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

Watercolor Palette Cleaning Tips

Today I'm sharing a few tips with my artist friends,

mostly learned through trial and error.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've learned the hard way, that sometimes there's a reason that I'm not getting the results I am seeking when my painting looks like crap is not so successful.

A less than ideal working palette is a definite hinderance. Especially when it is as disgustingly crusty, globbed up, dry and dirty as mine was.

Case in point.
UGH!

When using a covered palette with tube watercolors,

if you don't let it get this bad, fresh pigment can be added to the semi-hardened paint. Then the two consistencies can be stirred together with a smidgen of water to reconstitute it.

However, I have been neglecting my palette for months and there was not much I could salvage!

I had to scrape out the old stuff that was inundated with hard globs, brush hairs and dirt. Then scrub the crust from the wells and start with fresh squeezed pigment.

I used a butter knife, bristle brush, water and lots

of paper towels to accomplish the job.

When I finally got all the wells clean, I squeezed out new pigment using my Tube-Wringer which helps you get every possible drop out of the tube. As you probably already know, if you are still reading this, pigments can get expensive.

It's a real money saver and a big thumbs up from me.

Ah, now doesn't that look totally inviting?

Palette Colors from top left clockwise..... Cobalt Blue - Nice medium blue - has white in it Cobalt Violet - Nice non-staining violet - has white in it *Cadmium Red *Alizarin Crimson *Ivory Black *Burnt Sienna *Yellow Ochre *Naples Yellow - love this color, use it often *Titanium White - just started using this with my Yupos *Lemon Yellow *Gamboge - nice bright color - instead of Cadmium Yellow *Olive Green - Lukas - love this - color varies by maker Hooker's Green Dark Phthalo Green *Turquoise - American Journey or DaVinci- love this! Turquoise - Lukas - color varies by maker *Phthalo Blue *Ultramarine Blue * Colors most used (*Update - 2017 - See the small limited palette I am currently using here.)   The supplies shown above are my current choice for a thorough cleaning and a total palette makeover. They are a paint tube wringer, bristle brush, butter knife, water and pliers (to pry off caps and squeeze the very last splotch of paint from tube). You will also need plenty of paper towels, water and a spray bottle. My palette is a covered Robert E. Wood. When not painting for a couple of days, I uncover, spritz the paint with water, let it breathe for a while, respritz then recover.  Pigments My color choices have changed recently due to working on Yupo paper. I am now using more pigments with white in them as they seem to bind to the synthetic paper better.  I prefer DaVinci and Utrecht brand tube watercolors for their consistency, quality and price but I have also used Windsor and Newton, American Journey and Lukas. See some tips on working on Yupo paper here. Brushes The idea in my approach is to use the biggest brush you can and still get the job done. The bristle fan brush is occasionally used for texture and spattering. For my rounds, I use a lower quality synthetic brush that comes to a good point, but doesn't lose it's hairs. A word of advice don't let your palette get so grungy. This project took me hours! I hope you found a tip or two here that may be of some use to you. Happy creating!