Time to breathe!!

Yes....seems the month of Dec flew by with all it's busyness and holiday festivities!!
With Christmas behind us...by one day now....it's becoming time to breathe a bit. That is....after all the clean up is done...lol
I find myself up to my ears right now in cleaning up the wrapping closet. It's amazing how much paper & ribbon sprawl can happen!! I think I finally have it all "under wraps"...lol
I would love to have a good part of the clean up around here done by New Years!

I'm actually looking forward to some quiet time after the 1st of the year when I can sit back and plan.

I'd like to make plans for what will happen with my Torn Paper Paintings in the coming year....what I'll create & how differently I might promote it as well as what changes may come. Looking forward to big things.

I also want to plan for the rest of the backyard renovations such as the next step....the new deck as well as all the new plantings/gardening that will need to be done to enhance the new look.

Mark & I have also been talking about what we might like to do for a special treat for ourselves for both of us turning 60 this coming year!! We've been talking about planning another grand trip....maybe Greece or Ireland/Scotland.....or.....who knows. Fun to think about & plan.

Yes...2015 will be a banner year....I'm sure of it!!!
Sooo....until then.....I'm going to step back, breathe, and start planning!!!
Have a terrific New Year!!

Really???

Is it Dec already??? Well....it will be in the morning!!!
Wow....I never seem to know where the time goes. If Dec. goes as quickly as Nov. did....I'd better get really busy...now!
The beginning of the month started with getting my new car...well, "new to me". She's a 2012 Mini, and in the most yummy color!!
Then, I finally got to hold the workshop for a private club...The Providence Handicraft Club. Had to cancel the previous date due to that being the day my old car got hit on the highway while trying to get there that morning. It was a great group of gals and a beautiful old building. This is just one (swimmer) of the works created that day!!
Well....I did manage to get some of my own art done.
I've been creating not only some 6"x6" Torn Paper Paintings ornament "paintings"....but I've also been doing some actual 3D ornaments. They are created on paper mache forms and layered with paper and varnish just as the paintings are. They are already a bit of a hit and I've got a batch going off to The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis tomorrow! I also dropped off two more Whale Tail paintings at the gallery just over a week ago!
Then of course....Yes....we've just had thanksgiving!!!
It was a really lovely day. My husband & I & my MIL were invited to spend this holiday with our daughters new in-laws! It worked out beautifully and made for a nice way to all be able to enjoy the day together without the issue of who is going to who's house to see who!! We all know how tough that can be on newlyweds!! For this event I was to bring the cake. Well....I saw one on pinterest that caught my interest....and just had to make it. Almond/choco fudge shaped into pinecones with sliced almonds were the top of the cake.....a winner!
No....didn't get into the Black Friday thing....but I do plan to take a bit of advantage of Cyper Monday tomorrow!!
Soo....I do believe I've caught you up on what's been happening! Will try to do better :)
If you ever find me going MIA again....check in on the Torn Paper Paintings fan page. You don't have to have a Facebook account to see the page.
It'll bring you right up to date till I get back here again!!
Happy Dec!

Wrap it up!!!

Just received my first sample rolls of wrapping paper made from some of my Torn Paper Paintings images.

Can't believe how cute they came out.
These sweet rolls of paper are available now from Spoonflower. They do such an awesome job. I received these rolls to check on the color and quality of the product. They are the "satin" papers. Beautiful!!
Awesome quality and very rich papers.
You can get these beauties just in time for the holiday season.
There are also many other images to choose from....so go ahead and check them out!!
I know I plan to use some of these myself!! :)

Maine workshop

If there's ever been a pretty area to hold a workshop in Oct....it's Maine.
A couple of weeks ago I gave a Torn Paper Paintings workshop in Bath, Maine. It's such a charming town. I've always enjoyed visits there....and I get to do that on a regular basis since I have a friend who doesn't live very far from town.
How nice it was to have a "Sold Out" class at the Centre St Arts Gallery. Love the two day classes since that gives everyone a good chance to complete a great piece of art!

