Happy Winter Solstice

"The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness

that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination,

a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable,

like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon,

bursting forth into unexpected glory."

~ Gary Zukav

Winter Solstice ~ Alcohol Ink on Yupo

 

"Of winter's lifeless world each tree


Now seems a perfect part;


Yet each one holds summer's secret


Deep down within its heart."

~ Charles G. Stater


MAY MADNESS SALE!

"I started collecting art... simply because 

I wanted pictures to hang on the wall. 

I noticed what a difference a picture 

could make to the ambience of a room, 

and indeed how shifting work around 

could change a room's whole feeling."

~ Michael Audain

IN HONOR OF . . . . BIRTHDAYS - WEDDINGS - ANNIVERSARIES 

GRADUATIONS - CHRISTENINGS - FATHER'S DAY . . . . .
Buy any original painting 

(16 x 20" or smaller)

and get it framed  FREE!! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 10 DAYS ONLY - MAY 21 - MAY 31

Wishing You Much Joy and Many Blessings! 
X ♥  O

Evaluating Yupo Paper Vs. PI-180

"What works for one artist doesn't necessarily work for another - try anything and everything and go with what works for you."

~ Paul Dixon

Yupo paper Vs. PI-180 Comparison Test

A few months back, Rocheux International in Sommerset, NJ contacted me about trying out their synthetic paper. Chris wrote to me that his company supplies a similar product to Yupo and asked if I'd be interested in evaluating their product. I agreed to let them know how their paper compares.

Provided with some of their PI-180 grade, which was closest to the 74# white Yupo., I immediately noticed that it was not quite as heavy as the 74# and had a slicker surface.

Yesterday, after a little prodding from Chris, some tests were conducted. using alcohol inks - the same colors and process on each set, (Yupo on the left and PI-180 on the right). Each set was painted simultaneously and the sequence and timing were relatively the same for both.

Out of all the tests, I liked the Yupo the best for the ability to lift the pigment from the paper. The surface of the PI-180, although slicker, seemed to drag more as if working on a paper with more tooth. Notice how the middle paintings differ. Once set, the ink hardly moved with the splattering of alcohol on the PI-180. That being said, I really love the colors on the PI-180 in the bottom set.

Playing around a little with watercolor on them and yeilded similar results. The pigment on the PI-180 surface seemed to drag and not lift as easily as on the Yupo.

Bottom line - These experiments are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more would have to be done, using more techniques and mediums to come to more firm conclusions. The PI-180 may be a viable alternative when using some techniques. Price comparison, where it is made, if and when this paper will be available to the public is unknown to me. If you wish to find out more and possibly get some samples to test for yourself, you can contact Chris at: ykao@rocheux.com

"All life is an experiment.

The more experiments you make the better."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

 

A HALLOWEEN WEEK GIVEAWAY!

"Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,


Voices whisper in the trees, 'Tonight is Halloween'!"


~Dexter Kozen

It's Halloween week! (And guess what I'm going to be this year?!) In celebration of my favorite holiday of the year, I decided to launch A HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY. THIS  SATURDAY I'll pick someone by 3:00pm EST through RandomNumber to receive this free original alcohol ink painting by yours truly.  All you have to do to win it, is comment below this blog post or under the original post on my facebook art page and include the words, "I love Halloween." or "I'm in!" (If you comment on both, you'll get two entries.) Open to everyone worldwide! Good luck! Please pay it forward and share. 

I will announce the winner on this blog and on my facebook art site. The winner will have 24 hrs. to respond by email to: Sandy@SandySandy.com with their mailing address. If I do not hear from them, the next name will be announced and they will also have 24 hrs. to respond and so on.

Thanks for stopping by and GOOD LUCK my pretties!

X ♥ O

Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway ~ WINNERS!

