Learning and Evolving

 Using What You Learn

Recently I did a 30 day rose challenge where I painted 30 rose paintings in 30 days as I tried to improve my skills. 

I learned a lot in that challenge and if you haven't. seen that blog post click HERE.

I love painting blue glass jars and I wanted

 to be able to add roses to them.

And here is what I love love love painting,

12" x 12" acrylic on gallery wrap canvas.

$125 with free shipping.

Click HERE to purchase.

This truly was so much fun to paint 

and I hope you enjoy it as well.  

To see all my other artworks that are currently available,

please go to Sharon Graves Fine Art

then click on the Works tab,

and then you'll have your choice of different 

subject matters to choose from.  

Thank you so much for hoping in here today.

Have a wonderful day.

Is She Thinking Flowers

If She's Thinking Flowers

for Valentines Day,

I got ya covered.

And they'll last a very long time. 

Head on over to my Available Paintings section

Click HERE to view available paintings.

There's lots to look at there

and I'm always adding more.

Now,

if your significant other wants to learn how to paint,

I got your back on that one to.

Click HERE to view my online painting course.

 Always watchin out for you! 

December Winner

December Winner

 and a Rescue

Gwen was the lucky winner of the December painting

 of an Osprey.   

 I took the photo for reference in Naples, FL.

Heading back there real soon.

I give away a painting every month,

so scroll back up to the top of this page

to the right and sign up to win the January painting.

If you've already signed up once,

you're in.

Now for the rescue.

I bought a set of wooden canisters from the 50's or 60's

at an auction a few months ago.

I brought them home and cleaned them up and then 

repainted them.

I gave them to my granddaughter Kelsie

for her hope chest.  She's a college student and has been collecting things for her own home for several years.

They look white but they're almost a taupe

and the little knobs on the top are white.

Then I added some chalk board stickers.

I think they are so cute.

Paint is the cheapest way to transform anything

and these wooden canisters went from barely wanted,

to really cute.

This was the vision

 

Peonies and Irises

Beginning of Summer

 

Summer Beauty

14" x 11" $150

 

Jim and I raise lots of flowers on our farm.

We've raised them for our children's weddings.

Memorial Day arrangements,

for Florist shops,

and to grace our home with.

I love having them in our home,

The scent is intoxicating.

I love to look at them 

and

paint them.

Click Here for FREE painting lesson.

Student Art Benefit and A Random Act of Paint

Benefit Student Art Show

raised a total of $218.60 

for Carroll County Animal Support.  

I am so proud of my students for participating in this 

Benefit Art Show and for showing up at the event

and supporting each other.

Thank you to all the public who came throughout the month and voted.

The check has been delivered and one dog can be spayed or neutered

and one dog will be taken care of during the fostering process.

We can't save them all, but we made a difference to those two.

This little video shows off the art in the show.

Winners:

1st Place Adults - Monica Daniels and her Pansies won 5 tubes of professional grade acrylic paint for raising $28.63.

2nd Place Adults - Sandy Hirn and her painting of Sunflowers in a Jar.  She won a gift certificate for a free class for raising $25.49.

1st Place Children - Lily Frye for her Giraffe painting.  She raised $14.32 and received 5 tubes of student grade acrylic paint and a gift certificate for a free class.

2nd Place Children - Rileigh Westrick for her Daisy painting.  She raised $8.33 and received a gift certificate for a free class.

Now For A Random Act of Paint

I am so grateful spring is trying to arrive.

 We've had tons of rain and flooding,

cold and wind,

and a warm day or two, but

spring is trying to get here,

so in honor of spring,

I have a number of new works I've been working on 

so today I'm giving you a little preview,

   10" x 8" on a stretched canvas, unframed

is a steal right now at $75.

I painted this from life from flowers my husband picked from our yard.

Wouldn't this help spring arrive in your part of the world also?

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Spring!

Changes in 2015

2015 

What will I do differently this year.

I listen to a show on blog talk radio,

Artists Helping Artists by Leslie Saeta.

She's the artist who hosts the 30 paintings in 30 days twice a year.

She hosts a free radio show focusing on marketing art.

She did a show in December of things to do differently in 2015.

I made a list of things I wanted to change about my art

and I'm going to show one of the things I'm doing this year.

Since I've opened River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio

I found I don't have as much time to paint what I'd like to paint,

but I am painting every day.

In a different show, Leslie talked about what to do with older art.

I sort of meshed those two shows in my head and decided this year

I would market my older works better, 

but I would also work on redos of those paintings.

