Zazzle products rock! Check out these watches.

 Zazzle has some very cool new products!  The watches have been around for a year or so, but they are newer to me.  I love making them.  There are watches suitable for men, ladies and children.  The pig above is a fun kid's watch.  It is so adorable!!!  You can purchase the piggy watch here: http://www.zazzle.com/pink_pig_wrist_watches-256299810901935454

This is a large watch featuring my purple iris painting.  This watch has a large face to really show off the art.  There are some very pretty smaller face choices too.  You get to choose the band/face for each watch face art selection.  Very cool!!!  Check them out.  Find the iris watch here:  http://www.zazzle.com/purple_iris_watch-256712483044071615

Check all my watch designs here!  http://www.zazzle.com/artbylmr/watches  With Zazzle, always look at the page to see it there is any sale going on.  Use the coupon code provided to save some scratch!!

Acadamy Awards and my Art! Celebs take home some of my work.

I am currently a member of the IndiExhibit.  The indiExhibit is an officially registered non-profit organization that specializes in promoting the talent of creatives from around the globe. Members participate in unique special events ranging from red carpet gifting suites to backstage concert events and charity benefits.  I have had my artwork at Hollywood award show gifting suites for several years now.  My most current event was the 2014 Academy awards. 

Media personality Karin Salkin took home a canvas print of my painting 'Red in Silver'.  She was very kind and said she really loved it and it spoke to her.

One member of Cassie Jackson's Pop group MP2 took home a trinket box featuring my 'Arranging Lily'  painting.

It is a lot of fun seeing who likes your work and I have gotten some great publicity to boot!  Next up, I think will be the 2104 Emmy awards, but who knows what opportunity may pop up before that!

Visit The IndiExhibit website to find out more information about becoming a member!  Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.

2 new art venues for 2014 - selling originals and cards!

I am starting off the new year with a couple of new endeavors.    As I mentioned in my last post, I have closed my Cafepress shop.  I wanted to get down to basics and try to sell my originals.  Daily Paintworks is just the place for that.  You can only sell originals there.  The only problem is that it helps to post new work often.  I am a slow painter so I am going to try to do some smaller works every week to offer more affordable pieces.

I was contacted by Lily from Greeting card universe about creating cards to sell.  I have done very well with cards in shops so I thought I would give it a go.  This is quite a time consuming endeavor and cards take several weeks to be approved, but we shall see how it works out.  I only have a few cards at this point because Lily fast tracked my first 10 cards - now I have to wait the 4-6 weeks for approval.  So check back and more cards will be popping up as they get approved.  The good thing about the approval is that all the cards are professional with appropriate images and no spelling or grammar errors.  You can also customize the inside of the card before purchasing!

Souvenirs and Refrigerator Art

I have been ordering magnets of my artwork to sell this tourist season at Bay House Artisans.  I really love how they look.  I ordered these from Cafepress .  Their quality is fabulous!  As you can see I collect magnet art as souvenirs.  I pick up a magnet wherever I go as a small inexpensive memento.  I once heard all the stuff people get on vacation called 'souvenir trash'.  I love to pick up trinkets, but they just end up gathering dust somewhere.  Magnets have a home on the Refrigerator while adding color to a bland appliance.

Check out my refrigerator below!  It is pretty messy right now, but I enjoy seeing a visual diary of my travels every time I open it!!!

How did I do in 2011 - Revisiting my goals!

Pont Vecchio Landscape

Oh My - It is that time again.  I found my 2011 goals the other day and like a train wreck - I had to look.  I excelled in some goals and fell flat on my face with others.  I thought I would share the results with you and maybe it will help you with your goals.

1.  Participate in at least 3 group shows and one solo show in 2011
This one I hit out of the ball part.  I did 7  group shows and most of them juried shows so I was thrilled.  I even won 4 ribbons this year for my paintings!  I did squeak out a solo show in December so I nailed this one!

2.  Work on my Zazzle shop to add more designs and create the newly added products by March.
I did add more designs, but never did catch up on the new products - They just keep adding more.  I have been adding some templates for the new products I want to add and this one will be carried over to 2012.  I suspect that there is a better way to do all this, because it just seems to take me so much time.

