Finding the Right Frog to Kiss

If you kiss a toad he will turn into a prince.  Always I have loved Fairy Tales and okay I admit it, I did try to kiss a toad once or maybe even twice.  Apparently, I never ran across that right toad, because none of them turned into anything but toads. However,  I did wind up with a prince of a husband and he supports my art education attempts and schemes.  So when I say I need to find the right thing to paint and want to go looking for it, he says to me, "Get in the car." and off we go.

Still in search of the great photo that I can turn into a masterpiece, we spend half the weekend driving around looking for the "money" shot.  There are so many paintings I view weekly by reading blogs, websites, going to galleries and subscribing to at least five art magazines.  Packed with so many paintings that are just remarkable and usually make me say, "Why didn't I think of that!"  Since I don't want to steal someone else's idea, off we go on our photography hunt.  No lie, we took about 700 photos of various things and not one of them am I dying to paint.  Each day I get several emails of "Big Name Star Artist," who show off their work in daily blogs.  The trend these days really seems to be that they are painting everyday things like plain white houses, shiny cars, pickup trucks, shoes, funny odd people, glassware and kitchen items.  Where is the best place to photo things like that?  The flea market, of course.  We took off to probably one of the scariest flea markets I have ever seen but still I am searching for the right photo.  You be the judge.....

Slow Down Girl and Focus!

There are so many things I want to try and paint and I can't seem to narrow down one genre to focus on.  There are still lifes and portraits, abstracts and landscapes and florals.  All of them calling my name to paint them.  No I do not hear voices and I have not lost it, yet...What I fear is that I am fickle and like the Crow, I am always attracted to a new shiny thing.  A friend asked me today, "What are you working on now?  She asked expecting me to give her one answer, but the truth is I have about 6 things going right now and about 5 more I hope to start this week.

I have a portrait of my friend Denise, who has her own ministry group that works with people in Ghana.  I am really inspired to paint this one and it is further along, but I don't have a more up to date version to show.

Here is that crazy tray and yellow calla lilly I blogged about earlier this month.  It is finally showing a little progress.  Note to self...I don't ever want to paint a long tray again.  Guess I at least know one thing I can eliminate from all my painting desires.

I am working on a portrait of my grandson, Weston.  I try to paint all my grandchildren as toddlers at some point.  That sounds like I have painted so many grandchildren, doesn't it?  So far he is number 2. Don't listen to me, I tend to exaggerate.   

Even thought I had finished this one, but took it for a critique and the suggestion was I needed to blue the background because it had dirty look to it and the flower would be nicer with a bright glaze on it.  So here is the blue gray background and I admit it is better and when it is completely dry I will glaze it

Another one I blogged about earlier, but now have something to show.  This is for all you Tulsans, Whittier Square, across from Zieglers.  

Just for fun, a read chair I saw in Michigan last year that just caught my eye and looked interesting.

Stay Tuned Dear Reader for finished results one day soon.  Tomorrow, I will share the things I want to start soon.

CONGRATULATIONS!!  Melissa Robinson on winning the painting!  Hope you will love it. 

By the way I will be giving away another painting very soon.  Thank you to all who joined me and to those who have shared my blog on their facebook page.  I appreciate so much.

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We Have a Winner!

And the Winner is.....Melrb2!!  Please email me at artzyone@cox.net to claim your prize!

Pricing Art Work, and Where to Sell it?

As I am on this journey, making up for lost time and learning all the things about art I should know, but didn't begin learning till now, the question comes up...What do I do with all these paintings?

In the beginning, my goal was to create art and hopefully my family would enjoy it and treasure it with the knowledge that Linda put her heart and soul into this.  I have one painting that my Great Aunt Jessie painted over 55 years ago, and I would never part with it.  Now as I begin the third year of this journey, I realize I have to sell art to be able to continue the process.  Otherwise they are growing out of my house and into the garage.  They don't call artist poor and starving for no reason.  This is no light weight  hobby or profession by any means.

Recently we purchased new home insurance and they asked us to list our most valuable items, such as jewelry, golf clubs, antiques etc.  After we left we were having a conversation in the car about what to save in the case of a fire.  We all pondered what we should grab, other than the obvious family momentos and photographs.  My husband said he had a lot invested in golf clubs but then quickly said, "Everyone grab Mom's art supplies!  That's where the real money is!"  He may have been off handedly joking, but actually it is nothing but true.  Our money is highly invested in turning me into an artist.

