2016 Calendars!

Calendars will be available on December 4th!

SOLD OUT (12/5/15)

 

Alcohol Inks on Canvas

For over a year, I've been doing alcohol ink paintings. I've painted on Yupo, ceramic tiles, plastic dominos, and glass. They are a fun and vibrant medium.

Yesterday, I went to my studio with the intent of doing some cherry blossom paintings on Yupo (synthetic paper). For some reason, I decided that I wanted to try painting with them on a blank and pre-gessoed canvas I had sitting around. It wasn't the absolute first time I have touched the inks to canvas, but it was the first time that I have done so as more than a mere experiment to see how the inks take to the canvas surface.

I took a few photos as I went along:

Inspiration photo, taken by me Spring 2013

Canvas with whites masked with Miskit. Usually the orange doesn't show up so much, but the bottle is getting close to empty and the coloration has settled to the bottom.

Squirts of ink! I'm now putting on my gloves!

Background now has it's initial coat of ink.

Masking fluid has been removed! Wow!

Now, I am painting in paler shades and detail. I love the white ink over the background!

Detail of Blossoms

I'm not finished with the painting. My plan is to come back in with acrylic paints and add some dimension. All in all, I am pleased with the start.

Goals For 2015; And, How'd I Do On 2014 Goals?

Last night, I read an article by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer where he suggested that we not make resolutions or set goals for 2015. It was about "living in the moment" and "being present." While I agree that we could all do a better job of those things, being successful in art requires many things including talent, productivity, and marketing. I work more effectively with a plan. Last year I set goals. I found it inspirational. I didn't meet all of them, but every three or four months I would reread them and assess what I was doing well and where I needed to devote more time.

In 2015:

Shows (we may be moving...can't really plan this category yet)

1. Making our Marks:  New Work by Eight Printmakers, March 7 to March 29, 2015 in the Popcorn Gallery at Glen Echo Park (MD)
2. Apply for a show at Johnson Center for the Arts in Troy.

Productivity

1. Do at least one new mixed media bird for Making Our Marks
2. Learn to sketch with pen/watercolor (practice, practice, practice!)
3. Spend at least two days a week at Crystal City Studio (11:30am - 3:30pm)
4. Complete grass series
5. Continue glass class on Wednesdays at least every couple of months.
6. Paint at least one large or two small/medium watercolors every month
7. Do three more Auburn watercolors so that I can have a card variety pack. (Thinking Samford Hall, one of the Eagles that fly at the games, not sure about the third)

Organization

1. Standardize size of work to fit standard frames. Use up or sell all frame inventory that doesn't conform.
2. Implement an inventory system.
3. Frame rest of certificates and Vale Poster.

Marketing/Commercial Pursuits

1. Reach 1000 Facebook likes on my art page
2. At least double my newsletter subscriber list
3. Move/add artwork to a different website for customers to order prints.
4. Approach UMW at church about selling remaining prints and cards of the LWC on a commission basis.
5. Design Brochure
6. Convert some designs to fabric.
7. Make some commercial retail products by stealing my own designs.
8. Participate in Daily Paintworks (regularly...weekly? not daily)

Below are the goals that I posted at the end of 2013. Comments and additions are in red.

Shows

1. Collective Ink (Feb 15 - March 16, Popcorn Gallery @Glen Echo Park) Check. Love the Lee Printmakers!
2. Vale Arts Show (May 2 - 4, Historic Vale Schoolhouse in Oakton) Check. Great experience! New Friends!
3. Have a solo show of watercolors. (Fall? After Vale Arts show in May) Did not apply.
4. Have a solo show of bird prints. (ASAP after Collective Ink) Did not apply.
5. Enter at least three national or international shows. One. (The Artist's Magazine) Two regional (CVWG and BWS)
6. Central Virginia Watercolor Guild
7. Potomac Valley Watercolorists 40th Anniversary Show
8. MANY Local monthly shows!

Productivity

1. Stick with January "30 in 30 Challenge" I did it! Great experience!
2. Spend at least two days a week at Crystal City Studio (11:30am - 3:30pm) Nope. I will be trying this again!
3. Make enough pieces to do Art Cards, Vol. II (52+), if Vol. I looks good. Thanks to the 30 in 30, I have more than enough. Vol. I was cool, but the formatting wasn't perfect. I will probably print more of Vol. I when I print Vol. II...soon.

Organization

1. Get mailing list into ONE file that is label ready. I did, but swear there are additional names somewhere.
2. Add Paypal buttons to ALL website items. Yep.
3. Standardize size of work to fit standard frames. Choose 3 or 4 sizes. Use up all frame inventory that doesn't conform. I did make work for some of my frame inventory. I'm getting closer to determining actual size, lol.
4. Implement an inventory system. Well, I found one online, but it was tedious and didn't work for me, but I now know what I want/need. It will be on the list again.

Marketing/Commercial Pursuits

1. Find at least one out of town gallery to sell my work. (Santa Fe? Florida Panhandle?) No, but I researched a few Florida places I would like to contact. I also learned that galleries DO NOT like you to stop by and talk about representation.
2. Convert some designs to fabric. No.
3. Make some commercial retail products by stealing my own designs. No, but still a brilliant idea. ;)
4. Complete a painting of The Little White Church and participate in AUMC bazaar. YES!
5. Complete Destin watercolor and show it to group that asked to see it. Make notecards. Yes.
6. Approach Keever about selling notecards. No.
7. Put fused glass and jewelry in a shop in Old Town Alexandria!
8. Opened an Etsy shop!
9. Got into Gallery Underground!
10. Applied to Artsy Shark (turned down)

Fun!

1. Try Yupo. Yes!
2. Try alcohol based inks. Love! And have sold most of my paintings done with them! Yay!
3. Try fused glass. (January 8th) So fun! And, I've sold quite a few!

The Complete Deck; My Playing Cards

I've been looking for creative products that feature my artwork that might appeal to those who have limited wall space or want to be supportive of my art without shelling out hundreds of dollars for an original. My deck of playing cards may be my favorite product thus far. It features 54 pieces of artwork that I created from 2006-2013, and I titled it Vol. I. I plan to produce volume II in December. I only have a few decks left. They are $18 and shipping is included. Click here to purchase on of the remaining decks.