Yupo Paper Giveaway!

Announcing a Yupo Paper Giveaway Sponsored by Legion Paper! This contest will be open to Yupo Artists in the USA and Canada. Complete details will be released soon. There will be six prizes, each totaling more than $70.USD in retail value! To become eligible and receive all details as they become available, join the YUPO ARTISTS GROUP ON FACEBOOK HERE. #DoItOnYupo  #LegionPaper  #YupoWithSandy

 Good luck and happy creating!

X ♥  O

 

Mother, As Sweet As A Flower

"If love is as sweet as a flower,

then my mother is that sweet flower of love."
~ Stevie Wonder

HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you moms; of humans and fur babies!
I HOPE YOUR WEEKEND IS CREATIVELY FABULOUS! 

Please enjoy this FUN time-lapse #video of painting #Lilac-Like flowers in #alcoholink on #Yupo paper using #RangerInk's products. The mini ink dabber and the (controversial) BLENDING PEN were the main tools used to create this painting. Work in progress photos, with a detailed description of each step of this project is scheduled to appear on the Ranger Ink Blog on May 15th. I hope you enJOY this video, check out the #stepbystep pics on Monday and give this technique a try. Please pardon the cross posting, but I wanted to get this gift message out to all my creative online friends.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for helping me celebrate.

Have a great Mother's Day and happy creating!

X ♥  O

P.S. Don't forget, registration ends and the May 14th Spring Session 

gets rolled out this Sunday!

Alcohol Ink on Yupo Demo Sponsored by Legion Paper

"I value a "don't know" attitude highly,
because it's ambiguous, and fosters a 'beginner's mind'
in which there are more possibilities than in an 'expert's mind'."
~ Theresa Bayer 

 

I had the pleasure of doing an alcohol ink on Yupo demo
sponsored by Legion Paper at a local art club on Monday.

  
I was able to view the awesome art that these dedicated
seniors were working on when I first arrived. I could see that
the group was comprised of some very accomplished artists.

  
All were very attentive and eager to learn something new.

There was so much enthusiasm and so many great questions.
I just love those qualities!

OMG! I LOVE my job!!

Thanks to Marc Schotland and Legion Paper

for making these demonstrations possible! 

And thanks to the inspiring group of artists from the

Leisuretowne Art Club for having me.
 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old.

We grow old because we stop playing."

~ George Bernard Shaw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much for stopping by and for

helping me spread the joy of painting on Yupo paper!

Have a great day and happy creating!

