crabulous!

I've created a new design that I think is almost too cute for words. Click here to see it on T-shirts and click here to see it on various style tote bags.

Society 6

At last, I found a vehicle through which to exhibit and sell my digital collages. I hope you'll take a look. Thanks!  (Society 6)

Here's the link to my gallery at Society 6

To Create Art...

Haven't done any art journaling in awhile. It's fun to get back into it again. I was invited to be part of an art journaling group on Facebook and it's been so inspirational to me!

Note Card With Three Leaves

Tangy Zoodle #54

I am really having fun with this round format. They're called Zendalas, but it's all Tangy Zoodle to me!

Tangy Zoodle #53

This is considered a zendala. A mandala is a doodled design in a circle. Therefore, a zendala is a zentangle formed in a circle. In my case, it's a Tangy Zendala! ;)

Tangy Zoodle #53

"Vidalia" - digital collage

"Vidalia" - digital collage

Remember this onion sketch from last week?

I used this old Bomomo design as the background

And then to that I added this photo of a skeleton leaf which I'd painted in metallic paint. Of course, I then took away all color, then added some back. And when I was happy with the background, I applied the onion on top of the other layers.

Tangy Zoodle #52

Tangy Zoodle #52 in Black & White

Tangy Zoodle #52 in Color

Finally... In Color!

Tangy Zoodle #50 In Color

Awhile back I published this image in black and white and just didn't have time to color it until this past week. Which do you like best?

Tangy Zoodle #5 In Black & White

Tangy Zoodle #51

Tangy Zoodle #51 in Black & White

Tangy Zoodle #51 in Color

♫ The People That You Meet Each Day♫

I love, love this photo. The gentleman featured here makes roses out of palm fronds. There are several people who do that along River Street and there's something about them that makes you suspect they may reside in a shelter. Anyway, I asked this gentleman permission to take his photo. At first he posed, all smiles. His teeth are whiter than white and he has an endearing gap between his two front teeth. But, before I could capture that smile, he thought better of posing and went back to his work as a rose maker. I love this candid shot. It's really so much better than the posed one would have been!

So, okay then. I joined another sub-group in the neighborhood women's club; the Photoholics! How could I not?!? Photography was the first step in my career as an artist and I love journeying back to my roots on a regular basis. 

My first outing with the Photoholics was to visit River Street and photograph people. Yikes! People?!? That's really outside my comfort zone. However, I endeavored to persevere and I believe I was rewarded for my efforts. 

We found ourselves on River Street (in Savannah, Georgia) on a gray, drizzly day. Now, that's GREAT for photographs, IMHO. Colors pop against a gray background. However, there were few tourists out on that gray day. That's when I discovered that the most interesting and most colorful people are not the tourists. Oh, no. It's the locals that are so much fun to watch and photograph.  All in all, I'm pleased with the results of that outing.

"The Husband Parking Bench" - yeah, you know. Every retail area has one.

I met these gals in the open air market. They run a booth there which sells jewelry and clothing. They are wonderfully upbeat, charming and very sociable. Can you tell they are mother and daughter?

Not exactly a person (but don't tell HIM that). This is the shop kitty at the Christmas Shop.

Love this guy! He was headed down the sidewalk and I was headed right for him. I picked up my camera, aimed... and he smiled! Of course I think of him as "True Grit"!

Probably my favorite photo of the day. Not only did I capture the clerk in the eye popping sweet shop, but I also managed to capture a self-portrait; a fact of which I was blissfully unaware until I saw it on my computer much later! ;)

Shrimp!

Once again, the beginnings of another piece of kitchen art. I have his body and tail finished. He just needs better formed legs and some antennae. I think he'll look very natty on a kitchen apron, don't you?

Onion Sketch

Last week, I met for the first time with the Garage Girls Painting Club and it is exactly as the name implies; a group of artistic type women who meet in a garage to paint! It was wonderful!!! 

I was in a mind set to work up some sketches that will later be translated into "kitchen art." This onion being the first of the sketches. At this point, I'm not sure if I'll actually use the original sketch in a collage, but I know that at the very least I'll incorporate it into a digital collage that I can upload to items in "shop crabulous!" such as a chef's apron. So stay tuned to see what comes of this sketch. ;)

Tangy Zoodle #50 in black & white

Wow, I know! It's been awhile since I've created any Tangy Zoodles. This was two weeks ago and I still haven't colored it, yet. Ever since the art exhibit life has been hectic. But, I'll get back to this great method of doodling. I love it too much not to!

