Painting Bliss

A Piece Just for Me

 

It's not often I create a piece of art just for me, nor do I hang it up in our house. I don't know why, but my home is not filled with my work. I guess I'm afraid if I look at it too much that I will critique it and in turn no longer care for it... or maybe it's that I'm still learning to take a compliment and if someone sees it and likes it then I have to handle the flattery. Aren't those silly reasons! yeah, I thought so too... that's why I'm tossing those out the window and have begun hanging up my pieces.

When I started this botanical owl I didn't plan on it being mine, but when I finished it I just didn't want to give it up. And I didn't! now it hangs happily in my dining room and I think it makes a fine addition to our home, don't you?

Of course the original is mine... but if you really really like my artful owl and would love to own a print of him, then head over to EatArt.org... purchase my artful owl in an array of prices and feed children across the world.

Purchase yours here

As of yesterday, and this is pretty exciting EatArt news... all donations are 100% tax deductible!

Just one 5x7 sends 100 meals, that's right 100 meals to hungry children in need.

 

 

This piece was created with Brown Paper Card stock, decorative papers, micron pen,sharpie pen, ink, pencil, white gel pen, and acrylic paint. Piece measures 8x10 inches.

Happy Friday! Time to plan and enjoy the weekend. I would write more but there's a baby on my lap who's pulling my hands from the keyboard.

Good day!

 

 

Early Spring Newsletter

 

Oh it's been a busy spring thus far! Each month near the end of the month I will begin featuring a newsletter post summarizing what I have been up to and what to expect of me in coming months.

 

Firstly I would like to thank you for being so wonderful. I know personally how much every minute of your day is precious, and I am deeply grateful for your daily visits. For the next week until Friday March 30th I am offering 10% off the item of your choice in my Etsy shop. Upon checking out use the promo code "SoThankful". My shop is filled with all sorts of beautiful items! Be sure to take note of my new 3 dimensional pieces!

 

 

You may have noticed that my blog looks prettier than usual! Well that's because the lovely Polly (from her blog The Enchanted Pixie) spruced it up! She's fast, reliable, and super friendly...as well as easy to work with! She worked with me tweaking a lil' bit here and there until everything looked just right to my artistic eye. You can't beat her prices...so if you need some graphic work done, check her out! Her blog is so much fun too! A great read and very pretty.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am now blogging for Hudson Valley Parent Magazine. Being their craft blogger I offer children themed craft tutorials that I do with my own children, photograph, then write up and post. I have already written my first tutorial, and will be sharing it as soon as it officially airs. The editor will be introducing me in her editorial in the upcoming May issue. Read more about it here.

 

Along with Blogging for my local Parent magazine, I am offering my art as prints on the amazing Eat-Art.org, where they are actively ending hunger with the profits made from selling art prints and various EA apparel. Read about it here.

I recently submitted an article, various artwork samples, and my Paintingbliss blog banner to Somerset Studio's Artful Blogging division... fingers crossed!

I am EXCITED to share that I have been accepted for the upcoming July Issue of Somerset Studio Magazine!! This is my 3rd acceptance in less than a year! While entering their calls and challenges I have also been working on a set of 4 themed pieces of art. I will soon be writing an accompanying article and submitting it to them in hopes of a spread... again, fingers crossed!

I attempted to keep a sketchbook for a whole 5 days... and have given up... well not given up because I don't give up. But realized in trying to keep one why I don't... There's no time for it! It's either create real pieces or draw in a sketchbook...there's no time for both, and I choose work on real pieces. Sometimes it takes doing something you don't usually do to realize why you don't.

Last month I applied for a  Bootcamp for Performing, Literary and Visual Artists of the Capital and Mid-Hudson Region of New York State called MARK. This is a unique opportunity for an individualized focus on the professional and business side of my creative practice. I really hope I get accepted, and I can't wait to learn new things related to my art as a successful career. I should hear back any day now!

I added a series as you probably noticed call Motivational Mondays! Everyone seems to really like this, and I do too! Mowgli the cat has also started blogging for me on days I just can't stand to be inside. He's a real life saver!

 

Last but not least, I guest posted for the lovely Miss Suki of The Owl Club, and offered Marie the Owl as a giveaway. Marie has flown the nest all the way to Prague in the Czech Republic! Good thing she took her nest with her (hand crocheted by yours truly). Along with guest posting on The Owl Club, I have sponsored The Enchated Pixie for the month of March where I guest posted an interview and offered a one of a kind piece of artwork as a giveaway.

Phew! Now that's a lot, now isn't it! And you know what? I probably forgot something! Along with all of this I am taking care of my home, husband, and 3 young boys aged 1-6! Oh and I sometimes sleep! HA HA! I'm in my studio each late afternoon and after dinner, and more so on the weekends.

If you are interested in commissioning a piece of artwork please contact me here. I LOVE the challenge of creating a beautiful image from someones idea. It's a thrill :) Mother's Day is coming and it's always nice for mom to recieve something truly personal and one of a kind.

