So your still shopping?

Curiously Strong, Oil on Canvas, 14x18

Are you racing to finish your gift list and wrap and bake and watch all those classic shows?

I cant bake for you or watch your favorite Christmas specials but I may have an idea for your last minute gifts.

IF you have a local gallery you will fine MANY one of a kinds and unique items for your special someones - in stock and ready to wrap. (So much fun!!)

My local gallery has items such as:

• Handmade Crocheted Items
• Pottery
• Quilted items
• Applique
• Glass Art
• Fused Glass
• Stained Glass
• Paintings of course..
• Jewelry
• Photography
• Carved Wood
• Mosaic

ORIGINAL ART equals an ORIGINAL GIFT (that's how I got hooked on Etsy).

Now, I, on the other hand am DONE with my shopping (yay!) but I havent even started my holiday baking/meal planning (boo). So leave you with that - my gift to YOU - a brainstorming, last minute, idea list of gift giving options that are likely down the road. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

Making Sausage.. ?

I was recently asked if I labored my strokes or in fact, painted quickly and left each stroke as it falls off the brush.

It' might surprise you to know I usually start with a relatively tight painting, putting it all in place where I want it, finding my darks and lights, my strongest color and my muted tones.

That's when I reassess my painting and let my brush fly!  Sometimes I smoosh through edges until they disappear entirely and bring back the areas I want strong.  

It's a back and forth, smooshing and repainting until I'm happy with the result.

Do I labor over brush strokes?  Mostly no, sometimes, yes. 
But when you're in the zone, it's a labor of love. 


What is NOT a labor of love, at least at this point, is my photography of my artwork...  😠👎 
Getting those nasty sparkles and glares out is a constant issue with my chiaroscuro pieces.  I'm going to be experimenting with a new product next week to see if I can produce a better image.  Until then, it remains "a work in progress".  The finished painting and image of said painting will be displayed when that experiment succeeds!   😏
via GIPHY