So, with that in mind, I know I have to figure out a way to sell my work.  This is not easy for me at all. I cannot stand to ask money from people.  Even at my garage sales, I feel guilty taking money.  Now don't get me wrong, at the end of the day, no one is happier than I with the cash we earn, but I hide out in the house while my husband runs the sale.  With art it is more personal and you never really know what will appeal to the masses, let alone just one art buyer.  Otherwise, my home turns into a one woman museum.

The internet is great to strategize pricing of art.  Seems like a lot of pros price their work by the square inch.  One said $6.00 a square inch.  That person had more fame and years under their belt, so I have come to the conclusion I will set my price at $1.50 a square inch.  That would make a 10 X10 for example $150 unframed.  It is a starting point for now.

Now, comes the hard part....Where to sell?  There are a couple of shows coming up that I can put work in, and there are a few auction sites on the internet I may give a try.  Times are tough and no one has money.  Well, no one has money for art like they used to.  Say a prayer for me as I venture into this and pray most of all I can sell!  Cause this artist is in need of supplies!  Sigh...

Painting Give Away!

Don't miss out on the chance to win an original oil painting by me, Linda Dunbar.

Guess I am ready for fall, because I was inspired to paint a beautiful fall leaf.  This painting a small one, so you can put it anywhere or even place it in an easel on a table top.  The painting itself measures
5 X 7 and the frame measures a little more than 8 X 10.

To enter, you must follow my blog, either by a Google Circle, or by email.  To the right of the blog is an option to follow by email.  Once your email is submitted, you must check your email and follow the link to confirm you are subscribing. Painting will be shipped to the winner next week, frame included.

All names will be entered into a drawing and one winner will be randomly selected.  Winner will be notified by email or Facebook.  

We will have more painting giveaways coming up, so be sure to enter and enter soon!

Good luck!

Back to School Days!

 When September rolls around, it is time for back to school.  Mothers and Dads line up in the school supply aisles at chain stores searching for the must have items as if they were participating in a million dollar prize scavenger hunt and their child will be taken from them by the government if they don't find the exact item on the much revered list.  Kids get drug to the hair stylist to make the best of those summer sun bleached heads and masses of tangles that did not seem to matter much until now.  And for those fortunate enough to go to art classes,  even a new tube of paint and a fresh canvas or two surfaces on the scene.  I fit into the last category.  My days of scouring for the just right notebook, pens and markers have passed me by and no one really cares what my hair looks like.

The beginning of the new semester offers hope of creating the painting that will one day make you famous or infamous, either will do.  The likelihood of that is far less greater than the odds of winning a multi million dollar jackpot.  Yet, we are driven as artist to improve, so off we go to classes and schools with hope and angst on our side to drive us to create our newest masterpiece.  One that will probably end up in someone's closet or even worse in someone's garage sale.  Sigh...

However, back to class we go and we are happy to be there.  Tuition is paid, art boxes full and ideas are flowing amongst us.  As for me, I have been taking now for two years and only beginning to feel I have a beginning understanding of the basics.  My father in law, who cannot be called a supporter of the arts, but more finds the whole process extremely curious, once asked me, "You are still going to art classes?  When do you think you will graduate?"  How could I answer that, but laugh?  It didn't take me long to learn, NEVER.  There are artist in my classes that have studied for 18 years and some that just started today.

We are all excited to renew friendships and begin a new project.  Easels ready for the weight of fresh paint and not so steady hands.

A stack of unclaimed and unfinished canvas' line floor waiting to be found by their rightful owner or covered in gesso and repainted with a fresh start by an artist not willing or able to buy a new one.

New wet projects line the walls waiting for the next class period where they will be slaved over and hopefully admired by others.  Maybe if you are really lucky, even sold.

  

Her Mission is Ghana - Mine is Painting...

This is my friend, Denise.  Her heart was made for helping people and she does love people more than any other person I have ever known.  Denise is a Pied Piper type of person who inspires others to follow her,  just as Jesus said to His followers to lay down their life for others... Denise has.

She is the founder and president of EveryDay Ministry, Inc.

She inspires me so much and I want to capture her spirit in a painting.  The people are so loving and their faces so beautiful.  Here is my beginning.

Say a prayer or wish me luck that I can capture her spirit and love in this painting.