I've been working on a new website which has a blog, gallery, and links to an online store.  

Check it out!

You also can find me on Facebook here.

And/or

On Twitter here.

I've been busy with new projects lately so make sure to follow along at the above links to connect with me and keep up on my newest work!

Project Reveal

Today is my half birthday, and what better way to celebrate than to talk about the project I've been working on for the past 6 months!

Sometime around early March I was brainstorming ideas for new projects.  I kept thinking that I wanted to do something big or long term, something that would encourage me to create art every day.  Sometimes I need an extra little push of motivation to start a project and stick with it if I don't have some sort of deadline or someone else waiting on the finished product.  

I decided upon a project that would last a whole year (I tend to be a bit ambitious sometimes), but I was super disappointed that the new year had already began and it didn't seem right to just start on any old random day.  Then I realized that my birthday was coming up soon, and that would be a perfect occasion to begin a new project!

So on March 26, 2015 I began the project that I am calling Twenty-nine (working title).  For each day I draw or paint on a 7"x7" black or white square of paper.  At the beginning of the project, I cut out printed drawing/journal prompts  (around 1000 or so) and put them all together in a bag.  For each day I select a prompt one by one for the day it will represent.  From that prompt I try to create a piece of art on the 7"x7" square.

This project has been so much fun so far!  Some days are easier than others.  Some days I cannot wait to get home to work on the day's square.  Other days I have a really hard time getting started.  There's been some days where life has gotten in the way, but I am still determined to have a square for every day.  I try to make each drawing or painting relatively quick.  It's meant to be more of a free association exercise - a kind of art therapy in a way.  Some days the results are beautiful while other days they are less then impressive, but for this project it's more about the process than it is the result.  

Half the year down, just a little bit longer to go!

So that's the big project I've been working on.

I'd love to have your input, questions, and suggestions!  

Please feel free to add a comment below or find me over at Facebook or Twitter!

Podcast Review: Artists Helping Artists - How to Get the Most Value Out of Social Media

     I've decided to add a written component onto my blog so that I can share stories about my art, information about materials or techniques I'm using, talk about other artists that inspire me, and discuss anything art-related.  

     Today for some motivation on my Monday, I listened to the podcast Artists Helping Artists for the first time.  The episode was How to Get the Most Value Out of Social Media.  This podcast episode had so much helpful information for creative people trying to put themselves out into the world.  I put a link below to their podcast episodes (this one was number 17) in case you want to check it out yourself.  I want to share some of my favorite pieces of info I learned from listening.

3 Interesting Pieces of Info

1- Develop a calendar of upcoming events (such as holidays) for yourself and plan projects ahead of time around upcoming events.  They used a great example in the episode that tied a sale on their website to the outcome of a sporting event. 
 
2- Be sure to stay active and up-to-date on all your social media sites; delete any old, unused accounts.  This will better direct your followers to find your active sites.
 
3- Consider promoting through a Facebook ad - just $5 can extend your viewing audience by 2000 or so people.

These are just three things I learned while listening to this information-packed yet fun podcast. 

I'd love to have your input, questions, and suggestions!  

Please feel free to add a comment below or find me over at Facebook or Twitter!

Artists Helping Artists - How to Get the Most Value Out of Social Media - May 13, 2015

Summer's Last Sunset

Acrylic on canvas

12"x12"

A scene inspired by an evening at the lake.  After a family picnic we went for an evening boat ride at DeRuyter Lake (which is near Syracuse, New York).  It was such a beautiful day and this painting was based from one of the pictures taken during that boat ride. 

*8/04/15 - 8/28/15 - This painting is currently available for viewing and sale at the 3rd Annual Square Foot Show at Bismarck Art and Galleries Association in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Dahlia

Acrylic on canvas

12"x12"

This painting was inspired by the beautiful dahlias that were in my mom's flower garden last summer. This one was a "dinner plate dahlia" which was about eight inches in diameter.

*8/04/15 - 8/28/15 - This painting is currently available for viewing and sale at the 3rd Annual Square Foot Show at Bismarck Art and Galleries Association in Bismarck, North Dakota.

*8/28/15 - 12/31/15 - This painting is currently available for viewing and sale at Bismarck Art and Galleries Association in Bismarck, North Dakota.
 

Hummingbird

Watercolor pencil on watercolor paper

9"x12"

This is a drawing that I created in honor of my grandma who recently passed away.  She had a love for hummingbirds and for bright, beautiful flowers.  She was a beautiful, kind-hearted woman who always was so supportive and proud of my art - whether it was a sketch I did as a kid or any of my more recent works.

Special Painting Projects

Acrylic on canvas

18"x24"

I recently had the honor of making a couple special pieces to help decorate my baby nephew's nursery.  His theme is trains and safari animals.  I painted the above custom piece incorporating various elements of the themes and aiming to make a painting that would be able to appeal to him at various ages as he grows up.

Below are the letters of his name painted to match the Lamb and Ivy Safari Express theme of his room.  My brother and sister-in-law wanted the baby's name to be a surprise until he was born, so after I learned of Benjamin's arrival I had a lot of work to do.  The letters were a result of a day of marathon painting.

 Acrylic on wooden letters