August and Everything After

I’m not sure why it works out this way, but I seem to have a cluster of shows that occur from mid-August til the end of the year. It’s not that I don’t want to sell the rest of the year, it’s just that for me, at least that sans commission pieces the real purchases happen in the fall. It is not out of the realm of possibility that fanactical holiday shoppers might purchase a gift or two towards the end of the summer. Actually, come to think of it – the first half of my year last year was much like this year, heavy on the barter side. Don’t get me wrong, love to barter – and I’m honest about it when it comes to tax time, it helps me see my real bottom line. I do like the old fashioned green stuff too. I have myself scheduled for eight shows/venues/art exhibits (if you will) starting in August. Of the eight, two of the shows will last three days – so twelve days of art – like the twelve days of Christmas?? OK, now I’m downright punchy, too many weird dreams keeping my mind awake has made me a bit woozy this morning. Mentally, I am preparing for these shows; not to mention vamping up the inventory a bit since one can never tell what will sell, and what will come home to my studio. The decent thing about that is, the more I sell, the less I have to work anywhere else but for for ME. I think staying ahead of the game – planning in advance – and possibly an ayurvedic body treatment to keep me sane throught it all is my best call. I’m also going to have some help for some of these shows, something that is a godsend. I am consistantly creating lists of new ideas on how to make my booth more appealing, and how to capture some interested groups such as the Cat Show or the Art and Car Show for my mailing list.
I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.Hippolyte Taine

Moolie – My in Progress Painting!

I am currently working on my next painting; she is a cat that I got to know in April.
Moolie is a cat that my husband and I met on our Honeymoon. She is so sweet; we took several pictures of her. Staying at a lodge for the two nights prior to getting married, we had a secluded wooden deck which had Adirondack Chairs and a view of the Canyon. Moolie greeted us almost before we entered the room of the lodge. For being a “lodge” cat, she was well trained to great the guests and makes them feel welcome. It took us several tries, but we were finally able to capture her on film in a way that showed her beautiful features. It wasn’t until we left the lodge and were being transported to our next destination when the driver of the van (married to the innkeeper of the lodge) told us that there was not just one Moolie, there are two. This explains why she was sometimes very friendly and sometimes a bit skittish. He went on to tell us that they call them both Moolie and sometimes Moolie 1 and Moolie 2. He also admitted he didn’t know which one was which. My husband and I respected the “don’t feed the cats” sign; however, the van driver told us that those cats are fed like kings. Look for my post this coming weekend with Moolie.

Zeus – my current cat painting on Auction

I am hoping for a slightly better picture of Zeus that I can replace prior to the end of the auction. Truth be told, this painting is still drying, and my photographer “D” isn’t really into the whole wet paint thing. For a rookie with a camera, not bad – but I’m convinced photographing oil is an art, one that I am not necessary accomplished at.
Cats are a mysterious kind of folk. There is more passing in their minds than we are aware of.” – Sir Walter Scott

Zeus – Pictured – Current Auction

My current Ebay Auction – qsell

Cat Art Painting Original Animal Artwork Oil Maine Art $65.00

Flat Rate Shipping

I like Flat Rate Shipping for USPS, because no matter where I ship or how much the package weighs, the price is always the same. Buyers don’t have to worry about “padding” costs so that the seller can make extra money off of them. My “handling” is zero-zilch and takes no time, I pack, use rice paper – zip it up and carry it to the Post Office (where I happen to have a P.O. box that I check regularly anyways.) I once purchased something on Ebay for 1.00 and paid 19.95 for shipping, I would have been more pleased had the seller told me “hey, it’s 20.00….and free shipping” – I am trying to be fair and since I use Eco Friendly boxes and packing material, I don’t think that shipping under ten bucks is that bad. Not only have I used these boxes for Ebay, but I also just used them for other business shipping as well. Short post today – new auction is up, I’ll talk about that one tomorrow, it is the long-awaited “Zeus.” Happy Blogging
Proverb or Wives Tale

If a stray cat comes to your house, you may look for good luck

Karma or just my time for good things to happen

So, after I write the win some lose some blog yesterday – once again on the road (meaning I’ve been blogging from everywhere and anywhere lately – and yesterday was no acceptation. To make ends meet by being an artist, I also Nanny. Not like “the sound of music” or anything like that – though I do sing to the little guys I watch, I don’t live with them, and I don’t work full time or really even part time. It’s a help out here and there type situation. Yesterday I road-tripped with one of my pint-sized-peanuts (just a little guy) and his mom to do a Trunk Show. My friend makes these really amazing fresh water pearl earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. I was there to entertain or hold a little man who is just short of his fourth month of life. The store the show was at was amazing; it was located in a New England Coastal town with both lots of tourism as well as a fairly big year-round population. The day went great, and I never leave home without some samples of my work. By the end of the day, the employees got to know us all well – including the owner of the shop. My friend was proud to say that not only did she have a banner sales day – but I also sold a Vintage Car Painting (Commission) – and over one-hundred single note cards that depict my art images. Don’t get me wrong, I worked yesterday, and I am sore from bouncing a baby-boo to prove it. It was just the right opportunity for me to present myself as an artist to some very creative people who might be interested in my work. So – was it Karma or is my diligence staying to pay off
“No tame animal has lost less of its native dignity or maintained more of its ancient reserve. The domestic cat might rebel tomorrow.”William Conway Archbishop of Armagh

