thank you thank you thank you!!

Just a quick note to say thank you to all who made 2009 a wonderful year!!! I had an awesome time and even though portraits didn't really start to happen until September and my hours were cut from my office job in May, I still managed to have a good time!!

Thank you to Them Crooked Vultures for making me excited about music (not that I ever wasn't but these guys took it to a new level!)

Thank you to my sister for coming back home where she belongs!! I'm so glad you decided to move closer to your family. Means so much to me that we mean so much to you!

Thank you to Kitty Connection in Medford for bringing Luna girl into my life. She's such a sweet kitty!! And thank you Metro Cat in Brookline for being so thoughtful and helpful when I had to say goodbye to my Sweet D.

Thank you to my bosses who, even though cut hours on a weekly basis, still managed to get the bonuses out! Made Christmas that much more easy!!

Thanks to my family, especially my parents for their continuing support of my goal of living as an artist.

And lastly, Thank you Jason, my love. You are the best man a girl could ever have. XOXOX

Happy New Year!!! 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 Holy Crap!!!!!!!!!

Ho Ho Ho

Well, kids this is it! Christmas week .... Are you ready? I'm NOT! Here's where the stress really begins!! Times I feel where my work is really interfering with the rest of my life LOL.

The portraits are out, have a couple of cards to make and then I need to get cleaning my house for the big Wednesday night Christmas. This is my true Christmas time and means a lot to me. I love hosting party (mainly cause I don't have to worry about driving my butt home.) I spent the last week deckin' the halls and baking Christmas cookies. I made my own wreath which took some time, but J & I were watching "The Prisoner" (original) and that's always a good time.

How to make your own Christmas wreath

What you'll need:

Pine Boughs (When you get your Christmas tree there's usually a pile of boughs that the boys will take off some trees per customer requests. These are FREE)

Wire Coat Hanger

Scissors

Paddle or Floral Wire

Ribbon and other decorating Christmas-y things

A Glass of Wine (optional)

take the pine boughs and clip the branches to different lengths with the scissors and make a small pile

Cut the paddle wire into 1.5" long pieces and make a small pile.

Take the wire coat hanger and bend it into a circle shape.

then take the boughs and start attaching them to the hanger using the paddle wire. I find it's easier to twist tie the wire on the stem and then use that double wire to wrap around the stem for a secure hold.

Have plenty of patience. It's not going to look pretty until you get about 3 layers thick. (This is when the wine comes in handy).

When you're satisfied with the thickness take the wreath to a place where you can hang it (with the hanger part of the hanger) Decorate with ribbon and other Christmas-y things. Have paddle wire handy if you need to secure items.

Hang on door and admire your work!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

It's that time of year....

When the world falls in love, or at least that's how the song goes! Today is December 14th and it was 14 years ago when my boyfriend and I had a heart to heart and said..."I love you" to each other.... aw! Happy anniversary Sweets!!

It's also the day that I cut off the orders! It's officially the Christmas season for me and time to celebrate. I got my tree yesterday and strung up some cranberries for the garland. My nephew was going to help me but then he was all "this is boring, Auntie Chrissy!" Yea, it is, but needs to get done. So we watched some extreme snowboarding on TV while I continued to string the berries.

I've also finished my Christmas card. I only ordered 20 cards to mail, but did an online card as well. The image is of Saint John the Evangelist. And I finished all but one portrait, including my Christmas presents. Things seem to be going a long smoothly, I'm almost scared!!

My final show for the year....

So the JP 1st Church craft fair was this weekend. I did okay, but could have done better I think. This was the 4th year that I've done this show and maybe I need new merch? But all everyone bought from me was magnets that are only $3 and $4. They make great stocking stuffers, no doubt, but I wished someone had bought a print from me. And of course there were plenty of promo card/pamphlet takers. Hopefully I'll get a commission out of it. My friend T also did the show and did extremely well. She paints slates and makes her own jewelry and she totally banked! I was so proud of my friend!!!! Next year, if I do this again, because there's always that evil thought in your mind that says, "there's got to be a better way." I'm going to request that I not be shoved in the corner on the piano. I thought it was a great space at first, but I noticed it was too easy to get sidetracked by the lunch counter right next to me and it was tight! I would love to make cards and stationary with my images, but it's so expensive. I wish I could find a quality place to print cards and not have it cost an arm and a leg.

