Updates

No, it is not Thursday again. But I am posting to my blog. As I read more about how blogging works and what makes it effective, I find it is important to make at lease 2-3 posts per week and to update the tags accordingly in Technorati. So, since I have some useful links to share, I will add those as the update.

The first link is to an article about the importance of blogging and where I read about the above-referenced information. If you have something to say concerning your life or your business, it seems blogging about it can help a great deal to make you or your product known. Blogging increases traffic. This article is from StartupNation, an information site for entrepreneurs.

If you are an artist, painting on larger, 1.5" thick, pre-stretched, gallery-wrapped canvases, you have noticed how costly they are. Most artists selling in this size category on eBay do not frame these pieces, considering that the painted sides are sufficient and the thickness provides enough presence for their art. But here is another idea that was spawned by an artist-friend in New Mexico. She feels that they need the frames and was looking for simple frame called a butt-strip frame or lath frame. I could not locate pre-cut strips, but I think the lath materials can be purchased at DIY centers. The strips should be about 3/8" thick and as wide as you would like your art to appear to be deep. I got to thinking that if these are simple to make one could purchase less expensive 3/4" thick canvases that are stapled rather than gallery-wrapped and give them the dimension they need with the lath. The result would be a professional-looking piece for a fraction of the cost. I am going to try this out and will post the out come. In this link about DIY framing you can read a bit more.

Thinking in Pencil - SOLD

Click Image to Enlarge. Bidding has ended.
Size: 8"w x 6"h



This week's useful link is to ArtDaily, The First Art Newspaper on the Net. Includes museums, exhibits and artists. This is an inspiring and informative site. If you are an artist I think you will enjoy this site!

Planning to paint an abstract for next week. See you then!

Red Bicycle - SOLD

Size: 18"w x 14" h.
Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.



This is one of two postings for this week. Please scroll down to see the second listing too.

Did you notice the new blog title and URL? It has been changed to reflect more accurately the way I have been painting. The new title and description are a combination of reader suggestions. The new title does not limit me to abstract art, which, although it is still a favorite, is one of many styles I enjoy.

This week's useful links:
Art classes are available online. Click here to read more:
Virtual Painting Classes
Be aware of the effects of various artists' materials on health. This article will help you select materials wisely.
Read about the scientific reasons that art is good for you

Mrs. Onstad's Grapefruits - SOLD

Size: 8"h x 8"w.
Click image to enlarge. Bidding has ended.



I met a friend at an art museum last week. She brought me oranges, lemons and grapefruits from her mother's trees. I sliced open a grapefruit and began painting an interpretive still life of the fruit. It had a wonderful fragrance and when I finished the painting, I enjoyed eating every juicy bite of it. This week's painting is of Mrs. Omstad's grapefruits.

Mother's Day Tomato

Size: 7"w x 5"h.
Not for sale. Click to enlarge

This Thursday I am posting 2 paintings again. Be sure to scroll down to the second post to see the other painting and this week's useful links. And once again they are not abstracts! Perhaps I can argue that although they are not abstract on the outside, they are on the inside? I am still awaiting reader recommendations for a new blog title that describes more than abstract art. One reader agreed with my idea of "interpretive" art. What do you think?

My mom loves tomatoes. She grows them in pots in her patio garden. But since she can eat them only sparingly, due to an apparent allergy to them, she mostly grows them for me. I love tomatoes too! In honor of my wonderful mom and her love of tomatoes, I painted this little painting for her kitchen. Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Ice Plant

Size: 7" h x 5"w.
Click image to enlarge. Click title to purchase at Yessy Gallery

Painting #2 Reach

I noticed a small patch of ice plant on my walk. This is such a common plant in my neighborhood I had not paid much attention to it. But this day I was struck by its humble beauty. It seemed not to notice that it was common and reached its arms to the sky as though in an attitude of worship, thankful for another day to enjoy being ice plant.

The useful link for this week: Watch short clips of artists Duane Keiser and Hall Groat painting recent works in this YouTube link. Click on a painting. This will start a video clip. Each lasts about 4-5 minutes. If you are learning to paint, it is helpful to see how these artists work. If you simply enjoy art, they are still inspiring and fun to watch.