Win some lose some

I pretty much try to show year round, although some months are a bit slower for sales than other – I always try to maintain a presence. I talked about a show I was preparing for last weekend. Although I did not change my formula in the products I sell – I did change my booth to be a bit more colorful (using colors that are on my website) – to line my shelves, and my racks where the paintings are displayed, it was a bust. This is the lose some of the win some saying. I have been lucky, that most of my shows sell “something” – not so for last weekend. The place where the show was held is a “mid-week-hustle-and-bustle” corner of our small city. During the weekend, it was deadsville. I would have almost felt bad about it had my artistic neighbors consisting of Potters, Clothing Designers, another painter, and jewelers made any sales either. It felt like posting work on Ebay when if no one ever heard of Ebay. This show is pretty new to the city, and I am guessing un-advertised or lately so. Handing out a few business cards with some maybe promises of “I’ll call you to paint my cat” is not what I would have called a productive day. Luckily it was over quickly and a lesson learned. I have to say that there was a time where I would have considered throwing in the towel after a day like that. But I won’t.Happy Blogging, thanks for listening -Funny Cat Wives Tale or is it Tail?If a black cat crosses your path, spit and rub your foot through it; then walk backwards five steps, and bad luck will not come to you.

Cat Myths and getting some sleep

My week is getting crazier by the moment and I would only have enough time to accomplish all I need to do if I don’t sleep, so I will cheat a bit on my blog and quote from the almighty internet. Enjoy.
CAT MYTHS
MYTH : If a dark colored cat crosses your path, it will bring you gold. MYTH : If a light colored cat crosses your path, it will bring you silver. MYTH : Cats eyes shine at night because they are casting out the light they gather during the day.
MYTH : Stepping over a cat brings bad luck.
MYTH : When a cat’s whiskers droop, it’s going to rain.
MYTH : To keep a cat from straying, put butter on its paws.
MYTH : If a cat sneezes near a bride on her wedding day she will have a happy marriage.
MYTH : A cat has nine lives

Proverb – A cornered cat becomes as fierce as a lion.

Smitten Kitten Auction ending soon

A short post today as I am watching a 2 year old (child not cat) for parents who are having another baby. Naptime, a good thing! Anyways, Smitten Kitten, really my top pick of all my paintings posted so far is ending in a little over a day! The colors in this piece are fabulous & it is the first of now three oil paintings that I have finished (the rest have been acrylic.) A funny thing happend with this post, this is not the primary picture – yet it is the one displayed in my gallery listing, a bit strange!
I must say I’m becoming a bit hooked on oil & you may see more oils than acrylic paintings down the line. Happy Blogging.
To live long, eat like a cat, drink like a dog.German

Pumpkin-my Feline Muse & studio assistant

After living together for fifteen and a half years, my Cat who is nick-named Pumpkin (not her real name) tends to be used to the disheveled studio & messy painter. I admit that although I have always been creative in one way or another, I have not been actively painting for the past fifteen years. Actually, only seven of those years have I had a studio, with another two to three painting in the kitchen, on my desk, or at an art class that I was a student of. The most current auction I have posted is a painting loosely based on my needy Maine Coon. This cat has been the princess of my household for as long as I can remember. My husband, when he was my boyfriend, wasn’t sure about my little furball siding up to him in a positive way – but now they are absolutely…positively… bonded. My cat and I share and art studio, which mostly stems from her nocturnal lifestyle & the fact that my basement studio remains cool in the summer and warm in the winter. She has been known to just hang out while I paint, and sample the oils or acrylics herself by walking across my pallette – and then my drying table. In general, we try to keep her out of the paint. Many paintings including the lastest one have had a bit of my kitty’s personality & look, although, I’m not sure I have ever captured her true essence. (I would never want to sell it if I did) In Pumpkin (my latest auction) I have combined my cat with other maine coon traits to show a determined, knowing, and poignant stare. Tossed between a huge need for head rubs & food, her meow has the urgency that means “now.” Painted in Holbein H20 Oil, this painting is a combination of greeens, grays and browns. The texture is built up in my typical painting style, and I did not get to anal retentive about letting a bit of the canvas peek-a-boo through on this one. It just worked. I’m sure this is not the last painting of my Maine Coon (loosely based of course.) Thanks for blogging.
“You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats.” – Colonial proverb