Sunday, I started some Christmas shopping. And the first person on my list was ME and the first thing on my list was a new SOFA! I'm very excited!! It's being delivered tomorrow and it was like a breath of fresh air putting my ratty old one out on the sidewalk!! Bernie & Phyls has great product, prices and I went to the one in Westboro. The sales staff is there to help and they are SO not overbearing that it actually made it a great experience. It's a beautiful burgundy red color. So last night I spent sweeping out the living room and cleaning the floors and put up new curtains too. Now it lookes like the walls desperately need to be painted! That's the project goal this winter!

Pictures in this blog:

"Frozen Pond" Watercolor 2006

"Lemur" Watercolor & Colored pencil 2009

"Drink Up Mr. Owl" and I put this in so you could see the former UGLY curtains that I was happy to finally throw away last night!!

Cyber Monday - Christmas Cards

I usually post on Mondays and today is no exception! Happy Cyber Monday! Cyber Monday, if you don't know already, is the Monday after Thanksgiving when people return to work and instead of doing what they should be doing, instead are hitting websites and ordering all their Christmas gifts. So, that being said, have you visited any of my online stores?? :)

As far as Christmas goes, orders have been pretty steady coming in and keeping me busy. I had sent out my newsletter last week and mentioned that I would be taking orders until Dec 14th for Christmas. I also have the First Church fair this weekend in JP. Can't tell you the last time I did a show... August? Holy Crap!

Christmas cards are available from me. Box of 20 for $35. They will be blank inside except for the title of the artwork on the front. Below is a collection of Christmas images that I offer. Email me if you're interested at christinewinship@yahoo.com

This picture is of more work going out. On the right is "Bonnie". Bonnie's owner, Christine F., was the winner of my gift certificate at the Scituate Animal Shelter fundraiser. On the left is a print of "Sweet D". The original hangs in my bedroom in honor of that beloved cat of mine. It's the one portrait that I did that looks most like him.

Saturday went out to do some errands in Harvard Square and walked by a cat rescue C.A.R.E on Massachusetts Ave. that I had never seen before. With 3 grey tabby kittens in the window, I had to go in! Oh they were so cute. I've been thinking of getting Luna girl a friend, but she's a bit under the weather and I'm still trying to figure out her issues and think that if I were to get another cat, the last thing I want is 2 sick kitties.... Besides, I think J would not dig it. But I spoke with the organizer there and gave her my card letting her know that if they were ever to have a fundraiser that I'd be glad to donate my gift certificate for a 5x7" painting. They did have an all black girl who was about 2 years old and she just started purring the moment I walked up to her cage.... aw!

But enough about the kitties. I have to get an email newsletter out and I'm thinking of doing custom orders for Christmas cards, but I don't want to do it through Kinko's anymore because I don't like their big stupid logo on the back of my card. Is there anywhere out there that I can order cards on line that work out to under a $1.00 a piece and has a minimum that's less than 500 cards? I don't have the room for that kind of inventory!! Let me know!

This is a picture of a painting that I did on Saturday morning. I did it for my Dad as his birthday card. He turned 73 on Friday HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPS!!! Anyway, if the clams look familiar to you, they're off a package for some candy shot glasses that I never used, but the cartoons on the box cracked me up so I kept those. It's a lousy camera phone picture but you can tell what I did this weekend.

Sunday, I finished a pet portrait that was from a purchased gift cert last year. Then went out to the Allston open studios. There was some great things there and got to chat with some of the artists. The studios themselves are FREAKIN beautiful, but I also know that they rent for about $1,200 a month. I just need to find 3 other artists to split the space with. They're plenty big enough!! Anyone interested?? Shelley Reed was one artist that I talked to. Here's a link to her site, but her stuff is WAY more impressive in person. What a treat!! http://www.shelleyreed.com

Work going out... Must be the Holidays

Here's a picture of my messy work area with 2 prints (on the right) and 2 originals (Left) going out in the mail the next day. I felt that I should be posted some pictures that gave me a sense of accomplishment. I'm also going to start posting photos and their paintings just so you can see comparisons and such.

Unfortunely, my website isnt' big enough to do all that without spending mo' money and this is something that I'm trying to avoid. So they will all be done here.

I am going out to Vermont this weekend with Jason to do some deer 'scouting'. (Hunting starts next week). And that may be my last time in the great outdoors until ice fishing starts in January. So I'm looking forward to some nature time and then it's time to get busy!!!

New month of November

November is here and there are thoughts of the upcoming holiday festivities....

