New Art!!!!!

So this is Brand New Art!!! This is the Artwork that was given to my daughter Teacher Ms. El Amin the last day of school! I wanted to give her something that I thought she would use and something personal she is such a good teacher. I love the way I came out.

I used a 11x14 flat panel canvas. I wanted the teacher to be in front of the black board and used a white gel pen to write the message! Love the way it mimics a real chalkboard with the chalk. I wanted Ms. El Amin to be stylist with a hint of vintage so I chose the yellow and red dress. Can you see the small white details in the dress? I had to dress it up with some classic pearls! I also wanted her to be able to hang this piece of artwork, my solution to attach some pretty ribbon to the back of the painting!!!

I love the ribbon! Love the way it brings out the red in the painting. The polka-dots just makes it look a little more whimsical!  I hope she loves it as much as I do!!!!! I did hear that she put it up in the classroom and other Teacher came by to take a look at it. That makes me so happy !!

In other news.....This was just one painting that I have been working on right now. I'm working on 6 others. So, I'm just just trying to stay busy!!! I have started the ABC's series. I have started a (A.) painting and a (B.) painting cant wait to share those characters with you! And still researching ways to update the blog and make it more cohesive with my art. So... If you guys have any suggestions for colors or logos I would love to hear them!! So,until next time later gator!

Busy, Busy, Busy....

Yay!! Picture above is my art display at local restaurant Betty Mae's!!!!  Though, I'm not completely finished with the wall I did want to post what I have done so far!!! Love how the yellow wall makes my artwork pop!!
So..So.. thankful for Ms. Tonya Turner the owner for giving me the opportunity to display my artwork there!

If you guys are in the area you have got to go there and check it out!! Don't get me started on the food! If your in the mood for some really good soul food....this is the place to go. The restaurant is located at 1222 Grace Street here in Huntsville. I love going there for lunch...I usually get the fried chicken, mac and cheese, fried okra, and mashed potatoes and she has the best peach cobbler. (sorry mom) That's the lunch special 1 meat 3sides and a dessert cant beat that! Ummm...just thinking about the food is making me hungry!!


In other news....I have just been busy, busy,busy..... I have been working to finish up two painting I'm currently working. I have also been working on a Alphabet series so I'm hoping I can start that series some time within the next few weeks. I have also received my artist postcards. Just working on packaging -( so happy to announce that I have already sold about 10 of those already !!!) We are really pushing to do more things this year with the art business!! Right now, we are looking to turn the blog into a website. I'm hoping to add a shopping cart and portfolio tab to the website! I want the website to be bright and colorful and urban!! Just like me hahaha!!! So much work to do but I'm looking forward to it !!!

Good Thangs are lurking!!!!!!

So did you hear? There are all kinds of good thangs lurking?

Who would have guess things would change so fast??

So...So... Happy to announce that I will have the opportunity to showcase my artwork at a local business!!
In a few days, I will have the chance to go and really check out the space, (art in hand) with the permission to decorate the dining room with as many pieces of art as I want.

Just think of all that exposure!!!

I can't wait!!!!

I realize that this is just a small step in my art career but I am taking time to enjoy theses small moments !!!!!

Nothing but up hill from here !!!

My Utimate Goal.....

So, if you haven't  read Kelly Rae blog lately you have got to go over and check it out! She just posted pictures from her gift show back in January that was held in Atlanta. The pictures are amazing!!  The one above is from the Demdaco gift line collection. I love what this company is doing with her line of products !

I love when she post photos from her shows like this. They are so inspiring!  Having a Gift line collection, like this would be my ultimate goal!! It would be so amazing to see my artwork displayed as a Gift Line. How cool would it be to walk into a show and see my own artwork displayed like this??!!  THAT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE!

This is another picture of some of her new products in the gift collections. Love these vintage looking distressed frames and I love the way the art is displayed with them. I have got to get me one, if not a few of those. I am just so excited for her! A little jealous but very excited. She has doing everything that I hope one day I can do. She is such a humble artist and that's what I love most about her. She willing to share her story with us and tell us how we can do it.  She encourages us to "Reach for our own dreams !!" And I'm reaching!!

Last week I was able to complete my Art Query letter, and sent out 3 art submissions. Hopefully I'll hear something from them soon! Still working on trying to find time for art but I'm doing better... Small Step until they turn into Giant Leaps !!!!

