I have a few friends who are traveling in Italy right now. I can't say that I'm not jealous!! I hope they are having a great time and since I"m feeling quite nostalgic wishing I was there, I thought I would post one of my paintings that was inspired by wandering around the olive trees in Fiesole just above Florence. This and many other of my paintings are available as limited editions giclée prints and note cards. Click here for more information on Giclée prints and here for note cards . If you are interested in bigger sizes just let me know. Ciao!
Thanks to Everyone... and the Winner is...
Poppies, Watercolor on Archival Paper, 11" x 15"
I want to personally thank everyone who made a comment on my blog post to celebrate it’s one year anniversary!!! Many of you I haven’t been in touch with for a while so it was wonderful to hear from you, and it makes me feel thrilled and honored that you all are reading and enjoying the blog!
I did a random drawing through random.org and the winner is....drum roll... Yolanda Garnier! The Poppies are going to Paris! Yolanda, please send me the mailing address you would like it sent to. :-)
I will also be sending a print to Lisa, her comment warmed my heart and I love that she is sending the note cards she has with my art to Alzheimer patients!!
Hugs to all and thanks again for commenting!
My Paris Apartment and Chinese Fans For the Dining Room
Horse Chestnut Fan
The building I lived in, in Paris, was built in 1865 and was the quintessential older Paris apartment featuring wood floors, crown and fine decorative moldings on the walls, fireplaces in every room, and mirrors above each fireplace that had exquisite patina from age. I often wondered whose face had gazed in those mirrors.
You may not know that when you lease an apartment in Paris, you are literally starting from scratch. Nothing is left behind, including the entire kitchen (cabinets included), every single light fixture, (bare bulbs hang from the ceiling), towel rods, toilet paper holders, curtain rods, you get the idea. If it can be removed, it will be. It’s just the way.
With a corporate relocation the whole process begins working with a local agency to help youfind a place to live. After finding the apartment which is a job in itself. The real work begins. Usually floors are re-sanded and finished, and walls are painted. You are blessed if there is no other renovation work to be done which is rare. Luckily we were shown only apartments that didn’t have to have their insides torn out. You still have to design and choose your kitchen cabinets, counter tops and appliances. Usually the budgets are very tight for the furnishings. Given the budget constraints, your choices are IKEA and whatever is similar to IKEA. Between Hong Kong and Paris, I poured through the IKEA catalogue so much I felt like I had the darn thing memorized! I had those wacky Swedish names going through my head for months! A late 1800‘s Paris apartment and IKEA furniture, seemed to me like the ultimate dichotomy. We did have a few pieces of furniture we bought in Hong Kong to add to the mix.
Persimmon Fan
I won’t bore you with all the shenanigans involved in putting it all together. Suffice it to say that it took a better part of six months and a few nervous breakdowns. But in the end it all came together and we loved it. I ran all over Paris and environs to find the furniture, rugs, chandeliers, curtains, all curtain hardware, all the linens, bathroom hardware, dishes, pots pans, etc. The chandeliers were actually plastic made to look like crystal, well sort of, and I aged them to look like antique glass. My neighbor’s mother who was from Italy, saw them across the courtyard, and thought they were Murano glass! :-)
The dining room had two built in china cabinets with large arched openings above them. They were screaming for a piece of art, but I didn’t have any large ceramic or glass pieces that would have been nice there. One day while out runningaround I found some inexpensive Chinese fans that were perfect in size. They were bright red so I covered them with some Chinese papers, and designed paintings to go on each. I did a mock-up painting on paper before actually painting the fans. I was inspired to paint persimmons and horse chestnut trees. Both are asian motifs which I thought would be great on the fans, and I could buy persimmons in the local markets. Horse chestnut trees lined the boulevard at my local park. So there was an Asian and French connection!
Happy Birthday to.... My Blog and a Giclée Print Giveaway
Poppies, Watercolor on Archival Paper, 11" x 15"
A Giclée print of this painting can be yours! Please enter the giveaway by leaving a comment on this blog post.
I honestly can’t believe it has been one year since I started my blog! Where has the time gone? After many years of toying with the idea of starting a blog, I finally went for it a year ago this week. I first discovered art blogs, that were mostly part of the daily painters movement right after I moved to Hong Kong in 2007. Many artists I followed then are still blogging today, Belinda Del Pesco, Carol Marine, Karen Jurick, Katherine Tyrrell’s, Making a Mark, and Laura Frankstone of Laurelines to name a few. I guess I was what you call a lurker, I didn’t comment very much but I was so grateful for that time with my morning tea to read what other artist were doing, and feel a connection to the US, living so far from home. At that time Facebook wasn’t nearly what it is today, therefore following blogs was the only way to make connections with other artists.