I had a great weekend getting 2 paintings out, one an order from a returning customer and the other a gift certificate winner. One more to go on the table and in the downtime, I'm going to start working on my Christmas presents. There are new pets in my circle, so that means they need to get their portraits done, right? :)

And my boyfriend has finally bought himself a car so there's no more sharing of my van WHOO-HOO!!! No more fishing sh*t cluttering it up and I can finally go places on the weekends when we're not together. But I have been spending a lot of time in my fair city. Makes me think that I would loose my mind if I were ever go and live in the suburbs.

In fact, I've spent so much time in and around Boston that I'm tempted to start another blog of where to go and what's to do. And of course to be a music critic. I always have something to say in that regards!! What do you think? Would you be interested in what I have to say about the Boston scene???

It's official, Christmas season has started

Most of you will read this and think, Ugh! It's not even Halloween yet. But if you're an artist who makes most of her money on commissions then the Christmas season is a God send. 85% of my sales are Holiday driven and, I have to admit, I like Christmas. Decorating and all that. It really is women who keep this tradition alive. Men, well, the ones I know, Christmas is just one big pain in the *ss. Too bad.

So if you are reading this, and you have won a gift certificate before, have you ever tried to redeem that certificate without actually having it? I have a woman who contacted me regarding the certificate she *won* at the Beagle rescue. I don't doubt that she did win it, but I need the certificate. She said she couldn't find it, she says she wants to get a 16x20 painting and have the price of the certificate knocked off. Great. But then she says she can't afford a 16x20 but I did win the certificate... okay... why are you even contacting me about it now? I don't know what to do. I don't want to be rude but seriously I just don't know how to handle this. I did contact the woman who initially contacted me about donated to the Beagle Rescue. So I'm curious to see how this is going to pan out.

It HAS been a while, hasn't it?

My sincerest apologies for not keeping the blog up to date! I have no excuses except that I have been pretty busy.

My boyfriends birthday passed in September. That being said, we spent a lot of time up in Vermont. He's an avid trout fisherman and I am an avid bird/nature watcher. We have been going to the same place year after year and it's so beautiful. I think I broke out my sketch book a couple of times, but I'm usually following Jason around (I've become the camera person ever since we got a recorder) so it's tough to start and stop again. (This picture was taken after a thunderstorm in Conventry VT).

While I was gone, my friend Tracy did the Jamaica Plain open studios and I had some of my work displayed there. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate and she said that she didn't have a whole lot of foot traffic and that sales were very slow. She said a lot of people had taken my information seemed interested in getting commissioned pieces done. And then there was the woman from PetRock. Pet Rock is a big festival in Worcester, MA that happens every year. I was offered a few years back a spot at Pet Rock but had to decline. Reason is that they are associated with an organization called HSUS (the Humane Society of the United States). This organization is almost as bad as PETA (another organization that I can't stand).

First, my boyfriend and his family are all hunters. Big game, upland bird and fishing. I personally never thought I would be associated with this as I am an animal lover. As I became closer to Jason and his family I realized that these people are the biggest environmentalists I have ever come across in my life. The love that these people have for wildlife and nature preserve goes beyond anyone that I've ever met before. The respect that these people have for animals is immeasurable. I could never support an organization that would take away the rights of these people and all the hard work that groups like Massachusetts Wildlife Management have done. Most of the people associated with PETA and HSUS (IMO) are mostly people who don't go into the woods with the animals. They live in houses in the cities and the suburbs and don't interact with animals except with the dogs or cats that they own. HSUS blankets all hunters together as cruel and unethical. I admit, there are some poachers out there and animals that are "trapped" in a fenced in area, but that's not all hunters. It's like saying that all artists do drugs and that they're not responsible people in our society. hmmmm. So needless to say (as I step off the soapbox) I am not doing Pet Rock....

Instead, I am currently a donating maniac. In the past week, the following organizations have received a gift certificate for a commissioned 5x7" painting from me! This is a $125 value!! CAPS of Fallon NV, The Leon County Human Society (in Florida), Mid Florida Pit Bull Rescue, the Scituate (MA) Animal Shelter and now the Carolina Care Bullies (NC) will be auctioning off my gift certificate as a fundraiser for their organizations. I figure, a.) I'm going to be painting anyway, why not do it for a good cause, and b.) in a roundabout way, it's marketing. And getting my name out there! Do you have an animal organization (that's not associated with PETA or HSUS?) Email me about fundraising donations!

Finally here's a recent pic of my sweet Luna Tuna. She's trying out for the new "Hang In There" poster.

When it Rains....

Going to make this a quick bloggy - I got 3, yes 3 commissions this past week! Yeah baby!! Persistence pays off!!!

The Power of Twitter & Facebook

Hello, my name is Christine and I'm a Twitter-holic.

