Roads - A painting a day

SOLD

I wanted to work on this a bit more to deepen the contrast and up the values in the dark areas. But since this is a daily painting I decided to leave it alone. I may deepen them later, but I'll let it sit for awhile to see if I still think it needs to go darker in the shadows after a few days.

I have taken some photos of roads around hereI may do a series.

The set up or painting table - A painting a day Project

This little library table is my set up for painting small post card paintings. This size is NOT my favorite size. I'd much rather paint larger, but for ebay, this size is profitable. I thought some of you might like to see the way I work on several pieces at a time.

A Little Bit of Wine A Painting a day

This small 5 by 6 inch painting is the result of a little bit of wine that was left sitting near my painting table. I decided to put it into a painting.

Abstract landscape A painting a day

I love the way the strokes are placed so confidently on the paper. I wish this was in focus a little better I rushed getting the picture. If you would like to see a better photo let me know I'll be glad to re-shoot it for you. The size is postcard size and fits in a 8 by 10 mat.

If your getting tired of landscapes, don't worry, I have a glass of wine on my still life pedestal to paint. Let's just hope it doesn't disappear before I finish the painting. Hehehe...

no name - a painting a day

This painting was inspired by my walks in the woods. I have painted so many of these little gems, I can't think of a new name for this one. So, send in your suggestions. I will pick the best one. If interested in adopting this little painting email me at shantmarie@aol.com. Adoption fee is $25.00 + shipping.

By the way this is a negative painting. Meaning (in case you didn't know) you don't paint the shapes but the space around the shapes.
I love this type of painting even thought it takes a lot of concentration. Maybe that's why I can't think of a name. I can only think so much in a day, and I think I used my quota.

Winter pond - A painting a day

This little pond is almost just a depression in the ground in the summer months. But during the winter it comes alive with activity. It's a mini eco system which is very interesting and alive.

Farwell to Fall - A painting a day

This painting is a small 5.5 by 7 inch painting. It suppose to rain tonight and as I was walking thru the woods I noticed the trees still have some leaves. I guess after this rain most of them will blow down.

This painting is for sale for $25.00 if interested, email me at shantmarie@aol.com

South Carolina Hummer - A painting a day

I think I like the South Carolina Hummer over the kind that one you see thundering down the street. Our humming birds have all left for warmer climates and I hear they travel all the way to South America. It amazes me that they can fly so far.

This is not a daily painting, It took me two days but then adain, it is slightly larger at 11 by 15.

If you would like to see the bidding on ebay:
http://stores.ebay.com/A-Painting-A-Day-Shanti-Marie_W0QQsspagenameZL2222QQtZkm

Fall Floral - A Painting A Day

Its been a long day! If you look at this piece you will see a big gray shape which looks like a leaf hanging down from the top of the piece. That is a shadow. I didn't notice it till I had already uploaded the painting. I'll try to take another photo tomorrow and hopefully, it will be better.

A Mouse in the house - A painting a day

The day started out at sunrise with a great cup of coffee and a walk with the dogs. Headed off for up town (that’s what they call down town in Charlotte) for my life drawing session which I host every Saturday morning at 8:30. It was a surprisingly warm day and the streets were deserted. I thought no one was going to show up, when the model finally wondered in at 8:30. No one else had arrived. Hmmn, thinking it was just one of those fall days when no one could get out of bed, I figured I’d send the model home. Of course a few stragglers showed up at the last minute, and we finally get into drawing at about 9 am. When I got home I realized I had left my Camera, Oh great. I had to call over to the gallery to make sure someone could put it away for me till tomorrow morning when I’ll be back in Charlotte (NC). Still, things were’t going too bad. I figure I ‘ll have plenty of time to paint, and do my usual sat. chores. This painting a day thing can get to you cause you always feel a little pressure to create a masterpiece, yet you have to have it on-line and posted by 12:00 midnight. It’s like your blog turns into a pumpkin if you miss the deadline.
I had painted some vegetables yesterday and wasn’t in the mood for more, and after looking thru the paintings on the daily painter’s blog, I decided I would paint some fruit. I figured, I didn’t need to buy grapes, I could paint them from memory. (geese I’m lazy) I did spend many hours in a vineyard around grapes. So, I paint this little stem. It looks a bit lonely then I paint three grapes. This will never do, I need to figure out a composition. Why do I always have to have a plan..I guess I work this way because I’m used to planning my compositions when painting in the direct manner and its difficult for me to change.