I did this painting in another of Leslies 30 paintings in 30 days.

I've always like it, but it never got much attention or buzz,

so I decided I would start with this painting and change it.

I forget why I thought fugi mums and this painting would work together,

but I did, so I started in on the change.

I started with a photo of a fugi mum on my computer and a determination

I was going to create something different than I normally paint.

So right smack dab in the middle I started with this green, teal, yellow, white mum.

Then I added another and another,

changing the colors a little on each one.

But I still had that odd color at the bottom.

  So, here is the finished painting.

I was a florist for 20 years and the fugi mum is one of the mainstays of the shop,

but I've never painted one,

until today.

These were great fun and not nearly as hard as my brain told me they would be.

These are some of my favorite colors, but I seldom use them.
You will see more of these colors in the coming months.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Day 24 - Dinner at Grandma's

Dinner At Grandma's

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

This is my plate from my Grandma Kirk's best Sunday China.  I doubt I ever ate off of it because I don't think I ever got to eat at the dining room table.  We were always at a card table in the living room with all the "children".  But I have a plate.

I've looked all over the country for more plates or other pieces to go with my plate, but I've never found one single piece.  It's got freesias and not roses, so you don't see them every day.  But any way, it hangs on the wall and it can be seen from my front door which is my theme.

Only six more days and the challenge will be over.  I'm exhausted this time, but I'm going to make it.  But I may not be able to do it again in January this time.  But I have learned so much from each challenge I've participated in and I am so grateful to all my family and friends who have followed along on this journey.

 

Day 3

Day 3 From My Front Door

I tried painting my front door last year 

and I did such a terrible job on the perspective,

I almost gave up painting for good.

However,

I didn't.

I took a month or so off,

and came back to it.

My theme is, "Scenes from my Front Door", 

so I figured I needed my front door.

Anyway, it was pouring down rain this morning,

so I ran out and got a photo and then came back in and painted in my kitchen.

I've never painted in my kitchen before.

I've got two studios and I'm painting in my kitchen.

But, I could see my front door from the kitchen window,

I had the photo from my iPad and my "other" painting for reference.

I loved the chair in my "other" painting, and the door wasn't too bad,

but everything else was awful.

But, I'm pretty happy with this one.

All of a sudden, some of the things I've struggled with are easier now.  

I guess that means I've had a break through.

Thank goodness. 

Wisteria Welcome

Wisteria Welcome

During the painting process, I often ask myself,

Self,

What in the heck are you doing?

That is the worst painting you've ever done.

Pack up your brushes.

This is going in the trash heap.

Do you see a trend here?

This 14" x 11" is the first painting I've done for me for a good while.

And it was kicking me all over the studio for several hours.

I've been a little consumed for my new gallery which will be opening July 9.

This is painted from a photograph I took in Augusta, KY.

I made a still shot video of the progression of this painting,

and it wasn't until I put the arbor in that I was able to back myself off the ledge.

When I put the vines in, then I began to sort of smile again.

As I added the leaves and first level of purple of the wisteria, 

I finally thought, OK, I can finish this.

So you work for three or four hours on a painting

and finally the last 1/2 hour it comes together.

It's a wonder I finish anything.

 

Welcome Wisteria

14" x 11" unframed on stretched canvas

$150 + $20 shipping.  

Click here to see a progression of this painting.

 

  

Flying without a Net

Flying without a Net

Creating art is normally a solitary pursuit.

You work alone for most of the time, sometimes days at a time.

Some people equate it to flying without a net.  

You know what you like,

the colors you like,

the subject you like,

BUT

and that's a pretty big but,

you don't know how your art will be received.

There are no focus groups,

no marketing surveys,

no product analysis

for art.

It is made because the artist has to make it, draw it, paint it, sculpt it, whatever it,

it has to be made.

Having said all that, sometimes you get some validation 

and it feels SO GOOD!

I went to Art in the Garden in Augusta, KY this past weekend

and I had a wonderful time.

 

This framed 10" x 8" acrylic found a forever home.

Here's a link to my facebook page to show Mary with her new hydrangea table.

These are two of the three paintings I did of Augusta scenery.

 

Walls of art.

 

The two paintings in the matts are two acrylic paintings I did on canvas paper.

I matted them and I love the colors in them.

 

 

Forever Pink was painted from a set up I did.

This is a vase I've had for 30-40 years and I love it.

We raise all these flowers.

 

Walls from a distance.  

Talking to lots of people about my art is validating in itself, even if no one else liked it.