Seriously, I AM! If you want to advertise, and can't afford ad space during the SuperBowl or a satelitte broadcast then Twitter is the next best thing. I have my self listed as cwinship (if you're intersted) and follow a few - mostly bands I like and friends and other artists, but it's what I post that's getting attention. And I love the search feature.

I posted a link to my cafepress store, same day got a sale. Posted a link to my email website letter list, 50 + more visitors that day alone! I follow things that happen in Boston & Cambridge. I follow "shitmydadsays" because, well, it's pretty freakin' funny! I often type my own last name in the "search" catagory and have found out a beer that is a Winship ale and there's a very intellingent reporter over at Bill Moyers named Michael Winship and have started reading his articles on weekly basis. In fact, there are a lot of creative Winships out there. Muscians, photographers and such. Finding the Winship connection doesn't boost my sales but I'm always interested in making a connection and building a relationship. ( you never know where they'll take you!) I try to tweet daily and find new artists daily. I love it.

Regarding Facebook, there's a lot of crap on it for sure. I don't care about "Mafia Wars" or "Who Started a Food Fight" and there's always that one person in your group that posting "inspiring quotes" that makes me think that they missed their calling working in the fortune cookie industry. But what I do like about it is that there are places where artists can connect and post work. Just this week, I recieved a message on Facebook from a woman who I did a pet portrait for back in 2004. She is a friend of my friend and found me through her and we messaged and talked about getting another portrait done of her current dog. (She still has the last portrait by her previous dog's urn). By this communication I was able to link her to my current website and pics on Facebook so she could take a look at the most current work and we discussed the project furtner. Awesome awesome Awesome.

I got out of college in 1993. At that time there was a computer surge taking over the planet. At first, I was miffed becuase I was a traditional artist and knew how to use a ruling pen and pica marks and all that - only to be replaced by Quark. And I could NOT get the hang of it. Since then - God love the internet! I would not have been able to take my work where it is today.

September sets in.

So I got a letter in the mail the other day from the Brush Art Gallery in Lowell MA. I had applied to be in their "Herding Cats" exhibit and was denied entry. My biggest beef, besides not being let in, was that it's cost me $25 just to enter and then only to get a rejection letter... it's like putting salt in the wound. But back to the letter.. It had thanked me for my $25 "donation" towards the gallery and also had said that I was now a member of the gallery for one year. This includes entry to some events as well as posting of my work on their website. So Let me eat some crow pie for a minute.

I believe it's common practice for galleries to charge a fee to submit art work for group shows. I never looked at it as a donation thinking that if they do sell a painting of yours that they keep 40 to 50% of the price anyway. But I did think that this was a nice way of letting your $25 get you at least something. I hope more galleries practice this way. I must admit I don't have a whole lot of experience with galleries and only go to them when I'm on vacation. I want to start researching them and submitting work, but at the same time.... well, I guess it's a self confidence thing. Me sending my work in.. but no one taking me seriously because I paint puppies and kittens. There's got to be some dog galleries out there that will show things besides William Wegman and Yellow Dog..... but where? I think it's time to put the research cap on.

Which brings me to my next thought.. I get an email from Fine Art News on a frequent basis and there was one article that was about "If your art isn't selling, it's time to change you're approach". So next weekend is the Jamaica Plain Open Studio. I hope this turns out to be a real inexpensive way to show my work. I won't be there in person (going for another VT vacation) but I'm very curious to see how this works out. I really have to start doing something different because the commissions are practically at a standstill. I really want to start posting acrylics too. I don't have a digital. I think I'll just go home and take photos with my regular film camera.

The Waning Summer

According to the calender that the rest of the world follows, summer comes to a close this week as the kiddies head back to school. I do not have children or am a student so it's summer to me until Sept 21st!! Wheee! I do remember as a child hating this time of year, too bored to be at home and dreading the upcoming school year. I didn't hate school so much as I hated the fact I had to get up so early to catch the school bus! I still hate getting up early.

But because of the school year schedule that we've warped our minds to, this also represents more of a New Years feel to me than actual New Years Day. New commitments, schedules, clothes new new new. Unfortunately I really don't have a new schedule and lord knows I can't afford a new wardrobe regardless of how bad I want one. But new commitments are on the rise.

JP Open Studios is happening the weekend of the 26th and 27th of September. I haven't done this show yet and because it falls on my honey's birthday weekend, my friend Tracy (who is opening her house up for open studios) is volunteering to man my stuff for me so that J and I can have our get away weekend. THANKS TRACE!! I am going to continue to explore new avenues for my art. More on line marketing for sure. And continue to do the same talk talk talk about myself and my art to anyone who will listen!

