The Germ Of Happiness

"Growth itself has the germ of happiness."

~ Pearl S. Buck

To me, art is, and always has been, an endlessly exciting experiment.  I am fascinated by the exploration of a world with such diverse, limitless possibilities. Continuing to stretch my physical and mental boundaries as an artist and instructor, keeps me feeling young, alive, engaged and energized. 

Alcohol ink has certainly turbo-charged my peregrination over the past five years! Now, painting almost exclusively in alcohol ink, except for an occasional watercolor on Yupo paper, doors have opened up to me that never even existed before. I am so grateful to be one of the pioneers in the alcohol ink, fine art world. I feel so lucky to live in a day and age when I can connect with a whole community of others traveling the same art "dreamway" with a tap of my finger. The work and journeys of lots of awesome artists online and in-person is a continuing form of enjoyment, growth and inspiration.

After days of editing my video for our spring a.i. conference, I'm (understandably) in a Vincent van Gogh state of mind ... Thanks to Sharen Ak Harris, here's my first attempt on blackout film - "Starry Night Lighthouse" on modeling film and on black vinyl. See my discoveries and comparisons below!

Below is an experiment I did in alcohol inks on

Modeling Film (on the left) and Glossy Vinyl (on the right)

Starry Night Lighthouse on Modeling Film and Glossy Vinyl

*My Opinions and Discoveries

Modeling film                                     Vinyl

Wipe Back -                 didn't wipe back clean                        vinyl wipes back clean

Ink w/ Snowcap -           soft, creamy texture                                 harder lines

Color -                             softer/ more muted                            brighter/ more contrast

Application -                    Less surface glide                             Inks slide on surface

My Cost -                   $15. for 6) 8 x 10" sheets                   $19. for 40) 12 x 12" sheets

*These are my personal findings and not necessarily that of  the majority of other users.

Learn how I achieved this look by watching my 45 min. video - STARRY NIGHT IN ALCOHOL INK
- Make sure to catch my 'INSPIRED BY VAN GOGH' presentation (on Yupo paper, along with 11 other presentations) at the SPRING 2018 ALCOHOL INK ART CONFERENCE - LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE!!!
  This is a Virtual (online) conference - watch the sessions from the comfort of your own studio or home 
- All sessions streamed on a private FB group 
- Lifetime access to replays of sessions and access to materials
- win wonderful door prizes compliments of our SPONSORS! (Ranger, Jacquard, Legion Paper, Marker Supply, and Art Resin)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Have a really great day!

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

Poplar ~ Tree of the Autumnal Equinox ~ # 22 of 30 ~SOLD

“Autumn is a second spring

when every leaf is a flower.”

~ Albert Camus

Today marks the autumn equinox this year. Equinox means "equal night" and on March 21st and Sept. 22nd, 2013, the day and night are of equal length. The autumnal equinox traditionally has been a time of harvest and thanksgiving. Spiritually, it is a celebration of "going within", preparing for the darkness and a kind of symbolic death and resurrection. Now daylight will continue to decline until December 21st, marking the winter solstice, when the days once again slowly begin to get longer. Throughout the history of mankind, many legends, rituals and beliefs are centered around the changing of the seasons. There are as many varied beliefs as there are cultures. One of the most interesting I found was the Celtic Connection of the Autumnal Equinox to the Poplar Tree. Do you know of any you'd like to share?

#22 of 30

Myths, Fables, Folk Tales and Legends

Moving into the Dark 4" x 6" original hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper Acid-free Mat w/ Backing in sleeve - 5" x 7" Signed and certified by the artist.

Moving into the Dark

4" x 6" original hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper

Acid-free Mat w/ Backing in sleeve - 5" x 7"

Signed and certified by the artist.

• SOLD

“But then fall comes,

kicking summer out on its treacherous ass

as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September,

it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed.

It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair

and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with

stories of places he has been and things he has done

since last he saw you.”

~ Stephen King

Many thanks to Katherine Thomas for suggesting the subject of today's legend.

Happy fall y'all!

Legends Surrounding a Blue Moon ~ #21 of 30 ~ SOLD

"There are nights when the wolves are silent

and only the moon howls."

~George Carlin

A blue moon happens when there are more than two full moons in a month. It just happened on August 31st. The moon was just full on Thursday, but it won't be blue again until 2015. There are many old superstitions about doing things under a blue moon. You can find some of them here. 

#21 of 30

Myths, Fables, Folk Tales and Legends

Blue Moon 11" x 9.5" original hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper Acid-free Mat w/ Backing in sleeve - 16" x 20" Signed and certified by the artist.

Blue Moon

11" x 9.5" original hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper

Acid-free Mat w/ Backing in sleeve - 16" x 20"

Signed and certified by the artist.

• SOLD

Thanks for taking the time to look at my work.

Hope you have a starry night!