The gallery was a terrific host for the weekend and they provided us all with a great space as well as some yummy baked goods & coffee!! Thanks to all!
The class was a fun group filled with students at all levels in their creativity!! As a result..there was much fun and laughter as well as a wide range of subjects chosen for their art.


 The pics here are just a sampling of the terrific artwork everyone created that weekend.
They all left very proud of what they accomplished and I certainly don't blame them!!

The gallery is looking to set a date for a spring weekend class next.
Since we had a sellout for the first one....if you're thinking of going to the next...I'd advise booking your spot early.

See you in the springtime!!

Impressions

With autumn in the air and the leaves changing colors....I felt it was a good time to create some Gelli Print papers with some of those lovely leaves for using in my Torn Paper Paintings.
Using different shades of green...I impressed several leaves into the plate ...vein side down to create the best markings. Love the effect.
(click on pic for large image)

Next I used a bit more autumn color with the impressions of some different leaves.

Finally....using a heavily embossed and textured wallpaper, I made my impressions with this using more autumn colors.....Love it!!!

The paper created a real depth!

Reverse stamping - a Gelli trick

Have you ever wished that the image on one of your rubber stamps faced the "other" direction??
Or...maybe you wanted the images to face each other!!
Yeah...we all have from time to time.
Well....I've got another little "Gelli Plate" trick to do just that....reverse stamping.


roll paint then stamp

I do it using acrylic paint because that's what I like....and when I want the images to be used in my Torn Paper Paintings....acrylic works best with the gel medium.

First...if you're using the image in it's "intended" position....using a brayer, roll on a layer of paint and stamp the image normally.
Here, I'm stamping on one of my Gelli printed envelopes.

Click for larger pic

Then...for reversing the image....roll the acrylic paint on again...only this time, carefully stamp the image onto the Gelli Plate. I love using my 3"x5" for this. You see the image on the gelli as you would if you'd stamped it on paper....but, once you "flip" the Gelli to use as a stamp....the image is automatically reversed!

 

Voila......one stamp....two images!!!

More Gelli Love

Yep....gotta love the Gelli Arts people.
As I mentioned in my last posting...I incorporate the use of the Gelli plate in the painting of some of my rice papers for my Torn Paper Paintings, and I also pull prints onto white envelopes.
Well....not only did the fine folks at Gelli Arts do a posting about my fun printed envelopes....but they also did a large posting of my actual artwork!!!

It is sooo awesome to have your work recognized in such a great way. The exposure was amazing. In 24hrs I actually gained over 50 new fans on my Torn Paper Paintings facebook fan page!!!
Thank you and "welcome" to all those new fans!!
I am very fortunate to do what I love and find so many others who love what I do.

 

 

Gelli day bonus!

As a rule...when the weather is beautiful...I like to take all my painting supplies and make a huge colorful mess outside.
For creating my Torn Paper Paintings, I need to keep a full supply of papers painted up in many colors and designs to be used for when I start each painting. A good ongoing supply is important so that I don't always have to make more at the last minute....and living in New England...painting outdoors isn't possible year round.
Today was one of those awesome painting days.
My favorite papers to turn into colorful collections are my rice papers and old book & music pages.
Along with my watercolor and acrylic paints.....my other favorite tool is my Gelli Plate!!  I have two sizes...so my larger one goes outside with me!
(click on the pics to see them larger)
After many hours of a fun filled afternoon I not only had a lovely collection of new papers to work with....but a nice new collection of colorful envelopes as well!!
You see....the second pull on a plate is generally called the "ghost" pull....so, rather than make those pulls on another paper....I used white envelopes....a bonus!!
Now I'm looking forward to sending out some beautiful mail !!!

Already??