I was also approached my a solicitor for New Art Originals.com to have my work on their site. I've contacted an artist that is already featured on there to see if this is really worth while and what are the benefits vs. the pitfalls. Normally I think I would have jumped on it and dealt with any consequences later, but because this is a new year I'm going to take things a little more cautiously. Do you know of this site? If so please leave a comment and let me know how they are to work with.

Personal gripe this morning? I'm still experiencing vertigo from being in a boat all day yesterday on Quabbin reservoir. I just might keel over any minute! Argh!

I know that I'll be a successful artist someday.....

I just hope I'm alive to see it.

Why so somber on this Monday morning? Oh just another gallery rejection in my email box this morning. *sigh* This was for the Brush Art Gallery up in Lowell for the "Herding Cats" exhibit. A benefit fundraiser for homeless cats - right up my alley, right?! Well, I sumbited the 3 pieces shown in this blog and was rejected. The email says, "don't feel bad." but how can I not when I'm rejected more than accepted? mmmph.

This past week I was able to get that pet portrait out to Anne ( she was mentioned in the earlier post, a repeat customer from Scituate Heritage Daze) and sold a print off of Ebay. So that's good. And I spent the weekend in Vernon VT at the Connecticut river and did an acrylic painting between rain showers. This weekend was very much about hiding in the car and getting an ice cream as we waited for the thunderstorms and rain showers to pass by.

And I had a contact lense stuck in my eye ball from Sat afternoon til this morning when it finally peeked in the corner of my eye and I was able to pull it out. Damn thing folded and flitted up and over to the back of my eye. Thank God Jason had already agreed to driving home because I couldn't see a damn thing. I was thinking it just fell out but it felt like there was still some thing in there. I checked Sat night and Sunday morning pulling my eyelids out to see what was there and finally this morning "I knew it!" I said, as I fished it out. I really do hate those damn things. More and more I've been thinking of Lasik surgery.

This weekend we'll be going to Chester with a crew and it'll be interesting. Me, J, Bob, Kim and Phil and his wife and 2 kids. I'm thinking of picking up some coloring books for the kids so, God forbid if it does rain, we have some indoor activities for the tots. I think his kids are 5 and 2? Should be interesting.

Hooray!!

I got a commission!!! AND it's a repeat customer! She had me do a portrait of her Lhasa Apso, Lady, a few years back. Well, Lady has since passed away and they have a new Lhasa so she's getting a portriat of her done. :). This is huge for me since I haven't had a commission since freakin' Christmas! I'm going to try my damndest to get it done in 3 days because it's for a birthday gift and the birthday is this Thursday! Super star challenge!!!

I was on Martha's Vineyard all weekend and checked out a couple of galleries when I was there. PikNik and Dragonfly galleries, both located in Oak Bluffs, are 2 galleries featuring some really different work. Dragonfly definaltey had some more of the beach theme paintings but all were nice and I do enjoy looking at paintings that have a New England "feel" about them. PikNik was much more non-traditional works and a lot of city scapes. I just can't stand the galleries that have one ocean scene after another and "oh look, another light house painting", so these were a real treat to check out. If I had more time, I would have gone to Edgartown as well. Owell.

the aftermath

Well, another Heritage days is back of our minds. It was a pretty good weekend over all with the weather. There's no doubt that people are feeling a pinch in economy. There were a lot of people walking around but not much spending going on. The weather was gorgeous! My friend Dave (the Potter Stone - a ceramic artist) was able to make his booth and all from repeat customers in his first 3 sales! Myself, well, I came back negative $25.50. Poo.

Jason continues to ask me why I keep doing this. I guess it's an obsession? I don't know. I mean, I missed one of the biggest cookouts of the summer to go do this show. (but I think my liver is thankful for that one). And I slept on an air mattress on Saturday night; ugh so uncomfortable. And then we're looking for blankets (we stayed at his dad's condo) and Dave said, "Well, there's a couple of big towels here!" I said, "Really, Dave, I'm not that drunk" lol. I had a repeat customer come and visit me on Saturday. I had done a pet portrait for her back in '03(?) and since then, that dog has died. It was her sister's dog and sister has a new dog now and she was saying that she was going to come back on Sunday and give me a picture and a deposit and have one done for her sister's birthday which is at the end of August. I did see her on Sunday, but my booth was full of people and I was talking to some when I saw her walk by. We made eye contact and gave each other a friendly wave but that's it. Okay - so these are the downsides.

the Upside: People love my work. I get such a good feeling when people tell me I have incredible talent. "oh my god, these are water colors??? You're GOOD!" I did have a pair of women comment on my "Girls and Horses" painting. She really wanted it because it reminded her of herself and her sister. I don't have any prints (just too big to make the simple ones.) So it's a one of a kind piece for a mere $300. But alas, too much for a compulsive buy? I don't know. Hopefully someone will call me for a commission. I haven't had one since Christmas.

