The Day Before the Eve of the New Year

Today is a day of resting the ole' body after 4 days of work where I spent the entire time on my feet.  That's OK though, because I'm taking the time to focus on getting my Etsy Shops together.  Oddly enough, I've already had a sale as a result of seeing my work on Etsy.  So, let's hope I can keep the momentum going.

We anticipate a quiet New Year's weekend... haven't been partying in years, but hope to spend some time with the grand kids maybe have brunch out with the hubs on Sunday. I'm sure there's football in my future as well, whether I like it or not.

Here's a new painting posted recently in the shop.

I hope everyone has a very safe, but lovely New Year's weekend.  Happy New Year's.

Well, I'm hoping everyone survived the Holiday's and had a wonderful time with family and friends. It's been a little bit since I've posted, so I figured I should get on the ball here.  I've decided to open a second Etsy shop as well as create a separate blog where, if someone so desired, they could purchase a print of the work I've posted. You can see my Etsy Shop HERE as well as by clicking on the button above.  This is also where you will find the button for my blogger store.  You can find it HERE.  Thanks to Geri Centonze for her tutorial on how to open a blogger store.  

I've actually started printing on my new printer and I have to say that I'm super pleased.  I still have a lot to learn, but the ease with which this printer works just astounds me.  So, here is a painting that I've just recently posted on my blog and Etsy.

This was an image from our cemetery tour a few months ago.  Can you believe it's the end of December and we have no snow on the ground?  Last year at this time we had 3 feet of snow.  Don't know whether to be happy about this or not, but I have to say, it's a lot nicer getting to work and back every day.
I truly hope every one is having a grand holiday season and I bid you safe travels over the New Year's weekend.

The Granddaughters

It's been a little bit since my last post, but I haven't been idle.  I received my long awaited printer yesterday and it's taken pretty much a whole day just to get her going.  I need to order a lot of large format papers and canvas so I can get going opening my store page on this blog.  Will probably add another store on Etsy as well. I have been printing smaller pieces on the ample amount of fine art papers that came with the printer, and I have to say I'm so pleased with the outcome.  The colors are brilliant and so true to the way it looks on my monitor.  I'm a very happy camper. 

In the meantime, my granddaughter is turning 4 and she's had a whirlwind of parties, plus she also had her Holiday program at church.  This is an image I took at her party, of Myah, the birthday girl, and her little sister, Mari. It was nice to get back to painting portraits, plus these two are sooooo photogenic.

I so hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday Season.  Peace and Joy to everyone.

Hump Day

It's Wednesday and it's raining, believe it or not.  And all that rain is going to freeze tonight! Oh Boy! So how about some color to brighten your day.

I've been continuing to paint the images I took while in D.C. over Thanksgiving.  I hope I don't run out. It's going to be a loooooong winter!

I'm still researching wide-format printers so that I can start printing my own paintings.  I was pretty set on an Epson, but now I'm looking at Canon.  I will need at least a 24".

If anyone out there has any suggestions or has a wide-format printer and has a good review, let me know.
I hope everyone has a wonderful evening!

Saturday Roundup

I've had a busy week with the Holidays looming, working a part-time job and completing commission work as well as continuing to build a body of work that I hope to be able to print and sell on my own.  This first painting came from a total of 12 different images that the client sent to me...all different resolutions, sizes and qualities.  I was able to arrange the family in a collage around the grandmother. The families were all cut and pasted together to make it look like they actually posed that way.  All in all, I'm quite please with it and so was the client.

I've been putting together a body of work that I hope to be able to print on my own and sell from my blog as well as some local shops and possibly art shows in the spring. Here are a few of what I've been working on.

Be sure to stop by my friends over at Artists in Blogland and catch up on the wonderful artistic endeavors of these very talented group of artists.  I'm also hoping that everyone has a beautiful weekend.

Engagement Painting

I wanted to share a recent work of an engagement painting.  This was our Wedding gift to the couple.  And, I hear that they loved it.  It was a beautiful Wedding!

We are, yet again, in the deep freeze here in Minnesota.  This morning I just about froze when I took Callie for her morning walk, and it's going to take me awhile to get used to this again.  It didn't faze Callie, however.  Anyway, here we go again.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day!

Monday, Monday

Have you ever been glad for Monday's and a normal routine?  Weekends this time of year can be hectic. Just driving in the weather that is thrown at us this time of year can be stressful...the tune, Slip, Sliding Away (Simon and Garfunkel) is so appropriate when navigating the roads here.  But, enough about that stuff.  I was able to spend more time on paintings form our Thanksgiving trip to D.C.  At some point I need to take my camera and start shooting snow scenes...but shoot...it's cold out there.

A sweet little house on the corner near the Eastern Market where artists set up booths each and every weekend to sell handmade items.

