Painting Exhibit Extended Through December

"There is no telling how many miles

you will have to run

while chasing a dream."

Charge On Rhinoceros Spirit!

What I've learned so far ...
In order to become a successful artist, one must grow 2" thick skin
and continually charge after goals with persistence and tenacity.

Our Black Friday, Saturday (& Sunday) Sale was fairly successful. Everyone who came had a super good time and left with some free gifts and new art treasures. Although more than a dozen pieces of art found new homes (or will be waiting for one under the Christmas tree), this event did not meet my projected goals. I was disappointed in the number of people who actually showed up. If I had a dollar for everyone who said they were coming and didn't, I could buy myself a very nice dinner. It's human nature that people are trying to be nice, I guess. So tell me artists, don't you prefer honesty over brown-nosing politeness? If someone dosen't have any intention of coming why tell me otherwise? It's like hearing the old line, "I'll be back" at art shows. One time after hearing that a dozen times in a single day, I just blurted out in frustration, "Oh, no you won't!" I know it was wrong of me, but now it kind of makes me chuckle to remember the shocked look on that well intentioned lady's face.

It took a lot of planning and a couple of days of hard work to get the studio set up for this event. We are very pleased with the display and have decided to leave it up during the month of December.

I am offering appointments to view over 150 framed and 100 matted original watercolors accompanied by 30 gallery wrapped and framed acrylics painted over the past decade. 

A 20% discount will be applied to all items purchased at the studio until Christmas. This is a substantial savings. My regular original painting prices will be going up 10% as of January 1, 2014.

I also have gift certificates which can be used for lessons, paintings and prints; all purchased now through the end of the month at a 20% discount. 

I hope some of you local people reading this will consider making an appointment to come by my studio.

Give me a call at: 609.268.9106

or email me at: Sandy@SandySandy.com. 

I don't know if and when I'll have such a varied

collection of work on display together again.

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you didn't mind a little ranting.

Have a good one!

☺

Black Friday and Saturday Sale Extended Through Sunday!

After hours of set up for our Studio Sale,

Jerry and I have decided to leave the show up

and extend the sale through Sunday.

Sat. Hours - 9:30am- 4pm

Sunday Hours - 12 noon - 4pm

or call to make an appointment

Original paintings make lasting, memorable gifts.

They enhance any home or office environment.

(Many now under $50.)

Some pretty holiday gifts and accents.

My matted prints and originals are ready to

fit into a standard frame.

These tree paintings come with

the quote that inspired it on the back.

Sunny sunflowers will brighten up any room.

Over half of my tree series has been sold.

These are some that are still available.

Lighthouses and shack paintings delight those

with a love of the shore.

Give the gift of JOY with hummingbirds

that will brighten up even the darkest winter day.

Thanks to all the folks who came out,

supported the arts,independent businesses

and bought local at our studio today.

Here are a few of the nine paintings that sold today.

I added a cardinal in the tree to this one

after a suggestion from someone on facebook.

This is a smaller Yupo version of 

"Snowman in the Meadow",

one of my best sellers on iStock.

This cardinal never even made it out in public,

except being featured in my newsletter this month.

I hope by extending the sale,

I'll get to spread the joy of art

even further than before.

I'm looking forward to seeing old friends

and making some new ones

over the next couple of days!

Thanks for stopping by and for spreading the word about

this event to your family and friends.

Best Wishes Always to You and Yours

Black Friday and Saturday ~ ~ ~ Super-Duper Studio Sale !

"Seize opportunity by the beard,

for it is bald behind."

YES, I am doing it again!
And we're extending the Sale through
Sunday, Dec. 1st from Noon to 4pm

If you missed my first mind blowing,

money saving, Client Appreciation Event last month, 

or if you were here and just didn't get enough,

here's your second chance!

(Click to enlarge.)

Some photos from my October 19th and 20th BOGO Event

here at Sandarosa Studio.

New collectors, Steve and Cocoa.

The outside display with over 150 originals.

Me with a visiting high school classmate.

Cathy left with two new paintings

to hang in her home in California.

New collectors, Charleen and Bob left with

ten new paintings to brighten their home!

Here's the studio show set-up last month.

Some of the paintings •sold so far this year.

See my gallery of recent paintings here.

Hope to see you here at my studio

on November 29th and 30th!

Buy American this holiday season.

Everybody needs art

and it is the perfect gift.

What's hanging on your walls?

X ♥  O

Paying it Forward at Avalon Art Show

“Sail beyond the horizon;

fly higher than you ever thought possible;

magnify your existence by helping others;

be kind to people and animals of all shapes and sizes;

be true to what you value most;

shine your light on the world;

and be the person you were born to be.”

~ Blake Beattie

I'll be giving away some prizes (paying it forward) tonight and tomorrow

to some random visitors and to anyone that mentions seeing my

Avalon, NJ Art Show Notice here on my blog, SandySandyArt.com

or on my facebook business page, SandySandySpiritart.