I let the three grapes sit there on the stark white paper, right there on my table. I have stuff to do. More dog walks, phone calls and errands. You know, pretty much what we all spend half our lives doing and the things that make up most of our day. People ask “what’d you do today?” How do you say “nothing” when you were busy all day, but none of it is interesting enough to discuss in a conversation. You like to talk books, cinema, heck, even current events, but your day is filled with picking up clothes at the cleaners, getting manure at the hardware store, and buying cheweeze for the dogs.
Later I come back to the drawing table and there are the three grapes and for whatever reason, I decide to let the painting tell me what to draw. I look at the stark white paper and the three tiny grapes. I start to envision this little mouse. I can see him clear as anything, like he’s right there. I have to paint him, he’s insistent. Sometimes he stands up like you see in the painting and other times he just sitting there looking up at the grapes. Sort of animated and yet life like. Maybe I was just tired. Whatever, I thank my muse for giving me a little help. So here he is folks. The picture is a litle dark, the background should be white. I had to use my #2 camera.

Its about six o'clock and its time for dinner so I'm just happy I have posted my mouse and hope all of you have a great Sunday. I think I'll sleep in.

BID NOW

Baby Pumpkins - A painting a day

I was at the plant nursery and I was looking for something to paint, when I hear this small girl squeal out "BABY PUMPKINS"
I knew they would be on part of my next painting. They are rather cute. So small yet a perfect little pumpkin. This ornamental squash I chose because it seemed to fit.
You can buy this painting by emailing me or by going to my eBay store. The actual size is 11 by 7.5 inches. I cropped it a bit for the photo since the background is white paper you could crop it the way you need to fit into your frame. BID NOW

Funny thing about words... some just don't go together like they should.

Top 10 Worst Domain Names (these links don’t actually work)

1. A site called ‘Who Represents‘ where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name… wait for it… is
www.whorepresents.com

2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at
www.expertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at
www.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at
www.therapistfinder.com

5. Then of course, there’s the Italian Power Generator company…
www.powergenitalia.com

6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales:
www.molestationnursery.com

7. If you’re looking for computer software, there’s always
www.ipanywhere.com

8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is
www.cummingfirst.com

9. Then, of course, there’s these brainless art designers, and their whacky website:
www.speedofart.com

10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at
www.gotahoe.com

Words that sound good SEPARATED dont always sound good together.

Check out my ebay store -A painting a day

Visit My eBay Store: A Painting A Day Shanti Marie

I only have six paintings on ebay but I will put more in my store. I plan to list each daily painting I haven't sold from my blog. My blog will usually have a discount since I won't have the listing fees.

Thanks for checking in with me, I noticed many of you are repeat viewers. You don't know how much it means to me to have so many viewers each day. Thank you.

Wildflower - A painting a day & instruction too

This small painting is a reverse painting which means you use a fixative (mastic, tape, wax or film) is painted or placed in the areas you wish to remain white. Then you paint with total abandon the background. Wait for the painting to dry, take off the fixative/tape and now you can paint the foreground. This isn’t my favorite way to work but I do it sometimes to keep up my skills. I actually don’t like using fixative. It leaves a very hard line around everything you paint. Which is far from my style. To learn the technique is valuable and I recommend it to students. The problem with using mastic is you have to use it often because it goes bad quickly (say in six months) in the bottle and like drawing if you don’t use it often your skill for application will suffer. Those artists who use it regularly find they have no problem with it. It allows you to paint around small or tiny shapes without having to painstakingly maneuver wet paint around objects. It is good for highlights and of course you can scubb back the hard edge if you want it a little softer. I painted this in my sketch book Its 6 by 9 inches on 140 lb paper.

If you want to try it, I suggest the tiny(fingernail polish) bottle size at”cheap joe’s” He sells it for a couple of dollars. It can be fun and you can do lots of interesting things with it. Three things: always use a cheap brush, keep it wet with a little dish soap and water before you place it into the bottle. Always paint it on bone dry paper and don’t leave it on your paper for very long, a week or two is OK.