Seriously....is it the end of Aug already???
I'm amazed at how quickly the summer has flown by. I'm sure some of it had to do with the extremely long cold winter that we had here in New England. Seemed as if spring was never going to come.
Now....we're headed into Labor Day this weekend!!! Yikes! I can only cross my fingers for a long mild fall season to enjoy! Crisp temps and beautiful autumn colors!
It has been a fun and busy month. Had our family fun evening at a PawSox game. Mark & I also went to Sag Harbor.
Also been very busy with Torn Paper Paintings.
Finished another Whale Tail. They seem to be quite a popular subject. Two of them already sold from The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis as well as another that is in one of the locations of the Boston Children's Hospital now. Not always easy to change up a subject like that....but this one is a bit different in movement.
Also paid a visit to our friends in Maine and while we were there I popped in to visit the Centre St Arts Gallery in Bath where I'll be conducting a two day workshop in Oct.




The space was lovely and the people delightful. I'm sure we'll have a great time.
If you're interested in the workshop....space is limited...so give the gallery a call (207-442-0300) and book your spot ASAP!!
Hope to see you there during what I hope will be a couple of outstanding fall days in Maine!

Behind the Scenes

I recently created a special piece of art as a donation to the National Marine Life Center in Buzzard's Bay.
Much of the funding for the center comes from donations and fund raising events. Their biggest annual event is the Mermaids Ball. This is the one I created the special art for....so it's a mermaid of course!!
As a special treat for the donation, my husband & I were given a little "behind the scenes" tour of the facility by Kate Shaffer, the animal tech. We were able to go into the "hospital" section where the rehab is done and meet some of the patients in person!
Some of the wonderful critters were a bit difficult to take a "still" photo of as you might imagine. So, I decided to take a few quick videos!!
Here are videos of the seals...this is Mary Arnold and these two fellows are Barclay & Belmont.
The loggerhead turtle who's name is Tide was sooo beautiful. If you click on the "green" text, it will take you to the videos. Keep in mind...these are not movie quality by any means...but will give you a feel for these beautiful creatures and what we were so lucky to have seen.
This facility has great plans and the hospital section is still undergoing construction of bigger & better things in order to care for larger creatures such as dolphins & pilot whales.
If you like the idea and would like to help them in their efforts...there are numerous ways you can do this.
Kate...thank you for the tour and all the information. We appreciate all the good work being done!

insight

Having had my feelings over the last few days go running around rampant...I find myself sitting here trying to piece it all together....if for no other reason than to simply "get on with it".
When my emotions are at odds I find I can dwell for ages on them.

I've been finding myself feeling badly about an art sale. Silly, right? Why feel badly because you actually sold a piece of art?

Well...I was doing alright before that. I had been working through the weekend as a "guest artist" in a small rural gallery during the weekend. It was a busy "open studios" weekend which, while it brought more people into the gallery, most folks were actually running around to artists studios. Understood.
That was alright by me.
I'd wished it had been busier and maybe made more sales....but I was ok.
I'd made some sales, although small, and made numerous connections for new workshop students and possible new workshop proposals. All in all....I felt good about the outcome.

Sooo....why would a sale of a piece of art at the end of a show make me feel badly?
First of all....because it was to a friend. This nice couple we're good friends with came in toward the end and the husband turned around and made the final purchase of the day. These are people I've actually "given" three piece to....so for some reason it felt wrong for him to buy this.

That's when it hit.
I started loosing my confidence and feeling insecure and began telling myself he was only buying it to make me feel better about not having made big sales over the weekend.
That he felt badly for me and thought I was disappointed in the show and he wanted to make me feel better.
I actually got upset with him and didn't want him to make the purchase...but he continued on and...and I was visibly upset. 
I didn't want someone to feel bad for me. I had been ok. I figured he could only be doing this out of feeling badly....never because he actually wanted it!!!

