A Lone Pear...No Partridge or Tree

Pear Study

8"x10" oil on raymar

'Tis the season! Which has made my time limited at the easel (and on this blog)...but I did happen to get this pear study done. (It felt so wonderful to have even a little time to paint!) Hope you are all having a joyous holiday season!

Please check out my other blog Following the Masters. I will be starting a book group on January 1st and will be giving away a copy of the first month's selection The Art Spirit. If your interested, hop on over and leave a comment for a chance to win. I'd love to have you join me...

If You Are Wondering Why It’s a Difficult Time to Sell Art…

image from livingetc.com

I’ve noticed this new “trend” in home décor in various decorating magazines and on a few blogs and I can’t help but chuckling over it. Why have art when you can just hang frames on the wall? lol.

Friday Favorite - Dude Craft

Steve McQueen by Paul Overton

As part of a Friday Favorite I wanted to share an amazingly creative and fun blog I found recently: Dude Craft. Paul Overton's blog focuses on all things creative and crafty. He has been generous enough to make a tutorial video of his wonderful paper cut portraits....

DudeCraft - Paper Cut Portrait Tutorial from Paul Overton on Vimeo.

I decided to sit out on this year's portrait exchange on the Different Strokes from Different Folks since I didn't think I would have enough time to devote to it (slightly regretting that decision now), but this would have been fun to try (though I'm not sure that it would qualify for the DSFDF).  I was going to try some traditional silhouette cutout portraits of my son and daughter, but I think I might try this instead. Looks like fun!

Now the winner of the painting giveaway is....

Comment #3 (chosen by random.org)... Dori Dewberry who is an amazing artist that I'm sure most of you know, but if not you must go check out her work! Thanks to all of you for participating!

Feels Like Ten Below...

 

This mornings temp: 1 degree...feels like -10

Reminds me of the great song Baby It's Cold Outside. A perfect time for some hot cocoa and to stay indoors and shop! I've listed some art work on etsy. I also been selling some of my jewelry items in my friends boutique Chic Style so I've decided to opened up a new etsy shop Treasure from the Trunk for my jewelry and beaded watch bands (and later on...antiques!).

 

Ice and Snow Bracelet

For more gift shopping ideas that will go to a great cause, head over to A Daily Scoop where many wonderful people have dontated items to be auctioned for the John Jones Memorial.

Extra, Extra...Read All About It

Last week I was reading our small town community paper The Ogden Valley News (very small town...it only comes out bimonthly) and one of the articles caught my attention entitled “Ten Things That Increase Cancer Risk” by Melanie Winderlich. A family member was recently diagnosis, which furthered my interest in the subject.

I was surprised to see that number ten on the list was hazards to painters. Winderlich writes “Artist should pay attention to their doctors as well as their critics. Painters put themselves at a higher risk of developing lung and bladder cancers when working with certain mediums. ….painters who work around chemicals and pigments, including carcinogenic materials like silica and asbestos may inadvertently be harming themselves.”  While I have often heard the warnings, I admittedly hadn’t taken them seriously. I love to use turpenoid and Liquin, but I think I’ll be on the safe side and limit their use and use walnut oil instead.

There was another article that also caught my eye…

It was concerning the play that I mentioned I was in last month. I’m the one in the blue dress...in the shadows :). I was initially asked just help paint the sets, but when someone was unable to continue I was asked to fill at the last minute. There were only two rehearsals left before the play…but thankfully I remembered all my lines! The rest of the cast was an amazing group of talented actors with many people donating their time and talent to help out. The play was to raise money for our town to go to court. I will not go into the political details, but here’s a link that explains if you’re interested. 

P.S. Don’t forget about the painting giveaway….ends December 10^th.

Cheesecake *GIVEAWAY*

My apologies that I've been so neglectful at blogging and visiting lately! To get back into the swing of things, I'm having a giveaway of the cheesecake painting posted below. Just leave a comment by the end of Thursday, December 10th and I'll choose a winner on Friday. Sorry if you were hoping for a real cheesecake. :)

Thanks for stopping by…and take care!

Cheesecake

Cheesecake

6"x6"

I feel like I haven't painted for ages so I did this little quick study. I guess pumpkin pie would have been a little more appropriate...oh well.

I found this fun blog graphic at Just Something I Made ...

...and I'd like to wish all of my blog friends a Happy Thanksgiving!