You can also use drafting tape but you have to use an exacto knife or tear the edges of the tape to get the tape to lay on your shape correctly. I like tape for perfectly stright edges, but haven’t really used it for organic shapes. I’ve used film and its good for trees and leaves. I think you should try them all.

Red Sunset - A painting a day-and a poem

I like this little painting, it would be great for someone who likes bright colors and moody skies .

Its a little larger than a daily painting but would fit nicely in a mat and 11 by 14 frame.

Shantmarie@aol.com for more infoBid on this item!

I was thinking about poetry last week and was reminded of this poem

"When Earth's Last Picture is Painted".

I'll post it here for all of you artists and art lovers.

When Earth's last picture is painted

and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded,

and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it

lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen

shall put us to work anew.
And those that were good shall be happy;

they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas

with brushes of comets' hair.
They shall find real saints to draw from

Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting

and never be tired at all!
And only The Master shall praise us,

and only The Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money,

and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working,

and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It

for the God of Things as They are!

Rudyard Kipling- 1892

Day Dream - A Painting A Day

“Artists can mire and sink into the muck of mediocrity.”

I don’t know who wrote this, but when I read it this morning, I knew it was true. It’s one of my fears. But there isn’t a road map for artists. How do you step out of the muck?

Especially painting a painting a day.

Some people don’t get abstracts. they ask me why I paint them. I’ll tell you why; because when you’ve painted everything from salt shakers to out houses, you need a change. You need to handle the elements in their strictest from.
Without representing anything in particular, it becomes bigger then the item your representing it’s all about line, color, value, balance, and much much more. Its for the sheer fun of holding a brush in your hand and allowing your intuitive self a moment to paint.
Just allowing yourself to day dream. thats why this piece is called "Day dream."

This painting is 11.5 by 15 inches on 140 lb 100 % cotton watercolor paper and matted in a double white mat which will fit into a 16 by 20 frame. It sells for $100.00

e maill me at shantmarie@aol.com

Blue Sky - A painting a day

Postcard painting: 4 by 6 inches.

if you are intersted in buying, write to me at

shantmarie@aol.com

$25.00 matted to fit in a five by seven frame.

For those of you who read my daily writings, I wanted to let you know that my painting “Koileidescope” which I entered into a juried show last week, won third place. I’m very pleased. I tell myself this stuff isn’t important, “I enter to have my work on display with other artists of high regard”. This is true, but to be recognized by your peers for something you created is a wonderful experience. The show was really well done, all of the art was very good and I was happy just to get into the show(there were over 80 pieces of art selected) . My other painting, “Zoltan’s Palette” did not win an award but looked great and I was very proud.

She dreams of Dancing A painting a day

"She dreams of dancing"

is my interpretation of a young girl's dreams. You may remember I painted this ballerina earlier last week but felt it wasn't right. This is closer to the feeling I wanted.

By the way for those of you who actually read my blog, I did get my two pieces accepted into the Juried show. The opening is tonight but I have decided not to go. The pieces are Koielidescope and Zoltan's Palette.

Eight of Cups A painting a day

This is a small postcard painting. I don't really know what to say about this painting, except I was asked to paint a set of cards.

A fun Sketch - Just three minutes- It's Magic!

http://fcmx.net/vec/get.swf?i=003702
This is fun to watch! If you have three minutes… take a look it’s magic! the only problem is: this takes you away from my blog, sorry, about that, please come back.

Farm Daze - A painting a day

This painting is from a memory in my childhood. As a child I would spend the summer months living on our family vineyard. It was a carefree time in my life with lots of time to roam and explore, yes and even climb trees. We had a row of large Eucalyptus trees at one end of the vineyard, I loved the smell of those trees.

Sorry for such a dark photo I had to get this shot as the sun was going down and I rather not use a flash because the colors seem washed out.
If interested, this painting is for sale: write to shantmarie@aol.com for more information

Now : for my art advice of the week.

Try to step out of your confort zone. Challenge yourself and take a chance.

So many artists have problems breaking thru creative blocks or slumps in creativity. These periods or down times lead to moments of self doubt and negativity. Like all artists, even after all these years of painting and teaching, I can have moments where I question my own decisions about my painting. If you've been looking at my blog you'll see that I've learned to paint from a variety of folks. All of these teachers have different styles and choose different subject matter. I learn their technique then I cherry picked the various techniques from all these artists and have tried to develop my own unique voice. I feel I have yet to find that voice and will be searching for a while. I came across these comments the other day written by artist Beth Deuble. I think they are worth repeating. They may help you get up off the sofa and back in the studio.