3.  Create items for cratft shows on a weekly basis.
Well, I did create picture mirrors, glass tile pendants and hand painted glass candle holders, but not on a weekely basis.  I ended up doing this when the need arose so I had to hurry up and get her done!  I think weekly was too much to ask - I may need to rethink the time frame.

4. Find a local printer to print my cards in the 1st quarter.
I did look into a couple places and will stick with on-line for this. It seems to be mor cost effective.

5. Learn how to engage people better on Twitter - ongoing.
I believe that I have better balanced conversing with people, retweeting and promoting.  I also try to find interesting items to tweet.

6. Create a Daily schedule to segment my time so I get more painting done - ASAP!
I tried this approach and life kept getting in the way.  I found that if I just carved out time each week for at least a couple painting sessions, I made progress.  I find that I do  my compter work in the AM which works well except that it is easy to procrasitnate because there is always more I can find to do on-line!

7.  Close sites that are not profitable and time wasters.
I must admit that I dropped the ball on this one.   I did close one site which I pretty much ignored anyway.

8.  Become more active in the Rome Art Association by volunteering at events.
I did attend more meetings than previous years and volunteer for my solo art show at the Rome Community Theater (probably shouldn't count since it saved by butt on goal #1)  I really must make more of an effort to attend meetings so I know what is going on.  I am a pretty shy person, but I need to man up!

Pets and more - Commissions make great gifts!

I did a couple commissions for the holidays!  Always a pleasure to work with clients and create the best artwork I can for them.  I love doing pet portraits.  Above is Iggy, a Hemmingway cat, - check out the many toes!  Iggy is in a pensive mood and I tried to capture his mood and personality in this piece!

Here we have Harley - his eyes are very expressive!  I can do other animals as well, not just cats.  I would love the opportunity to do a doggie too!

Commissions are always a bit stressful, but it is all worth it when the client is happy with the finished product!

This portrait was done for a newlywed couple.  This photo was one taken for their engagement portfolio.  The groom commissioned me to paint this piece for his bride for Christmas.  I have since heard that the bride loved it!  I was really happy with all of these pieces too.

Commissions are always challenging and I learn so much doing them.  Gravel was a challenge in this one - had to stretch my creativity for how to paint it without painting every little stone. 

Each of these pics is done in acrylic, but I also do watercolors.  Feel free to contact me for any commission requests - I will be glad to work with you.   Email me at lmrspdr@dreamscape.com and I will send you all the details!

My time at 'Girls Night Out'.

This was the first ever 'Girls Night Out'  event at the Rome Art and Community Center.  I was sceptical about a vendor opportunity that charged the patrons to shop, but it was a huge success!  We had smaller  spaces than I anticipated and I brought way too much stuff!  But I did manage to squeeze it all in.  As you can see below, my chair was not easy to get to.  Once I got in I didn't leave very often.  Good thing my friend Diane was in the next booth.  She brought me food and drink from the wonderful array of gourmet appetizers and desserts!

I wanted to take more pix, but again I was trapped in my booth :0!  My pendants were popular, both hand painted and glass tile pendants with teenie prints of my work.  I also sold several prints, cards, magnets and even an original or two!!!  All in all it was a lucritive venture and I would do it agian.    It probably didn't hurt that the patrons were drinking heavily ;)  We did luck out being in the room with the chocolate fountain too - very popular!

We had a nice group of neightbors and had lots of fun!  Here is my friend Diane with her booth - she had the right idea and brought less stuff!  The theme was the Caribbean and you can see that Diane wore her tropical shirt in keeping witht he theme. 

Things I learned doing this kind of show:

Play to your space - I wouldn't bring the grids next time - smaller items are the key to this sale.

PC also not necessary - I brought the PC in case someone wanted to use Paypal to pay.

Not sure if I need to take credit cards or not.  No problem this time though.

Chocolate fountains and selling don't mix.  Gooey hands and face kind of embarassing

Explain your work to the customers - this really boosted sales.  Engage the folks

Art featuring local images is popular and helps open a dialogue.

Risers are your friend!  The display looked much better when everything wasn't at the same level.

