Today's Paintings 4.30.09

Autumn Aspens (Commission)
Original 48" x 36 x 0.75" painting
Two 24" x 36" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Autumn Path (Commission in progress)
Original 72" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Three 24" x 36" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work includes new originals of two of my popular compositions from the Autumn Aspens and Autumn Path series. My patron is from Canada, found my work on one of my sales venues, and I worked with her to determine the number and size of canvases would work best in the space she wishes to hang these paintings.

My patron in New York approved the American Basin commission, so that painting is off the wall and on stretcher bars now. I have another large commission on order, and will be painting a new original based on one of my floral compositions. I'll post that one once I have some paint down.

Announcement
My workshop Selling Your Artwork Online at Jerry's Artarama in Englewood, CO is open for registration via the Jerry's web site. If you live in the Denver area or close by and wish to enroll, please visit the Jerry's web site to sign up, and visit their site or mine for more information on the topics my husband and I will be covering during the four 2-hour sessions we have set up for both May and June.

Tip of the Day
TOD is taking a short vacation and will return next week.

Quote of the Day
"Why do they always teach us that it's easy and evil to do what we want and that we need discipline to restrain ourselves? It's the hardest thing in the world - to do what we want. And it takes the greatest kind of courage. I mean, what we really want." --Ayn Rand

Today's Paintings 4.28.09

American Basin (Commission)
Original 36" x 48" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics

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Oriental Blossoms VII
Original 60" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Two 30" x 40" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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First Dibs (After You)
Original 30" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Oriental Blossoms VIII
Original 30" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today was especially productive! I finished up two paintings--the American Basin commission, and Oriental Blossoms VII. I also had enough time and energy to paint another in each of the Oriental Blossoms and First Dibs series.

My patron in New York approved American Basin, so I'll be stretching and varnishing it tomorrow, and getting it shipped on Thursday. I'm excited to see what comes next from him. He has two galleries in the NYC area, and rents some of my paintings to businesses for their decor. I'm excited and grateful for the exposure in New York!

Tip of the Day
Shipping costs are an area where you have limited control. Within the continental US almost all online shoppers expect free shipping now--whether you're buying books, a pair of boots, or art. The major shippers are about on par with each other for rates. You can get discounts off of their standard rates by opening on account on their web sites and generating your shipping labels from there. Buyers like having a tracking number so they can check the progress of their shipment.

Depending on what you're shipping (how big and how heavy), you may be facing balloon rates going through USPS for oversized packages (84" length plus girth is the cutoff for their standard rates on Priority Mail). However, for smaller items, Priority Mail or Priority Mail Flat Rate is the way to go. USPS also provides you with free boxes, and you can print your shipping labels with postage from either the USPS web site (after you create an account), or via PayPal, and just drop them off at the post office or have your postal carrier pick them up. No waiting in line!

Quote of the Day
"Most people treat the present moment as if it were an obstacle that they need to overcome. Since the present moment is Life itself, it is an insane way to live." --Eckhart Tolle

American Basin Commission (update)

American Basin (Commission)
Original 36" x 48" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics

Most of my day was spent working on this commission for my New York patron. He's has two galleries there, and is one of my biggest fans. The commission work keeps streaming in, for which I'm very grateful.

One of the things I enjoy about living in Colorado is the extreme changes in the weather. Last week it was warm and sunny. Over the weekend it was cool and rainy. This is what I awoke to this morning:

Spring Snow - April 27, 2009

Tip of the Day
Include certificates of authenticity with the work you sell. This gives your buyers documentation that the work they've purchased from you is the genuine article. I also had business cards made up with an image of one of my paintings, and included my web site, email, and blog addresses. I send a few with every painting I ship so my patrons can share them with their friends and relatives who might also like my work.

Quote of the Day
"The thought manifests as the word; the word manifests as the deed; the deed develops into habit; and habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love; born out of concern for all beings." --Buddha

Today's Paintings 4.26.09

Still Life with Blue Bowl and Cherries
Original 30" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Abstract Gerber Daisies
Original 22" x 28" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work includes two new compositions. Personally, still life paintings are among my favorites to paint, and I am quite pleased with how Still Life with Blue Bowl and Cherries turned out. Abstract Gerber Daisies is the newest in my abstract floral series, and I enjoyed the collaboration with my apprentice on this one, too. My commission work continues to thrive, and I am very grateful to my patrons for their orders.

