save me from number 13 on Halloween!

Art  |  Marketing

The more you paint the more you see, the more you see, the better you paint...  and the better you paint, the more you see...

See how that works? Since I've been painting a lot,  I guess it's safe to say I'm getting more and more comfortable with "Art".
Still not so comfortable with "Marketing."

But I'm sticking my toe in the water again by taking the advice of Alyson Stanfield, the Art Biz Coach (or, as I think of her: professional-and-kindly-Art Marketing butt-kicker), I'm getting braver about marketing and adding a new effort to the business side of my artWORK each month. Last month I exhibited in three new venues! Thank you for the advice and nudge, Alyson!

This month I've entered the Bold Brush Painting Contest by Fine Art Studio Online, hoping for some positive recognition. Validation is a wonderful thing and it's good for the resumé too! An Artist/Judge will determine the winners of Bold Brush but there is also a "popular entries section" that reflects how many have clicked the link on Facebook that connects with my entry. All those clicks add a level of validation too.

Right now my painting "Plum Jam Kettle" is #13 out of more than 500 paintings. Pretty exciting, but:
         ...this is October
         ...the deadline is Halloween (drop DEAD date!?!)
         ...my number is 13

Do me a favor. If you haven't already clicked through, please go to my Facebook page, scroll to the status update shown above and click on the link. You have to click through, not just "like" the status entry for your like to count and move me out of the danger zone!

'Cause, I'd really like to NOT be #13 on a Halloween DEADline. Ever. Thanks!

PS - If you're an artist or entrepreneur with an aversion to self-promotion, check out Alyson Stanfield's awesome marketing advice here and get a knowledgeable nudge along with support to move forward.

farmer's markets and... Who's Cooking?

I love seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. Not just because they taste great but because they look beautiful. This glossy red pepper goes great with antique, tin canisters! Fun stuff.

Pepper Checkers oil on linen by dorothy lorenze

By the end of the summer there were many paintings of farmer's market finds in my studio. So I was more than pleased to be invited to show them in the dining area at Who's Cooking in Croton Falls.

Owner Russell Puckhaber has quite a focus on local providers and purveyors. His store carries delectable baked goods from Tates Bake Shop of Southampton, Maura & Nuncia of Brewster and Lola's Granola of North Salem!

Now, he is also supporting local artists from Somers (me) as well as North Salem photographers. John White and John Keenan capture local faces, places and events in their beautiful photographs.

Who's Cooking, is a fine food store, butcher, bakery, caterer and deli that creates daily specialties made with the finest ingredients. Everything is fresh and delicious. They were even filmed recently by the Food Network!

So, you should GO! 
Go at lunch time... or coffee time... or dinner time. Sit and eat or pick up a perfectly prepared meal to take home to your family. And while you're there check out the beautiful local photography as well as my savory selections in the "Farm to Frames" exhibit on display through November.

See you at Who's Cooking in Croton Falls!
Here's a link to a local news article about this yummy, gourmet deli and caterer.

painting... walls!

It's been a busy summer (what other kind is there?!) All things considered, I've done a lot of painting. But lately the "painting" has been with a roller and my studio has never looked better. To be honest... it was kind of a disaster.

Look left. Yeah, that's what I was dealing with.

I had planned wanted needed to make some big changes and Alyson Stanfield's "Get Organized" class helped identify the obstacles to getting it done (more about that in a future blog).

My studio has lots of closets but few walls for art display. Time to address this!

Out with the contrasting trim. Walls and trim needed to blend for a more neutral backdrop.

Check out the transformation!
Looking forward to even more creative energy in this room!
The whole room is grey, except for the sunny stairwell. Now trim and closet doors fade into the background. Kept the checkerboard flooring and the hooked rug looks better than ever.

Removable racks hanging across the doors of 3 closets make good use of all that non-wall space. This is the same view as the first photo above.

Here is the far end of the room with the old loveseat re-covered (same square windows as above). Lovely spot for a spot of tea by the spotted carpet! Guess before entertaining clients I may need a grown-up sized chair! 

The little green chair is from nursery school. Somehow it seems fitting. 

Not so coincidentally, the painting I'm working on at the moment is a quiet interior space. Lately, I've been interested in light coming through windows, imagining the private world in that space. Inner sanctum, private spaces, that sort of thing. It's good to appreciate your own creative space.

(Thanks Ken, couldn't have done it without you!)