"Tree lined road" aceo -a painting a day

ACEO 13.00 Tree lined road. This Little landscape is for all of you ATC collectors.


This has been a rough weekend and I surely I will get more paintings done this week than last. I have been tired and basically a slug for the last few days. I'm hoping I can get my MOJO back and get into the spirit of life, love and the joy of painting.
This morning I drank a cup of coffee followed by a caffeinated drink thinking somethings got to get me jump started. It worked for about an hour and then it was like.... ZZZZZzzzzz so now what? I guess those artificially highs just don't really last. Oh yeah and its hot.... do I sound like I'm complaining? I am, its Freaking 92 degrees, I mean really, its October. No rain in sight and I have to run the AC. Art keeps telling me he's freezing (79 degrees) and I end up sweltering so he doesn't get sick.
It wouldn't be so bad if it were cool, I mean, if it were overcast at least you could blame your mood on the weather. I'm blaming my mood on the weather anyway.

Last night I went out to pick up some Chinese food and had two glasses of wine while I waited... jeez I could barely drive home. Now that's not supposed to happen, when did I turn into a light weight? Don't get me wrong, I don't drink a lot but two glasses of wine should not effect most people. I guess its cause I hadn't eaten yet. So what if I went to bed at 8:30 and woke up at 7:30, its not a crime to sleep in. Then of course I had to take this photograph four or five times and still couldn't get a decent picture....I guess I have ranted enought for today. Tomorrow will be better ... all I can do is hope.

A Showdown... Saachi Gallery

Starting May 28th I'm in the showdown so if you like this painting, please go to their site and vote for it! Thanks! P.S. you may have to cut and paste the link if it doesn't work...

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/showdown/index.php?showpic=24648

Abstract- Ancient Ritual 05 ACEO

This is another ACEO in my Ancient Ritual Series. I painted it today at our Art league. I have been developing a stamp for the backs of these cards, I have a few ideas, I just haven't decided what it will be exactly. Right now I just paint or do a small drawing on the backs.

10.00 SOLD

Still waiting

Still waiting was actually painted several years ago and was a result of watching Zoltan Szabo paint something like this. It was a tree with a yellow ribbon in snow. It reminds me of how things change and yet stay the same. Here we are again tying ribbons around trees waiting and hoping that the troops come home.
I repainted it and decided to put it up for the painting of the day for the 25th of April 2007.
its 11 by 15.

My Blue palette

This is my blue Palette, I wanted to show you some of the paints I use.

I have all of these paints on my blue palette all the time and will use the empty place in the middle for a color which I may only use for a particular painting. I like to have all of my blues, reds, and yellows, separated on different pallets. It seems to make sense to me when mixing and when working with the various colors. I sometimes change a color here and there depending upon what I'm painting, but I find these are the colors I feel I need to paint the variety of subjects which I paint. Many of my paintings only have three or four paints used but I like to have them all out and ready to go, I don't like to spend time squeezing color out of the tube. Especially for these daily paintings, its nice to step up to the painting table and be ready to go in only a minute or two.

The paints are from left to right Paynes Grey - Mimariblue brand(MB), Cyan-MB, Antwerp-Windsor Newton (WN), Ultramarine WN, Cobalt- Cheap Joes (CJ) Permenent Violet bluish- MB, Andrew Turquoise -CJ, Cerulean- Daniel Smith (DS), Sap green DS, Hooker's green DS or WN Windsor green (blue shade)WN
With these blues I can come up with pretty much anything I need. There are reflective colors such as Cobalt and opaques like Andrews Turquoise and of course transparents like Cyan. I can achieve dark darks or the lightest lights, All of these mix well and make wonderful combinations. If you have a question regarding any of these paints I would be glad to help you, as I know them prety well.

Waterfall

This was a bit of an experiment, I used compliments and wanted to see if I could get some variation and also wanted to try a technique I had heard about. After a bit I added a third color and then another & finally some white. It actually wasn't a waterfall at first, then at the end, I decided it needed something right down the middle. This might be the only painting I have painted using white out of the 226 dailies I have painted thus far.

I usually just save the white of the paper...

Waterfall

About This Painting:
100% artist grade paints and paper. Paintings are one of a kind originals. I paint in several sizes. In inches.. ACEO 2.5 by 3.5 =$10.00- 6 by 9 or 5 by 7 is $25.00,7/11 is 40.00 and 11/15 is $250.00

Media: watercolor
Size: 12 in X 12 in (30.5 cm X 30.5 cm)
Price: $40

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $40 plus $5.5 s/h
Or, send me an email

Field and Stream - a painting a day

This 11 by 15 painting was a conglomeration of techniques. I used mastic in the upper left tree area, I painted in wet into wet in the stream of water, used a palate knife on the birch trees and of course scratched out some grasses. I also incorporated some negative painting in the tree trunks on the left side. Last but not least there is some splatter done on the ground. I don’t usually try to use so many tricks of the trade but thought it would be fun to have one painting with so many different techniques utilized.
This is for sale for $100.00 matted.