Tip of the Day
Remember the importance of feedback on your sales venues. Feedback is your report card from buyers, and demonstrates to potential new buyers that you're a seller who's good to work with. I have 100% positive feedback on my sales venues in part because I go out of my way to communicate well with my buyers, ship their paintings well packaged and in a timely manner, and make the transaction as painless as possible for them.

Quote of the Day
"In mathematics the complicated things are reduced to simple things. So it is in painting." --Thomas Eakins

Cherries in Blue Bowl

Cherries in Blue Bowl
Original 18" x 24" x 1.5" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

I taught my workshop Selling Your Artwork Online today at Colorado Free University, so I had to pull one from the archives for this post. This is one of the paintings I did fairly early on when I started painting as a day job. My students at CFU today were great! I'm hoping that they will pass the word on to their friends too.

My husband and I will be teaching our workshop at Jerry's Artarama in Englewood, CO (South Denver) starting next month. Please visit our web site for more information, including how to register.

Tip of the Day
Determine what your main goal is for getting your artwork online: sales, increased exposure, online portfolio, etc. Define small, achievable steps that lead you toward the main goal. Do the research, look at FAQs, and ask questions on art community forums on various art and sales venues.

Quote of the Day
"Honor is self-esteem made visible in action." --Ayn Rand

Sunrise Poppies VIII

Sunrise Poppies VIII
Original 54" x 24 x 0.75" painting
Three 18" x 24" canvases

This painting is the latest in the Sunrise Poppies series. Her big sister sold earlier this week, so I felt compelled to paint another one! I love painting, and I never get tired of doing it. My apprentice is working out great! He's got a good sense of color and composition, and we work really well together. I guess I should disclose something about him: he's my husband Patrick. His back ground in photography and web design are serving him well in his new-found medium.

Tomorrow we teach our workshop at Colorado Free University. We'll be offering that class as an online workshop at Colorado Free in the near future.

Announcement
My husband and I are offering our workshop Selling Your Artwork Online at Jerry's Artarama in Englewood, CO in four 2-hour sessions on May 17 and 31, and again on June 14 and 28. Please visit my web site for more information. You may call Jerry's Artarama to register at 303-789-2781.

Tip of the Day
Defining the market for selling your artwork online requires that you identify the best venues for your work. So depending on what kind of art you create, there may be sites out there that are better suited for what you do. Whether your work is crafts, fine art, or decorative, there are venues out there where you can get your work out for buyers.

It takes some research on your part to determine what's selling and what kind of prices you can fetch for your work. If you know of other artists who are selling their work Google them and see where they sell, how much they're getting, and consider contacting them to ask for information. If you do approach another artist for information make sure your questions are specific. Also, don't rule out paying them for their time--you may get better information, it shows them that you take them seriously, and that you appreciate what they have to offer.

Quote of the Day
"It is not the language of painters, but the language of nature which one should listen to." --Vincent van Gogh

Oriental Blossoms VI

Oriental Blossoms VI
Original 72" x 24" x 0.75" painting
Three 24" x 24" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work includes the newest edition in the Oriental Blossoms series. I'm still anxiously awaiting the return of the pink blossoms on the crabapple tree in my back yard, but I will be patient. I've also seen buds on the lilacs starting to form, for which I'm equally excited. I remember when my husband was courting me, and how much I loved receiving a sprig of lilacs from him. They were--and continue to be--among my favorite flowers. I'll take lilacs over a dozen roses any day.

Tip of the Day
When you're selling your artwork online a question that may not occur to you is what should I sell? You may have a particular medium, or mediums, that you use for your work, but what subject matter really sells? That's going to take some research on your part. For myself, I chose landscape paintings as my primary subject because that's what was selling when I started out--and I'd only painted a handful of landscapes when I was in school.

I quickly realized that I could get more sales doing landscapes, and once I established myself in the marketplace I could branch out into other subjects--like still lifes and florals--because people knew my name and my work. Determine who's selling what in your medium, and make those decisions.

Quote of the Day
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." --Mahatma Ghandi

Late Day Light, Creek, and Storm Clouds

Late Day Light, Creek, and Storm Clouds
Original 48" x 24" x 0.75" commissioned painting
Two 24" x 24" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work includes a commission I did in trade with a patron who's bought several of my paintings. The trade was for some of her beautiful handmade jewelry, available on Etsy (pendredkeller28.etsy.com). This commission is a reproduction of an original done on a single canvas. My patron asked for her commission on two 24" x 24" canvases. I hope to get more of her jewelry again in the future, so I hope she wants more paintings!

