Mary's "World Famous" Sweet Tea & Art

Southern Peaches

2011-08-11T11:03:00.001-04:00

My latest oil painting is "Two Peaches". I'm working in Johnston, SC, self proclaimed "Peach Capital of the World." Every day I'm surrounded by images of peaches, orchards of peach trees, and since it's peach season now I was inspired. I reworked the background and peaches a few times to come up with the image I'm now happy with. Thankfully oil paint allows you to do that.

11" x 14"

Oil on Canvas

I posted it on Fine Art America where it is temporarily featured on the South Carolina Artists group home page. After the original sells I think I could have good luck selling prints. I played around with Fine Art America's site and came up with a mat and frame I like too.

Paintings on eBay

2011-07-27T22:17:00.000-04:00

"Seaside Sunrise"
11" x 14"
Oil on Canvas

I recently read an article by artist Jack White about selling art on ebay. Although he is a famous and successful artist, he experimented with ebay as a fictional unknown artist to find out just what could be achieved by a newbie. After three years of selling his art through auctions only, he knows now that he could make a decent living through selling art on ebay should he ever need to. Through his writing about the experience he shares his newfound wisdom with others like me and coaches all who want to take his advice.

Well I've taken his lessons to heart. I started listing some various pieces on ebay using his tips. This beach scene is the first oil painting I've posted for sale. I will be doing lots of new works as well as selling some drawings and prints I've completed in the last couple of years.

Find me on ebay as "sweetteadesigns12"

Animal Portraits

2011-07-16T18:05:00.002-04:00

"Casey & Charlie"

10" x 8"

colored pencils

Casey and Charlie are my latest pet portraits. This was the pet portrait I donated to the Heartworm Project fundraising auction this year. I donate a gift certificate for a free portrait and the winner/purchaser gets a custom picture.

This two were a lot of fun to draw. Especially the black dog's hair. I was a little uncertain of the task. I used indigo blue and tuscan red in layers with some dark purple and black, then highlighted with white. The little beagle was actually more difficult.

The reference pictures that I worked from were taken on the beach, so for the back ground I wanted to represent the water and the sand.

Look at these Heartworm Project dogs available for adoption!

Wolfie

Lorax

Sawyer

Gypsy

Graduation Painting

2011-06-07T21:49:00.001-04:00

"Columns of Davidson Hall"
12" x 24"
oil on canvas

My daughter graduated last month from Coker College in Hartsville, SC. These are the columns at the front of Davidson Hall, the centerpiece of the campus. They are also on the college logo. I really enjoy decorative works in architecture, be it columns, gables, millwork, arches or whatever. The buildings and landscape of Coker are so beautiful. It's classically charming and southern.

I started thinking about painting this for Haleigh last year at a graduation we attended there. The students face this building during their outdoor graduation ceremony, and I thought how the white columns and blue sky would make a memorable painting for a graduation gift.

Anyway, a year later I painted it. Although I didn't get the blue sky in the composition I did get the blue reflection. I framed it in a soft silver frame.

Hopefully she will be able to hang it in her home or office for many years and have fond memories of her college days.

Collies

2011-03-20T21:50:00.000-04:00

My daddy loved Collies. This picture was from the early 1950s, I don't know the dog's name. Later on Daddy and Mama raised purebred collies. I grew up with many many cute little puppies.

Now that Daddy is gone I always think of him whenever I see a collie. Working at the animal hospital I see a few, but not many. This sketch from my sketchbook is about

5" x 7" in graphite.

Studio Update

2011-02-05T20:48:00.001-05:00

Sheetrock up, mudded and sanded. A counter/desk will go across the back wall.

The back wall is a beautiful dark indigo, much darker than appears in this photo. Blue has always been my favorite color even though I've also gone for purple and green at times. Indigo is also the the colored pencil I used the most.

Here is my first attempt at faux finish painting. I blended a color wash of three colors over a base coat of yellow. Three walls will be painted in this way, complimenting the dark blue. We'll see...

Closer view of the mottled effect.

I've also painted a work table that Dondi made for me in indigo and yellow. My plan is to paint it with sunflowers. This will be one colorful room, and I'm loving it!

Water Buffalo

2011-01-04T15:10:00.004-05:00

"Everybody's got a water buffalo, Yours is fast but mine is slow, Oh, where do you get them I don't know, But everyone's got a water buffalo!"...Larry the Cucumber, Veggie Tales.

I've noticed that the views of my cape buffalo drawing on fineartamerica.com far outnumber the views of any of my other pictures. I mean 300% - 400% more! I don't understand it. Is there a high demand for these creatures, or are there not enough pictures of them online? Out of curiosity I did a google image search for cape buffalo and my picture shows up on page 13. On other searches for gorilla and lion images that I also drew, my pictures didn't show up even after 30 pages. Perhaps the internet is over saturated with pictures of the more common or popular animals. hmmm....

I'm pleased that someone found my cape buffalo drawing at fineartamerica and asked my permission to use it. He teaches self defense courses and has watermarked the image on the completion certificates.

A Place for My Stuff

2011-01-01T19:49:00.005-05:00

2011 is going to bring something new for me...a STUDIO! My husband has graciously split his shop with me. My area will be 20' x 10'. I am very excited to be getting a designated place for my art work. Works in progress can stay out of the kitchen, and drawing paper and canvases can leave my daughter's bedroom.

After some structural repairs my husband and son added new steps and railings.

Just for Fun

2010-11-05T20:21:00.004-04:00

These are a couple small pieces I did just for the fun of blending colors. I enjoy the bold colors that other painters use but I have difficulty spinning the color wheel. I should probably try some using totally unrealistic colors and see if I struggle or loosen up...hmmm.

"...And HOT"

colored pencils

A tribute to one of my all time favorite shows, "Twin Peaks", and I love coffee and coffee cups.

"Falling"

colored pencils

Putting Ward on the Map

2010-08-03T14:30:00.004-04:00

Having a small rural address has always been cause for questions and comments like, "Where is Ward?" or "I've never heard of Ward". Growing up it was exiciting if I found a map large enough to include Ward. But with today's satellites I can see my house with the truck in the yard on Google.

I added my name to The Art Map. I'm the first artist of the Ward area to do so! How cool is that! I don't expect to gain anything from placing my name on a world map of artists, but it was fun placing that little push pin in to mark my territory. Like staking my claim or conquering the world, one pencil stroke at a time...ha ha ha!

2nd Place

2010-07-12T21:57:00.004-04:00

I just won 2nd place in a just for fun contest on Fine Art America for my fossil sketch!

Quick and Easy Oil Painting

2010-06-19T15:36:00.008-04:00

My latest oil painting was quick and easy.....and fun! Maybe it was the heat that caused the paint to dry so quickly, but I think it was because I changed my medium. I used linseed oil and mineral spirits. I've only used mineral spirits before in painting a wash.

This is the second picture inspired by a brown shell. I like it. It's different for me.