ACEO Pegasus a painting a day

SOLD
If you don't know what an ACEO means... its a small painting just 2.5 by 3.5 inches and they are collected just like baseball cards. Some folks call them Artists trading cards. or ATCs... I have painted a number of these small gems and people seem to love them. Because of their size I don't usually draw them I just let the paint go and see what turns up. I had an idea of painting an angel and did the sweep of the wing first then the downward section of the legs . While putting in the folds of the gown, I saw the Pegasus clear as anything. I don't stick to the plan if the painting wants to go in a different direction . Here is my little angel turned Pegasus. It will be sold tonight on eBay for 10.00 plus shipping of $3.00. if interested email me shantmarie@aol.com

Calmness a painting a day

Shantmarie@aol.com

In looking back over the last several paintings I can see that I'm painting from a different place. I don't mean a physical place but a mindset. I'm distilling scenes and not literally painting them. As a daily painter with more than 200 dailies painted so far, I can see trends and attitudes reflect back to me from my work. Its interesting to see the subtle changes taking place. Every once in a while, I do a commission and then it seems like its all technique. These little daily paintings allow me the freedom to paint anything, really anything can be worthy of being the focus for the day. This freedom to paint anything also allow you to explore various things you may not in larger works. You are more adventurous and less predictable. Its as if we have been trained(even as artists) to do what you know works. With the dailies its a bit different, you don't really loose anything, the supplies are minimal, the time only an hour or two, so you might explore the way light recedes thru the woods or you may try to push texture, hue or chroma. You may push it too far and figure out whats too much, all the same your work doesn't suffer because its just a wee little painting and there is someone out there who will love it. This need to explore and test is an important element into developing your style. You'll know when it speaks to you, you'll respond to it, & then, you'll know this is also your voice. An artist's journey isn't much different from others, it just takes a few more twists and turns, that's all. "Calmness" is a small painting and will be for sale for $40.00. size is 10.5 by 5 inches.

Snow trees - a painting a day

I painted this on clay board, the size is 3 by 5 and is for sale for 25.00 It would frame really well in an 8 by 10 frame or even an 11 by 14 frame if matted. Or it could be framed without a mat and keep its small size.

I love the way trees look after a freeze. Did you see the photo on the front page of the New York Times today? Wow what a great photo. The mist rising in the background and the snow on the ground a light blue gray with a sky that had a yellow glow. Two silhouette figures and one tall black tree for interest and you have a beautiful scene and I wish I had been there. Shantmarie@aol.com

Koi , is finished now on to the next... young boy...

I finished the BIG koi painting as I have begun to call it, it still needs a name which at the moment is alluding me, I guess I'll have to go back in the archives and see what folks have suggested in the past. I have been given some great suggestions, it seem as there are many creative people out there when it comes to naming things. I've always had problems with naming the paintings. Sometimes its because I don't want to lead the viewer but in the past, I 've found paintings without names don't do as well as those with names. People respond to the name as much as the image. I have even changed the names of paintings and found paintings sold after I found a better name. Who woulda thunk?

But as you see I'm no wordsmith and at times I wish I had someone who could step in and officially name them all. The names would magically fit the feel and I would be off the hook.

So this one is open for anyone to give me a name, I'll take in account all suggestions and maybe your name will be selected. I'll let you know when and what I choose.

Now for my next painting, you can see at the top of the page my new start for my next painting. I laid in the colors and some of the texture. My plan is to work with a male model and back light him to fit into the middle of this piece with the light coming from behind and around him. I won't have the model till Saturday so this will have to be set aside till I can get the drawing in place to put him into the white area. I 've pretty much decided to have him bare chested but in low rider jeans... we'll see. Feed back is good so chime in here if you have any ideas.

I have been drawing everyday too and I will post my drawings or sketches some days as well as my paintings.

Feel free to write me if you ever have any suggestions or questions.
shantmaire@aol.com

To create absolutely- An artist's journey to find uniqueness

There is a topic of conversation which I have thought about for a while and have come to some conclusions. The idea that we as artists create absolutely.
It’s hard for me to believe that anyone who is active in the art world can be creating without something or someone influencing their work. Thus the idea that their work is truly unique can only be true if you take in account their path to this uniqueness. Each artist makes a lengthy journey at finding their style and developing their methods. I contend, we choose certain combinations from a repertoire of ideas. There is a collective consciousness of humanity that we all reach into and pull out something that we respond to. This makes it ours, this is like taking a recipe and spicing it to fit our tastes. It is our uniqueness and our creativity which springs from our choices. It doesn’t come from nothing.
As an artist I can tell you that I am greatly influenced by many things in my environment both good and bad.

My work is consciously or unconsciously also influenced by what other artists paint. Sometimes I limit my exposure to certain things knowingly, to eliminate the possibility that it may show up in my work. Other times I grasp onto something allowing the Osmosis to occur, to let my work evolve as it may with the aid of other artist’s work. I don’t try to mimic anyone’s work but I will try to paint in their style or even paint one of their paintings to see how it fits with my style. I evaluate the process and try to get into the other artist’s mind. I’m always amazed that two people doing the same type of work can have such different approaches to the same subject in the same medium. Sometimes all I find out is how much I like what I’m already doing. By working with another’s palette or by trying certain methods I find I have a broader sense of the challenges each artist faces. Most of the time, it just gives me some ideas as to how I want to proceed in developing my own style. It helps solidify my tastes and gives me a direction to proceed. My confidence level is strengthened by working thru ideas others before me have mastered.

Folks are always worried about copying, or infrigment, and you should be concerned. But you should also know that no matter what your style or how you approach your work, you are influenced by what other artists are doing and you shouldn’t be worry about that, its part of the process of finding your own voice. All major artists movements fed off of each other, the impressionists, Ash can, Dada, etc. These folks only became better artists by the exchange of information and by digesting the work of their peers.