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Friday, November 30, 2012

Ya Gotta Love the Internet

Friends I Would Never Have Met

I'm always intrigued by the internet.
I've made many many art friends across the globe on facebook.

I love looking at their art
and seeing what they love to paint.
I look forward to seeing their beautiful paintings.

I subscribe to a number of art blogs just so I can see what's new with them.

I'm not a world traveler and I would never have met these people in any other way.

Tonight I went on my stats section of my blog to see
where my page views were coming from.

I was shocked.

Pakistan,
Serbia,
France,
Netherlands,
Bangladesh,
Ukraine,
Venezuela,
Canada,
and of course,
U.S.A.

I would never have met these people if it weren't for the internet,
facebook, pinterest
and on and on and on.

If you've ever re-pinned, shared, liked, etc.,
you never know where you're sending that little piece of info.

I love the internet 

and all the good it can do.

Happy Cyber Day!



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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Maybe one of my favorite blog posts

Maniac Painter

Why do I describe myself that way.

Because I am.

I don't know why I'm driven to paint,
(at least I still have my ears)

But I am driven to paint
and
 I love it.

I love the feel of the brush, the paint,
seeing something show up on the canvas,
getting the idea,
seeing the idea develop,
slopping paint on the canvas (and me)

Today I read a blog post from Clint Watson on FASO (fine art studios online) that I truly love.
He explains why he spends so much time and money on playing the guitar.

I totally get it.

I do it because there's nothing else I enjoy doing as much.

OK, maybe watching Kentucky Basketball,
but that's a whole nother topic or mania.

Unlike many artists,
I also like the selling part.

I was a retailer and I guess I still am,
because I love that part about painting,
but not as much as the painting itself.

Below is a link for his post.

Enjoy!


Pin It                                         Why do I spend money painting?


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

listing on eBay today, Cyber Monday

eBay Bound

you have seven days to check out these paintings
I just listed on eBay.

Check them out and pass around to your friends and family.



Springtime Pink
is available on ebay at the link below.  

I'm giving Free Shipping for anything purchased at the buy now price.  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150955313718


Happy Day
is one of my favorite paintings
and is available on eBay at the link below. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cyber-Monday-Signed-Original-Painting-ART-/150955144120?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2325a0b3b8



Pink
is another cute 6" x 6" water mixable oil in this grouping.
available on eBay at the link below.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pink-Cyber-Monday-signed-original-ART-/150955306999?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2325a32ff7




Sunset Path
is the final 6" x 6" signed original water mixable oil on canvas panel.

This has a lot of depth and is very painterly.

Check it out, pass it around and get your bid on, 
at the link below

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cyber-Monday-Signed-Original-Painting-ART-/150955149197?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2325a0c78d

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Courage!




Fresh Courage Take

A year ago I began painting this with the sky and mountains.
I didn't really know where I was going to go with it.

My youngest daughter gave me an idea that a silhouette of Mary and Joseph would look great on it, as if they were walking to Bethlehem.

It's been sitting in my studio for a year waiting for me to gather up the courage to paint them.

We are having "Our Savior's Nativity this weekend,
So I got a big basket to put some courage in and began.

I found some reference photos on the subject,
and began to draw.

After I had something on paper I was satisfied with,
I transferred it to the canvas

and then began to paint.

I have put this off for a year and it took me less than two hours to finish it today.

What was I waiting for?

Often times we don't need, courage,
we just need less fear.

Leave me a comment on what you feel about the painting, fear or courage.
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Our Savior's Nativity

is an annual event put on by the Carrollton, KY branch of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
501 Main St.
Carrollton, KY  41045

Friday, November 30 from 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, December 1 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

We try to create what a street might have looked like in Bethlehem at the time of the 
Savior's birth.

We also have a live indoor nativity, (without animals)

and then we have several rooms where we display over 50 different Nativity sets.

It is a truly special night where those attending can feel the true spirit of Christmas.


Harriet Shapiro, our weaver, not only helped make all the costumes, but she also made the loon she's using here.  


Our baker, Diane Perry warms herself next to our oven as she bakes bread for the village.


Here's what the street looks like.


Hal Shapiro, our money changer, speaks with a passerby, Ken Boehnlein.



Mary and Joseph last year were played by the Cavanaugh's and their new baby.

Here they are in our live manger scene.  



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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Because everyone needs a new painting in their inbox.