"Shell on Blue, Part II"

16" x 20"

Oil on Canvas

$240

"Shell on Blue"

2.5" x 3.5"
Colored Pencil

$21

Devastatingly Handsome

2010-06-03T12:21:00.008-04:00

In March I donated a couple of pieces of art to charity fundraisers. One way of putting my talents to good use. A "Tiger" print went to an auction for the Red Cross, and a custom pet portrait went to an auction for the Heartworm Project. Two handsome kitties!

"Tiger"

8" x 10"

Graphite

"Cooper, the Most Handsome"

8" x 10"

Colored Pencils

Ch ch ch ch Changes

2010-06-03T11:41:00.004-04:00

I can't believe I haven't posted since January. I was very caught up in facebook and etsy for a while, though I have deleted the facebook and closed the etsy shop now. Necessary, but I miss them.

My first love of drawing, painting and just being an artist is what my creative side is about. I can create...I do it...therefore I am. However, the ego enjoys sharing and hearing the applause and praise. That's just not what I need to be caught up in right now in my life...(dang, that's hard to give up)

I will continue to draw, paint, learn, improve my skills, and blog about it all. Change is often difficult, even just changing focus. It's not much fun...

Last Picture of 2009

2010-01-01T20:53:00.008-05:00

"Archie...Looking for Love"

12" x 16"

Colored Pencils

I started 2010 by finishing my portrait of Archie. All that white hair! I believe Archie is still available for adoption through The Heartworm Progect. He is such a sweetheart! He likes to grab your hands and lick you then won't let go, sort of like "Pepe Le Pew". He also hugs your neck and climbs up on your shoulders. Very affectionate!

I used a terra cotta colored paper which may not have been a great choice for white but it still worked. I tried a different technique for the background by squiggling lines in a few shades of greens first. Then I layered reds, oranges and yellows. I really like the outcome.

UPDATE: Archie was adopted! Yaaaayyy!!! But I miss him.

Underwater Commission

2009-12-20T12:44:00.006-05:00

16" x 12"
colored pencil

My latest commission was more of a challenge than I expected. I studied pictures of aquariums, underwater photos and paintings for the effect I wanted. After sketching the composition I jumped into the watery background quickly...too quickly. The pencil pressure was too hard and wouldn't blend. I just started over on clean paper and was thankful that I had not worked on the animals yet. Even after lightly layering the colors I had trouble blending the transitions from light to dark. My base was blue paper rather than white, so maybe that had something to do with it. Whatever the reason, I spent a LOT of time on the water. The dolphins and turtles were fun.

This will be a Christmas present for a 3 year old girl. I really hope she will like it.

Murals and Signs

2009-11-21T23:09:00.008-05:00

I just like the names

Dealer in mules & autos...reminds me of "Lonesome Dove"..."we don't rent pigs"

Thanks for the warning!

"Civil War R-E-N-A-C-T-O-R-S" Hope they studied harder in history class than in spelling.

Some signs, advertisements and murals.

Archie - Pet Portrait

2009-11-01T18:36:00.009-05:00

Archie is a "vet pet" I've fallen in love with and wanted to draw. He's such a sweetheart! It was difficult to get a photo of him for a reference because he moved constantly trying to get to me.

He's a work in progress, so no whiskers yet. I think whiskers will sweeten his look some.

I'm using Prismacolor pencils on Canson terra cotta colored paper.

More Embroidery Designs

2009-10-10T21:44:00.009-04:00

The third set of embroidery designs that I drew came out the first week of October. This one is Expedition: Asia from Amazing Designs. My tiger and panda drawings that I posted earlier are also in the Asian collection. I'm pleased with the way the embroidery turned out. I would like to see the crane and peacock on pillows, and the peacock feather on a silk scarf. The feather is my favorite.

The Age of Dinosaurs collection was released over the summer but I forgot to blog about it. I'm not a fan of dinosaurs and didn't really enjoy doing them. I do like a few of the drawings.

The skeletons are graphite pencil and the fossil is charcoal.

The whole experience of doing these collections for Amazing Designs has been thrilling and rewarding, but very time consuming.

Clinton Ward Festival

2009-09-06T16:25:00.009-04:00

A couple weekends ago was the Clinton Ward Festival in Ward. AARS participated in showing some art from the gallery. Other artists were there also. It was a very pretty day though attendance was really really low. I enjoyed just hanging out and talking with others with the same interests. I didn’t sell any of my work but I bought a little piece of pottery from a booth next to ours, Miller’s Pond Pottery from Johnston. Ward is just a little spot beside the railroad tracks between Ridge Spring and Johnston with a post office, convenience store and some charming old houses. Most people say "where is Ward?", and the people who know say "if you blink you'll miss it." The biggest claim to fame is the historic Spann Church and it’s cemetery, the Ward-Satcher Cemetary.

"Yellow Jasmine on Cedar"...Finished

2009-08-30T14:44:00.003-04:00

I finally finished the Yellow Jasmine WIP, displayed here at the Clinton Ward Festival. The frame was from a picture we weren't using and it works well with it. I defined the blooms a little more, lightened the top of the post and shaded the left side of the post. For sale at the Gallery in Ridge Spring.

"Yellow Jasmine on Cedar"

16" x 20"

Oil on canvas

Weekly Drawing #13

2009-07-26T17:16:00.004-04:00

This is a strange little composition that just evolved with no references. I took my sketch pad and pencils in the car with me on a trip to Aiken. I was on the back seat and I knew the ride would be bumpy. It started as a loose sketchy pear. The ride was smoother than I thought and the pear became more detailed than I intended. Then as I started to ground the pear on some kind of napkin with folds, the napkin looked more like wood. One piece of wood became a two by four, and I drew more stacked under it. I kept working on it at home but the angle of the boards didn't have the right perspective for the pear sitting on top. So I erased a little and slid in a thin little board.

I used graphite pencils 6B and 2B.

"Pear on Wood" or "Snack for the Lumber Jack"

5" X 7"

Graphite Pencil

Weekly Drawing #12

2009-07-19T14:09:00.006-04:00

I've been busy with embroidery drawings and haven't drawn anything for myself in quite a while. This is from a monthly colored pencil challenge on Wet Canvas. I used a reference picture, Jelly Beans by Olika http://www.wetcanvas.com/RefLib/show...hp?photo=19778, for my challenge.

"Shadows on the Bunny Trail"

4" X 6"

Colored Pencil

Update: I worked some more on the background for a more dramatic look that I wanted. I just couldn't leave it alone.

Jasmine Work in Progress Part 4

2009-04-29T09:37:00.004-04:00

Getting near the end. Here I added some leaf and vine shadows to the post. Most of the leaves have a reddish color along the edges like the color of the vines, so I touched them with a mixture of crimson and yellow ochre.

This detail shows that I darkened the shadows inside of the blossoms. Jasmine blooms are trumpet shaped. I also see that the leaves directly over the post need some clarification.