And congradulations to Mary Fisher of Cohasset on being the winner of the gift certificate for a 5x7" painting!!

what a week ahead!

I have Scituate Heritage Days this weekend, the mutha of all art festivals. And the Herding Cats exhibit deadline is this week as well. I'm going to be very busy!!! In the meantime, here's new art work.... And I was quoted by Clintavo@twitter regarding being gifted with art. "Remember whether you're successful or not, you have a gift - the ability to make art- that the rest of the world is madly jealous over."

A new love

Acrylics! I did a painting this weekend at Chester in acrylics. Why do I love acrylics so much now? Probably because I can get down all the info I want fast fast fast and cover up most major mistakes. You can't do that with watercolors, you got to be on your game the entire time. I'll be sure to post the painting that I did.

Note to self though, don't ever ever leave Western MA heading on the pike and expect NOT to get stuck in traffic around interstate 84. Argh!!! What a waste of a beautiful Sunday to travel. I'd much rather spend the day doing something until the sun goes down and then have a traffic free ride home. Mind you the idea was to drive to W Boylston and go to Wachusett... but why is it that everyone feels that they have to be at home in order to "get ready for work tomorrow". I just don't get it. But then again, if everyone felt like I did, then there'd just be too much traffic after the sun goes down.

Mid Summer

Thank you everyone who came out to the Somerville Art Beat last Saturday (7/18) and the Cocheco Valley Humane Society Sun fest (7/11). And congradutlations to Angie of Barkin' Biscuit of Stratam NH and Josh of Jamaica Plain who were winners of the raffled off gift certificates. Angie and I also plan to exchange links on our webpages. So look no further for homemade doggie treats for your furry friend. All natural too! http://www.barkinbiscuit.com

The Cocheco Valley fest was a little empty as the day went by but they did manage to find 2 dogs homes while the fair was being put on. I think it may have been the heat, but with some of these fairs... you never know. Somerville Art Beat was crowded. And there were people there who had said that they'd wish that there was more art to look at. There's plenty of women there with soaps and sewing machines making purses but no enough "ART". I guess that would make me feel fortunate as my stuff is art. I was interviewed by the Somerville Cable TV (and probably made an ass of myself) but who watches that anyway!? haha. But I do enjoy doing this fair, mainly because it is SO close to where I live that its' real easy to get to and Jason had the benefit of taking the van whilst I sold. AND it was stellar to have him come back and help me break down. Probably shaved about 20 mintutes off my normal breakdown time.

The goal for the next 3 weeks (then it's Scituate Heritage Days) is to "relearn" InDesign, get inventory up to date. I can't wait for this weekend which is a weekend at Chester with some friends and I really feel I deserve it :)

Summer

Summer is here and you could tell by the amount of people outside everywhere. Here in the Northeast we've been getting a considerable amount of wet cool weather (personally I'm okay with it. The longer I go with out putting my AC unit in the better) but this past weekend was beautiful.

I did the Cocheco Valley humane society benefit. I broke even on the table (not including the gas and tolls to get up there) so that's okay. Better than nothing. And met some really interesting people and did generate a lot of interest in my work. New Hampshire is a different mentality. I was amazed at the amount of biker tatoos I saw! LOL. Next week is the Davis Square Art Beat in Somerville. Pray for good weather!!

Summer means....

Get out side. Stop hanging out in front of the computer! Don't get me wrong, if you want to see my work and listen to me rant then that's great. But I'm only in front of this computer because I'm at work and there's not a whole lot going on. But if I were you, I'd go attend some art festivals this summer. Specifically the Somerville Art beat in Davis Square goi ng on July 17 & 18th. I'll have a booth on the 18th.

This past week I've managed to sit at least an hour a day in front of the table to work on watercolors. There aren't many commissions coming in, just some redeemed portrait certificates to keep me busy. I guess it's better than nothing. Jason and I ended up going to Wachusett Res yesterday and I wished that i had my acrylics with me. I did so some sketching, but wasn't feeling too inspired.