Tip of the Day
Marketing artwork you're selling yourself online requires some resourcefulness. Sales venues each have their own methods allowing you to generate more exposure for your work. Your options range from featuring your work on a per-listing basis, featuring several of your pieces through a "showcase" option, email marketing, purchasing ad space on related sites, etc.

Depending on where you sell your work, some research is required to determine what marketing options are available on those sites. Specifics on how to market your work are discussed in our upcoming workshop Selling Your Artwork Online. Please check back for dates, times, and availability for our live and online versions of the workshop.

Quote of the Day
"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." --Lao Tzu

Flower Garden Against Yellow Sky III

Flower Garden Against Yellow Sky III
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Chroma acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work includes the newest painting in my Flower Garden series. A patron who's bought some of my work before commissioned a 48" x 64" painting from this series. I'm excited to paint that one on such a large canvas. I typically buy my canvases pre-stretched, but the cost gets a bit prohibitive for anything larger than a 30" x 40". Roll canvas is the way to go, in my opinion, for larger paintings. Shipping larger paintings can cost a bundle, and in this market your patron's dollar is better spent on the art than getting it there.

I'm pleased to announce that I have a new apprentice as well. He's been working with me for a couple of weeks now, and has a background in literature, photography, web design and programming. It's been great having someone to work with, and he brings the kind of enthusiasm to my studio that reminds me of when I was in art school. I look forward to seeing his work progress, and I'm enjoying the collaboration too.

Tip of the Day
Shop around for the best deal on your art supplies. The major suppliers for painting include ASW, Dick Blick, and Jerry's Artarama. I highly recommend signing up for their emails that advertise sales on materials, and to plan enough ahead to take advantage of low or no-cost ground shipping. There are certain costs that you have absolutely zero control over: listing fees on sales venues, shipping charges, phone, internet, etc. Take advantage of things like sales on art supplies so you can increase your margin as much as possible.

Quote of the Day
"The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis." --Dalai Lama

Today's Paintings 4.18.09

Abstract Poppies III
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Utah Sunrise Manti La Sal National Forest VI
Original 66" x 28" 0.75" painting
Three 22" x 28" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

The Abstract Poppies series is going like hotcakes! Both of this painting's big sisters sold within a day of being listed on my sales venues. So I felt compelled to paint another one today. My other painting for today is the newest in the Utah Sunrise series, which is also quite popular among my patrons.

Quote of the Day
"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." --Steve Jobs

Today's Paintings 4.17.09

Abstract Sunrise
Original 30" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Abstract Poppies II
Original 24" x 30" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery wrapped-canvas

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American Basin (Commission)
Original 36" x 48" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics

Today's work includes two new abstract paintings--Abstract Sunrise and Abstract Poppies II--as well as an update to my commission in progress--American Basin. The first two pieces are my newest forays into the world of abstracts. Abstract Sunrise is a new composition, and the poppies is the latest in the Abstract Poppies series. That painting's big sister, which I listed yesterday on my sales venues, sold today (woo hoo!). Sales of my work have been on a roller coaster lately, but in this economy I am pleased to be selling, period. Fortunately the commission work has been fairly steady for almost three months now.

Tip of the Day
How you list your work on sales venues depends a lot on the venue. Some venues allow you to use HTML, and others only allow you to enter text in the listing. For those of you who are familiar with HTML, you can design fairly elaborate templates for listing your work with few restrictions. For those of you who are not as familiar with HTML, you can use a familiar word processing program such as MS Word to create a document and save it as HTML for later publishing on your sales venue.

There are also organizations out there, such as EBSQ Art (ebsqart.com), and others which are free to join, which offer HTML templates you can download and modify to suit your taste. Also, many listing venues have an HTML editor built into their sites which function in a similar manner to a word processing program like MS Word. You can modify things like fonts, colors, add photos, etc.

Just like with a good meal, presentation makes a big difference. If you have the option to use HTML of your own creation or a template, it's worth it to invest the time into creating a good one for presenting your work to buyers. Just like having good photos of your work, as mentioned in yesterday's Tip of the Day (TOD), a pleasant, eye-catching template can make the sale for you.

Quote of the Day
"Never take anything for granted." --Benjamin Disraeli

Today's Paintings 4.16.09

Oriental Blossoms V
Original 72" x 30" 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Abstract Poppies
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work includes a new edition in the Oriental Blossoms series, and a new poppies composition. A local patron in Denver purchased two of the Blossoms paintings yesterday, having found my work on one of my sales venues, and liked having the option of viewing her paintings before she purchased them.

