Prioritize Your Passion

“Persistence. Perfection. Patience. Power.

Prioritize your passion. It keeps you sane.”
~ Criss Jami, Killosophy

I attended a wonderful three day, Marketing Boot Camp

given by Leslie Saeta in Cape Cod this week. It was so great

to experience her amazing energy and that of all the other

incredibly accomplished artists who participated.

Mesmerized -alcohol ink on Yupo

While I was gone, I sold this large 30 x 40" print on metal
to a wonderful couple who live on the coast in Delaware.
Today I got this photo and note from the happy new owners.

"I get great satisfaction in creating a visual oasis

to gaze at for a moment of peaceful escape

from the turbulent world."

~ Evelyn Dayma

Thanks so much for stopping by!

X ♥  O

2013 Was A Very Yupo Year

"There is no harm
in repeating a good thing."
~ Plato

I just finished this painting and it is headed up to NYC to be included in

the corporate collection and gallery display of Legion Paper.

You can see snapshots of my trip to Legion Paper

and my Yupo Paper Demonstration on facebook.

See my NYC 2014 Spring Demo Schedule here.

Starry Starry Moonlit Night

11.5" x 14.5" original hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper

Signed and certified by Sandy Sandy

Corporate Collection, Legion Paper, NY, NY

• SOLD

Marketing Director, Marc Schotland, liked my "swirl series",

so I did several versions and this is the one he chose.

Looking back, it has been a Very Yupo Year!

I never dreamed that I'd paint over 160 "keeper" watercolors

on the slick synthetic surface in 2013. My success was largely

facilitated by the jump start I got listening to the Leslie's AHA

blog casts and participating in Ms. Saeta's 30 in 30 challenges.

In January 2014, I'll be doing my third

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge with Leslie Saeta

along with over 200 awesome artists worldwide.

I'm getting a little nervous though, because I'm still not
sure what my next month's theme will be.

In January 2013, I did "Paintings Inspired by Quotes About Trees"

and in September I did, "Legends, Myths and Folktales".

If you've got any ideas or suggestions, I'm all ears!

Follow along, come join in the fun and paint if you have the gumption.
In any case, wish us all luck and stick-to-a-tive-nous!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Oh, one last thing, I'd really appreciate a small favor tonight.

Please share my work and spread the word about my 

year end studio sale to your family and friends.

It would mean so much to me.

X ♥  O

THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP!

Best Wishes Always to You and Yours

The Crocus Among Us

"Springtime is the land awakening. 

The March winds are the morning yawn." 

~ Lewis Grizzard

The Crocus Among Us 5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10" Signed and Certified by the artist See purchase information here.

The Crocus Among Us

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10"
Signed and Certified by the artist
See purchase information here.

I've been listening to Leslie Saeta's Artists Helping Artists radio shows while I paint. I listened to yesterday's show today.  I was so fascinated and impressed with Carolyn Anderson's interview that I had to play it twice. What an amazingly accomplished and articulate artist she is! I was very impressed with her philosophy of art as well as with her fabulous interpretative oil paintings. I love what she writes in "Thoughts About Painting" ~ "Realist painting comes with its own set of parameters and craft can certainly be one of them. But I have yet to agree that craft alone will make a great painting. Craft without creativity is only part of the equation. When we make judgments about what is acceptable, or not, what is good, or not, and what “realism” is, or is not, we end up narrowing the possibilities of what our paintings can be.  Painting is about learning to see  - and hopefully, sharing how we see and what is visually important to us with others. We share a responsibility to interpret, not to try and re-create. We need to be open to the adventure of exploring, visual information. If we accept that what we paint can never be “real”, then we should be able to take our “reality” and see it in new and interesting ways." W O W! I would really love to take a workshop with this lady!

Well folks, spring fever is upon us! It's a time of rebirth and awakening that influences us whether we realize it or not. Don't you find that the longer, warmer days tend to renew your passions? Doesn't this season seem to interject more energy into your life? Do you find enthusiasm for new projects, inside and out? Am I alone in feeling that springtime produces a kind of kick in the pants, jump start or jolt effect? For me, it's almost a kind of urgency. For what, I'm not really sure. Maybe you have some ideas and could help me out by sharing your feelings about springtime here.

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"  ~ Mark Twain

Wishing you a great weekend

and all the blessings of spring!