Maybe that's the reason why I'm in a bad mood today. It's finally gorgeous outside and I'm cooped up in front of the computer. That and it really didn't feel like the 4th of July to me. I'm such a sucker for the holidays. I didn't even get to do any sparklers. *sigh*

Welcome Summertime. I have some shows coming up this summer that I'm looking forward to. Here's a brief summary but you can get all details at my website http://www.thepedigreeartist.com

First, the Summer Sun and Fun Arts festival. This is to raise funds for the Cocheo Vally Humane Society of Barrington NH. A little far from Boston, but hopefully the lakes region will bring along all the NH vacationers to this fest. It's July 11th with a rain date July 12th. I do believe i'll have to get up at 4am in order to get up there and set up and be ready to sell by 9am. That, I'm not looking forward to. I'm toying with the idea of an air mattress at my parents house the night before as they are 40 minutes north of me, which is 40 minutes more sleep in the a.m.

Then the following Saturday, July 18th, is the Somerville Art beat. This one is only 15 minutes from my house (ya!) So it makes getting in and out of it very easy. Although last year I had a melt down trying to find parking with all of Somerville & Cambridge one way streets.... Argh!

Then the 2nd weekend of August (8th & 9th) is the Scituate Heritage Days. Kids, this is where it all started 7 years ago. My friend Tracy, who grew up in Scituate convinced me to start selling work here. She wanted to do the show but didn't want to do it by herself so she convinced me to share a space with her. Didn't sell much, but it was the first time that my artwork was exposed to the public and I did leave there with a swelled ego!! And received some of my first commissioned orders.

This past week I've worked on some paintings of a lemur (photo from the Stone Zoo) and started another on a Yorkie. This weekend is the 4th and I have a lot of parties and activities planned. I'm hoping that there will be one day that Jason will want to fish Wachusett or Vernon and this way I can bring some acrylics and do a landscape.. Can do much of that on a boat at Quabbin as my view is constantly changing with the drift.

Happy 4th of July!!

Coming back after vacation

After a four day weekend in Vermont having my equestrian vacation ( I went and rode Icelandic horses all weekend!!!!) there's not much to say about my art and the making of it. EXCEPT - if you are an artist I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a business card, a website and the forwardness to talk to anyone and every one about your art. Case in point - I passed out a lot of business cards this weekend. Yes, I was on vacation but if I plan to make it as an artist I can never turn off my marketing. These were people who were very into animals themselves and each got a business card. You could talk til your blue in the face about how fabulous you are but it wasn't until they had a little piece of work in their hands that they were like "Oh!! you'll definately be hearing from me!!" We shall see!!!

June 15th 2009

it's been some time since I blogged last, it was my birthday last week :) and I didn't do much too creative except get some great ideas of what I want to do with acrylics and visited the MoCA in N Adams. I so love that place. And I did post new art work on the site and around the internet as well as marketed myself at the Topsfield Strawberry Fest......

So, you ask, Can you elaborate? Sure!

I want to do large scale painting of insects. I'm talking like 6 foot by 6 foot paintings up close and personal of the bug world that co-exists with us. It will have to wait til I get my own personal studio ( i just don't have the space to store paintings that large) but in the mean time, I've been doing some watercolors of bugs but I think with my new found love of acrylics that this may get me closer to that goal.

the MoCA in N Adams is the Museum of Contemporary Art. This is BY FAR my favorite art museum to visit. Funny, because I live in Boston which is home of the MFA, the Isabella Stuart Gardner, the ICA and countless galleries. And I do enjoy visiting those as well, but there's something about what the MoCA finds and brings in that's just awesome. It's housed in what used to be the Sprague Electric factory and the layout hasn't changed at all. HUGE rooms BIG art and some great exhibits. There was a consistent theme in one of the shows about being an artist. And what can an artist do to separate themselves in order to stand out before all the other artists in the world, and as I'm looking at some of the pieces, as an artist, I can relate because I go through this every day. I remember being at the Corcoran in '89-90 and that was the year that the whole Maplethorpe controversy came out and the museum had banned the showing of the photos. There was a big rally, and then after that all this "controversial" and some really BAD art came out. Like the piss Christ.. (do you remember this??http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ ) and is it art? or is it just there to make you feel revolted??? I guess it is a feeling.... but then my point is that it was there to stand out above all the other art that's out there. I don't think you need to disgust people, but hey I did remember it, didn't I'???? I love painting and doing my art, but would much rather be doing landscapes or being an animal artist - painting LIFE and everything that I find is pleasing. I'm not a dark person and I wonder if that hurts my chances of being successful as an artist.... I hope not. There was another exhibit there; Ben-Nur is his name and he made short films using his family and classic themes from stories. Video is certainly not my favorite medium (a loop of someone doing the dishes with some eerie music in the background.... ???) but this guy's work was entertaining as well as thought provoking. His things were simple and enlightening. http://www.massmoca.org/event_details.php?id=450