I think I'm close to being finished. There are many places where I can continue to work more details but I don't want to over work it. It's a struggle I've always had to deal with working with paint. There is a stopping point I have to find somewhere between the detail and impression. I'm trying to learn to be comfortable with my work though not necessarily content.

Jasmine Work in Progress Part 3

2009-04-24T09:59:00.004-04:00

Here's where I discovered something I had forgotten...yellow paint is somewhat transparent. I began filling in some blooms and could see right through them. So I blocked in spots where the flowers will be with pure white and waited for some more drying time.After a few days I painted the blossoms and buds using titanium white, cad yellow and yellow ochre.I picked a couple leaves from a vine to match colors. Sap green, cad yellow, and yellow ochre. Lots more leaves to go! I see that the post needs some shadows before I get carried away with the leaves.

Jasmine Work In Progress Part 2

2009-04-13T20:42:00.004-04:00

After a few days of drying I added some green for the trees in the background. In the foreground I added a layer of leaf shapes. I lightened the post with titanium white, payne's grey, sap green, phthalo blue, and crimson. That was about an hour's work.

"Yellow Jasmine on Cedar" - Work In Progress

2009-04-10T14:53:00.010-04:00

I began a new oil painting two weeks ago and want to show it here as a WIP. I’ve never taken pictures of my paintings as I work, but the digital camera and computer make it easy and worth the time. I hope to analyze the progression and learn from it before I get too far into a mess.

First, the sketch. Fence post, a few vines and horizon lines.

Next, I filled in the sky and field.

Then the dark underpainting of the cedar post in the foreground. Also filled in some dark green shadowy places along the bottom where the thick jasmine vines will be.

This was about two hours of work. I've got to get used to the feel of putting the paint down. I don't want to be too skimpy with the paint like I have done before. At this point it needs to dry some.

Weekly Drawing # 11

2009-03-31T17:02:00.005-04:00

I drew this panda bear last week as another animal for my wildlife portfolio. I'm pleased with him. Just can't get all of my pencil pics to scan the same.

Panda

8" X 10"

Graphite Pencil

I also drew some more small things with colored pencils for the latest embroidery design series, so I've been busy.

Dusting Off the Easel

2009-03-29T11:56:00.003-04:00

I'm starting a new oil painting today. Considering the last picture I painted was about 20 years ago, this should be quite an adventure. I'm going to take pics along the way so I can see my work in progress. This is one of my reference pictures. Yellow jasmine growing on a fence post just down from my house.

Gallery Grand Opening, Ridge Spring, SC

2009-03-22T11:10:00.011-04:00

Last Saturday was the Grand Opening for the Art Gallery, by the Art Association of Ridge Spring - AARS. We had a decent turn out, but not great. It's going to take some time to get people interested.

The Gallery is located in an old school building that I believe was built in the late 1930s or early 1940s. My daddy remembered it being built as the agricultural building when he went to school there. I think the building is quite charming! I'm know it has undergone some remodeling over the years, but the floors are hardwood and the walls are plaster. There are chalkboards in the rooms, and the largest room has one wall with a long section of wooden slats. Lots of windows on the front walls provide good lighting. There is also an old piano in the large room adding to the overall eclectic appeal. We should find out more history of the building to post in the foyer for the visitors.

We also hosted the 12th annual student art show in the Civic Center, which is right in front of the AARS building. That's a great old building too. It used to be the gymnasium but the basketball goals were taken down. It also has hardwood floors, and I love the exposed wooden rafters.

Black and white photos of the Ridge Spring Civic Center ceiling. The wood is painted silver.

I made a sale of the original Tiger pencil drawing although I only had the prints available at the time. Medicine Crow, Mama's China, Idaho Mountains and Hay, Wild Iris, Conch Shell and four of my African animals were on display. One of the visitors said about my colored pencil work, "...that Mary Rogers, she sends me!..." Now that's a hoot!

Weekly Drawing # 10

2009-03-17T11:54:00.007-04:00

Tiger
Graphite Pencil
8" x 10"

This is my recent project. I drew the tiger as an addition to my wildlife portfolio, and as a possible embroidery design. I will have prints for sale in my Etsy shop.

I'm having some technical difficulty getting a good scan and print. Actually the scan is great but I have to tweek the image to find the right print to closely match the original. Still working on it.

Arts & Crafts of the Unemployed

2009-02-16T15:55:00.007-05:00

The last few months have given me the time to do some crafty things. I made a pillow from an old t-shirt screenprint design. For sale in my etsy shop. I have some other t-shirt screenprints ready to stitch.

I've taken some random photos that I may sell as prints or use as reference photos for paintings. Some of them will go to the wetcanvas reference library. You must be a member to have access, but it is a wonderful place to find copyright free reference material.

Made a doggie sweater for Jip. It's his baseball jersey, #87. Not the best color combination but it's what I had on hand. He's so humiliated to wear it.

I also made a pine cone bird feeder with peanutbutter and birdseed. It was very clever looking and rustic. The pine cones hung from beautiful varigated earthtone yarn. I ended up putting the whole contraption on the ground because the poor little birds couldn't hang on and get the seeds. The pine cones would spin round and round when the birds lit on them.

The bowls I painted for the charity auction did well I think. At least the zebra striped one went for $40. I didn't find out how much the sunflower sold for.

Marketing Strategy for Artists' Prints

2009-01-15T08:45:00.006-05:00

I've been researching the ins and outs of selling prints of my artwork. I found some very helpful information through Wet Canvas that I want to share.

This marketing plan was written specificly for artists wanting to sell their prints but have very little experience in marketing, selling. Dennis Brady was gracious enough to write and post this information on a forum thread about pricing prints:

Selling Art Prints - a market strategy

Provide a selection. Start with prints of at least 6 different paintings. You can do just prints but it would probably work best if you did prints and Art Cards at the same time.

Set the lowest price you can tolerate. This is essential to attract initial interest.

Don’t consign, but instead offer an “Unconditional return option”. Grant full credit exchange for anything returned undamaged. That removes the risk the retailer will be stuck with unsold stuff.

Offer a “30 day trial offer”. Agree on a sufficient size order to put up a good display of your work on net 30 days terms. At the end of 30 days, the retailer either pays for the entire order and you now have a steady relationship or they pay just for what they sold and return the rest.

Grant exclusivity. Give each outlet exclusive rights to your work within a specified territory. It’s big country. There’s no reason to have several outlets near each other competing to sell your work. If they retailer has exclusively, they work harder selling your work.

Select outlets. Instead of looking only at galleries that now sell prints, examine the possibility of selling through outlets that don’t now sell prints but might be interested in adding them to their product mix. Don’t just pick outlets that you think are prestigious. Pick ones you think at mostly likely to be able to sell your work. Many of those prestigious outlets have owners that run the business as a hobby and sell very little stuff. That’s why they want everything on consignment.

