sunburned backs while laying on a hill on our farm where noone could see me - just me and my Panapet.

The best of the 3 is my 'Lost in Space' Robot that my grandfather got me from the Grand Union he worked at, believe it or not. He surprised me with it and I treasure it now that he is gone. These little babies go for big bucks on ebay, but I just can't part with it.

This is a 9 x 12 watercolor still life. I am selling prints on Etsy because the original has been accepted in a juried show for the Central NY Watercolor Society. I was so psyched when I didn't hear from them - which meant that I got in. Woo Hoo!! Get a print here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14389856

Thanks for reading!

New Fall Painting!

Here is a new painting of a church in upstate NY (South Colton to be exact). Nice fall piece with shadows I could not pass up! I love the contrast of light and dark in this one.
The original is in a shop, but I am offering fine art reproductions in my etsy shop. Please take a peek.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13953229

I keep some pieces in a great shop in South Colton. It is called the Adirondack Artisan Shop. They represent over 100 local artisans and have a nice location at the foot of the beautiful Adirondack mountains in South Colton. If you are in the area be sure to check it out! I am hoping this local subject will get me another sale!

Another Juried show

OK - I don't usually toot my own horn, but I am so psyched to have gotten ino this show. I was picked for one of 65 works from 165 submissions in the Regional Art Show at the Rome Art and Community center in Rome, NY.

I know - Italy would have been more impressive, but hey maybe another time :)

For information on the Rome Art and Community Center show visit:

http://www.romeart.org/exhibits.html

Shown is the piece that I submitted.

VAST Christmas in July!

ETSY VAST Team (Visual Artist Street Team) will be having their Christmas in July sale starting July 15 and running through July 25. Members are encouraged to mark a couple of original paintings on sale. We will be posting our sale items on the VAST blog starting on July 15: http://vastgallery.blogspot.com/

I have created a Christmas in July sale section in my shop here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5381568&section_id=5528741

I always try to do my Christmas shopping early - here is a way to start yours. I have bins of stuff I have picked up for great sale prices already this year for gifts. Some are earmarked for a special someone - others are for an unexpected gift need. All were purchased for at least 50% off. I am such a sale hound.

The picture shown is part of a set of 4 color studies that are almost abstract in subject. The set is on sale for Christmas in July!

Remember the 70's

When I was a budding young artist in the 70's, I used to sketch Rock and Roll singers and other celebrities. I was pretty darn good at it too ;) I saved some of the sketches and yesterday I scanned a few in to paint shop pro. I darkened the pencil lines and colorized the pic and this is the results.

Peter Frampton, Cat Stevens, Mick Jagger.

This is how they looked at the time, of course. Cat was pretty cute as I recall. What do you think - should I do more?

These are for sale in my etsy shop here: http://artbylmr.etsy.com/

Art on a plate cookbook!

I am a proud contributor to Art on a Plate, The ACEO cookbook 2008. Info coming soon about how to order. The book is ready and waiting the big announcement.

I got in a great juried show!

Just a short post to say that I got into the Munson Williams Proctor art festival's sidewalk art show. This is a juried show that really limits the entries since they get so many applicants. I am so excited. If you look 2 posts down you will see the hot air balloon painting that got in. I have a few paintings that I am really proud of so I am trying for several shows this summer. This one draws a lot of people and is especially fun!

For more information check this out!
http://mwpai.org/festival/
If you are in the area, it is a nice way to spend some time.

Keep on Rockin'

Rough couple of weeks

It has been a rough couple of weeks. My mother-in-law died a little over a week ago. She was surrounded by her husband, all her children and some grandchildren - just the way she wanted it. It was difficult seeing her decline by the day/hour. In the end we were on 24 hour watch, taking shifts at night.

She had 5 boys and 1 girl. I am married to her baby boy. She treated each of her daughter-in-laws as if we were her own daughters. I was very lucky! All her kids are still quite close and she should be very proud of how she raised her family. I will remember all the things she taught me - especially cooking tips.

Now life is back to 'normal'. I guess I am still in a bit of a dark mood so I did this ACEO (2.5 x 3.5). Crows were 'hot' at one time - I suspect that I missed the boat though.

It is for sale in my Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12663503

It is done!

Here is the finished balloon painting! I promised I would post when it was done. I am so pleased with how it came out. If you check 2 posts down you can see an 'in progress' version of the painting.

It is for sale on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11602193

The Good old Days!

I was looking through an old photo album where I keep my ticket stubs for concerts I have been too. What a eye opener! Just like everything, the price of concert tickets has sky rocketed. Get a load of this:

In 1977 Billy Joel was $7.50 in Syracuse, NY!
Todd Rundgren was $6.00!
In 1981 The Rolling Stones, Foreigner and George Thorogood costs $15 in Buffalo, NY!
Jethro Tull was $10.50 in Rochester!
Crosby Stills and Nash were $12.50!
In 1983 David Bowie was 13.50 in Syracuse!
In 1984 Rod Stewart was $15.00 in Rochester!
In 1986 Elton John was $11.00 for lawn seats in Saratoga!
In 1989 The Bee Gees were $17.00 in Saratoga!
Here is a pricey one - in 1989 Paul McCartney was $34 in Toronto (Maybe that was Canadian $)
In 1992 Eric Clapton was $19.00 in Saratoga!
In 1994 Rush was $22.50 in Rochester!
To give you a comparison CSN&Y went up to $23.50 in 1994!