Tip of the Day
I'm usually not lucky enough to have a local patron who can view my work in person before they buy. Most of my patrons are out of state, hence the necessity to have multiple, good photos of your work when selling it online. If they can't pick it up and hold it, and examine it closely, you have to give them the next best thing: several views of the piece you're selling, including close-ups. I, and many other painters, also include a "room shot" like the one below so that potential buyers can see what the painting will look like on the wall. It's not going to be their wall, but it gives them a sense of what my paintings look like when hung.

Example Room Shot Featuring Oriental Blossoms V

Quote of the Day
"I have come to terms with a lot of things, because, when all's said and done, there's really very little one can do about a lot of things. You just accept them. The point is you just have to keep on working and you just have to keep on living." --Jim Dine

American Basin Commission

American Basin Commission
Original 36" x 48" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics

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Original Patron's Photo

Today's painting is a work in progress on a commission I'm doing of the American Basin, which is in the San Juan mountains of Colorado. The original commission of this work was done from another patron's original photo (above). I'm often asked to do commissions from patron's original photos, usually with additional input of what else they'd like to see in their paintings. This version of American Basin is for a patron in New York who runs a gallery. I have this and a couple of other examples of commissions I've done on my web site.

Tip of the Day
Getting the word out about your work and getting exposure online may seem like an arduous task. Do I need a web site? How do I copy protect images of my work? Where are the best sites to list my work or display my portfolio? How do I manage my work if I'm listing on multiple sales venues? Are those emails I get stating they'll get my web site highly ranked in search results legit? Do I have to take credit cards on my web site to sell my work?

These and other questions will be answered through our workshop. My husband and I are teaching Selling Your Artwork Online at Colorado Free University in Denver, and will also be hosting classes at the Englewood Jerry's Artarama in the coming weeks for those of you in the Denver metro area.

For those of you who live elsewhere, or can't make it to the metro area for any of our class dates, we're soon going to be offering our workshop as an online offering through Colorado State University's Continuing Education online starting in May. Stay tuned for announcements of live or online class dates in my Announcements section (top right corner of this blog, and on my home page.

Quote of the Day
"Ah, the first step in humility: Listening." --Dr. Michael Beckwith

Today's Paintings 4/14/09

Aspen Grove in Autumn
Original 72" x 30" x 0.75" painting
Three 24" x 30" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Path to Bard Falls Commission
Original 18" x 24" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics

Today's work includes a new composition - Aspen Grove in Autumn - as well as a commission of the Path to Bard Falls series. Aspen Grove is a new composition in my decorative line, and was inspired by the lovely autumn scenery here in Colorado. Path to Bard Falls is a composition I've enjoyed painting since I started painting as my day job, and depicts the path to Bard Falls on Sawkill Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River. Bard Falls is on the campus of Bard College, west of Red Hook, New York where my parents live.

Tip of the Day
Customer service when selling your art online is as important as--if not more important--than selling your work in a face-to-face setting. Your feedback on a sales venue is your "report card" from previous buyers of your work, and has a direct influence on how well regarded you are within the buyer community of any sales venue. The way to get great feedback: provide great customer service.

Honor the terms of your sale. Communicate often and well with your buyers so they're in the loop on every step of the transaction--the sale, when you receive payment, when you'll ship their purchase, when you have shipped their purchase. Ship your product as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality. Buyers also like to receive a tracking number so they can monitor when they'll receive their purchase. Attention to detail is important.

Leave feedback for your buyers as well, so that other sellers have some insight into what kind of customer they are, as well as providing good will and expressing your appreciation for the buyer's purchase.

Quote of the Day
"If life wanted to hand me lemons, I'd not only make lemonade, but I'd use the zest for cookies, plant seeds for future fruit and turn the rind into compost to grow flowers, all the while giving thanks for lemons." --Bridgette Mongeon

Red Poppies

Red Poppies
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today was a busy day working on commissions and new compositions, so I've pulled one from the archive of recent works for today's post. I'm pleased to say that Red Poppies lasted about 24 hours on my sales venues before it was purchased back in January. I know that it brought some joy to the patron who bought it, and hopefully got them out of their winter doldrums.

Tip of the Day
Another tax-related bit for today: bear in mind that the IRS only allows you to deduct the cost of materials for any art you donate to a charitable organization.