Be courageous. Don’t be afraid to walk into a shop with a portfolio and an armful of stuff wearing a big smile and greet the owner with, “If you can spare a moment, I have something I’d like to show you”. Some will be difficult - a few even snotty - but most will thank you for coming. Retailers thrive or die on whether or not they have something fresh and innovative for their customers. For anyone that feels nervous about such cold call sales, practice with friends. Have someone play act the part of a hesitant/reticent buyer. They can use different reasons for not buying while you practice possible responses. Some reasons for declining to buy:
...We’re already overstocked
...Sales are slow and we’re not buying anything.
...We’ve never done well selling prints.
...We’ve never sold prints.
...We sell only “known” artists.
...We only buy at the shows.

Sales can be fun. Don’t approach it as a distasteful task. Embrace it as an adventure.

Adopt a good attitude. If you think it’s unfair that you buy all the materials and do all the work while the retailer does nothing but sell it and still get as much as you do, then stay away from wholesale sales. If you think retailing is a great gig, open a store and learn the reality of the relentless overhead. When you sell to a shop, you form a partnership in which you each have a separate duty. You make it, they sell it. Approach the retailer with that attitude and you will form mutually profitable partnerships.
By Dennis Brady http://www.debrady.com/

Here is a link to another great article: How to Produce and Sell Prints of Your Artwork, by David Sullivan. It's much too long to post here but worth the effort to read thoroughly, if you are really serious about prints.

Super Bowls for Cancer

2009-01-09T20:46:00.005-05:00

Some of the artists from the Art Association of Ridge Spring are participating in the 6th annual Taste of the Twins, January 31. This year’s theme is “A Super Bowl, A Super Taste to Kick Cancer.” We have decorated bowls that will be auctioned at the event to raise money for cancer research. I’ve never been to Taste of the Twins but I understand there will be volunteer chefs cooking special treats for all to sample. Sounds like fun.

Gwen Power, Joanne Crouch, Deborah Reeves, Donna Hatcher, and ME

My bowls are painted with acrylics. They're painted, signed and dated on the back.

My Embroidery Designs are Now “World Famous!"

2009-01-07T21:53:00.009-05:00

Last March I got the job of making designs for a safari collection for an embroidery company. I completed the job, got paid (cool!) and sat back to wait for the release. It was originally scheduled for October, then rescheduled for February. Then out of the blue I was surprised to discover through my Amazing Designs email newsletter last week that they were released for January! I was so excited watching the newsletter open up, (waiting on my slow rural dial up to load) I got a little teary eyed. The surprise was wonderful though!

"Expedition: Africa"
Embroidery patterns by Amazing Designs

The company is Amazing Designs. They have been super to work with. I’ve posted a few of the original pictures on my blog earlier. The complete embroidery patterns are here. And to think…I was given the opportunity thanks to being discovered on an etsy forum talking about ACEOs and blogging…! It was something like, “I looked at your blog to find out what an ACEO is, and I like your work. Would you be interested…?” And of course I was! I plan to use some of the designs on pillows and wall hangings for myself, to sell and for gifts (family be forewarned). They are out there for anyone with an embroidery machine to use. I think it would be so cool to go to a gift shop or a craft show and see some item for sale with an embroidered zebra or giraffe or a jeep that I originally drew! This is fulfilling part of a dream I’ve had for several years. I’m working on another series now, so more about that when it’s time.

Major Artwork of 2008

2008-12-28T10:54:00.008-05:00

Medicine Crow.....

I didn't realize how long I had been working on my drawing of Chief Medicine Crow until I looked back on a Wet Canvas post...from January! I completed the picture in December.

"Medicine Crow"

15" X 23"

Colored Pencil

This picture was such a challenge because the reference photo was black and white. The details of his clothing, his hair, and the coloring required some research and questions. Dondi gave me the most advice on what was what from his knowledge of Native Americans. I chose to change his clothing to something a little less formal. Honestly I was just lazy about the beadwork...I knew that it was probably very colorful and intricate. Without some closeup pictures I would have either overdone or underworked the details compared with the rest of the portrait. Overall I'm pleased with the outcome. My favorite parts are the feathers, the ermine tails, and the coloring and draping of the coat and sleeve. I'm satisfied with the hands and face, and the shadowy right side of the picture. I'm not content with the likeness of the facial features. My portraiture skills need improvement. Before I tackle another portrait I will do some quick studies of individual features. I also learned from this undertaking that it's not a good idea to stop drawing and start again after many weeks. Not only is it hard to get back into the mindset of the picture, but the colored pencil seemed to change over time, either flaking off or absorbing into the paper.

I drew this at the request of my sweet husband and I hope that he will love it hanging on our livingroom wall. (He will.) We want to have prints made to sell, but this original is just for Dondi.

Weekly Drawing #9

2008-12-26T21:19:00.006-05:00

Ram

5" X 7"

Graphite Pencil

This week I drew a ram for my brother-in-law. It's part of a logo he wants to use on his new website that will be up and running soon. I spent most of the time on the horns shading the ridges or layers. The eye on the left side was a little troublesome, just getting the placement right. The rest of it just fell into place. Very enjoyable! One more animal head to add to my portfolio. It's a Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep.

Art Show and Sale

2008-11-18T12:47:00.004-05:00

The AARS art show has come and gone. There were around 16 artists participating. The Civic Center was transformed into a small town gallery decorated with Harvest Festival trimmings. Friday evening's meet and greet got off to a shaky start. We had rain all day. Then at the final setup time a wind storm came through blowing down trees and limbs, knocking out electricity, and caused a house fire a few blocks away. The festival shut down for the evening, but power came back on at the Civic Center and we stayed open. Needless to say our turn out was small. Saturday was much better. Overall it was a good “first” art show for the Association.

My husband made my displays, they're 4' x 6' overall, 4' x 4' display area. I love them!

Our gallery is now open too! We’re open on the weekends, and members are taking turns running it.

Weekly Drawing #8

2008-11-16T12:26:00.004-05:00

My latest weekly drawing is an ACEO. This one is call "Touch Down" in colored pencils. I enjoyed the colors of this painting. It's for sale in my Etsy shop.

ACEO 3.5" x 2.5"

Etsy Treasury

2008-11-01T17:04:00.003-04:00

I'm on an etsy treasury! It's all about red, white and blue, get out and vote! I've been on a couple of them before but this one means a lot to me because my work was selected by a random etsian. The ones I've been in before were created by my etsy groups, TeamSC and ACETSY. Don't know how to get a picture of this treasury but the link will only last a few days. Click here! Debra Linker, the treasury host has a great shop too. She's an artist from Seattle Washington.

Etsy "Holiday Stocking Hunt"

2008-10-20T08:51:00.003-04:00

The following is an anouncement from my Etsy Street Team...TeamSC. I think it will be a lot of fun.

"HOLIDAY STOCKING HUNT"
Mark your calendars for NOVEMBER 6TH ...and join in the fun!!!
Our South Carolina Etsy Street Team (TeamSC) is preparing for a fabulous holiday game for all etsians.
Everyone who completes the hunt will win a shopping spree just in time for the holiday season. The grand prize winner receives a gorgeous handmade stocking stuffed full of items donated by South Carolina Artisans.
Information and rules for the hunt are available right now on our blog. http://scstreetteam.blogspot.com/
Watch for the official forum thread on etsy under Promotions on Thursday, November 6th at 5:00 pm.

