Spring Cleaning

Ahhh, my studio is clean, well clean-ish! Sometimes the clutter just gets too bad and you are ready to part with little drawings and various papers, old brushes that you really will never use. Today was that day and it's a great feeling to have it done. My studio is pretty small though so there's always need for more room especially since the paintings are piling up! But for now I'm thrilled! Oh, and Zoe thinks it's pretty great too!

I hope you are all having a fabulous week!!!

Journeys in Art

This week in art has kind of taken me by surprise. I've completed 2 mixed media paintings and started a third. When I say mixed media the only thing added aside from my normal painting is some cool scrapbooking papers. There's been a HUGELY positive response to the two paintings which makes me feel like I'm on the right track. But there is a downside to this too. Yesterday while working on the third piece I got to thinking about copyrights and scrapbooking. I'm not a scrapbooker and using the papers is brand new to me so this question was bound to come up, I'm very happy that it came up before I went any farther... So there's one particular type of paper that I'm drawn to, tons of antique style papers and such. I decided to write an e-mail to the head of the company and got a reply rather quickly. So here's the deal, if you plan to reproduce or license your art which includes scrapbooking papers, you can't. Well not using the paper I like anyway. There are companies that allow use through what is called an 'Angel Policy' but hunting them down and then finding the papers that you like just seems like too much trouble. So, the two finished paintings that I did will have to be altered in Photoshop so that I can license them. Irritating to say the least and I could go on about this but what are you going to do? So I'll just find my own gems of antique ephemera then use them how ever I like. But before I get started on that I'll show you the second painting title "Ocean Traveler". It will be traveling to it's new home in Arkansas tomorrow.

Yesterday's art project was soooooo much fun! It was nice to just do something without any definite expectations. That's why personal work is so important I think. My goal is to bring together different artistic elements including media and styles, shake them up and bring something new to the world. So the newer work will be including paint, collage and type. This new piece of an African Roller was created specifically with licensing in mind. I think it would be lovely on tapestries, bags, pillows, wall art and such. The copyright signature is not on the original painting and won't be on any prints, it's more of a watermark. This piece is 9 x 12 on canvas board. So now I'm off to work on a commissioned pet portrait of a beautiful boy named Charlie. So tell me what you've up to and what has inspired you today.

Today is going to be fun! I'll be working on a portrait of Duke for our local shelter. Help the Animals is a great organization and my good friend Jayne is the director. She's done amazing things with the place since she started a couple of years ago and the animals are lucky to have her and the other wonderful people who work and volunteer there. I had offered to do several paintings of dogs and cats who are waiting for their new families to find them. So Duke here is getting his painting done on a 16" x 20" canvas. When all of the paintings are finished we'll have calenders and possibly greeting cards made. Also there will be an auction in November with proceeds going to the shelter. So time to paint! Have a great day!!