Can I "Not Like" Someone's Art

If you've ever wondered if you are"allowed" to say you don't like a painting or piece of artwork, the answer is yes!  If you do say it, do you say it loud enough for anyone to hear.

Here is a link to a very good article about that very topic.

Check out Carolyn Hendersen.

http://faso.com/fineartviews/51847/being-difficultInteresting article about artists basing their art on what others think.

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Friday, November 16, 2012

White's Run Creek


White's Run Creek

I live in the middle of nowhere,
the epicenter of no where,
and scenes like this are everywhere on my drive home
from next to nowhere.

I have photographed this particular view of this particular creek several times,
and have painted it multiple times trying to capture it.

I finally got something that I am somewhat pleased with.

Usually, it is a quiet creek, sometimes with very little water.
But after a rain, it becomes this rolling boiling waterway.

This fun little painting is a framed 5 x 7 and is available on my website.  

I'm sure this won't be the last time I paint this creek,
because they're everywhere here.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.
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Sunday, November 11, 2012

Holiday Artistique at Gallery 104

Holiday Artistique

Gallery 104 in LaGrange, KY
has Holiday Artistique in November and December.
The Gallery show room is full of artists work just in time for
Christmas shopping.

There will be art in its many forms.

Paintings,
Stained Glass,
Paintings,
Jewelry,
Paintings,

did I mention paintings.

Just askin.

Here are things I'll be offering in the gallery for Artistique


Aspen Glow
16 X 20 Framed Acrylic on canvas panel.

This is painted from a photograph I took near my son's home in Logan, UT.
We drove up to Bear Lake and stopped at this Aspen Grove.
It was a beautiful sight and I love painting them.

$200 + $20 shipping


Blue Fall
is one of the plein air paintings I did in General Butler State Park
recently when it was so warm.

Loved the color of the leaves and the shape of the tree.  

$100 + $10 shipping


Mountain Mist
is a fun mountain scene with the mists of morning.

Living in Kentucky we don't see scenes like this,
but in Utah where my son's family lives, this is the norm.
That's how they tell directions.

The frame is a handsome solid oak.

$150 + $15 shipping.

Please contact Gallery 104, LaGrange, KY
502-222-3822
if interested.






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Monday, November 5, 2012

Oldham Fine Art Show and some of what you missed.

Oldham Fine Art Show this past weekend.

Here is my booth.

I sold two paintings and three garden stones
so not too bad.


I shared a booth with Rebecca Burke who makes beautiful hand sewn and hand bound journals.  

If you'd like to have one custom made contact her at 
Lebeckish.com
or 
RebeccaJBurke@gmail.com


Robbie Mueller is a folk artist and he also shows at Gallery 104 in LaGrange, KY.
This is his booth and you can see his work at 
www.folkartkentucky.com.

It is fabulous, hilarious and ingenious.



Here are several of Robbies pieces.

It's all 3D sculpture and sculpted pics.


Below is Tom and Mary Kinney.
They also show at Gallery 104 and own their own studio in LaGrange
further down on Main Street.
Tom does some super metal jewelry and photography and
Mary does some wonderful mixed media paintings.



you can purchase their work at 
etsy.com/shop/kinneystudio


Ann Klem is another Gallery 104 artist who does some fabulous glass works and glass jewelry.
Check her out at AnnKlemReflections.com


This is another vendor, Denise Conley, with beautiful Alpaca items.

Bluebonnets and Bluegrass Alpaca Farm

www.bluealpacas.com



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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Paint and Paper





Here is part of my booth for this weekend
in Oldham County.

I shared a booth space with Rebecca Burke, a graphics artist who makes hand sewn and hand bound journals.


Rebecca's Display


these are some of her journals.



She also does water colors.

If you're interested in having a custom journal made contact her at
rebeccajburke@gmail.com
lebeckish.com.

Give her a look and help share the love
by pinning her website,
seeing her on facebook and hit the share button, etc.

Thanks friends.

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About Me

My photo
Ghent, Kentucky, United States
I'm a nature artist and I love to paint old barns, rivers and lakes, trees and fence rows and flowers. I work almost daily. You can purchase paintings by contacting me at slgraves6@gmail.com and there is also a tab across the top of my blog for available paintings and one for small paintings with buy now buttons. You can also purchase through my Etsy shop using the name of Fine Nature Art. . Thank you so much for stopping by.