The five principles to consider when your in a slump.

1. Make it your own. While even Matisse and Picasso challenged each other for years by painting similar subject matter; this helped each artist develop their inner vision, their own method/technique/style, or easier said, their own way of interpretation. Experiment. Take risks. Try something new each time. Find your own way.

2. Everything matters. Some people can feel overwhelmed by this way of thinking. It can be an avalanche of thoughts and considerations - overkill. Everything can become commonplace when one cannot separate the wheat from the chaff. Be your own critic. Sort out what exactly you want to express then everything you express will matter. Whether others will make the connection is an altogether different subject.

3. Surprise and delight. This one is tricky. Find out why you paint. Painting is a great release of energy. That energy could be as simple as feeling great on a particular day. When my long-time companion dog died, I painted to release the grief, plus honor the spirit of my relationship with my dog. Was it a delight? No, but worth doing. I paint because it is worth doing.

4. Embrace resistance. This one begs the question, how? My answer is: get on with it. Mental motivation coupled with passion will equal action. Talk to yourself. Let your feelings about what is going on rise to the surface, then take action. Prepare your workspace. Lay out your paints and tools. Once I do this, I then look at the surface on which I will be painting and let things happen. Get yourself mentally prepared and then let all your feelings guide you to "do your thing."

5. Leave your mark. Ego can get in the way of the creative process. I think most people paint and create first and foremost as a matter of self-expression. Sharing your work with friends or selling your art can be a good thing, but it should not be the impetus for being creative. What is your motive?

After Arleta - A painting a day

This painting is a copy of a painting by Arleta Pech. I painted it as a study for glass and candel light. Earlier this year I took a class with her and she taught me a lot about reflections and light. I have painted several of her paintings (with her permission) as a learning tool. You may purchase this piece for $100.00. shantmarie@aol.com

It rained for about 14 hours here on Friday and then the sun came out yesterday. It was a cool breezy day, but just warm enough to get me outside to rake leaves and clean up the yard. Some of the tall canna lillies and the banana trees were burned by a recent frost, so I cut them down and stacked the large leaves in a pile. I thought of Hawaii and how they roast pigs in those leaves.

We still have lots of color in the landscape but the gray rainey day and the rust of the fall colors gave me more of an impression of winter. There I was walking the dogs near the end of the day, with the sun just starting to go down and the temperature dropping. I looked up at a rather desolate scene of trees and scrub. The lake was still except a light breeze to break up the reflective water.

This painting is for sale for $100.00 US dollars and you must email me at shantmarie@aol.com if interested. It is a half sheet of watercolor paper which is 15 by 22 inches.

Poppies Poppies Everywhere - A painting a day

lots and lots of poppies, this is a snail eye view.

SOLD

Pit Bull pups need love too - A Painting a day

I didn't have a lot of time today but I thought I would put this painting of my daughter's dog up for everyone to see. Her name is Cali and she is a pit bull. She is well manered and I just love her white and gray fur. I had to paint her portrait.
This painting is not for sale.

Stuff that happens List of ten - Art and the artists

Sometimes I find unusual things on the internet and I like to read them. I don't know if these are true or not but they are interesting.

• 1/3 of Taiwanese funeral processions include a stripper.
• Women who are romance novel readers are reported to make love 74% more often with their partners than women who do not read romance novels.
• Halle Berry’s stunt double, in the movie “Catwoman”, is a man.
• If you shake a can of mixed nuts, the larger ones will rise to the top.
• In many countries, urine was used as a detergent for washing.
• You can’t create a folder called ‘con’ in Microsoft Windows!
• By the age of 60, most people have lost 50% of their taste buds.
• Buttermilk does not contain any butter.
• Dragonflies have six legs but cannot walk!
• In 1998, Sony accidently sold 700,000 camcorders that had the technology to see through people’s clothes.

I may not put up a painting today, so I'll put this up for now and maybe an inspiration will come my way.

Chinese Crested - A Painting A Day

This pretty little girl should be wearing a rinestone collar.

Email me for buying / questions shantmarie@aol.com

A ballerina A Painting a day

I’d like to say that every painting turns out just as I planned. But this isn’t always the case. I struggled with this painting.