You get the picture. As you can see I am a fan of classic rock and still see these artists when I can, but that is in another photo album :)

Off to work on my balloon painting so I can post the finished product soon!

Painting in Progress!

Happy Spring! Our snow is finally gone and the grass is starting to green up. This made me want to paint something a little colorful and lively! I thought I would show an 'in progress' stage for a change. I have never done that before.

This is a balloon my hubby and I rode in last year. We took off from my parent's backyard since the wind was just right and the pilot knows my family. How cool is that?

Anyway - I am working on this painting in acrylic. This is a LARGE one! Going to break the bank to frame the darn thing. I'll post again when I finish it. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

Art on a Plate!

There is a cool contest going on in the Ebay Forums. One of the ACEO groups is putting together a cookbook using ACEO artwork related to the submitted recipe. I entered a yummy Caramel Apple Cake and ACEO watercolor. Here are the rules if you want more info:

http://groups.ebay.com/topic/Aceo-Art-Cards/Announcementstheme-Weeks-Contests/Art-Plate-Aceo/1600769299

Entries are accepted unti the middle of April so Hurry!

Here is my recipe

Caramel Apple Cake

1 ½ C. Oil
1 ½ C. Sugar
½ C. Packed brown sugar
3 Eggs
3 C. Flour
2 teas. Cinnamon
½ teas. Nutmeg
1 teas. Baking soda
½ teas. Salt
3 ½ C. Diced peeled apples
1 C. Chopped walnuts
2 teas. Vanilla extract

Caramel Icing:
½ C. Packed brown sugar
1/3 C. Light cream
¼ C. Butter or margarine
Dash Salt
1 C. Confectioners’ sugar
Chopped walnuts, optional

In a mixing bowl, combine oil and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine dry ingredients; add to batter and stir well. Fold in apples, walnuts and vanilla. Pour into a greased and floured 10 in. tube pan or bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 ½ hours or until cake tests done. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Heat brown sugar, cream, butter and salt until sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temp. Beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth; drizzle over cake. Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Yield: 12-16 servings.

New painting!

I am really proud of this one. I took the reference photo from a hotel window in Vancouver, BC Canada. A storm had just passed and the sky was a very wierd color with 3 rainbows. This is a mood setting piece - kind of eerie and uplifting at the same time. You also get the Vancouver skyline to boot! The lighting is kind of surreal and I tried to capture it as best as I could.

This is an acrylic on Canvas (12 X 16) and it is for sale here on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10326604

Vegas and support students~!

Hey everyone! I hope you have all recovered from St. Patty's Day:) We recently got back from Las Vegas and it was not a profitable trip but it was fun! I love the penny slots. I can play multiple lines without guilt and you get the feeling you are winning a lot. Such fun!

The new Create, Collect Trade ACEO book is now available for presale. This is a great book for artists, collectors and students alike. For more info see my previous blog entry. All proceeds from the book go towards buying copies for students! Preorder the book here on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10290400

Oh, by the way, I am in the book and I bought a copy for my mom!

Artists, ACEO's and Students!

There is a wonderful movement going on to teach grade schoolers about ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) These wonderful, affordable works of art are only 2.5 X 3.5 inches in size, but are big on creativity and beauty!

"Create. Collect. Trade. A Collection of Artist Trading Cards Created by Artists and Students" is an 80 page yearly publication of ACEO (Art Cards, Editions, and Originals) and ATC (Artist Trading Cards) art created by 25 artists and 25 elementary art students, who use these artists as inspiration.

I am proud to say that I am included in the book. I was able to choose a selection of my ACEO pieces and write a little blurb about myself. Check here for more information.

http://www.createcollecttrade.blogspot.com/

There is another project under way to also assist students in learning about art and ACEO cards. ACEO artist are invited to send some of their ACEO work to the organizer (a teacher) to assist in teaching and inspiring her students. For more information on Proect ATC check out this Etsy thread:

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5401977

I am definitely sending some cards to help the students. Any ACEO artists out there, please consider submiting some of your work! We will be feeding the creativity of the next generation of ACEO artists. Long Live ACEO/ATC!

New Website and Bunny is done!

Hello - I finished the bunny for my husband, finally! I am selling 8 X 8 prints in my etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9378064

I am happy with how he came out. What do you think?

I have also been working on my very own website. Check it out here: http://www.artbylmr.com/

I am so excited. Freewebs made it very easy and affordable.

I just seem to have no time between painting, Etsy, blogging, Ebay, garage saleing, auctions, but that is what it is all about isn't it? I know everyone is so busy with kids, work, house upkeep. Just don't forget to stop and smell the flowers so to speak ( that would be hard to really do here in northern NY right now:) Touch base with someone you have let drift out of your life and you will feel great for it!

Happy New Year (a little late)!

Etsy, Etsy, Etsy. That is what I have been doing - pimping my work. I have a cool bunny painting I am working on that I can't wait to post. I mentioned that hubby wanted it for Xmas but that didn't quite happen.

I hope you all had wonderful holidays and New Year celebrations! Are you ready for some warm, sunny weather? I am. Those of you in the Northeast know what I'm talking about. I was supposed to go to Tampa with dear hubby last week, but got sick and decided to stay home. So now we have a ticket to use and I hear Las Vegas calling!

Here is a drawing I sold on Etsy. The buyer even commissioned me to do 3 more smaller shell drawings for her new living room decor. Now I can at least buy art supplies :)