X ♥  O

Feeling The Beauty Of Color and Form

"As the sun colors flowers, 
so does art color life."
~ John Lubbock
~~~~~~~

30 Paintings in 30 Days - 9/2015 -Sneak Peak

Tomorrow I will be starting my 6th

30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge.

So you'll be seeing a lot more blog posts here from me in September!

September 2015 - 30 in 30 Challenge sign up

I  have started "painting ahead" for the challenge. It's allowed and as a five time veteran, I highly recommend it because it really takes the pressure and stress away. It's such a great feeling knowing you have a few extras in your arsenal that you can post when life gets in the way or the day's work is a disaster. 

As you can see by my sneak peak, my theme this time around will again be abstracts painted in alcohol inks. 

Everyday I'll also be posting a picture of my art hanging in an exclusive penthouse setting, with a link to order your very own affordable print of the painting. Each piece will be offered in a wide variety of sizes and on lots of different surfaces from cards and canvases to shower curtains.
  
My goal this time around is to continue to feel the flow and experiment with the beauty of color and form. I'd also like to connect with old friends and make new ones too. And of course, I look forward to getting my art into the hands of some new collectors! You can see my current abstract print offerings from
my last 30 in 30 challenge and beyond, on my website, here.

 If you are an artist, up for an incentive to paint a lot more this coming month, GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT A TRY! It really turbo-charged my painting career
back in January, 2013! You've got ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO LOSE!
 Find out all about it here.

Here's an overview of my past challenges:

# 1 - January, 2013 - Here's How that First Challenge Started:

The January 2013 Collection:

# 2 - Here's How the September 2013 - Second Challenge Started:

September 2013 - Second Challenge Series:

# 3 - Here's How the Third Challenge 1/1/2014 Started:

January 2014 - Third Challenge Collection:

# 4 - Here's How the September 2014 - Fourth Challenge Started:

September 2014 - Fourth 30 in 30 Collection:

# 5 - Here's How the January 2015 - Fifth Challenge Started:

January 2015 - Fifth 30 in 30 Collection: 

Wishing each and every one of you all the best in life.

Thanks so much for following along and cheering me on again in my journey.
Happy creating and/or collecting!

"Life beats down and crushes the soul and
art reminds you that you have one." 
~ Stella Adler

X ♥  O

Color Your World

"Art is the only way to run away
without leaving home." 
~Twyla Tharpe

"Mesmerized" Alcohol Ink Abstract Prints

It has been nearly a month since my last blog post here! The summer just kind of got away from me. I've been immersed with painting, planning and holding classes, workshops and Drink and Ink events. And there are so many hungry hummingbirds to feed (2 gallons of nectar a day) here at The Sandarosa. Then there's grass to cut, flowers to water and manicure and dozens of other critters to care for. Needless to say we have been occupied.

Amid the hustle of summertime life here on the farm, I did manage to finally get twenty-seven of my alcohol ink abstracts, including the one pictured above,  uploaded to a print-on-demand site. Many favorites are now available for purchase as art on canvas, paper, metal and acrylic in many sizes and 72 varieties. Pillows, shower curtains, tote bags, greeting cards and cell phone covers are also now offered. Numerous items would make affordable, unique gifts. It's not too early to get a head start on holiday gift giving either. Please take a look! I'd love to hear your feedback. You can browse my large selection of abstract prints-on-demand here.

I hope what's left of your summer is going well everybody.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Creating!
 X ♥  O

The Real Secret Is ...

“This is the real secret of life; 

to be completely engaged with 

what you are doing in the here and now. 

And instead of calling it work, 

realize it is play.”

~ Alan W. Watts

a. "Rising" ~ 8 x 10" matted original a.i. painting

Today I played with an alcohol ink color combination I had never tried before. It is packaged together by Ranger Industries, so I wanted to give these three hues a workout. These two paintings were both done with blowing the ink around - (painting a - with canned air) and (painting b - with my new mini air compressor). Both were done working with the same three colors: Cranberry, Lettuce and Eggplant. I found it to be an interesting mix of colors and plan on continuing my search for knowledge of what we can do together.

b. "Same High Moment" ~ 8 x 10"original a.i. painting

The piece below is one I've had on my table for a week or so. Today, subconsciously I added some highlights with white to the totally abstract background. I think spirit is trying to tell me something here.

"Ancient Spirit" ~ 10 x 8" a.i. matted on Yupo

What do you see?

BTW  - My horse, Rita, is doing very well, in case you were wondering.

Thanks again to all of you for rallying for her recovery from Potomac Horse Fever.

I'm patting myself on the back today for completing another blog post here
within a week instead of two this time! LOL ...

I hope your summer is continuing to go well everyone.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Creating!

X ♥  O

We Are All Part Of A Great Whole

"None of us is as smart as all of us." 

~ Kenneth Blanchard

"Follow Your Bliss" ~ Original 10 x 8" Matted A.I. on Yupo

 It's been a hectic, (mostly good) two weeks since my last blog post here!

I'm going to recap in blog order from most recent to oldest news.

The painting above, was one of many done yesterday in alcohol inks

using my new toy  tool.

What fun it is to blow the inks around!

"Rendezvous" ~ Original 5 x 7" Matted A.I. on Yupo

The alcohol ink workshop here at the studio on July 9th was so much fun

and overall, I think speaking for everyone, a wonderful learning and sharing event.

The next scheduled Alcohol Ink Workshop here at Sandarosa Studio

will be on September 10th! Most of the artists said they're coming back.

 I had a scare with my mare, Santa Margarita. She got real sick early last week, had a fever and was not eating.  She was treated with IV antibiotics for Potomac Horse Fever and seems to be recovering from the ordeal. Yesterday was the first day all week she ventured out into her pasture to eat some grass. Thanks to everyone on facebook who sent out caring, healing thoughts and prayers.

Braveheart is such a joy and is integrating into the family nicely.

Here's Braveheart's very first portrait. He's definitely part of the family now!

(Braveheart - 12 weeks old) 10 x 8" dbl. matted and framed alcohol ink painting.

I hope your summer is going well.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Creating!

X ♥  O