Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Giclee, Another Way

Well, then. I've been researching having giclee (pronounced zhee-clay) prints made of four of my paintings and am having second thoughts about the idea. I'm beginning to think my husband really IS smart when he'd say "just paint another one" after I'd fuss about wanting to keep a painting but also wanting to give it to someone. For what it will cost me to get prints made of just ONE painting, I could paint 30 paintings. And, I guess, if you're going to be that prolific, you're not going to want to keep all those paintings yourself and it's not so painful to let them go to new homes. So.............................................I guess I will save my money on prints and spend it on canvases and paint and just continue to do what I do, only not keep them like favorite puppies.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Birthday Fairy

My wish for the Birthday Fairy this year is actually a service. I'd like to get some prints made of my paintings. Well, that and a trip to Jerry's Artarama. My daughter tried telling me that "art is an expensive hobby". I put it in perspective for her...I'm an art STUDENT and we all know that education is expensive. And if I weren't studying art, I'd surely be spending lots on manicures and massages, Restylin and cosmetic dentistry. In fact, I believe I'm even SAVING money by being an art student and I have the added bonus of not caring if my hands are manicured or if I have something new to wear. What a relief. I think Farmer Batman and Samurai Penguin are done. I'll sign them tomorrow morning and get a photo before I pack them for shipping to the niece and nephew. I've learned that even the suggestion of subject matter can seem like a commission and that I don't like commissions. I've learned that I can paint a pretty good tractor, which I find encouraging enough to think about doing other vehicles. I've learned that you can't fight your style, even when it doesn't suit the subject matter. And, just this week, I've learned that I really hate the idea of someone wanting to buy one of my paintings. How bizarre is that? The more I paint, the odder I get. It's just a matter of time before you find me sitting on the bench in my front garden, yelling at kids to "get off my lawn!"

Monday, June 11, 2007

Little Treasures

Sunset Boats "Wish I Were Here" One of my painting teachers calls the small canvas paintings, "Little Treasures" (I corrected this from an earlier post where I called them "Sweet Little Paintings"). I had a couple of 9x12" canvases left over from my landscape painting workshop, so I decided to make some slp's. They're fast because they're small...much smaller than the 24x30 that I usually work on. The first one was boats at sunset with lots of pinks and purples. My mom is fascinated by how the color seems to change with the light of day. I may have to break down and give it to her since she's so enamoured of it. I think I'll get some prints made first, though. The second one I did this weekend and it's of palm trees with a hammock, tentatively titled, " Wish I Were Here". In case you haven't figured it out, the theme running through my paintings is just that sentiment. That is, until this most recent request from the teenage niece and nephew with extremely creative and slightly warped minds. I'm presently researching Batman and farm equipment, penguins and Samurais. You figure it out.