Christmas Surprises!

 I love partnering with clients to create surprise gifts for their loved ones!  And I'm delighted when the recipient of the surprise loves the piece!  This was one of the pieces and I have to tell you, I would have loved to hang it on my wall :-)  It's 20x72" and makes quite a statement.  

As you can see, there is lots of textures in golden and rusty brown tones, with metallic accents.

 "Intertwined" was a hit with my client and her Mom who she gave it to and I am loving the macro shots I managed to take before it left the loft!  It's been a busy week, lots of family and ongoing fun happening, so I'm not painting or seeing much of blogger land for that matter.  Hope everyone out there has had a good Christmas and like me still having a chance to enjoy family and lots of togetherness. 

Painting With Meaning

Christmas has always been about family for us.  God has graced me with a family I adore, and this Christmas I created this little piece in honour of my nieces boy, Tyler.  Nine years ago Nov 21st Tyler came into this world and our family plunged into a battle for life.  Tyler was born with two holes in his heart and was missing an artery.  His liver was also compromised.  Tubes, wires, and needles were a constant part of his world.

While our family wept and prayed and believed for his life, Tyler fought to stay with us.  Within 6 months Tyler underwent open heart surgery to repair the two holes and have the 4th artery built by skilled surgeons hands.  And our family rallied around one another, believing the verse given by God to his Aunt Kellie, Psalms 118:17 became our mantra, "Tyler Austin, you shall not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord."

Well, it's nine years later and he has delighted us with his fighting spirit. The devotion of his Mom and Dad, Wendy and Chris, fills my heart.  Tyler is champion, he has overcome so much, being Downs & Autistic he has yet to verbally declare what God has done for him, but his very being proclaims it daily!  He's now in school, with wonderful teachers aids he has learned to do so many things, he amazes me.

So from my family to yours, I wish you the joy of one another's presence, the laughter of shared moments and memories and courage to hold to one another come what may!  May the peace of God surround you.    Merry Christmas!

The Practical & The Creative

Did up a few desk calendars using macro shots of some of my art, kind of a test run just to see how it might look.  They turned out pretty good, thanks to Vista Print!  Completed the last of my holiday commissioned pieces and started a couple of new things, just because I love painting daily!

I've been both challenged and encouraged reading Jack White's books (e-downloads) on marketing ourselves and our art.  He's pragmatic and enthusiastic at the same time and he's given me clarity about some things I've been doing instinctively. Now I have words for some of my decision making!  What I love about Jack is that he has and is successfully advancing his own and his wife's art career with the principals he shares in his books.  It's not just theory with him, it's life.

"Whitesim: Your art is only worth what people will pay for it! This is one field that you are not paid by the hour. People pay for what they perceive to be the value of the art piece.
The public decides on what art sells for.  I can set the prices, but the collectors make the ultimate decision.  It took me a few years to listen to what they were saying...I finally realized that I had to listen to what the majority of buyers wanted to pay for my art and adjust my prices to fit their requirements, or not sell very much."

I'm not sure how much of an "art career" I'm trying to build, my goals are a little more short sighted.  I want to paint, to continue to explore and develop my abilities and that means I paint every day. For me, when the completed canvases begin to stock pile, I begin to slow down with my painting practice. I guess it's how I was raised, "waste not want not," the practical and the creative within me.

Then there's David DuChemin's wise words from his book, Vision Mongers:

"Make no mistake about it running a business is hard work. A labor of love is no less labor...By all means, whistle and enjoy it.  It's your calling, after all. You should love it. But you still have to put in the hours and log the time. These dreams aren't going to chase themselves."

So there you have it, from some guys who know what they're talking about.  Whistling away here in the loft, how about you!