Quote of the Day
"At the museum a troubled woman destroys a sand painting meticulously created over days by Tibetan monks. The monks are not disturbed. The work is a meditation. They simply begin again." --Susan Griffin

First Dibs

First Dibs
Original 30" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's painting is a new abstract composition in my decorative line of paintings. I've begun to venture into the realm of more abstract paintings as a challenge to myself, and to broaden the selection of my work for my patrons. Abstracts are among the most difficult compositions to paint, despite their seemingly apparent simplicity. The challenge for me is to create abstract compositions that are cohesive and fluid. They are a reminder of the joy I find in challenging myself, as well as the sheer joy of painting.

Tip of the Day
Tax day is on the horizon. It's an important reminder for artists selling their work to remember the business side of what they're doing. As much as we love the creative side of what we do, the practical matters of being in business for yourself require some of your time and attention. All of your materials you purchase to create, sell, and ship your work come right off the top of your taxable income. It's important to maintain good records of what you spend on things like art supplies, shipping supplies, postage and delivery charges, fees paid to sell and promote your work, etc. for preparing your tax return.

Quote of the Day
"Art doesn't begin with a brush and a palette, but with the artist's ability to perceive life. You have to learn how to live before you can learn how to paint." --Dean Mitchell

Prairie Creek and Sky VI

Prairie Creek and Sky VI
Original 72" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work included the latest in the Prairie Creek and Sky series on three 24" x 36" canvases. This painting's big sister, which I listed on my sales venues two days ago, sold this morning to a patron in New Hampshire who's bought reproductions of my work from artistrising.com. He also expressed interest in a commission (new original) of one of my compositions Red Cows, en route to Rollins Pass, which may be viewed in my online portfolio.

Tip of the Day
One of the issues with shipping your art to patrons is protecting your product during shipping. Let's face it--with shippers using automated equipment to move things along there is some risk involved shipping fragile items whether or not they're marked as "Fragile." I ship my paintings with extra cardboard cut to size against the canvas. Many people use bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts (a.k.a. "ghost poop"), but those types of packing materials are a cost center too. I use newspaper for packing material. It's inexpensive, and a green alternative to plastic.

Quote of the Day
"Where you stumble, there lies your treasure." --Joseph Campbell

Today's Paintings 4/9/09

Daffodils II
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Abstract Floral
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's paintings are a celebration of the season. Daffodils are in bloom around town, and I felt compelled to paint some. I also have a patron who asked for a commission of my original Daffodils piece, so I decided to have fun with it and paint another to list on my sales venues.

The second painting I did today, Abstract Floral, is a new composition, and I hope that this style of painting proves to be popular among my patrons. This painting is somewhat of a departure from my usual style, but it was fun to try something new, too.

Tip of the Day
Shipping your work to your patrons is a cost center. No way around that. However, there are ways to reduce your expenses. Given that I ship paintings, I have found that I need boxes that I can combine in order to ship anything larger than a 18" x 24" canvas. For larger canvases--30" x 40" or larger--I use mirror boxes that I purchase from a storage company.

Quote of the Day
"Nothing worthwhile ever happens quickly and easily. You achieve only as you are determined to achieve..." --Robert H. Lauer

Prairie Creek and Sky V

Prairie Creek and Sky V
Original 88" x 28" x 0.75" painting
Four 22" x 28" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

I decided to go large on today's work--a four-canvas edition of my Prairie Creek and Sky series. The series is inspired by wide open spaces found in many parts of the country. Here in Colorado we have so many different kinds of ecosystems in one state: mountains, prairie, desert, and variations in the transitional areas between.

Tip of the Day
Photographing your work can be a time-consuming process, and depending on what you intend to use your photos for the choices you make in processing your photos make a big difference. If you're shooting photos for the web, keep in mind that many people don't have their monitors set for high resolution--so the size of your photos should be taken into consideration. Photos larger than 600 pixels high may require your viewers to do a lot of scrolling to see the entire image.

Also, color depth varies on monitors too, so your images may look great on your monitor and not so great on someone else's. My photos for the web are all 72 dpi. Brightness and contrast make a difference in what the viewer sees too, and since color rendering varies from monitor to monitor it's important that your images are crisp and clear. Since monitors vary so much it's necessary to find a middle ground for images that will work well for most viewers.