There is something that just didn’t make it from vision to paper. This doesn’t mean its not a good painting, it just means it turned out differently then planned. I am going to study this painting and see if there is something that needs adjustment. Usually after a day or so I can spot anything that needs correction.

Painting a painting every day doesn’t always give you the time to let a painting sit. Frequently a painting needs to sit aside and be brought out later. This times allows the artist, time to get a little distance from the piece, then do a little editing. Much like a copy editor before press time.

Corn flowers - A painting a day

This painting is one of those fast sketch like paintings I paint to warm up. Sometimes they turn out to be great little paintings in their own right. The size is 8 inches by 10 inches. fits in a standard 11 by 14 mat and frame. For my special of the week, it’s for sale for $25.00. Email me if interested.

shantmarie@aol.com

SOLD

Silver, Lace and Roses - a painting a Day

Koiliedescope- A painting a day

I took this painting to the frame shop this morning. I’m entering it into a local art league juried show in November. Lets hope it gets in. I had several more ideas to incorporate, but decided to leave it alone. Sometimes less is more. I hope the composition is strong enough to entice the Juror.
It’s being frame in a 2 inch Mahogany wood frame and measures 18″ by 24 inches. I ‘m no word smith so my husband names these larger pieces for me. He is doing the Koi series names which are Koi nundrum, Koiillision, Koiincidence you get the idea. Speak up if you can think of another one.
Speaking of Juried shows…
Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day for me. I am the Chairperson for another art group. I will not have an entry in this show as I’m there with the juror to help with the process of putting this show together. It’s always difficult because I would love it, if all the art entered could be displayed. Of course this can’t happen & only a certain number of pieces will fit into the space. My guess is about 70larger pieces. I will have the sad task of calling artists with the news that their work has been declined.
I try to be positive, but how do you tell someone their work wasn’t selected.? If anyone has any comments or advice, perhaps some words to say to let an artists know his/ her work was not selected. I would love to hear from you. How has this worked for you? I can use all the help I can get. I can’t even say the word “rejected” to any artist.
I know the feeling when my work gets declined (see, I didn’t say rejected) for a show. I open the mail and there it is, the dreaded rejection slip. I used to throw them out, but now they are part of the process and I proudly display them on my bulletin board, I must have at least a dozen. My dear friends will always support me and tell me their crazy blabla bla, but it’s tough. Sometimes I think I shouldn’t enter these shows but to be honest, I get in more than not and I do feel very special when my work is being displayed along side of other aritst’s work whom I admire.

The Final Days - A Painting a day

The morning fog was lifting and I could see this Angel Trumpet's Vine trying despartely to push forward one last bloom before the evening frost.

Shrine in the Mist A painting a day

http://wildacres.org/

I placed the link to Wild Acres for those of you who may be interested in this place. Besides groups they have a residency program. You can even apply on-line.
The food is home cooked and good, they will do Kosher, vegan, and other restricted diet foods if needed but usually everyone eats family style at large round tables in a dinning hall. Its the atmosphere I love and that can't be described.

The Feeling of total freedom to work without interruption. The support of others and a beautiful location all make it a great place to create. I don't think they have Air conditioning so if you have problems with heat don't go in summer. Also if your cell phone is permanently attached to your ear, you may have some anxiety issues. There is no phone ( well there is and old black desk phone hidden in a closet which is a collect call phone ). some of us had to try our cell phones. I finally made one call. I walked around the place looking for a signal. I felt like those nuts in one of those cell phone commercials. "can you hear me now?" Finally, I found one spot ( one bar out of four) I had to climb up to the second level, stand out on the edge of this deck, hold my phone away from my body, use the speaker and Voila I was talking. No problem well not if youdon't mind hanging over the edge of a rail, while looking down at a fifty foot drop.

OK , so it is isolated. No TVs or Computers. Its only open during the warm weather months because the road is gravel for a mile or so, the last leg up to the lodge. Good thing I have four wheel drive, but you didn't need it. In two weeks it will close for winter, I guess they get some snow.

Last weekend there were five groups, there was a choir, a teacher's group, some potters, a religious group and another art group all there at the same time. All I can say is I didn't know singers were so thirsty. Every night I stayed up late and could hear them all around the BIG fireplace. Later I went up to find a very happy group.