Weekly Drawing #7

2008-10-17T16:41:00.007-04:00

"Moonlight Pumpkin"

2.5" x 3.5"

Colored Pencils

Finished another ACEO! This scene was just made up. I attempted to create a twilight setting with lots of full moonlight on the pumpkin. I browsed through some pumpkin patch images online for possible references but just decided to wing it. After all, I know what a pumpkin looks like and I didn’t want to get detailed with the leaves. Once again my scan doesn’t do justice to the colors. It’s for sale in my Etsy shop, Sweet Tea Designs. I may try it in my Zazzle shop to if I can get a better quality scan.

Daddy

2008-10-11T18:24:00.004-04:00

My daddy passed away on September 28, 2008. He was 84. It was difficult seeing his health fail so very quickly over the past two months. He died at home with family all around him...sad but peaceful. He was a Christian, and I as a Christian know that he has moved on to eternal life and I will see him again some day.

He was a good man and a loving Daddy and I already miss him so much.

I let myself be inspired by the beauty of each flower from the funeral. I plan to make some drawings, maybe another oil painting of some of those flowers as little memories. But they won't be sad memories! Daddy loved flowers, birds, and "beautiful scenery", like fall leaves in the mountains. Daddy was a farmer and enjoyed looking at all sorts of farm land. He liked traveling or just driving around local communities. I'm sure I picked up my love of the outdoors and nature from him.

African Animals and Homemade Business Cards

2008-08-21T12:27:00.008-04:00

African animals in graphite pencil, each one is about 5" x 7"

My planning for the Harvest Festival Art Show is moving forward. I got matching black frames for my African animals at a good price. Dondi and I are working out a construction plan for the display racks. I made my business cards (love ‘em) using Avery card paper with no perforations!

I still have to finish the Indian and have it framed...need more white pencils! Other than that one, I think I have all of my pictures ready for display. Still not sure about for sale prices, and even which ones will BE for sale. Funny how attached I get. Almost forgot, I’m “thinking” about doing another oil. I have a canvas, and if I can make the time for it, I want to paint something local.

There is a lot of room in the civic center for the show. Each artist will have a 12’ x 12’ space to work with. I found a picture of me with my display from the Mountain Home art show. (I will NOT post it here...bad hair cut and what was I thinking clothes!) My spot only took up about 8’ x 4’, but that was all I had at the time.

Hope the show will be a success!

Art Association of Ridge Spring

2008-07-31T13:02:00.004-04:00

I've accomplished another goal from my list of resolutions. I joined the Art Association of Ridge Spring. They formed the organization last fall but are still in the planning stages. We are sponsoring an art show the weekend of the Harvest Festival, October 24-25. We will also open a gallery in town for members and non members. I'm excited to be getting in on this in the early stages.

Sweet Tea Designs on ZAZZLE!

2008-07-14T07:38:00.006-04:00

Look here for products in my Sweet Tea Designs ZAZZLE shop that I have customized with my original art! You can rate my products, buy them, or search for other items. I can customize special requests too!

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

Sweet Tea Chronicles of Mary

2008-07-08T10:24:00.002-04:00

Some thoughts on my association with Sweet Tea

Sweet tea, iced of course, is a Southern tradition. Mama says I gave up the baby bottle at five months old when she gave me a sip of sweet tea from a glass. I grew up sampling various recipes at family reunions and covered dish dinners at church. I’m sure that each lady who brought a gallon of tea thought hers was the best, but the innocent person in line waiting to get a cup of tea was never sure what flavor he would get. One time at a church dinner when all the different gallon jugs of tea were poured together in a tub with ice and served with a ladle, someone unknowingly added in grape kool-aid the preacher’s wife brought…interesting. (See my recipe in the sidebar)

Sweet tea is indeed appreciated by Southerners who travel north or west and abroad, and can’t find it. You just can’t sweeten cold tea with little sugar packets when a restaurant serves it unsweetened. And artificial sweeteners are a big no-no. Kathy, a friend of mine from Idaho, named my tea “World Famous”, and Pam, another friend there, was delighted when she learned to make “sun tea” and served it to us.

I decided on Sweet Tea Designs as a name for selling my crafty hand made things on etsy. I planned to make some things with Southern themes. Sweet Tea is one of my specialties, it’s Southern and I’m Southern…it just seemed right. I planned my logo before anything else ( I love my logo!, see sidebar) Then I started reviving my art, and Mary’s “World Famous” Sweet Tea & Art was born.

Weekly Drawing #6

2008-07-06T17:33:00.013-04:00

My weekly drawing plan has not turned out to be what I originaly intended it to be. However, I have worked on a drawing every week since I started, and I have improved in my opinion. Improvement was to be the ultimate goal, so I'll say I've been successful. There were weeks and weeks of drawing embroidery designs that I did not get to post here. (I'll post them when it's time.) Now that that project is completed on my end, this is what I've done for the past two weeks. I've been thinking about stars lately. With Independence Day, political elections, and barn stars, stars are everywhere. So this is my first in a series of stars, for sale at Sweet Tea Designs on etsy.

"Star"

2.5" X 3.5"

colored pencil

"Celebration Reflected"

2.5" X 3.5"

colored pencil

Carolina Birds

2008-06-22T13:00:00.006-04:00

Last month at the Poultry Festival in Leesville, SC I met another colored pencil artist, Deborah Reeves. She was one of only two fine artists that I saw that day. Deborah sells her original colored pencil drawings, prints, note cards and photographs. I believe her specialty at the moment is birds. Her colored pencil drawings are very softly detailed birds…cranes, owls, and others. Like myself she says it’s hard to find time to work on her art but the quality of her work makes up for the quantity. Her website is The Hen’s Nest, appropriate because of her family run poultry farm.

Speaking of birds, there is a Carolina Wren, our state bird, nesting in a potted plant on my front porch. So far she has laid an egg a day and has five. I’ll keep watch on the progress and maybe get a painting out of it.

Baby Bird Update....They've hatched, Tuesday 7/8/08!

Both Mama and Daddy are feeding the babies. The nest is so dark inside that I can't see the babies clearly, but they are growing. Tuesday 7/15/08.

Empty nest! I saw the babies out of the nest but still in the flower pot all day on Sunday. Mama and Daddy were still bringing food. Monday they were gone, 7/21/08.