As it turns out....maybe he did.
He had purchased one of my birds...a cardinal. Seems the cardinal is the state bird of his home state. Then, as my husband made mention...the sighting of a cardinal in your yard is believed to be that of a loved one visiting. Well...this mans parents passed away not that long ago....and they had both still been living in this home state.
Hearing this almost made me glad that he had this piece.

Sooo....why had this made me so upset?
Well....let's just say that an artist may always be an insecure fragile being. I had still been trying to recover from the confidence beating I took by being rejected, once again, from a local juried show that for some reason I felt I needed the approval of.
Then, going to the opening of that show and seeing the works that "they" felt were the acceptable art...could do nothing but make this feeling worse. If you'd seen the show...you'd understand.
We go around seeking the approval of individuals who really mean nothing to us and hold no weight at all on our futures.....but we let them break us down and make us doubt what we do and how good we are at it.

So...by the time my friend had decided on that painting, I'd already spent days trying to recover my ego from the first hit.
I had now just accepted the less then stellar sales of the weekend and simply appreciated the connections I'd made.
But....I guess my emotions were still a bit raw when this purchase happened....and I ended up taking it as gesture of sympathy for me rather than a compliment to my work.
I do regret that and wish I could have felt better about it.
Emotions are a strange thing and we often have no control over them and don't always even realize right away where they're coming from.
Yes...I know I'll recover from these last few days. I'm also aware of some things I do and don't want to put myself through in the future.
I'm not saying it won't happen again....I'm actually quite sure it will. I only hope to handle it better each time and hope to learn from it.
Things have been going really well for me...and I need to remember that and continue moving forward.

Wild Weekend

It must be written somewhere that all creative activities in the summer must take place on the same weekend!!!
For whatever reason....that's the way it works around here. Trying to take advantage of all of it is nearly impossible....but sometimes we try...lol
This coming weekend is the one...yep....every artist and art lover in the area will be out in full force! Westport Art Group got a jump on everyone and started their show last weekend. It'll run through the week and wind itself up this weekend.

Then there is the HUGE yearly event...the South Coast Open Studios Tour. If you click on the page then click on the "open studios" tab...you'll even be able to download the maps and brochure for this event. It's always a fun day full of inspiration to drive around looking into the inner workings of all those art studios!!!
Lucky for me...there's another open studios day like that next month as well, because this weekend I'll be quite busy myself as a guest artist for the July trunk show at The Art Stable Gallery in Westport, Ma.
I'm really looking forward to this. The weather is (fingers crossed) so far...predicted to be lovely.
With all the events going on all over the area for the weekend...it's sure to be a busy place. I love meeting everyone and answering all their many questions...and being able to talk "shop" with all the other artists around.
I also plan to bring some small pieces with me that I can work on if there are slow periods.
If you're in the neighborhood....stop by and say hello!!

More Pages!!!

Been busy busy busy.....yep...the season is in full swing.
One of the events I have happening...in a few weeks...which is one of the things keeping me busy...is that I'm going to be a guest artist for a trunk show at a gallery in Westport, Ma. It's called the Art Stable Gallery. The reason for the name is because it actually is a converted stable and carriage house.
This "trunk show" weekend is also during a very busy "art related" weekend itself.
It is the opening weekend for the South Coast Open Studios.

The South Coast Artist...for which I've recently become a member...open their studios up for visitors two weekends during the summer. One in July and again in Aug.
I want to give a big "thank you" to both of these places for providing me with two awesome new pages online. Beautiful work!!

With this event...the Little Beach Gallery....and the local art shows as well....this proves to be a busy time coming up!!

Tis The Season

Three Amigos

the "busy season" that is!!
Waiting for the summer to actually take hold has been a long and almost painful process!! The spring has been anything but lovely. One of those very unpredictable New England springs at best.
Now...finally....I'm feeling optimistic!!
The weather seems to officially be on the upswing and people are getting out and about.
I just received word yesterday (yes, Friday the 13th...love it) that the Three Amigos just sold!!! Yay....that's a good sign that Cape Cod and The Little Beach Gallery are getting into full swing.
This means I'll be creating at full speed....because I'm also due to be one of this summer's "guest artists" during a trunk show weekend in July at The Art Stable Gallery!! Sooo....I've got to have plenty of stock not only for these two places...but for the upcoming local shows!!!