In support of local artists: I love to see the various venues artists use to express their creative talent and making a living with their art. At Never Settle Designs artistic talent is applied to the walls of homes. It's another way to add art to your home!

Out of Egypt I Called My Son - SOLD

Size: 30"h x 40"w x 1.5"d.
Click image to enlarge.

This week I am posting 2 paintings: This abstract piece (the title of this blog is, after all Weekly ABSTRACT Art) and an impressionist piece, (if that is even the correct term). In spite of my love of abstract art, I find myself drawn to a bit of realism lately. Not totally realistic, but impressions of realistic forms that focus on the spirit of the object. The abstract piece sold before I had a chance to post it to the blog, but it appears here as part of the diary. Cup of Tea, the impressionist painting listed below in the second of this week's two blogs, is on auction at eBay.

I am very excited to share this week's useful link. Whether you have plans to travel or to enjoy more of your own city, this link is to a wonderful online resource called ARTCYCLOPEDIA
that lists art museums worldwide. Search the guide by artist, continent, museum, title of work or art movement and the guide will take you there. Click on any one and see what is currently showing in your city or any in the world. Take a brief online tour of the museum and then make plans to visit and see wonderful art!

Cup of Tea- SOLD

Size - 7"w x 5"h
SOLD - Click title to enlarge.

This is the second of 2 paintings being posted this Thursday.

A few of my closest friends live in other cities. But between visits, we still enjoy having tea together while visiting over the phone. A recent telephone conversation over tea with a dear friend who lives up the coast with her wonderful family, inspired this painting.

As you can see, this still life is the non-abstract piece of the two being posted. A friend emailed me this morning and said I should change the name of my blog because abstract art is non objective and I am including objective art. In an earlier post, I asked readers to look at a link I shared that labeled art styles by movement and to suggest a new title for my blog based on that information. But perhaps it would be better if I re-title it with a name that encompasses all forms of art. What do you think? What if I simply call it "interpretive"? Try leaving a comment about it on the blog.

The useful link for this week is included in the other posting for this week, Out of Egypt.

Still Life Flowers

Size: 18"h x 14" w.
Click image to enlarge. Sorry, this painting is no longer available.

It seems I have produced another post-impressionist-folk art-style painting for this week. (Actually, I painted an abstract too but I think I will wait until next week to post it.) More Subscribe button changes: It's back to the email screen version. It seems simpler and emails subscribers only when I want it to instead of each time I make a change to the blog!

This week's useful link is about salesmanship. This article is about selling your art, but shares helpful principles that pertain to selling in any venue.

This week's challenge to you: Try leaving a comment. It's easy to do. Just click the comments link at the bottom of this article and leave a thought behind.

Modern Flowers - Not available

30" h x 24" w x 3/4" d
Click image to enlarge. Click title to purchase at Yessy Gallery:

Welcome to this Thursday's blog. Maybe I need to change the title of my blog since I am painting in more styles than just abstract. Here are some official definitions of artistic styles classified into art movements: After reading through these, I think I fall somewhere into the Post-Impressionism, contemporary Folk Art and Abstract or Abstract Expressionist styles. Or, perhaps I should declare a new style title and call it "Interpretive"! If you have an opinion, please click the comments link to share it. To read about how to market your art on line, click here for an article by The Artrepreneur. After testing each link suggested in the article, I noticed that some are either not functioning or are not applicable. But enough are that the list is still worthy of publishing here.

Back to the Subscribe button again. This issue was the first to go out with the official button using google groups. I thought it would be sending the full blog. But it seems to send only the newest posting. I'm not sure I like that. What do you think? Would you like to receive the entire blog, or just the newest posting?

If you are an artist or entrepreneur looking for hosting solutions, Brian Buffell at Web Design City has done a great job for me. He hosts my home decor website, Nowhere Else On Earth. It took me a long time and several disappointing experiences with other hosting companies to find this one.

See you next week!