I found the baby birds again! I had read that the daddy continues to care for them for a while after they leave the nest, and sure enough, they're hiding in the bushes in front of the house while daddy brings them food. They run out to meet him and get the food. I also read that the mama starts right away on making another nest. I hoped she would use the same one but I haven't seen her return. I really can't tell the difference between the male and female but I've had so much fun watching this so close outside my kitchen window...I'm easily amused! Thursday 7/31/08

Yard Sale + Art Sale = Yart Sale

2008-06-17T12:58:00.007-04:00

I'm having a YART SALE on a couple of my pictures on etsy...that’s Yard Sale + Art Sale = YART Sale. That was a summertime promotional idea from an etsy seller, and lots of sellers and

buyers took off with it. Sale ends June 20th, at Sweet Tea Designs!

Sorry, Sale Over Sorry, Sale Over

I’ve been to a few yard sales recently and picked up some very nice picture frames for $2.00 and under. Most of them have good matting and all of them have good glass. I’ll use them to frame my pictures for art shows.

My First Sale on Etsy

2008-05-27T20:37:00.003-04:00

I sold my first item on etsy yesterday! I was so excited when I took a look at my shop and saw that I only had 4 items for sale instead of 5. My first thought was, "what happened to the other item?", not "oh boy I sold something!" It took a couple of seconds to register. Now I can mark off another goal from my 2008 business resolutions!

The sale was an ACEO called "Morning Moon". It went cross country to Salem, OR.

Idaho Landscapes in Oil

2008-05-12T20:58:00.006-04:00

Silver Creek, Idaho
11' X 14"
Oil

This is a monochromatic painting in oil, the first painting I did in an oil painting class in Mountain Home, ID. We all had to do monochromes. That class was a lot of fun. It was in Dorothy's loft of her frame shop (I remembered her name). I'm not positive but I think the reference photo was of Silver Creek, from a calendar or magazine. The snow was done with a palette knife.

Idaho Mountains & Hay
14" X 18"
Oil

I used the palette knife on these snow covered mountains too. It was a blast! I think I enjoyed it so much because it was free and easy like icing a cake. My usual painting and drawing style is tight and detailed, and I have to force myself to loosen up. Once again this reference was from a calendar or magazine. If I knew the photographers I would gladly credit them....but, thanks.

Just Another Brick in the Wall

2008-05-09T21:25:00.006-04:00

At one time a several years ago I thought that I would try my hand with murals, faux finishes, and decorative painting, hoping to supplement my income. I bought books, a tape by Donna Dewberry, and poured over muralsplus trying to learn all I could. One of my dreams back in middle school was to have an ultra modern style house and paint big bold pictures on the walls, so maybe this would be perfect for me! Maybe not.

After my husband and I painted the knight mural in the gym at school I was asked by one of the moms at school to paint two walls in their pond house/cabin. I drew the outdoor scene to scale on paper, working around windows and doors and a fireplace. She loved it! However, the price I quoted changed her husband’s mind I think. They put up rough wood panel instead, which suites the building better anyway.

I painted this climbing rose and bricks behind plaster on a small wall by our back door. I’m pleased with the bricks and mortar. The roses need work. Couldn’t master the Dewberry one stroke method. (plaidonline)

On Hold

2008-05-05T13:27:00.004-04:00

My weekly drawing posts and blogging in general is on hold for a time. I'm busy working on drawings for my commission project. I am drawing weekly but just can't post them yet. I'm still so excited about the job! It's a driving force keeping me challenged daily. I'm anxious to know how I'll feel when the job is complete, when I get paid, and when I see the end product. Will I want to do it again???

Auto Erasers and Wet Canvas

2008-04-22T12:27:00.005-04:00

More about the electric/auto eraser...I beleive they are primarily designed and used by professional drafters for technical drawings. The one I have is by Helix.
The tiny eraser tip spins really fast so that all you have to do is touch it to the part to be erased. It gets just the area you need and it doesn't make a mess.

It may not be the best. I think the on button is too hard to hold down and the motor sounds as though it's giving out even with brand new batteries. However I am getting used to handling it and it's easier than I first thought.

You can go to wet canvas and search the forums for erasers. That's where I discovered them. The wc community is so helpful! Particularly helpful for me has been the colored pencil forum. That group is fun and talented and eager to share.

Weekly Drawing #5

2008-04-09T19:41:00.006-04:00

"Red Lion"
2.5" X 3.5"
graphite

I fell behind on my weekly drawings but I have been drawing steadily on different things. This lioness was taken from a Wet Canvas reference photo. It was done in graphite pencil but I had some fun messing with it in my photo editing program. First I cropped it close to an ACEO size, 2.5 x 3.5, then changed the color to a shade of red and darkened it for a more dramatic look. I think this would make a good art card edition...maybe each print could be a different color....hmmm...

Last weekend I bought a Helix auto eraser that I used to make the whiskers. It's pretty cool. I had never used one before but Dondi had and he showed me how to use it with an eraser sheild to get really straight lines. The whiskers are free handed though. I need more practice with it. I've read on the colored pencil forums of WC that some people love them and others eat holes in there paper...surely don't want that to happen.

Watercolor Iris

2008-03-26T13:31:00.003-04:00

"Wild Iris"
Water Color

Recently scanned this water color painted from the mid '80s. Very appropriate for Spring. This is the only watercolor I have. I took a summer class and painted an orange cat in the grass, but it wasn't good...Water color can be so beautiful, but it's not the medium for me. I tend to use very little water so my details stand out. The hard part is not being able to erase! I'll leave this to the experts.

Art Job Offer!

2008-03-20T08:03:00.004-04:00

I am so thrilled about a new job opportunity! I'm going to design some embroidery designs and get paid for it! Haven't signed a contract yet so I won't go into details, but I'm bursting with excitement!!! I feel like my art work may be taking a path that I've always wanted to explore...getting out into the world, getting paid for what I love to do. More on this later when I really get involved with the designs. Hoorah!!!Joy!!!Yeaaaaa!!!Cool Beans!!!

I WON!!!

2008-03-14T22:48:00.003-04:00

I won a contest today from a blog I found through etsy. There are so many active people there in the forums with lots of interesting things to share about art and the art of blogging. One blog that I visited, http://anexultationoflarks.blogspot.com was having a "guess what this is" contest. The picture of what appeared to be dryer lint was actually petrified oysters. Well, nobody guessed that correctly, but I was close with my guess of sea sponge. I won my choice of an ACEO from the blogger's etsy shop, http://www.aprovechar.etsy.com. She makes creative collages from random things she finds. The card I chose says "make art not beds" which is a motto made just for me. My dream is to "make art, make money, pay someone else to make beds"!

Flowered China Pattern

2008-03-13T08:05:00.006-04:00

"Mama's China"
7" X 7"
colored pencil

As I was growing up I loved these plates my mama had in the cabinet. We didn't use them often because there wasn't a whole set. They were premiums from a grocery store or some product giving away dishes, and maybe Mama got in on the deal too late to get a complete set. She gave me those dishes as an adult and I have picked up a few more pieces from antique shops. I drew this bouquet from that china pattern leaving out a couple of flowers that didn't really fit in with my version of the composition. This was about 1995. I didn't know anything about blending with colored pencils at that time. The colors I used are pretty basic and I varied the shades using more or less pressure. However, it's one of my favorite pieces of all time, probably because of the memories connected. I've entered it in two competitions (didn't win anything) and showed it in the town museum for a local artists show. It hangs in my kitchen over a wooden cabinet that Dondi made. With an old family lamp on top of the cabinet, that little area is a favorite spot in my house.