Port City Java is a quaint little coffee shop where people sit and people watch those visiting the Eastern Market.  In addition to artists, there's a building where you can buy fresh meats, fish and bakery goods.

The Art Village is located next to Port City Java.  I noticed that it looks vacant.  I would love to set up shop there!

Walking the streets of D.C. is such a treat.  Each little row house has something to offer...eye candy!
I everyone has a happy week.  Christmas is just around the corner!

Busy Little Beaver

I've finally been able to process some more of the images I took in D.C. and spent some time painting and having a wonderful time.  This first one was taken in Georgetown.  As you can see, there was still a lot of color.  Such a quaint, lovely town with lot's of wonderful shops and sweet little row houses.

Most of the time, the row houses are all connected.  But, occasionally there are skinny two story homes sitting all alone.

This one had the most brilliant tree out front.

This was another from Georgetown.  I think it was actually a Dentist's office.

This was a little covered walkway outside the Arboretum.

More doors, doors and doors.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Thanksgiving in D.C.

We are winding down now, relaxing on our last day here in D.C., returning to Minnesota tomorrow morning.  We had a lovely time here with family, ate way too much but did get out and about quite a bit as well.  For those who have visited D.C., you know that you walk, walk, walk.  I'm not sure I walked enough to counteract all that I ate, but I sure tried.  I'm posting a few images that I took while walk, walk, walking.  My son and his wife were kind enough to get me around so that I could take lots of images.  Here's the first one of my nieces home where we had our feast.

In addition to the usual Thanksgiving fare, we also ate several Filipino dishes as my sister's husband is from the Philippines.  I'd share with you what they were, but I don't know how to spell them.  Maybe next time.

I absolutely love walking the streets of D.C.  There are such wonderful row houses throughout the entire city.  Our weather here was stellar.  The sun was out each and every day.  Just gorgeous here.

  This is all I've been able to put together so far, but I've got plenty of material to work with when I get back to the Cities.

We have so much to be thankful for.  I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving.  I know I did.

It's almost Thanksgiving

I wanted to make sure I got something posted before I leave town for D.C. to visit our son. We have people driving up from Florida, New York City and Maryland and so it should be a wonderful gathering. I've been working hard on a commissioned piece that, sadly, will not be ready before I leave. It's a particularly difficult one, but I do love a challenge.

Since we going out east, I thought I'd post some paintings taken from images in the D.C. area.

This one is from Mt Vernon where George Washington lived.

I'm not at all sure I'm ready for winter even though we've now had our first snow. So, here's one a painting from just a few weeks ago.

Here's hoping that you have a wonderful holiday.

Pushing The Envelope

I've spent the last few weeks attempting to take my art to another level~~pushing the envelope, so to speak.

I've been utilizing the many digital programs available. Sometimes using 4 or five programs and plugins on each image until I find something I really like.

My favorite programs are Corel Painter 11/12, and Photoshop CS5.  And I'm using other programs as well: Topaz Adjust/Clean/Simplify, Tintii, Fractilius, DAP, Postworkshop and FotoSketcher.

Boosting those colors is a most favorite thing to do.

I can't seem to help myself.  Tintii is very helpful in isolating certain colors and saturating them.

Topaz is coming out with an updated version of Adjust in just a few more days.  It's an incredible program.

Be sure to check out the wonderful talent over at Artists in Blogland for Show and Tell Saturday. There you will see some incredible stuff.  Find then Here. 
Anyway, I hope everyone is having an awesome weekend.

DAP

A few more paintings that include the painting program, Dynamic Auto Painter, as well as Topaz, Fractalius, Photoshop and Corel Painter.

I'm forever surprised at how I can take a very ho-hum image and push it to the extreme with the help of all these wonderful programs.

I remember when I took this image and was so wishing that these cars weren't in the way.  But, with the addition of paint they actually look like they belong.

These are the woods behind my house.  Sadly the leaves are all but gone, except for the yellow maples.

I dread the coming cold and snow!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Houses and Homes and other stuff

I've been working at pushing the envelope on some of my paintings.  I have to admit that I'm having a good time.  But, are they good enough to have printed?  How about framed?  Would anyone but me appreciate them? 

I'm so  glad I took lots of photos when I was down in Louisiana last spring.  This is another plantation house.

This is the gatehouse at the entrance of a plantation that has been given over to gardens.  Right behind it is a gully of sorts that runs parallel to the street for miles.  We found out that this was actually where the horse and buggy's used to drive up and down to get to town.

The front of yet another plantation.  The way they are able to keep these wonderful buildings in repair is that they had tours on a daily basis.  Some even converted to bed and breakfasts. 

The Stairway to nowhere.  Whatever it went to is no longer there.

An outbuilding.  Probably a cookhouse.

The gazebo in the middle of the most beautiful gardens.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Take care.