Have lots of change in all denominations - we won't have to get cash again for a long time :)

Most everyone wanted a bag so have bags in several sizes and be sure to slip in a business card with their purchase.

Just a few observations.  Maybe they will help with your next art fair!

Thanks for Reading!

The First Giveaway of 2011! Fine Art Calendar.

Happy New Year~! How about a giveaway!  Let's start the new year off right.  I am giving away my very own
 fine art calendar.

 

Enjoy a new work of art every month.  This is a professionally printed calendar from my Zazzle shop.

 

Here is a preview of the artwork you will see in the calendar (the blue border is not on the calendar).

 

Calendar cover

 

May

 

March

 

You can preview the entire calendar in my Zazzle shop!

 

It is so easy to enter.  You can have up to 5 entries - each needs to be a separate comment :)

 

• 1.  Just comment and say hello!
• 2.  Follow this blog and leave a comment that you did so (or that you already follow).
• 3.  Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment that you did so - Thanks!
• 4.  For another entry, just 'like' my Facebook fan page and leave a comment that you did so or that you already do.
• 5.   Check out my Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item in yet another comment!

 

Contest ends at 11:59:59 1/17/11 so you have 2 weeks to get those comment in!  Thanks for entering!

What's on the Easel? A new watercolor and a new acrylic!

Thought I would give a sneak peek at what is in the works!~  The left side is an new acrylic painting I am doing.  I just love the window reflections - they are little paintings themselves!  The top two are done, but I am still working on the other 4.  There are also some pretty flowers that I need to add the the flower box.   I am really enjoying this one :)

The right is a new watercolor still life.  I have decided that I really like doing still life watercolor paintings rather than landscapes.  Trees are really not my thing in watercolor.  I am still fighting with the doily, but other than that just a little more tweeking. 

Let me know what you think.  I would love to hear from you.  Also feel free to comment on what you would like to see me paint.  I may just take you up on it! 

VIsit my Art Opening via Photos!

Last night was the opening for my solo show at the Rome Art and Community Center.  I was in the intimate library gallery which I really love!  I wasn't even nervous at all which really surprised me.  So many friend came out to support me that I felt very blessed! 

I thought I would give a virtual look at the show to those that couldn't attend.

Me - many people commented on my dressing up - don't have much call for that anymore.

It was a small show - only 16 pieces, but it decorated the library gallery nicely.  I took most of these photos before guests started arriving.  Unfortunately, after that I was so busy visiting with people that I forgot to take more photos! 

Thanks for visiting my virtual show!  Yo can find prints of all these works at Fine Art America .

You are invited!

You are invited!  My solo show is fast approaching!  I am sending out postcards today.  I just finished up labeling and packing up my artwork and boy are my walls bare :) 

'A Visual Emergence'  with Lynne Reichhart

September 2-24, 2010

Opening reception September 2, 6-8 pm

Rome Art and Community Center

308 West Bloomfield Street

Rome, NY 13440

  If you are in the area, please stop in.  There are two other shows as well so there will be lots of good food and great art!

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!

Woodstock '99 Revisited in Art

'Woodstock '99 Revisited' - Mixed Media on paper.

Remember Woodstock '99?  It was held in Rome N.Y. and ended in flames.  I guess it is no longer possible to capture the peace and love of the original.  I did attend despite my somewhat elderly status in comparison to many of the attendees.  How could I pass it up?  It was 7 miles away.

I must confess that I did not get the full woodstock experience.  I slept at home in my clean, comfy bed and was bussed in each morning and home at night.  It was the only way to go!!!

There was a wide array of bands from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, Kid Rock (before he went country) to Jewel and Cheryl Crow.  You can see the entire list of performers here.

A plywood and steel fence was consructed to prevent gate crashing.  Lots of murals were painted on the wall and that is what I depiced in my painting above.  This was such a unique image since I captured a solitary guy sitting by the fence.  Quite a feat since over 200,000 people were in attendance. 

I loved the artwork on this section of the fence so I painted this mixed media piece (acrylic and pencil) on paper to commemorate the event.  Tell me what you think...

Invitation

You are all invited~!

I sent out invitations today. I am looking forward to setting up the show 4/28. Please join me if proximity allows it :)