Yes, I finally made my way over to Kinko's and uploaded some of the better pieces that came out of my studio this spring. More dogs & kitties, but the acrylics and I did a painting of my nephew when he was a baby. Jason called it eerie.... I don't think it really looks like him, but I was trying to "break out of my box" which I think is a good thing to keep doing. I think I need help with flesh-tone colors....... what do you think??

and then there was the Strawberry Fest. The weather was gorgeous and there were quite a few people walking about. I didn't make the booth cost but not to surprised about that. It was my first show of the season and I don't have a whole lot lined up. I'm different that way. I had people around me telling me that this was their 22nd show this season. Ugh! I can not do that. I did mention to some of the vendors that I'm trying to spend more of my marketing efforts online and one woman said that the internet "scared her". Well, I guess it's not for everyone but I'll be damned if I'm lugging 100lb tupperwares full of paintings when I reach my late 40s. Shows are a pain in the *ss. You got to do them but I'm realizing that it's much more than that. Especially when a lot of my work is all about calling me back for a commissioned piece.

until next time.....

new artwork

Finally, I scanned in some of my new artwork that I've been doing this spring. As I've said before, I've started playing with acrylics again and here is one done at the Wachusett Reservoir whilst Jason was fishing for white perch. Please visit my site and tell me what you think.

Happy June

So here we are on the first of June. This is my birthday season and usually spend a lot of time spoiling myself :). I won't tell you how old I'm going to be but I will tell you that I still celebrate my birthday as if I was turning 6!! LOL.

So these past 2 weeks, I have to admit, that I've been following more of a music scene than the art scene. This is partially my boyfriend's fault, but I have been enjoying it just the same.

But my u.box was featured in a newsletter that is mailed to everyone in my neighborhood from the Allston/Harvard Community. It was all about Boston Shines and what they did during that time and Lo! There's my u.box with my name under it! Hooray! If I had a scanner, I'd scan the article. But I don't so .. here's the picture of the u.box in case you hadn't seen it already...

I also took my acrylics to Wachusett and did a landscape painting which I thought turned out quite nice. So at least I've been creative these past weeks :) . My goal this week is to start getting pieces together for the craft/art show season. First one is June 13th in Topsfield MA... Maybe I'll see you there???

Here's the photo and here's the painting of Riley. This was for the winner of the gift certificate donated to the Scituate Animal shelter. Thank you for helping animals and supporting the arts!!

another week gone by...

Well, I did manage to get that cocka-poo painting done. (I did take a pic and will post soon). I must admit that I'm glad that this order came in. Even though it was a winner of a gift certificate (for the Scitutate Animal shelter) it made me say Hey sit down and get this done. I guess it had been a while because I ended up doing it twice. I didn't like how the first one came out at all. I did end up bringing it to work here at the office so that I could use the copier and the light box that helped a lot in the "mapping" process.

I really need to start working on my time using skills. Less Facebook, more marketing research. Seriously, it has gotten pretty bad. I have a list of websites to check out and I do plan to do that during down time at work (and there's a lot of that lately).

On another note: it's Bird Watching season. Jason and I went to the CT River in Vernon VT and I saw a rubythroated hummingbird, 2 bald eagles, a great blue heron, orioles, veeries, kingbirds, swallows, Canada geese, comorants, sandpipers, song sparrow, a crow and other birds that I don't even know the name of. And then on Sunday we went to the Quabbin Res and rented a boat. There I saw a bald eagle (and really close too!) and the ever elusive Scarlet Tanager.

Have a great week!

Happy Monday. So this past week was pretty filled with events that all had to do with Metal Music LOL so I spent a lot of time sleeping late in the morning. But I had a lot of fun at the same time.

So I did break back into those acrylic paints. I did a picture of cat o nine tails. One thing that I've noticed about acrylics vs watercolor is that I have yet to achieve the ability to really get the color that I want. And yet I can put it down on the canvas and more or less correct it, I'm still in that watercolor mentality that says "Once it's down, you can't erase it." So it's almost frustrating.

I revieved an email from a gift certificate winner from the Scituate Animal rescue, so I'll be working on that this week.