CONGRATULATIONS 

to the lucky winners of my 2014

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY

*#1 Sheila Delgado

*#2 TomandPattyWilson

*#3 Anke Vd Berg-Quanjer

*#4 Dorrie Crouse-Heil

*#5  Janet Werdin

*#6 Pam Takas

*#7 Lee Gates

*#8 Sheila Delgado

*#9 Margo Merritt

*#10 Nancy Magee

*#11 Beth Weatherford

*#12 Dorrie Crouse-Heil

*Winners have 48 hrs (until 9pm EST on Dec. 27th to email me at: Sandy@SandySandy.com with their mailing address.)*Winners who have responded and sent mailing addresses which have been recorded so far. 

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."  ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Thanks to everyone who entered
and especially to those who shared my posts!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!

Hope you had a really super Christmas day!

X ♥  O

Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway ~ Day 12

On the twelfth day of Christmas

My true love gave to me,
Twelve drummers drumming,

Eleven pipers piping,

Ten lords a leaping

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a milking, 

Seven swans a swimming,

Six geese a laying, 

Five golden rings,   

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtledoves, 

And a partridge in a pear tree

~~~~"The Twelfth Day of Christmas~~~~~ 2.5 x 3.5" Original Alcohol Ink Painting

~~~~"The Twelfth Day of Christmas~~~~~

2.5 x 3.5" Original Alcohol Ink Painting

"Twelve Drummers Drumming"

 12 Days of Christmas

 whimsical festive series

Enter everyday to win a different ACEO Painting!

Comment  Below with "I'm In" and

the more you share, the more entries you get.

Get all the details here. 

There will be a separate drawing for each painting,

 so make sure you are signed up for them all!

Twelve Paintings and over 12 chances to win!

You can click the header banner at the top of this page then scroll through
and get yourself "IN" on them all.  GOOD LUCK ! !

"The only difference between a good day

and a bad day is your attitude." 

~ Dennis S. Brown

Have a super-duper Christmas Eve day!

X ♥  O

Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway ~ Day 11

On the eleventh day of Christmas

My true love gave to me,

Eleven pipers piping,

Ten lords a leaping

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a milking, 

Seven swans a swimming,

Six geese a laying, 

Five golden rings,   

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtledoves, 

And a partridge in a pear tree

~~~~"The Eleventh Day of Christmas~~~~~ 2.5 x 3.5" Original Alcohol Ink Painting

~~~~"The Eleventh Day of Christmas~~~~~

2.5 x 3.5" Original Alcohol Ink Painting

"Eleven Pipers piping"

 12 Days of Christmas

 whimsical festive series

Enter everyday to win a different ACEO Painting!

Comment  Below with "I'm In" and

the more you share, the more entries you get.

Get all the details here. 

There will be a separate drawing for each painting,

 so make sure you are signed up for them all!

Twelve Paintings and over 12 chances to win! 

"Happy are those who dream dreams

and are ready to pay the price

to make them come true."

Have a happy day!

X ♥  O

Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway ~ Day 10

On the tenth day of Christmas

My true love gave to me,

Ten lords a leaping, 

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a milking, 

Seven swans a swimming,

Six geese a laying, 

Five golden rings,   

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtledoves, 

And a partridge in a pear tree

~~~~"The Tenth Day of Christmas"~~~~~ 2.5 x 3.5" Original Alcohol Ink Painting

~~~~"The Tenth Day of Christmas"~~~~~

2.5 x 3.5" Original Alcohol Ink Painting

"Ten Lords a Leaping"

 12 Days of Christmas

 whimsical festive series

Enter everyday to win a different ACEO Painting!

Comment  Below with "I'm In" and

the more you share, the more entries you get.

Get all the details here. 

There will be a separate drawing for each painting,

 so make sure you are signed up for all of them!

Twelve Paintings and over 12 chances to win! 

“Life is a gamble. There are no sureties.

If you want something badly,

you'd have to trust your heart and your instincts

and then take a leap of faith.” 

~ Alyssa Urbano

X ♥  O