But, when you hear great comments it is so good for your artistic soul.

Thank you to everyone who stopped and talked with me.

Thank you Barb Pask for coming the two hours to Augusta, KY.  It was so great to see you.

I'm sorry I missed you Missy and I hope you feel better soon.

I try to have a lot of variety in types and prices of art,

and I did sell 8 of my painted roof slate shingles. 

Art in the Garden has lots of great music, a variety of artists,

and a tremendously beautiful setting.

Day 24 Fresh Picked

Day 24 Fresh Picked

Don't I wish.

It's a mere 8 degrees here and we just got another 6" of snow.

So I don't guess I'll be picking any hydrangea blossoms anytime soon,

but,

hey,

a girl can dream.  

 Day 24 Fresh Picked
10" x 8" acrylic on a panel
$100 + $6 shipping 

Day 11 Popcorn Memories

Popcorn Memories

If you were a bride in the 40's, 50's or 60's

you probably received a set of these bowls as a wedding gift.

My parents did.

In fact the yellow one of this set, is THE bowl my parents received.

I don't remember breaking the others, but I know they were

and I found the rest of the set at flea markets and yard sales.

I was so excited when I finally found the last one, the green one.

When I was a kid, on Sunday night we would all gather in the living room

to watch

The Wonderful World of Disney

and then

Bonanza.

 My dad would make popcorn and bring it into the living room in this big yellow bowl.

We never ate in the living room and we usually only ate at meal time.

 So this was a big treat for us.

I'm sure everybody out there has a memory or two connected to something similar.

Post it in the comments here and give us all a chance to walk down memory lane with you.

Popcorn Memories

6" x 6" unframed acrylic on a panel

 $50 + $6 shipping

Time is Getting Short

Art Makes a Great Gift

Pink 

unframed 6" x 6" acrylic on a panel

painted during my September 30 paintings in 30 days as are all these paintings.

$50 w/free ground shipping.

 Of The Purple

Beautiful iris.  

unframed 6" x 6" mixed media on a panel

$50 w/free ground shipping

 Water Lilies

unframed 6" x 6" oil on a panel

$50 w/free ground shipping

 Wisteria Walk

unframed 10" x 8 acrylic on a panel

$95 w/free ground shipping.

Let The Sun Shine

unframed 6" x 6" acrylic on a panel

$50 w/free ground shipping

Hand Painted Furniture

Hydrangea Love

I have this lovely hand painted end table or boudoir table available

for $100.

That's right you read that correctly.

This end table has a drawer on the front and has 3 hand painted hydrangeas on it.

The top, drawer and bottom shelf are a light green with the rest of the table

a lightly distressed black.

This would be so cute as a bedside table

or in that shabby chic decor.

This will need to be picked up in Carroll County, KY.

Please contact me at 502-523-0663 for those arrangements.

You can click on the buy now button below to make the purchase.

Flowers For Christmas

Does She Love Flowers

These will stay fresh looking forever.

Here's just a few of the floral paintings I have available.

You can purchase these paintings right here, right now,

or if you want sensory overload,

you can head on over to my website and see everything available at

finenatureartbyslgraves.com

Happy Day
unframed 6" x 6" oil on canvas

Garden Gate 

 

Garden Gate

unframed 7" x 5" acrylic on panel

$50 + $60 shipping

Painted from Augusta, KY

 Grape Hyacinths

Grape Hyacinths

7" x 5" oil on canvas panel

$50 + $6 shipping

So there you go.

Three great original floral paintings to consider for someone special for Christmas.

French Art Vendors

 

We've all seen photos of French art vendors on streets

with their paintings up against stone or iron fences or in painting racks on a sidewalk.

We don't have anything like that here in rural Kentucky,

but you can get a deal on original art just the same.

I just listed the five paintings above on eBay and they have an incredible starting price.

Hopefully you'll check them out, but if you wouldn't mind,

please share this with anyone you think might be interested.

Click here to view on eBay the painting in the bottom right corner.

You can get to the others from there by clicking on "see other items".

Thanks for reading about, checking out and spreading my art.

Have a great day.

Pin It

My home decor items listed on ebay

I have a series of coordinated home decor items listed on ebay at some pretty incredible prices.  

Click here to see the top left listing and you can ask to see the rest of my items from there.

I love painting, period.

and I love painting things that can be useful.

Check out these items I have listed on ebay if you're thinking about sprucing up your home this spring

or if you just want a new look.

Thanks for looking and sharing.

Pin It

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

Pin It