Been working pretty much non-stop to stay ahead of all this.

Seems that 12"x24" canvases have been my size of choice lately. Did another "cabana" piece. The first one I'd done last summer sold on the first day of a week long show. Figured I'd better produce another one.

Also did another Whale Tail because I've actually sold two others and have had inquires about more.



And...as always.....Mermaids!! The latest one...just finished today in fact....is Avalon.
I'm really pleased with her. It's not always easy to get that vision you have in your head to show up on the canvas. She came pretty darn close!!

Yes...all of these are 12"x24".

Got my next subject planned and ready for an underpainting!!
No...not a "coastal" subject this time. Sometimes you just need
to change the pace a bit.
Soo...stay tuned.
The "season" has begun!!

Oh my....it's May!!

How in the world does time pass sooo quickly??
I had no idea I hadn't posted in so long. Sometimes I think I need to get out of my artroom more often! In fact, during a recent Dr. visit, I was told I was low on vitamin D....so yes, I do need to see the sun on a more regular basis.
At least I can say I've been busy and productive. That's good....right?
Been booking workshops....and taking one myself. Took a new beading class that was all about beading around the edges of seashells!! I'd been wanting to do this one for quite some time. Now I have a new way of creating some "wearable" art from all those beach treasures!!
I did also restock all the art for the new upcoming season at The Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis, Ma.
Every year they freshen up the gallery and paint and redecorate....so it's fun to put up lots of fresh artwork!
Been also keeping busy making more art!!
This is the start of the busy season....or at least it's very soon to come...so I want to be ahead.
Just finished another of the "Whale Tales" since the first two sold at the gallery.  It's a beautiful subject and they always looks so great. This new one is 12"x24".
Right now...I'm in the middle of making another of the Seaside Cottages. The first one sold at a show last year on the very fist day.
I also created a piece called "I'll Take Manhattan" for a good friend. This is her favorite drink....so it was certainly well received!!

Today was my day to catch up on a lot of online work. Art...on a serious basis...needs lots of marketing!! There's always sooo much to do besides the job of actually creating the art.
FaceBook, websites, blogs, etc....that's just the start.
I also had to stop and create new business cards and marketing materials. I am going to be the "guest artist" at another local gallery...the Art Stable Gallery in Westport, Ma during the July "Open Studios" weekend. That's a very busy and heavily visited event in this area...so I need to be prepared.

Now that I'm a bit more caught up I can hopefully return here again sooner.
Rest assured...if I'm not around for a bit, it may be a good thing. At least it means I'm very busy...and that's not all bad.

Getting close...

click to enlarge

Just a gentle reminder that there is still a little bit of time left to sign up for the next Torn Paper Paintings workshop in Peace Dale, RI.
We're getting close....so if you'd like to have a fun filled day of messy art making and a chance to return home with your very own masterpiece.....call them now and get your name in.
Hope to see you there!!!

Many interpretations

What would you think of with the theme "Surf & Turf"??
Hmmm....I think food mostly...lol  Shrimp & steak...ymmm!
Well....in the Westport area, about 85% think ocean, water, shore, beach...or anything that comes close to that.
Soo, when the latest art show was themed Surf & Turf...there was an abundance of beach/water paintings.
Never let it be said, that just because many artists are painting the same subject using the same medium, that they are at all "alike". Actually...far from it.
With each artist having their own style in their approach ...this was a show of many lovely water/beach/sea paintings!!  Subject & medium may have been the same, but none "alike"




Funny part....the winner for "best interpretation"...turned out to include "food"...lol




Best Interpretation