Business as Ususal.

I haven't been around for a couple of days. I wish I could tell you that I won the lottery and have packed up my family to travel the world for the next few years. Paris, London, Dubai, Sydney, Thailand... Or better yet, that I've been discovered as the next new "hot" artist and must move to New York to start showing in galleries and hang out with "A" listers. I wish I could tell you these things but I can't. It's been business as usual here. I've been plugging away at "being an artist" and running my business and trying to stay optimistic in these oh so pessimistic times. I've been finishing up and delivering paintings. I've been photographing and listing items for my shop. I'm at a crossroads of sorts and have been struggling with my next steps. I'm a member of the Artists Network of Riverdale, and so today I dropped in to the Hangman Gallery and had a wonderful discussion about "things". Thanks March for taking so much time speaking with me. You pointed out a few things that I already knew in my heart, but hearing it from you made me realize what I have to do. You helped me to remember that I am in charge and I call the shots.

I know I've posted the above picture before, but it makes me happy so it's here again. "Black Crows" 12x12 Acrylic on Canvas. This particular painting is sold but I have many new paintings in my bird series available at Art Interiors and Arts on King in Toronto. Sorry there's no link available as they don't have a website. Available next week in my Etsy shop.

Marvelous Monday!!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!! I actually got everything done on my list of things to do and even got to sneak in a couple of extras, so it was a good and productive weekend all around. And here we are, another Monday. Do you love Mondays like I do??? I think Mondays are the perfect day. Every Monday is like a new beginning. The start of a whole new week. Think of the possibilities!! On Monday mornings I usually sit down with my second coffee and calendar and have a production meeting with myself. I look at my week ahead and plan all that has to be done. Paintings that I'm working on or planning to start, meetings with galleries or artist friends, trips to the post office, Purchasing new supplies, deliveries that have to be made etc. etc. etc. I'm a big list maker. I find lists really help me to stay focused and organized so I keep lots of them. Here's whats on my list for today...

-finish up the last 6 small paintings in a series of "birds on Wires" that I've been working on.
-start planning a series of 36x36 urban landscapes.
-design a new postcard (business card) with new images.
-write a few emails.
-go to post office to mail off "giveaway" parcel and a few letters.
-list more new items in my shop.

What are you up to on this marvelous Monday????

Art Cards on Sale in my Etsy Shop.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that my original one of a kind art cards are on sale in my Etsy shop until midnight October 31st. These cards are regularly priced at $10 each and are now 50% off. That's right, $5.00 each and free shipping to Canada and the United States. Oh I do love a good sale!!!

And the Giveaway Winner Is...

Today's post is really short as I have so many things that actually HAVE to be crossed off my to do list. I'm here just to announce that Tammy has won the giveaway of one of my OOAK original art cards. I'll be contacting you to get your info!!! Have a GREAT weekend everyone!!!

Busy Busy Busy

This week has been crazy so far. It's a busy time of year with lots to do and we have family visiting from New York as well. I've been working on so many projects at once. Painting small works, 2 large paintings for a group show in November, mixed media pieces for a publisher (more about that later!) and a commission as well. It's been a challenge at times trying to stay focused with so much happening all at once. Right now, I'm working on listing all the items for my shop. The above is "Bliss" an 8x10 acrylic on a stretched canvas. I've also added a new section to my Etsy shop. The "Holiday Collection". These are very affordable, original works of art that are ready for framing or wrapping and giving as gifts. Original art makes a great gift!! But then you've heard me say that before. With all that's going on with the economy (I know, I know, enough already!) I'm making sure that I'll have artwork at every price point available.

I've always been one to look for sales, make gifts myself, or purchase from small indie stores, artists and craft shows. How about you?? Will you be changing your holiday spending habits this year???

Link Love

I meant to do a blog post yesterday, I really did but then the day just got away from me and it never happened. Usually I'm very organized and my Mondays start with a big cup of steaming hot coffee and a list of all that's to be accomplished that day and the rest of the week. Well it was about 3 in the afternoon before I got to make that list. I started yesterday with a few emails I had to write which I found rather frustrating because the words just wouldn't come. So I do what I usually do then-I take a break and check out some of my favorite blogs. I popped in to see what Veronica was up to and found her photo of a new painting. I hope you feel better Veronica!!. Then I checked out my two favorite design blogs decor8 and decor addict. Awsome as always.

Gabriela was next-she's always got something very interesting going on. She didn't disapoint! And then on to Marisa's blog. A very interesting post on a heated topic!! It was after I had finished reading Marisa's post and spent way too much time writing and leaving her a comment that I thought I should check on the time. Oooops, 11:30 already??!?? Time to get those emails written and sent.

I spent the rest of my day varnishing and wiring 20 smalls for Art Interiors, and wrapping six new paintings for XC Art Restoration that I'm delivering later today. Oh yes, and because my studio is in my home, I also managed to get in three loads of laundry, make dinner, feed the cats, blah, blah, blah.

The little Daisy piece above will be available in my shop later this week. I'll be listing lots of new work very soon. Please check back often.

October Giveaway!!

Here is the original one of a kind art card that one of you will win in my October giveaway. You still have a chance to enter as the contest closes this Tuesday, October 21st at midnight. Just leave me a comment on any of my blog posts from October 7th-21st.