Weekly Drawing #4

2008-03-10T20:34:00.004-04:00

"Teddy"
3" x 4"
colored pencils

This week's drawing is a bit of whimsy. We spent the weekend in Florence, SC for the kid's activities, sporting clays competion and softball tournament. (Tyler's team came in First and Haleigh's team won all three games they played.) It was cold and windy! I worked on this little guy while sitting around in the motel room. More cutesy than realistic but that's what I was going for.

Julian Beaver and Sidewalk Chalk

2008-03-04T08:19:00.006-05:00

Most kids like to draw on the sidewalk, even if it's just writing their names. Julian Beaver grew up, over achieved and took sidewalk drawing to a whole...nother...level! I saw a piece about him on CBS Sunday morning and remembered to search for him this morning, actually his name was on Yahoo Popular Searches. His trompe l'oeil (tricks the eye) paintings are best viewed as photos, but they are indeed some of the best I've ever seen.

http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm

He saves his paintings through the camera, but I just can't imagine how I would feel seeing or just knowing the rain would totally wash away all that work.

Weekly Drawing #3

2008-03-03T21:26:00.004-05:00

"Palm"
5 X 4
graphite

Spent the evening in the waiting room at the hospital. Luckily I thought to take my sketch pad. This was inspired by a palm tree on a pocket calendar.

A World of Artists @ wikidot.com

2008-03-01T10:02:00.006-05:00

There's a listing of artist at wikidot. The creator wanted to make the largest list of artists on the web, so I added my name, Mary Rogers. Another avenue to meet other talented artists.

Weekly Drawing #2

2008-02-28T20:31:00.004-05:00

"gold flower" ACEO
colored pencil
2/28/08

Last night I broke through my artists block! I spent a couple hours drawing this ACEO (my second one!) while listening to American Idol. It went really well...just relaxed and drew. I used some purples in the background and in spots on the petals for contrast. I love this card!

Medicine Crow...and artists block

2008-02-25T21:28:00.003-05:00

Native American history has always been an interest of my husband's. This portrait of Medicine Crow is for him. We'll be adding this Mary Rogers piece to our collection of Kirby Satler, Earl Concho, another Mary Rogers, and others. That is if I can get through it...Of course I only have black and white reference photos to work from (where was Kodacolor!!)and I've hit the complicated wardrobe of beads, fur, possibly scalps, braids, and some sort of big fan. I've got to do more research to get through this!

Unfortunately I've hit a huge creative block. I tried several times this weekend to start something simpler. Every time I put pencil to paper, graphite or colored, I make a few strokes and give up. I haven't hit a block this hard since I restarted my art work last year.

Just got to finish Medicine Crow...I will not give up! Maybe tomorrow will be more productive.

Colored Pencil ATC / ACEO

2008-02-22T20:18:00.008-05:00

"Morning Moon"

First attempt at doing a miniature. It's 2.5" X 3.5", ATC/ACEO size...in my case, an ACFM (Art Card For Me)...not sure anyone else would want it. I used water color pencils without the water (was riding in the car for most of the coloring and blending) on Canson drawing paper. I don't like the feel of the pencils like this...it has a slick finish. Workable fixative spray didn't help the surface to take more layers, but it did bring out the intensity of the colors. As for the subject, my inspiration was on the drive to work one morning recently. The moon was on it's way down in the west and the sky was just captivating! When I parked the car at the office I sat there trying to set the image in my mind, and wished I had remembered to bring my "life bag" with my pencils that morning. Sunsets, twilight, and morning skys are so beautiful. With the rapid changes in color, the movement, it's like watching God at play. One of my favorite beautiful wonders of nature!

Weekly Drawing #1

2008-02-20T14:57:00.004-05:00

I drew these tulips in charcoal, 2B and HB, from a reference picture. As usual I took liberties and changed a lot of it. Charcoal is a different medium for me. I found that it was difficult to get a wide range of value. And it's messy! Overall I enjoyed it and will try more.

Tulips in charcoal
5 x 9
February 17

School Mural

2008-02-09T23:25:00.002-05:00

I was asked to paint a local school's mascot on the wall in their gym using a design from one of their spirit t-shirts. My husband and I painted the knight crashing through the wall over a period of several evenings. I outlined the knight from a projected image, then created the broken plaster and cracks. Dondi painted most of the knight and background with his airbrush. I added details and highlights with brushes. Working on scaffolding, and on a large scale was a lot of fun. Hearing the comments of the little kids playing in the gym was sweet...they are so easy to impress. Overall the trompe l'oeil works, but I want to go back an add some shiny highlights to the sword.

Pencil

2008-01-30T12:34:00.001-05:00

Magnolia I did in '06, regular No. 2 pencil. Later I went back and darkened a few areas with a grey colored pencil. Magnolia's have beautiful white flowers and dark green shiny leaves. Very popular in the South.

This is my favorite cow creamer from my collection. I bought it at a flea market in the 80's, but I know nothing about it. It's white. Drawn with No. 2 pencil.

Weekly Drawing

2008-01-29T08:07:00.003-05:00

To improve my drawing skills I'm going to complete at least one drawing per week, to be posted here. I've read that some people do a sketch a day or a portrait a day, but that's too ambitious for me. There are plenty of days that I'm out with the family with no time to squeeze in drawing. Throwing something on paper just to say I drew that day is not progress. I'm not fond of quick sketches so I don't allow myself to be satisfied with that. I keep erasing, then keep shading until it's a stand alone picture. Hopefully I will be able to see improvement as well as speeding up the process.

Oils around the house

2008-01-24T22:13:00.000-05:00

I painted this sunset swamp for Dondi in the mid 80's. It's oil on stretched canvas, about 24 X 30. I painted basically the same sky on an ocean scene picture for a friend in Idaho...Vernelle. Dondi liked the sky and wanted a swamp scene, so I put in some cypress trees.

During our stay in Idaho we discovered the South Fork of the Boise River at Anderson Ranch Dam. We fished in the lake and picniced along the river. The best grilled steak and best potato salad I ever had was right there on the river with Kathy and Oliver. Kathy is the one who labeled my iced tea "World Famous". This painting was done later in the 80's from a picture I took. I liked the contrast of the bright sunlight on the trees against the dark shadowed mountain.

Eye for Detail

2008-01-15T18:26:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking about how drawing can tune in my eye to see more details. I notice more details about things even on days when I'm not drawing...but when I have a picture that I'm working on my mind gets so focused on "seeing". Details of shadows and highlights are the strongest. I notice the colors of the shadows and highlights. Shapes are more definite too, as is composition of scenes. I really noticed it one night recently while watching a movie. I had been working on a portrait and got up to watch a movie on tv with the family. It was some gangster movie set in about the 40's directed by the Cohen brothers. It was very dramatically lighted. The shadows and highlights on the actors were so defined that I was distracted to what was going on with the plot. I couldn't stop analysing their faces. That keen awareness is pleasant and comforting. Also, around that time I saw "Across the Universe" and was blown away by the visuals. I know that movie was a little hippy trip anyway, but it was a great feeling to just take it all in.

