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!