The card is an original acrylic painting on canvas, mounted onto a 5x7 Strathmore watercolor card. I've collaged a dragonfly cut from watercolor paper that I've painted myself and the card is blank inside. You can also frame it and hang or display it as art instead of using it as a card. So come on, start commenting and I'll announce the lucky winner next Friday. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Andy Warhol

While in Montreal we went to see the "Warhol Live" exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Andy Warhol, 1928-1987. Did you know that Warhol began his career as a very successful commercial illustrator?? He illustrated for numerous magazines, did shoe ads for I. Miller, and worked on many record covers. His very first gallery exhibit was at Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles-32 Campbell's Soup cans (1961-62). His most famous works were Campbell's Soup Cans, Elvis, the Marilyn Monroe series and headshots of famous celebrities. Warhol came to be a painter, avant garde filmaker, record producer, author, and public figure. A celebrity himself, he coined the phrase "15 minutes of fame" suggesting that everyone in their lifetime will be famous for 15 minutes. The exhibit was all about the music and dance of his time, and how it reflected in Warhols work and life. In one room the floor was raised in the center and there were lots of large pillows strewn about for people to lounge on. It was completely dark with loud music and slides and videos on the walls. As exhibits go, I enjoyed this and would reccommend it, but I really have my sites set on a future trip to Pittsburgh, PA. to visit the WarholMuseum.

A Weekend in Montreal.

Sunrise view from our 9th floor room at the Sheraton Hotel.

A mix of old and new.

Rooftops of Montreal.

Beautiful fall colors north of the city.

Riviere du Nord in Ste. Agathe des Monts, Quebec

We spent the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend visiting family in Montreal. It's a fantastic city with plenty to offer. We visit about four or five times each year and there's still so much of the city I still haven't seen. On our last day full day there, we took a drive up to Ste Agathe des Monts. Beautiful scenery and fall foliage everywhere. Canadian author Mordecai Richler set his book "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" in Ste Agathe des Monts, Quebec. I took tons of photos that I'll be using as reference for new small landscape paintings.

Festival of Smalls Sneak Peak.

Here are some shots of what I've been painting lately. Small paintings that are to be included in the Festival of Smalls at Art Interiors. The top photo shows the very beginnings. Canvases that I've textured with acrylic modeling paste. When dry, I've sketched my idea with a watercolor pencil. The middle photograph is the first under painting. The bottom photo is a few finished paintings on my Ikea bistro table. Yes, that's snow in the paintings and I'm looking forward to the first snowfall of the season!!!

I'll be away from the blog for a few days. We are having our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend and there is a lot of family stuff to take care of. Don't forget about my October giveaway. All you have to do to win is leave a comment on any post here up until October 21st. Leave as many comments as you like. I'll post a photo of the winning artwork next week.

So to my Canadian friends have a happy Thanksgiving weekend. What will you be doing this weekend???

Spring Birches at Liv by Au Lit

There's a wonderful new store not far from my studio. It's Liv by Au Lit. Liv is a 10,000 square ft. two level store that combines fashion and jewellery with furniture, linens, lighting and accessories to create a one of a kind multi-sensory shopping experience. It's the new lifestyle store by Au Lit Fine Linens. They also carry original art from Art Interiors. I was very happy to hear that my painting "Spring Birches" is in Liv, available for purchase. I had to get right over there and take some photos of it. I love the concept of this store and the way everything works together. There is some great china in the cabinet in the bottom photo-with the crowns. It makes me think of you Gabriela!!!!

October Giveaway is Here!

Autumn Colors
Acrylic on Canvas

8'x10'

I'll have to put my mixed media work on hold for a short while. I spent yesterday painting small landscape paintings. I'm preparing a dozen or so of them for the annual "Festival of Smalls" which will be starting in November at Art Interiors. These are fun to do as it's always a nice change from the larger paintings. It's a totally different "feel", painting on such small canvases and I find myself handling the brushes and the paint in a slightly different manner. I'll post a sneak peek of a couple of them when I'm all finished.

Well it's here. My October Giveaway. This time I'm doing things a bit different. All you have to do is to leave a comment on any of my blog posts for 2 weeks. Starting today Oct.7th to midnight Tues. Oct. 21st. You can comment as many times as you like. The more you comment, the better your chances for winning. I'll post a picture of the prize a little later into the giveaway.

it's all for ART.

Chelsea Rooftops by artist Francis Livingston.
Arcadia Fine Arts.
New York.

Fixing the Gown by artist Malcolm T. Liepke.
Arcadia Fine Arts.
New York

It's been an artful weekend here in Toronto. Closing today is the Toronto International Art Fair which I attended as a visitor. This is the ultimate gallery hop as over 100 galleries from around the world participated. I spent a good 3 and 1/2 hours walking the aisles looking at art. Painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture, avant garde and installation. As you know by now, I'm partial to representational art and realism, so I tend to gravitate to the galleries that feature that style of painting. Galerie de Bellefeille's booth seemed different to me from past years as they didn't have as much realistic work as I was expecting. I was very happy to find my new favorite gallery Arcadia Fine Arts from New York was there. This gallery is a showcase for contemporary representational work. I spent a long time in their booth as all the paintings that they featured in the show were stupendous.

On Saturday evening, Oct 4th we had Nuit Blanche Toronto. A free all night contemporary art thing. From Sunset to sunrise the next morning, Toronto was transformed by artists. I haven't attended a Nuit Blanche yet but have heard from many friends that it's absolutely wonderful and "you should go!!" Perhaps next year I'll give up my nice warm bed and 8 hours of sleep to experience this event. After all, it's ll for art!!!

My First Interview!

I discovered Decor Addict, a wonderful Canadian design blog, a little while ago and was thrilled last week when asked if I would be interested in doing an interview for the blog. My first interview!!! It was so much fun to do. Thanks Trina. You can read it here.

I'll be attending the Toronto International Art Fair tomorrow. TIAF 2008. It's a great opportunity to see galleries from around the world and even though I'm not a big fan of avant gard, I'm looking forward to seeing what's new and cutting edge. One of my favorite galleries that attends every year with their fantastic roster of artists is Montreal's Galerie de Bellefeuille.