Just an update.

I'm heading back to work today but I wanted to show you that I did accomplish something while I had those glorious days off.  The first one is the celebrity portrait I'm slowly working on.

This second one is a redone little one that really improved.

I took out the initials and put in my usual long form "Bonnie Heather" even though it seems so big in this little 5"x7".

Before and After painting

Before

In my last post I mentioned my tendency to add paint to pictures on my wall. Well the Christmas show at our local Art Gallery is less than a couple weeks away. It's an under 100 show. Under a hundred dollars and under a hundred square inches. I'm excited that my work got juried in but I'm not getting as many paintings ready for it as I planned. My solution is to rework some paintings on my wall that just weren't up to snuff.

Above is a hummingbird painting I did as a challenge for James Parker's blog back in the spring. Below it is the new and improved version. It may not look better because of the photo but I think it is. The plain blue background of the first one gave it a paint by number look.

                                                      

After

Little Straw Winery show starts Saturday!

I've had quite a bit of time off lately and I must say it's been enjoyable.  Of course the closer it gets to Christmas the more I'll have to help out at the gallery so I'm determined to get my fun painting time in now while I can.

This is the first of the three shows.

If you can make it to the reception, that would be awesome!

I've been accepted at three great seasonal shows and I'm really excited to have my work out in the community instead of all over my home.  I do enjoy having my paintings around the condo but it does make me want to take them down and add a little more paint.  Just a little touch up... you know what I mean.

Until next time,
God Bless.

Blogging the small ones.

Today Robert Genn's newsletter gave a couple reasons it might be detrimental to our art careers to sell small inexpensive paintings on our blog.  Hmmmm I can see a problem may arise with gallery owners who want to keep your price point high but the issue of having enough passion, I have doubts about.  I have passion when it comes to my small paintings.  I love the feeling of accomplishment and the fact that my art is priced so that almost anyone can own a piece if they want to. Maybe my opinion has more to do with the fact that my art isn't to the quality where it brings in the BIG dollars yet. This blog gives me so much pleasure and being able to post paintings more often because some of them are small is reason enough for me to continue. I really hope my fellow bloggers who paint small fire sale paintings continue to post them to their blog so we can continue to appreciate your passion for painting.

A little progress on my Celebrity Portrait.

I volunteered at the "Art Gallery" today in Lake Country.  Being there for five hours gave me a great opportunity to view the art on display.  The theme was "Harvest".  I especially liked the fact that I knew over half of the artists who had their art displayed.  One artist, Mary Bull is in her nineties and her work is renowned in our area .  I hope I can paint when/IF I reach that age.

Mary Bull

Red chair and Fruit

A friend, Marlene G. McPherson had her art on display.  I love her acrylic done with pallet knife.  Marlene is known throughout our area as the artist to go to for painting lessons.

Marlene G. McPherson

Camp Road

I recommend if you have the time that you visit your local art gallery soon and better yet volunteer a couple hours. The blessings are multiple.

A portrait of a local celebrity.

It's great to be painting again.

I'm working on a portrait that will be given at a public event after Christmas.  By putting this statement out on the world wide web I'm committing myself to the project.  It's scary considering the short period of time I've been doing portraits.  My insecurities are running amuck.  What if it doesn't turn out...  What if she doesn't like my interpretation... What if I wreck it...   Ok Bonnie Heather...take a deep breath.  It's only a painting... and it's only October.  There is lots of time to start over and no one will care if I never do it.  This WILL be fun.

Whew!  That was close... almost had a panic attack :].  I think I needed that.  I was getting a little too proud of myself with cheques coming in from purchased paintings and requests to show my art.  I'm a long way from quitting my day job and I have a whole lot to learn when it comes to painting with oils.  

Here's what I've accomplished so far.  I don't have to worry about anyone recognizing who it is yet but someday soon.  I have confidence it will happen.  

I'm home but not quite back.

Hi everyone.  I had a wonderful trip.  I visited my son in Toronto and had a great week hugging my grandson, Gabriel, in Mexico City.  My terrific daughter-in-law and her family took me all over to show me their city.  

Now I'm home and almost over the cold I caught and gave to everyone on my flight back.  I haven't picked up my paintbrush yet and this blog is seriously lacking anything of interest but I have managed to unpack, pick up some art from recent shows and enter the next Wet Canvas contest.

It's great to be home and now I think I'll go read some more blogs.  I'll add some new paint to this site soon.

I'll miss you

Tonight is the Reception for the Visions Show at the Rotary Center for the Arts.  I'm so excited I've barely slept.

More exciting is the fact that I'm flying out on a trip the next morning.  First I'll be visiting my eldest son, Nathan, in Toronto.  I haven't seen him in almost three years.  I can't wait to give him a hug.

Nathan

After that I'm flying on to Mexico City to visit my Grandson and Daughter-in-law.  I haven't met my Grandson, Gabriel, yet and he will be 22 months old.

                     Gabriel                                      Karina

I guess you can understand why I can't sleep.

I likely won't be blogging until I get home.  I'll catch up on everyone when I return.  In the mean time be well.  (Hope you enjoy my portraits of my family)

Art Visions 2010 Reception is Thursday Evening

The Reception is so close.  I'm really excited to be part of this amazing event.  My painting will be on display in the Hambleton Gallery from the 7th until the 16th of October but the big reception is on the 7th from 7-9pm. I'd love to see you there.