The Future Of Fine Art In America

When I first began painting and had finally created a few things that I felt were worthy of a price tag, I joined an artist co-op in Baltimore, Maryland. The Art Gallery of Fells Point was located on Thames Avenue in Fells Point and had a membership of about 60 artists; all of whom had to be juried into membership. I was thrilled! Even more thrilling was that I immediately began to sell my artwork. Barely a month went by when I didn't sell at least one painting and often it was more than that. That was in 1999. And for two years things were great! Then, along came 9/11.

After that, art sales dropped, rose again, then dropped, dropped, dropped, kept on dropping and then became almost non-existent. It was frustrating because I knew that my artwork was getting better and better.   And from talking with other artists, I knew I wasn't the only one. Then the galleries began to close their doors. 

At last I was left with no gallery representation and I endeavored to represent myself. I read the trade magazines that all proclaimed that the era of brick and mortar galleries was over and all sales would have to be made online. Artists should interface with the public by having a website at the barest minimum. But, even better to have a blog and maintain it daily. Better than that, was to promote your website and blog by keeping a Facebook personality. 

So,  I tried it all.

Then, when that still wasn't working I attempted the outdoor sales and invested money in a canopy and all the other necessary equipment. Things were better, but only a little.

Fortunately, I found the art fairs to be fun, but very frustrating; especially if I happened to get placed between two jewelry booths. 

Over the past 10 years it has become increasingly noticeable that sales of fine art have declined. But usable, wearable art is very, very popular. 

I have my own theories about this, but the "why's" don't really matter. I just wonder if fine art will ever again be appreciated by the masses. I know that wealthy, cultured people still purchase fine art; usually not less than four digits in the price tag (that's four digits to the left of the decimal point). So sure, I could add digits to my price tags, too. But getting accepted by galleries where these fine collectors shop (or their personal buyer or decorator shops) is a whole different story.

Artists who appeal to the mainstream, like myself, are competing with Target and Walmart for wall art. We're competing with China and mass produced, lower quality prints. It's tough.

I don't have an answer. I love creating fine art to hang on the wall. I love jewelry, but I have no desire to make it, and the same goes for pottery. 

For now, I will continue to create my mixed media paintings and attempt to sell them, but I'll also put my images on t-shirts, license tags and coasters, too, in the hope of generating some sort of income with which I can purchase more art supplies. It's a vicious cycle.

But, I know this... I'd hate to live in a world where original fine art ceases to exist. What a sad, gray world this would be.

Georgia and Bomomo

"Bomomo In Pink" by Georgia May Copland

My niece, Georgia, has recently discovered the fun of Bomomo. (Gee, I wonder how she learned about that! ;) ) And this is her first attempt!

As much fun as I have with bomomo as an adult, I love seeing what kids can do with it. The site has no instructions, so while adults struggle with what to do and what is "correct," kids just go wild with it and their free spirits are set free.

Make sure you give it a try, or at least show it to your kids or grandkids. Bomomo!

Tangy Zoodle #49

Tangy Zoodle #48

Tangy Zoodle #47

I love this one! Since I'm known for doing pears (it's my fall back subject whenever I'm trying something new) I've named my new studio, Pear Place Studio. And this is its logo.

Tangy Zoodle #46

I really find that I'm just as entranced with the tangles in black and white as I am in color; therefore, I've gotten into the habit of photographing them before I apply the color so I can have them both ways. ;)

This Week's Note Card Post :D

Budding Artists

"The Rain" - illustrated poem by Georgia May Copland

I am blessed with a baker's dozen of nieces. Two generations of them, actually. And all are beautiful and talented each in their own way. Among the youngest of them are two budding artists; Autumn and Georgia, and from time to time they send me samples of their artwork. I recently had the opportunity to spend the weekend with Georgia (who's 8, almost 9) and we drew and colored for hours on end. Then the other day in the mail I received the masterpiece above, which she created.

When I was the age of these two young girls, I was humiliated by my teacher for what she perceived as a lack of imagination and talent. From that point on I struggled in my art classes until I was in the eighth grade an no longer required to take it. I never took an art class again (except for art history and art appreciation) until I was 39.

I've since come to realize that there are just two requirements to being an artist. 

 1. a desire to create

 2. the joy of making a mark on a piece of paper or canvas

That's it! That's all that's required. Now I can't tell you what makes an artist successful. I don't think anyone knows the answer to that. 

But I highly encourage anyone consumed with the desire to create to go out and do just that. We were created to create. I firmly believe that. And we truly are not happy unless we're creating. So, today; now, even. Go make something. Bake a cake, write a poem; know the satisfaction of being a creator.