The choir sang a short song before every meal which was very special.

If your used to four star accommodations this isn't for you, but if you love the outdoors, good food, in a relaxed atmosphere, one that allows you the needed time to concentrate on your art, you will love it.
You don't have to be with any of the groups that go up to Wild Acres you just have to contact them and ask to be added to their roster and pay the group rate. The fees are more than reasonable.

I have decided to help with the arangements for our group next year. I just hope I can wait.

Winter light House

This little light house was painted rather quickly after some creative license was taken.

This light house doesn't exist. Only in my imagination does this light house actually guide the fishermen into the safety of its harbor,

I envisioned myself to be sitting on the grassy hill across from this inlet and decided what it would look like and how it should be painted.

Abstract Art Collage in Blue - a painting a day

I completed this painting over the weekend. It is made from hand painted tissue paper, gessoed paper which was painted with watercolor and ink, a photo transfer and some nylon mesh. This is mounted on Mat Board.

Native Cowboy A painting a day

This Old cowboy was painted in the traditonal watercolor method of direct painting in layers or glazes. The background was painted all in at one time withou layers or glazes.

Abstarct in Blue - A painting a Day- Shanti Marie

Every once in a while I love to just allow the paint to tell me what it wants. This painting wanted to be blue.

Roses and Mer - A painting a day

I love the look of small porcelain jars and roses.

Flower wet and wild - a painting a day

Pink toe shoes - Art for a painting a day

Every young girl wants some pink ballet slippers or toe shoes. They are the epitome of femininity.

Now on with my article for today....Regardless of what you think of this man or his work, I think he is correct about committing to work (in my case painting) when there seems to be little reward.

Charles Bukowski, Selected Letters, Volume 4: 1987 - 1994, edited by Seamus Cooney; published in 2005 by Virgin Books, Ltd, ISBN 0 7535 0933 4
(The last of his published letters - he died in March 1994.)

About the need for solitude:
To me a closed door is one of the most beautiful things on earth. Their door or mine. . . . Every time the phone rings here, I feel invaded, a chill runs through me and it's mixed with anger and I don't anger often.
About continuing to work, when there seems to be little reward:
The long haul is the killer and few come out the other side of the wall. . . . By this, I don't mean we should take our work as a serious or holy thing, but more as just the best thing to do, that there is to do. So why not do it?
About the value of the work:
Well, the war's out there, the bomb's out there, everything's out there and there isn't much we can do. One big flash can solve it. If not, the national debt can just about destroy the economy. Nowadays nations fall apart over night. I really have to almost laugh when I look back at those who called themselves the lost generation. All those poor idiots were moaning about were ants in the picnic basket. There's time yet, but for what? Minor adjustments. The major ones have gone by us. I feel strangely like I did when I sat on that same barstool for 5 years cadging drinks. We can only make slight moves within the the fix. But never to quit within this darkness. We are still here. The slightest dent against impossibility is the miracle. That is why as these keys bite against this paper, I even feel good. Joy is not gone even in the face of reality. A good poem, like a good drink, is still worth something, like a cat walking across the floor toward you, both of you feeling and knowing the shining of yes.
About dabblers in the Arts:
I believe what we have to fear is the feeling of the general public toward poetry and/or art. They have no idea what it is but they have the thought that anybody can do it if they feel like it doing it. In fact many of them already label themselves as Artists. They may even have attended classes. They are piddlers in the field and most of the field are piddlers. These won't lay down any blood to get their work done, they won't gamble with madness, starvation in their need to get the work done. They don't feel it that way. They want fame and name but they won't give up their comforts and their securities.
About the necessity of work:
I'm glad writing came along for me and that I've had some late luck. But I would have kept going, no matter. It's all stuck inside of me and has to keep coming out. . . . I don't see how people can do anything at all without writing or painting or something of the like, some excessive splash against the darkness. It's just too damned dumb to to sit and take it straight like most of them do.
About achieving financial success from the work:
The whole matter that has occurred is beyond miracle. Still, I don't have to tell you it isn't the money, never was. Because we wrote it for ourselves, for the joy and madness of it. Great then and all right then. And if there's a fall back, a cut back, fine. We'll accept that too. What we want to do is keep going as we have since the beginning until sickness, accident, senility, death or whatever the hell, stops us.
About maturity and creativity:
Age needn't be a detriment: see Cervantes. Maybe it's the luck of doing it for so long but I feel the words just grip at the page better. When I sit down I get a power glow and it just emanates. Yet, I am aware that everything can vanish overnight, I can become a common old fart weakly tickling at the word.
About working when nothing else is left:
Leukemia in remission, feeling better very day. The doc has warned me though, relapses do occur . . . Popped out some poems last night but I will save you from them, no real piss-biters in the batch. Sometimes I just like to write to stay loose. In fact, that's the way I work it most of the time and when a good poem just happens to arrive along with the others, I think, hey, what the hell, look at this!