Quote of the Day
"There is an art to living life fully and paying attention to the details." --Anne Copeland

Creek in Autumn

Creek in Autumn
Original 22" x 28" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's painting was inspired by photos I took last fall. While I'm anxious for warmer weather, spring and autumn are my favorite seasons to paint. This is a new composition for me, which I hope my patrons enjoy. The soft touch of the clouds and red leaves, and the illusion of space are the challenges I enjoy when creating a painting like this one.

Tip of the Day
One of the first things we discuss in our workshop on selling your art online is defining your goals. Why are you putting your art online? Are you establishing an online presence for your work? Hoping to sell your work online? Do you want to put your portfolio online? Increase your exposure to galleries, publishers, and patrons? It's important that you define your goals for putting your work online, so that you have a clear direction on what it is you hope to achieve, and so you can take the necessary next steps to realize your goals.

Quote of the Day
"Be winged arrows aiming at fulfillment and goal." --Paul Klee

Rocky Mountain Sunburst

Rocky Mountain Sunburst
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

I've been working on commissions all weekend of paintings from series I've posted here recently, so I thought I'd post one from the archives. This painting is one of my landscapes I painted last summer featuring the Rocky Mountains of my adoptive home state Colorado. I've lived here for nearly 20 years and never tire of the natural beauty that is all around me here. My family and I love to hike in landscapes just like this one, and hope to have lots of good trail time this summer.

Tip of the Day
It's easy to find low or no cost venues to display your online portfolio and increase exposure--such as blogger.com. Be sure to include links to your blog in your email signature line and on your web site if you have one--and vice versa. Also, if you network with other artists, discuss sharing links with them to help them promote their web site and/or blog in exchange for promoting yours. According to Google the more places with links to your web site or blog the greater your chances of improving your ranking in search engine results.

Quote of the Day
"... that is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way." --Doris Lessing

Blustery Day

Blustery Day
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

We've had some really windy days this winter and spring, which were the main inspiration for this painting. I also liked the motion that this painting conveys. I borrowed the tree shape from my Twisted Apple Tree series, which I normally depict as a springtime painting with pink blossoms--and which my patrons thoroughly enjoy.

My husband and I presented a workshop today on selling artwork online at our local Jerry's Artarama in Englewood, CO. We presented 90 minutes of a 6-hour workshop that we'll be giving at Colorado Free University on April 25 from 9:00-4:00. We had a tremendous turnout at Jerry's today--60 people! I want to personally thank everyone who attended today, as well as the staff at Jerry's for their assistance and professionalism. We are hoping to offer our full workshop at Jerry's in the coming months, so stay tuned!

Quote of the day: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." --Dalai Lama

Today's Paintings 4/3/09

Sunrise Poppies VI
Original 18" x 24" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Prairie Creek and Blue Sky
Original 30" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work features the latest in my Sunrise Poppies and Prairie series. The prairie landscapes feature large expanses of blue or red skies, sometimes with or without the creek. My patrons from all over the US have expressed their interest in the paintings from this series, and I enjoy painting them too.

My husband and I are starting a series of classes on selling your artwork online. There are numerous venues, strategies, and opportunities for artists and craftspersons to sell their work and quit their day jobs, depending on how much time, effort, and diligence you can bring to the table.

Starting next week I'll be featuring a Tip of the Day for how to sell your work online, so stay tuned.

Quote of the day: "Technical skills can be learned by almost anyone who has the determination to pursue it, but innovative ideas and the ability to express them come from some place beyond the material world." --Carole Ann Borges

Today's Paintings 4/2/09

Still Life with Roses and Peach
Original 16" x 20" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

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Red Poppies on Blue Sky XI
Original 48" x 20" x 0.75" painting
Three 16" x 20" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's work features a new still life, and the newest edition in the Red Poppies on Blue Sky series, which is one of my signature series of paintings. One of my patrons has purchased two in this series--one for her home, the other for her office--because, as she says, "I only have to look at your paintings and no matter what I'm feeling at the moment it always brings a smile to my face."

Quote of the day: "A human being is a part of a whole, called by us 'universe,' a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." --Albert Einstein

Young America Road Commission

Young American Road Commission
Original 34" x 40" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics

Today's work includes a commission from my Young American Road series. Young America Road is where my brother used to live in Germantown, New York, by the Hudson River. I spent the latter years of my adolescence in the Hudson River Valley, and often draw upon my memories and family photos as inspiration for paintings of that area.

Quote of the day: "Peace begins with me." --Thich Nhat Hanh