 

As always you can find me here....

 

Facebook * Twitter * Hellocotton *Eat-Art*Spoonflower*Email*Etsy

Just a note about following me on Twitter... I share a lot more photos on Twitter than I do here... I am constantly sharing updates, my day to day thoughts, and fun on the spot pics. So if you're on Twitter, follow me! :) I often share works in progress as well!

Thanks everyone for your dedication, daily visits, and general interest in my artwork and the things I do!  You're all the best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eat-Art-Now I'm official! Let's Help Feed the Children

 

An eclectic collection of photographers, painters & designers committed to artfully ending hunger.

 

I am finding it difficult to contain my excitment and am delighted to announce that as of yesterday March 16th I am officially listed via my own gallery on Eat-Art.org!! not to mention it's really nice to be the letter "A" at the top of a list alphabetically categorized artists names, so I'm first (for now hee hee)!

I had no idea until today but 500 artists submitted their art to Eat-Art and I was one of 40-50 new artists to be chosen (big smiles).

As mentioned in my previous EA post, the goal of EA  is to send as many meals to hungry children across the world (Dominican Republic, Ghana, Peru, Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Nepal, Rwanda, Thailand and Zimbabwe) as possible. This amazing cause is made possible by the sale of art/photography prints and EA apparel.

 

 

Other print sizes are available, the more your purchase (tax deductable) - the more meals that are sent. You can even purchase  art on canvas!

Besides art as mentioned above you can also purchase apparel which also goes towards the cause. Caps, bracelets, etc. are available. EA is non-profit and all of it's employees are offering their own time.

If you have the means and wish to make a cash donation, you can do so here.

 

You can bet I will be rocking an Eat-Art Bracelet (1 bracelet provides 50 meals)

 

 

"It’s ironic that one of the most common clichés in our culture is “Starving Artist.” From art sales we send tens of thousands of meals to hungry children, but we also often give a portion of the sales back to the artist so they can continue to create hunger-ending art. It is our desire at EA to provide a platform for artists to create, people to purchase and hungry kids to eat. It’s a win, win, win!"

Also available for your Iphone is the EA app!

#1. It’s a win for everyone – you can sit in your living room, dorm room or office and make a hunger-ending investment where a simple $20 purchase will feed a hungry child for a full month. You get the art & the kids get to eat

#2. It’s transparent – we are doing everything we can to answer any questions you have about Eat Art so that we can gain your trust and together send millions of meals.

#3. It’s totally possible for you to end hunger – with the age of technology and social media in which we live a viral movement can happen at any moment. YOU can truly help Eat Art become who we might one day be – a major force in fighting global hunger.

Once a month you will see a post just like this or something similar, so that I can assist EA with spreading the good word. I will also will be facebooking and tweeting about this amazing journey I was accepted to be part of.

EA will send 100,000 meals to 100,000 hungry children for the first 100,000 people who join Eat Art on Facebook or Twitter! Please follow EA on Twitter - @EatArtNow  And also please like them on Facebook – www.facebook.com/EatArtNow

 

Blogging and Donating - Art is the BEST

 

Oh there is so much news to share today!

I am really excited and giddy about what I am about to tell you...

 

 

 I am proud to announce that I am now a blogger for Hudson Valley Parent Magazine! It has been in the works for a month or so now, and has been finalized! I will be doing a tutorial round up just like I do here, but geared towards children! The editor has been super kind and really awesome and I can't wait to start! Actually I will be putting up my first round up in the next few days to coorelate with St. Patricks Day. For those of you who aren't local to where I live, Hudson Valley Parent Magazine is a local Magazine for residents living in Hudson Valley N.Y. The Magazine is geared towards parents and children and focuses on everything from tips on raising your newborn/toddler/child to places of local interest and health. The wonderful Dr. Dan O'hern that I have talked about in past posts recommended me to the editor, and well here I am!

I really owe this great opportunity to him... thank you Dan! BIG HUG!

 

Secondly as of today I have been accepted as 1 of 10-15 new artists for Eat-Art! Eat-Art is an organization that sells art prints which in turn pays for meals that they send across seas to feed hungry children. In November or so, I learned about EatArt through Twitter... I checked out the website and thought it was just the grandest thing! I immediatly sent an email of interest and attached a few samples of my work... I didn't hear back so I thought I wasn't good enough... and that was fine cause I really don't mind rejection. Wellllllll.... this morning I woke to an email from the founder Todd Clark. Right now there are only 20 artists selling their prints through Eat Art and they are adding only 10-15 at the moment... I was asked to be one of those 10-15 and I am positively giddy!

Just ONE 5x7 will feed ONE child for ONE month, WOW!

Their goal is to keep adding highly talented artists to their site/cause and continue to send more and more meals to hungry children across the world. You can read about Eat Art's vision here. I feel so honored and priveled to be part of this amazing cause... and to be part of it using my talent!

 

I'm a happy girl always but all of this just makes me even happier.