Choosing the perfect pumpkin - a painting a day

Its raining here, not exactly snowing but when I was at the church yesterday (picking up posters). I saw they were selling pumpkins out on the lawn. The site of the children made me remember how much fun it is to hunt for the perfect pumpkin.

Patience - A Painting a Day

I can’t tell you why I paint doors, but I do. This door has a broken number. Maybe its because as a child, I lived in so many places and had so different doors. I do know that as a child we lived in a hotel for a brief period and I think some of those memories keep seeping thru. My memories are rather vague because I was very young but my older brother says it was a fleabag hotel. Maybe this is what the door looked like. The model for this dog was my black Lab, Sam.

Angel's Trumpets - All dogs go to Heaven

I Feel Red, Artists Aren't Always Blue - A painting a day

I spent most of the day looking for my friend’s dog. Dixie is an 80 lb Rottweiler who is afraid of loud noises and cars. She is big but she isn’t scary. She has an old stuffed toy she carries around in her mouth and is a BIG baby if you don’t pet her before her roommate "Wylie" the chihuahua. My friend, Karen, who took her to the park, said she bolted after something, an animal, she thinks it may have been a deer. This park is near a major Hwy and we are worried she may get hit by a car. We did everything we could think of, made posters went around to all the businesses, talked to more than 75 people. We found out that three people saw her, but did’nt attempt to pick her up or catch her because they were afraid of her. We also went to the animal control shelter and to various sites all to no avail. Its dark now, she has been missing for more than 12 hours, and we hope someone has picked her up. There was a dead deer on the side of the road right near where she came up missing.
“I feel red, artists aren’t always blue” is my response to this. I’m not mad, I’m not sad, I’m anxious, and worried.

Red Roses for you- A painting A day

Red Roses are a lot of fun because you get to use so many shades of Red. This little 6" by 9" painting took quite a while to paint because of all of the glazes.

My Amy -and my favorite model -A young girl sleeps

This is a larger (16 by 20 ) painting, & it isn't for sale. Its a painting of my daughter.

Big White- A painting a Day

This painting is a small six by nine inch painting .
I think in watercolor, every floral artist finds themselve painting Irises. This flower is well loved by gardeners because of their beauty and their strength.

A Wonderful Day -A Painting A Day- Take it Home Tuesday

This painting is for sale !! I mean BIG sale. It is available for a price of $100.00 U.S. dollars .This is at least 1/3 off of the regular price. I am doing this only to see how the "pay pal" system works. Size is Appox.12" by 15" and can be shipped anywhere for $8.50 US dollars.
Act quickly, you may get an original Shanti Marie for a fraction of the regular price. This could be A Wonderful Day for you!

Every Tuesday I'll try to put up a painting at a special reduced price.
I accept pay pal. email me at paintingaday@aol.com

Big Sky Farm - A Painting A Day

Growing up on a farm/vineyard in California gave me an appreciation for farm life. The small pleasures of space and time. I found this little farm sitting back off the main road with a fence that needs mending, it reminds me of times gone by. This painting is 5" by 7" done in watercolors on 100 % rag cotton paper.

Autumn Daze - A painting a Day

Since I live near Lake Wylie (SC, USA) you’lll see that I’m inspired by the natural beauty that I see on a daily basis. This piece is a larger painting (It’s sunday, I get to paint all day) and the
approx size is: 12 by 15.

I love to paint with large flat brushes and it's almost impossible on the post card paintings. Believe me I’ve tried. Every once in a while I have to go back to “my style of painting” .

The last days of Summer- A painting

This painting was inspired by my garden which is in a state of transistion. The size is 8 by 12 inches.