Colored Pencils, 2007

2008-01-13T10:45:00.001-05:00

I started over with colored pencils in '07. I got my first set of Prismas for Christmas 1988. I discovered they didn't behave like regular graphite pencils...couldn't get them to fill in the white paper and they didn't erase well. At that time I knew nothing about the waxy quality, or layering, or blending.

I was pregnant at the time, we were building our house, I had my first child, got pregnant again with the second child, and life just continued to happen. It was all good!

A few years later I did a picture for my son Tyler's room of a puppy with a ball. Not bad. A few years later I did a picture of some flowers that I framed and hung in the kitchen. That's still one of my favorite pieces of all time. That's all I did until 2007.

After studying a lot on Wet Cavas, these are the pictures of 2007.

This dancer was from a WC drawing event, a reference from their library. I changed the dress color because it was white and I didn't know how to handle it. I also changed her hair to red. The shape of the head gave me a lot of trouble. I didn't know about burnishing so the background is not smooth.

The rosebud was another WC drawing event, and reference from their library.

The shell is a lot more colorful than I first intended. I also struggled with the surf. Surprisingly to me, this picture was very well complimented on WC.

Tyler's guitar. He got it for Christmas '06 and is learning to play very well! I drew it from real life, then found a picture online of one very similar that I used to help me when I didn't have access to the actual guitar. I'm very pleased with how this one turned out. Now I can recognize a Fender when I see one.

Jip is our family dog. He's a treeing fiest, a squirrel dog. My reference pic for this was a picture I took a few years ago. He perked up his ears and tilted his head when the camera made a noise.

This is Al, my first portrait in colored pencil. Al was my partner in a holiday portrait swap on Wet Canvas. We swapped pictures of each other through email, then drew them and posted them, along with everyone else participating. Every time I look at it I see that it needs more work. It wasn't easy.

Haleigh posed for me in her prom dress in '06 showing her "glass slippers". (She used to do that and quote Cinderella when she was little, and I always loved it!) I used that reference picture and added some stairs. Unfortunately this is probably the worst scanned picture of all that I've done so far. The overall concensus is that the hair looks great and the eyes are too big. If it weren't framed already I would make tiny adjustments to the nose and right cheek, but even as is, it's definitely Haleigh.

New Business Plan (or 2008 art resolutions)

2008-01-07T13:08:00.005-05:00

With a new year I always have new hopes, plans and promises. This year is no different in that respect. This is just a list of thoughts to move along in my future "business". This is a working list to be added to and or edited as new and improved ideas come along...a WIP Business Plan...a drawing board with lots of chalk and an eraser. (*** represent what I'm actually doing.)

* Learn more ****(visiting Wet Canvas and other artists' sites)****

* Improve drawing skills ***(see WEEKLY DRAWING)***

* Build portfolio ****(working on portfolio for embroidery designs - DONE - GOT THE JOB!!!)****

* Post to sell on Etsy ****(have listed some colored pencil works, including Art Cards)****
- Try some Art Cards ****(3 listed, it was fun working that small - SOLD one 5/26!!!)****

* Paint for school auction - (didn't have time this year)

* Work on pet portraits
- Display at local vet's offices
- Post custom portrait on Etsy

* Find a group to join and network ****(joined Art Association of Ridge Spring)
- Increase exposure on web ***(building up blog, wiki, Woman Owned, Bust, 3 etsy street teams)

* Public art shows

More Pencils

2007-11-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

There was an art show in Mountain Home, ID, hosted by a local art shop owner...also my oil painting teacher. Wish I could remember her name... (I remembered...Dorothy something...and there was a lady named Edgarina in the class and another lady who painted the most beautiful cat.) I think it was early spring '83. I entered some drawings and a few oils. This jack rabbit and coyote were my latest and greatest at the time. As a plus they added a local Western flair to my space. Both of these reference pictures came from some wildlife or hunting magazines.

These are two of my most favorites. I think the fur turned out pretty nice. A good quality paper would have been great though. I didn't realize the importance of the paper back then.

I had never seen jack rabbits or coyotes before moving to Idaho, but I have fond memories of a coyote hunt with my husband and spotlighting jack rabbits with "Vern Bob" in that green monster truck...(no animals were harmed in the making of these memories.)

Oil Paintings

2007-11-12T22:39:00.000-05:00

Oil painting from high school art class, about '77...an attempt at pointalism, but I didn't have the patience for it. I used primary colors in tiny dots, but my paint actually blended rather than giving an allusion because I didn't let the paint dry before changing colors. I did love it at the time...and I guess still like it now...it's a pretty cool little pinwheel. It was selected to be included in our school's literary arts magazine, Prism, so I was very proud of that!

Willow and birches in the spring was painted in one afternoon in '82. I watched Bill Alexander on PBS and enjoyed the way he painted a landscape in 30 minutes. His style was so loose and I wanted to loosen up too. This took several hours and is on a very small canvas. Biggest fault...the brook looks like concrete...a sidewalk through the meadow.

Old Sketches

2007-10-16T17:45:00.000-04:00

Here are a few things I did a long time ago and still have around.

I bought a "How to Draw Cats" book and drew from the book's examples as well as from other cat pictures I had. I think all three of these were from calendar photos. These are about 9 x 12 in regular #2 graphite pencil.

I like the technique of the striped patterned fur on this cat.

On this one I like the ears and the eyes. It was a Siamese and I think I got the facial feature right.

I like the fur a lot on this cat. Reminds me of all the cats we had when I was growing up. His eyes have always bothered me though...a little bit cross-eyed.

I AM an Artist

2007-09-03T00:51:00.002-04:00

Here is where I will preserve some of my works...good or mediocre. If I deem any piece as bad I may record it for a while, just as a learning step...but at my age, why hang onto it. This blog will allow me to put my feelings about my art into words, and to ask myself a few questions.

Did I enjoy the process?
What are the strong points and weaknesses?
How can I improve?
Do I have a style?

All my life I have loved drawing. I reveled in the praises of my classmates when they were in awe of my artistic talent. I couldn't wait for high school so that I could take art classes...and I excelled for all four years. A few years later I took oil painting lessons, watercolor lessons, entered a few competitions and won a couple awards. I've sold a few, gave away several, framed some and trashed some. It was always fun and rewarding!

Then as my priorities in life changed my art took a backseat...all the way to the back of the bus! Even when I wanted to work on something I found it very hard to be creative and inspired. Sometimes the inspiration was there but my patience wasn't.

Now I have another chance to re-discover art. I may be a little rusty but I AM an artist...or more modestly an artist at heart!