More Work

I am posting an older painting, a small 8 x 10 or so acrylic on wood panel, RED SKY AT NIGHT, and the other one is SUNSET FROM OLANA which I did this weekend in my workshop. It still has some tweaking to do, but the essence is there. I have to run two paintings up to Woodstock tomorrow to the WAAM show for March. I might have been rejected for the WAAM Hudson River Landscape show, but I know I am in for the WAA Alumni show, and every month I am going to submit my work to WAAM until I get in. One of the jurors is BOUND to like something!

I know I am putting some pressure on myself to make more fine art, but I am easing off the cards since no one is buying much, and working on showing at the very least for now. Of course the IRS probably will start accusing me that art is my hobby, rather than my business, and I will come back and tell them who ISN'T losing money in this economy? It is HARD to MAKE money as an artist in the great US of A. Why do you think I teach? But I will...I will....and I am not going to teach forever.

I have to keep dates with myself to paint, and paint a day during the week, and on the weekend. It is hard to discipline myself, but if I have done it for other things, I can do it for this.

Off to take a bath after a long day, but a mellow one from home.

Back in the Saddle.

As I said last night-there is a reason for everything.

I realized that the universe was taking me by the hand and saying "look Patti, just because you paint a few things here and there, a painter you are not. You need to breathe, eat, drink, and love the paint. Then, and only then, will you be successful."

I pouted for a bit, but then I humbly acquiesced. I am not even a Sunday painter. I am a workshop painter. I will never know my colors and how the paint works in various ways until I do it and do it and do it again.

Today I went to my workshop to get jump started. I had more confidence than last year, though I still spent some time looking at my gesso and paints, unwilling to throw the first stroke upon the white canvas. But once I started, it was like riding the proverbial bike again.

The photos of the work here are poor and blurry, and the paintings not quite done.But they give you an idea of their subject and mood. Tomorrow another 7 hours of painting. Hopefully the snow will wait to fall until I am home and have put the drying oils in the studio.

More tomorrow...

patti

On Being Rejected

I got home after a very tough week in the teaching world, only to come home to "the letter". I had spent 135.00 to join an elite art organization, and another 20+ for the fee to have 3 pieces submitted to a show that was curated by a Bard College teacher.

By now you know how deep my love for the Hudson River Valley region runs, and how it is reflected in some of my art. It come from a very spiritual place inside of me, and I love the work that I produce from my experiences spent hiking, photographing, painting, and being one with the region.

200 pieces submitted, 47 accepted, I sent in 3 slides...nada.

I know this is par for the course in the art world. I don't take it personally.
I know I need to work through this rejection and not loose faith. It was not the venue for my work, and I do know there is a reason for being rejected.

So I am trying to be happy about my weekend workshop of painting at the Woodstock School of Art with Christie Scheele. She is a fabulous teacher, and a great artist. Lois my friend will be there too, and I am sure after the first hour I will be back in the saddle again.

patti

A Quickie

Well, no one is watching my ATC/ACEO cards on eBay ,but I am on the search for lovely frames so that they can be presented better. I know lots of people just sell them as cards, but a frame elevates them to a higher level, and instead of being little cards of whatever, they are now a piece of art work.

And, if they don't sell online after putting them in frames, I will have them ready to sell in other places, or hang on my wall.

Always trying to figure it all out!

Online Community for Paper Lovers and Started a GROUP

As I was perusing the internet today, I found an online community for paper lovers at Papercraftplanet.com that I just joined. Here is a link to my HOMEPAGE, and I have started a group called CATSKILL PAPER. (what else would I call it, lol).

I hope I get members who participate. Again, I am in the minority in regards to the materials that I use, but there MUST be people out there that want to know more, and be involved in swapping, information, challenges, etc.

I posted my ATC/ACEO cards on Ebay, and got sooo excited that I got a "watcher" and when I went back later today, the watcher "unwatched" my card. Hard not to get discouraged, but I have to remember that the economy sucks, and I am not desperate for money - yet.

I am going to go and do some work on this blog to make sure all links are working and entered that need to be entered, and see if I can figure out how to jazz this up a bit. Last time I did that to my other blog, I lost all kinds of info. I even lost the counter on this one, so as far as I know, Debra is the only one reading this, lol.

The two photos are for sale on eBay. It has even been slow there. But I don't give up, I keep listing, and have faith in the universe it will provide enough money for another month or two of propane for the studio!

ACEO/ATC's on Ebay

I have put these on my Ebay site starting at 4.99 each. What a bargin for a lovely little piece of art. These are called Artist Trading Cards, or Art Cards Editions/Originals and are 2.5 x 3.5" in size. They can be framed, put on a little easel, leaned up against any number of things, collected etc. Each one is one of a kind, and I use only antique paper in them - no prints or copies! (unless otherwise noted) And, the best part is that they start at 4.99 opening bid!

On Ebay Again

I vacillate about whether or not I should put my fine art on Ebay. I have sold a few small pieces, and the fine art almost NEVER moves on Etsy.

Sometimes it is hard to not get discouraged. I post tons of cards online, and they don't move very fast. I post art on both sites, and on a rare occasion they sell.

But as a friend of mine tells me, I have a tiny niche in the huge market, so I should do it for the love of it (which I do) and not for the money.

But hey, I thought that if you did it for the love of it, the money will follow?

I probably should try and market my blog/sites etc. to sites that carry Victoriana.
I cannot afford to advertise in Victoria magazine, and unless they feature me in an article in the magazine; an ad is out of the question.

I always wanted to submit my work to Mary Englebreit magazine, but even SHE went under?!

So what to do.

I have a few products and a few styles. Do I have one shop for cards, one for my fine art, which can be landscape paintings or mixed media, and one for supplies? That seems like the smart thing to do, but a lot to juggle.

What do YOU all think is the way to go?!

HELP!

Patti