So in doing this I have started taking small steps. Within the last few months I have been submitting my art to small companies and magazine. Sadly to say I have been rejected by some and that can be discouraging, but I am determined to get this art out there no matter how many time I get rejected! Right now, I'm working on packaging my art postcards with hopes of getting them in a few local boutiques. So, if you guys have any suggestions on some cool way to package this art bundles please leave a comment below !!!! 

Goals and Schedule.....

 GOALS FOR  THIS MONTH

• Complete my Art Query  Letter 
• Submit at least 2 art submissions this month 
• Paint 2x's a month ( even if it's just something small )
• Sketch for a least  45 min. 2x's  a week 
• Publish blog post 2-3x's a month
• Order my postcards and work on packaging them
• Personal Study 30 min. every night.

 SCHEDULE

MONDAY NIGHT 

• Research and Send Art Submissions 

TUESDAY NIGHT

• Personal Study 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 

• Sketching 

THURSDAY NIGHT 

• Late night painting

FRIDAY NIGHT

• Free Night ( relaxing, family time, movie night and etc.)

 

MY STRUGGLE ........

My struggle.....Finding time to be creative. Lately there has been a lot of changes at my 8-5. Good changes more responsibility, which is great! I actually love my job. Absolutely love the staff that I work with BUT.....It's leaving me no time to be creative......No time to paint.....No time to research ideas.....No time for submissions.....No time to e courses.....No time for Blog Post......

Well...I shouldn't blame it all on the job. If you read my last post you would realize that I SUCK at time management! I know, I know I need to learn BALANCE. As you can see it is very hard for me to find that balance in my day to day life. I always feel like I'm not doing enough. I'm just frustrated. I feel like I have all these creative ideas but just not enough time and energy to make them come to life. I feel guilty for sitting at home doing nothing or trying to find time to relax. It makes me feel like that time was wasted.Right now I'm trying to juggle being a wife, a mother, a artist, a small business owner, and ect. I'm trying to juggle life in my current job, opening a creative business (with all the research that come with that), I'm trying to get my artwork seen, get it published, submit art packages, work on my brand, the list goes on....it's hard work!!

Right now the chaos of it all is to much for me. Right now nothing has my full attention. So frustrating!!!  I'm trying so hard to practice courage, determination, trying to hard to be brave in this journey. Trying so hard not to give up on this dream, not to put my passion on the back burner , not to let my day to day life invade my dreams and creative space!! IT IS A STRUGGLE!!

Maybe all artist go thru  this stage??  I'm sure all of us struggle with something from time to time. Maybe this is my time to prove it to myself that I am enough, It may take a little more time, I may have to learn how to adjust and really get more organized? I'm not sure at this point. What I am determined to do is Take some Time.... Time to readjust what I am determined to do. So.......that may mean for now, I will only post a few times a month instead of once a week.....I am Determined to chase my dream no matter how hard the journey may be !!!

Were 2011 goals accomplished ???

So, I wanted to know if I accomplished all my goals from last year?? Well, last January I posted this:

2011....

It's 2011!!! I must say that alot has changed in 2010. I am now a Artist. I am really a Artist... There are so many things that I'm working on for 2011 here are some of my goals.

1.) Work on turning my blog into a website.
2.)Come up with a cool banner.
3.)Sell my art online. (Red Bubble)
4.)Make mini prints of my artwork.
5.)Cont. to make BIG art.
6.)Sell some of that BIG art.
7.) Get my art into a Gallery.
8.)Be a featured artist on someones Blog.
9.)Have a art show.
10.) Cont. to define my style.
11.)Make more interesting blog post.



5 out of 11. I'm a little disappointed in myself. I should have accomplished more. To tell the truth, I'm also a little frustrated with myself. I wanted to do so much and I got a little lazy. Truth be told I haven't painted in about 4 months (that's a long time in the artist world) LOL ! I have been working alot on the business side of this creative career. Reading, Researching, Submitting Art, and Working on my business Plan. I haven't had any time to spend be creative!

I'm still learning how to manage my time and trust me "it's a work in progress".  I'm still learning to balance time creating, time to relax and be inspired, time spent working on the business, family time and ect. I guess that is a common theme for all artist huh? Time management? So, if you guys have any tips please share!!

Hopefully, I'll be putting a new list together for this year. Stay tuned to see what's going on that list.