One day while searching through blog roles, pre Facebook, I found a former Walt Disney Imagineering colleague, Marcelo Vignali and connected with him. He told me, “You have to do a blog, it’s great! It’s a great chance to connect with and meet people.” I’m somewhat of a shy private person, so it took me a while to finally relent and put myself out on the blogoshere. I told myself if I were to do one, I would commit to it and at least do one post a week and I’m happy to say I’ve fallen in somewhat of a routine of doing two when I can. I didn’t want it to be a big pressure, so I post what ever I’m in the mood to show or say, with the general idea of featuring my work, talk about some of the processes, impart knowledge that will help other artists, and give those who like my work a chance to get to know me better. I love movies, books, travel, museums, and to talk about artists whom I find inspiring. I’ve enjoyed the past year sharing my watercolor sketches from my travels. So far that’s been the direction of my blog, but who knows what else is lurking around the corner. As long as I enjoy doing the blog and there are people who enjoy reading it I will do it.
Now Facebook seems to be more prevalent than blogging. Is blogging becoming a dying art? I hope not. I’d like to think there are still those that like to read and enjoy what other artists have to say rather than quickly scrolling through the news feed on Facebook.
I hope all that are following me on this blogging journey have enjoyed what I have shown and shared. It’s hard to really know how much of a following there is, but like many things, it takes time to incubate and grow! If you know of others you feel would enjoy it please pass on the link!
To celebrate the one year anniversary of my blog, I am giving away a giclée print of my painting Poppies. All you have to do is leave a comment on today’s post and you will be eligible! I recently received in the mail a lovely giclée print from blogging friend, Julie Ford Oliver, from a giveaway she did recently to start off the new year! I may follow her lead and let my husband, who is also a designer and artist, choose the winner from the comments, or do a random drawing.
A sincere thank you to all and hope you continue to enjoy and find some inspiration visiting my blog!!
Happy Thanksgiving! Win a Print & Help Those in Need
Pumpkin, Wood Block Print
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have so many things to be thankful for! First and foremost are family and friends. I’m so grateful for all the friends and collectors, many of whom I have not met in person but through the camaraderie we share on blogs, Facebook, etc.
As a thank you to all of my supporters I am giving away one limited edition giclée print of the winner’s choice from my web site’s print shop! I will do a drawing throughrandom.org on Sunday December 8. If you are already a subscriber to my email list and are getting my monthly newsletter, you don’t need to do a thing. If you would like to enter the drawing, just subscribe to my email list by clicking here. Don’t forget to follow all the steps to be sure your address gets on my Mail Chimp list.
Also, a couple of weeks ago I shared that I am donating in November and December, some of the proceeds, (20%), from my web site’s print shop, to help the relief effort from the devastating Typhoon in the Philippines. I met many Filipino expats while living in Hong Kong, and was very saddened that many have lost family, and loved ones in their home country. I have added more images from my portfolio to choose from and will continue to do so as I generate new work.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
My Web Site’s Limited Edition Prints & Note Cards Shop is Now Open!
Hope you all had a Happy Halloween and aren’t on too much of a sugar high today!
I am thrilled to finally announce that my Limited Edition Prints & Note Cards on-line store is finally open on my website! I have been asked by many friends and collectors if I would offer prints of my work, to make having one of my pieces more affordable. I spent the past summer researching various options to give everyone the best quality giclee prints that are as close to my originals as possible. I am supporting a local business here in Orlando, who will scan, color correct and provide me a color proof of each painting, which I approve, before any prints are made. Each print will be signed and numbered by me and will come with a letter of authenticity. I have a few prints available now and will add more this month, and as I create new works! I am offering note cards too! Keep checking back as there will be more prints and cards available. Prints and note cards would make wonderful Christmas gifts! All sales will go through Pay Pal, and will be shipped directly to you! And better yet, all prices include shipping! You can start shopping now!
I will be announcing a couple of give aways this month, so stay tuned! You can subscribe to my blog via the Subscribe section on the side bar, Subscribe to my Monthly Newsletter, or like my Facebook Fan Page to stay in the loop.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support of my work! I very much appreciate it!! And now, on to eating more chocolate. :-)