Pictured above are some motivational magnets

that I'll be giving away while the supply lasts!

There are also some other great prizes.

I hope to see some of you there.

Whatever your plans, have a great weekend! 

X ♥  O

 

Great White Heron ~ Avalon, NJ Art Show and Sale ~ SOLD

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

Great White Heron

8.5" x 11" hand painted watercolor on synthetic paper, matted - $169.

acid free, white core mat & foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

fits a standard 11" x 14" frame / Framed - $219.

• SOLD

This is one of my new paintings that will be available for sale at the

Avalon Performing Arts Council  26th Annual Art Show.

Admission is free and it is inside the Avalon, NJ, Community Center,

this Friday, June 21st - Preview Show - from 7-9 pm 

and Saturday, June 22nd - Main Show - from 10 am - 4 pm.

If you are in the area, or just need an excuse to come down to the shore,

please come in and see me! I'm offering a special gift to

anyone who mentions seeing my show announcement online.

I will be featuring some of this year's new works

on Yupo paper so I've been busy organizing, framing and packing.

The paintings were laid out on the rack

on the studio floor to decide what to take.

Of course, Cutie Pye and Opie are always eager to help.

No job is complete without my extra special, highly qualified, inspection team. 

After they double checked each frame, every one was personalized with paw prints,

kitty hair and a nose smudge. What wonderful assistants they are!

Double the work, but definitely double the pleasure!

Hugs and Purrs, 

X ♥  O

 

Opie Darling and Princess Cutie Pye

Two More Sunflowers in Watercolor

I just finished my personal sunflower challenge. Here are two more paintings, done from a www.SketchingEveryday.com contour drawing. All are using the same drawing and medium, but with each, I am employing different techniques.

Painting #3 -

The third painting in this series was done on Yupo paper.

I haven't used it in a very long time. If you paint with a water

based medium and have never tried it, you should give it a shot!

It is fun, challenging and surprising!

Painting #4 - 

The final painting is executed in my usual approach,

wet into wet in two steps.

Which one(s) do you like or dislike and why?

As always, your feedback is eagerly awaited.

Thank you friends!

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

A Challenging Commission and a Bum Knee

For the last month, I've been working on a commission for a Ukrainian Priest! It's an involved project and at times I'm wishing that I had never agreed to do it at all. The Father came to my studio in December, loved my Spirit Art and bought an original watercolor. At that time, we talked about his ideas for a commissioned piece. He said, no rush, he just wanted it by Easter. So I didn't think much about it in January and February. Then all of a sudden, we were half way through Lent!

Sketch #1

His idea is to portray the soul (my interpretation here) ascending, with an angel holding a flaming sword in battle with the grim reaper or death (his interpretation). It is going to be big  (20-24" to 24 x30"). He's been thinking about this painting for a very long time and has many ideas. In Sketch # 1, I was thinking very loose and symbolic. Mostly monotone on the angel and reaper with minimal detail. The soul is the star here so it would be in bright yellow, orange and golds with a touch of blue for the eye and soul center. We agreed that the emphasis would be on the soul. Father O. liked the soul very much but thought the figures looked too cartoonish. It was tough understanding him over the phone with his thick accent, but I wrote down all the changes he wanted. In the meantime, I recruited the assistance of my friend, Judy, who had sent Father O. to me from her church. Judy owns a large collection of my work and that is where he first saw my paintings.

Sketch #2

Here is a color rendition of my second submission with all the requested revisions. It was done on tracing paper, Zeroxed and then colored in with pencil to give him an idea of the colors I had in mind. 

Sketch #3

Via Judy, Father O. wanted more changes, which I executed in sketch #3. Changes included flipping the image and multiple alterations to the angel and reaper.

Sketch #4

This is the last sketch I am doing, although Father hasn't seen it yet. It is full size. I have decided to do 3 small painting studies (soul, angel, reaper) so I can figure this out before I go large. I've only been doing small paintings lately and am afraid I'm rusty at working big. A painting of this size, done in transparent watercolor, with all the components involved, takes methodical planning and confident execution.

When I'm working on an illustration like this, I often use tracing paper, then resize elements on my copier and play around with the placement and scale. These are working drawings. They aren't pretty and don't photograph well. I was reluctant to even show them at all, but had time to kill and  thought maybe someone would be interested in seeing the process here.


I am writing this post on my laptop. My knee is on ice, propped up with pillows on the blow-up bed in the studio. Yesterday, I stepped off of the second rung of a tall ladder thinking it was the last step. Twisted my knee, leg, hip and ankle. Yes, it's a doozy and the clock is ticking on this commission. It's another lesson learned the hard way. When am I going to start  paying attention to what I am doing? Sometimes I feel like such a klutz! Do you think it is in my genes? If so, there is a possibility I get it from my dad.

Stay safe and unlike me, pay attention to what you are doing. Comments, feedback and suggestions are always appreciated here, my friends, thanks!