It's time for a Bountiful Sale!

I am having a sale in my Etsy shop. A group of ACEO artists involved in the Bounty Challenge decided to begin a sale, from now until the end of the year. Each shop chooses the details, and how long the sale lasts. I have decided to drastically reduce many ACEOs in order to make way for new art.

This is the time I think about the holidays, and I would love my Etsy shop to be focused more on seasonal art. And basically, sometimes I just feel generous, and feel the need to drop prices way below what I would be willing to sell them for any other time. I find people are surprised when they see my art in person, it always looks so much better than I can show in scans.

Anyone interested in getting some deals for Christmas, check out our blog:
http://bountifulsale.blogspot.com/

and the Etsy thread detailing the specific sales:
click here

I will be adding new art to my Etsy store shortly, and I can't wait to begin my Christmas themed ACEOs!!

Happy Halloween!

I love halloween, and had all these great ideas for paintings planned for months. Of course, before I knew it, it was almost the end of October, and I only managed 2 new witch paintings. Time seems to be speeding up, you think you have so much of it, then find it has slipped away once again. I may add them to my Etsy store anyway. I did sell one of my favorite paintings last year after Halloween (the one my avatar is based on).

I spent last weekend re-arranging my tiny little art room. I have a large bookshelf on one wall filled with books I planned to read 'some day'. It finally occurred to me that this space would be more useful holding my art supplies and canvases that have been stacked on my floor. So I spent a full day weeding through books, and deciding which to give to goodwill. Isn't it funny that books you may have had sitting unread for 10 years would be so hard to get rid of? I figure if I haven't read them by now, I never would. So off they went. And what a great feeling that was!
Now my mixed media supplies are neatly organized on 2 shelves, beside my desk. I find it very hard to create when everywhere you look is cluttered. I always say, if you are feeling stuck, clean, organize, and you will see how quickly your muse comes out to play. The next day, I sat down and created another mixed media girl, in black white and pinks, which I love! I will post her here once I decide on a name :-D

What is going on in the world?!

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed with life? There is so much fear-mongering going on, you can't even pick up a paper without the front page screaming about the economy, the possible recession, about how pensioners have found themselves with no pension, and on and on. It just makes me sad to see how we are all on edge. It feels like there is no where to turn.

So what do we do? I suggest stop reading the newspapers! Yeah, the economy is crap right now, but terrorizing people daily makes them fearful, which in turn causes panic.

This is the time to connect with people you love, to spend more time with your friends, and hug your pets. Remember, this too shall pass. I will be making more paintings with inspirational sayings, to remind us to have hope. If you haven't discovered it yet, I highly recommend Hay House Radio, a 24 hour a day spiritual radio station....
(www.hayhouseradio.com ) I leave it on while I work on my art, and always feel so much more at peace...


Here are some simple ways to find a bit of peace in the midst of chaos. Hope something here resonates with you:

- Eat healthy, nutritious foods whenever possible (preferably locally grown). Get your family involved in the preparation of food. Your health is the most important thing to you, processed food is full of garbage that will slowly destroy your body!

-Take at least 10 minutes a day to just BREATHE. Take some deep breaths, close your eyes, and do nothing. Give yourself permission to just sit, and breath. Especially when feeling overwhelmed. You will find yourself feeling refreshed.

-Go for a walk. It doesn't have to be special, but start small, go around your neighborhood, just do anything that gets your body moving. Try to see everything as a miracle, and try to feel blessed just to be on this planet at this time. Don't forget to stretch your body, you want to stay flexible as you age. Look around amazon.com for books on health and fitness, I recommend for a start a book called 'You, staying young' by M. Roisen, and M. Oz. (from the Oprah Show)

-Go to the library, you can borrow books for free!! How wonderful that so much knowledge is housed in one place. I saw statistics once showing how few people ever step into a library, let alone read a book after they finish high school. I will blog about some of my favorites at another time.

-Throw your spare change in a jar every night. I can't remember where I got this idea (maybe Suze Orman). It's harder to spend a dollar than spare change, and you'd be surprised at how quickly it can grow. It's a good habit to get into. Oh, and RESPECT money.

I see how I can go on and on, so I will stop with one last point.

*Be gentle with yourself* We all make mistakes, and we are all doing the best we can with the knowledge we have. YOU are the most important person in your life. Throughout your life, it is your little self that is with you, and won't abandon you. Isn't it time you gave yourself a break, and started celebrating your greatness?

Never forget that you are loved, and are never alone.

Blogs and Books

It's about time I did an update. I sure hope I don't get into the habit of doing one every month.

Well, I am very excited to be featured on the blog 'Path of Heart'. It is a wonderful gathering of artists who honor Julia Cameron's very popular book 'The Artist's Way'. I had read this book many years ago, and found it incredibly inspirational. A delightful artist nicknamed 'Garlic' contacted me, and wrote up a lovely interview, with one of my favorite paintings being showcased. You can find the blog here : http://smartists.blogspot.com/

I started reading this blog and couldn't stop, the stories and authors really drew me in. Take a peek, and you will see what I mean.

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Another good note, I will also have some of my ACEOs featured in a book called 'Create. Collect. Trade. A Collection of Artist Trading Cards Created by Artists and Students'. I decided to participate this year as it is for a good cause, and I will be joining many other terrific artists. Check out the blog if you are interested in joining, or purchasing a copy of the book which will help purchase books for the students... http://createcollecttrade.blogspot.com/

For those unfamiliar with ACEOs, they are little mini works of art that must measure 2.5" x 3.5" (which is the size of a playing card). I have done so many of these fun little cards, and sold many on Ebay and Etsy. With the Christmas season coming upon us (YAY!!) I plan to do many more. Check out my Etsy store if you'd like to see what ACEO cards I have available for sale. The pumpkin patch fairy on top of this post is an ACEO.

Meanwhile, I have been concentrating on mixed media paintings. I just finished a large 12 x 24 painting for my younger sis's birthday, and am happy to say she loved it. Here is a pic I took before it was done...



Now that this large project is finished, I must find time to start on the new workshop I signed up for with Wyanne, another of my favorite artists. It started Sept. 29th and I haven't done a single exercise yet! I am very excited to learn even more techniques for backgrounds, as that tends to be my weak area.
The internet has opened a whole new world for me with regards to art classes. I always thought that you could only be taught in a class room, but after finishing my Suzi Blu workshop, I know that is no longer true. The best part is you can work at your own pace, and meet so many incredibly talented people from around the world. I am hooked, and am already planning my next one.
I would highly recommend online workshops for any artists out there who want to work on their craft. If we stop learning, our art becomes stale. Art for me is a life long passion, and my one true love :-) With the selection of books and youtube videos out there, how on earth can you ever be bored? My only problem with that is I enjoy them so much I forget to do my own...so on that note, I am off to begin working on my latest girl....

Wishing you a fantastic day, and many blessings