South Haven

We spent a lovely week-end with friends at a beach house in South Haven Michigan. OK technically the house wasn't on the beach but it was within walking distance. The weather was hot for Michigan so I actually got in the water. There were several rickety stairs to traverse to get to and back from the beach. The stairmaster is a piece of cake compared to these stairs!

Summer is Here

My peonies and lilacs have opened up! It is 85 degrees today which is quite unusual for May! I picked some of the flowers and brought them into the house. It smells heavenly in here!

Card #34 Abstracted Fireplace

I had one busy week and my painting went by the wayside once again. I did a garage sale with two girlfriends last week. I spend two days pulling things out and pricing. I spend three days at the garage sale. People that shop at garage sales love a bargain! It doesn't matter that you spent $40 on a sweater and it was worn once--they want to spend 50 cents! Hard lesson learned!

Back to painting. The "Abstracted Fireplace" is a portion of a fireplace mantel. The left side is a candlestick, next to it is a picture frame. The fireplace itself has a ornamental front made from plaster. That's what the curving lines are. I think it made an interesting composition.

Card #33 Abstracted Chair

Using a photo of the HGTV Green Home family room, I took a small section of the room and tried to find a balanced composition. The area I painted is the arm of the floral chair with the pillow in blue and the blanket in red. The edges of my photo look a little wonky but the paper curled up a bit. Once I put it in the plastic sleeve it will straighten out. I have been entering the green home sweepstakes every day. The fabric on one of the chairs in the sitting room is very similar to a painting I did last fall. I think that's a sign I am going to win!

First Sale

I listed my flowers on etsy yesterday afternoon. This morning when I checked my emails I had a sale! I am so excited! My first sale! I only had four things listed so I had better get busy!

Flowers on etsy

I am now listing my handmade flowers on my etsy site. I did lots of research before I did it. I keep coming up with more ideas so I think I am on the right track. I just got in the mail some small clutch purses that I am going to decorate with flowers. I haven't had any art sales (yet) but I hope my flowers will get the ball rolling!

Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger lately. I have been caught up in painting some larger paintings and making flowers. I have also been searching for display items to use for doing art and craft fairs. Yesterday I found an old suitcase at Kane's Town Hall Antiques in Romeo, Michigan. It is similar to one I used as a kid. It was old even then! I am going to use it to display my flowers. I also found a vintage purse that I am going to add a flower with a sparkly earring center. The weather here is cold and rainy. It is perfect creating weather!

Fish and art show opening

Check out the fish at the bottom of my blog. They will follow the cursor and then click and the fish will be fed.

I went to my friend Tari Kahrs art show opening last night at Little Monsters/Flint Street gallery in Lake Orion. Tari has a very nice collection of fruits, vegetables and flowers in pastel. Tari also makes jewelery. The show will be up for the month of May.

Card #32 Abstracted Map

I painted this card as a study for a larger painting. It is an abstracted map of the city of Boston and the Harvard square area. I would love to go there someday soon. The highways are the yellow lines and the streets are the black lines. The green areas are the park areas.

Card #31 Luna

As I continue on my circular journey I have created more cards. This one looks very outerspacey. After removing the tape I discovered it had been placed a bit crookedly. It isn't perfectly framed but I like it anyways!

In the works

This is a painting in progress. I am really liking this one but I don't think it is quite done. I wanted to share anyways. The background color in the photo looks almost brownish but it is really purple. I'll take another photo when I am done.

Card #30 Sampler

Happy Monday! This card painting is another example of my tea and spraying technique. I added a linear element with the circles. I am really enjoying this series.

Giveaway

A fellow VAST member has on her blog a giveaway through U Print. If you go to her blog http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/ 2010/05/rolled- canvas-giveaway- your-image/ you can win a chance to have your artwork printed on a 16 x 20 canvas.

Card #29 Red Moon

I forgot to do my posting yesterday! I worked out at the gym and then I worked in the yard all afternoon weeding and trimming shrubs back. I only got half-way across the backyard and ran out of steam. I have a big yard.

Today's painting is going further with my circles theme. I have started a larger painting using the same technique. It is great when a smaller card painting inspires me to do more, larger paintings.