It has been a busy weekend… our last two kids came home from college… I just about wrote ‘teenagers’, but our oldest just turned 21! How did that happen? Seems like just yesterday I was driving her to pre-school! She and I share the studio space for the summer, so I had to do a big clean up and major re-organization to try to make space for her. I know she feels a bit crowded with me there, but the room is so large, it would be a shame to have it sit empty the rest of the year….. She is looking forward to sharing a house with some girlfriends next year, and we have been having fun getting the basics of furniture, etc. together for her. Such a hopeful, new feeling!
Before the ‘kids’ came home, I finished the painting I’d been going back & forth with:
This is what it looked like before
This is the final version "Knowing" 22"x15" Original Watercolor
I like the revised painting much better… the hair fits with the rest of the image now. Thanks to my friend Ted for the ‘virtual’ critique. I actually think I like the virtual critiques better than our meetings in person when I hear about half of what is said. To see the comments in written form helps me put aside my insecurities and objections and consider each suggestion thoughtfully.
The rest of my weekend was spent trying to restore my blog posts from April and May and setting up a new Etsy Shop! After chatting with my friend Linda Rothchild Ollis about her new shop and seeing friend’s shops like Blenda’s I decided it was time to take the plunge into the online market. For now I have a few small prints available, but I plan to add some smaller originals after the Salem Art Fair this summer. I want to have as many originals available as possible for my loyal collectors who attend that show. Looking forward to seeing you and your friends there!
I hope you’ll visit my Etsy store and share it with your friends. I really appreciate your referrals. If you refer a friend and they buy an original, I will give you your choice of 8×10″ prints! Word of mouth is my most powerful marketing tool, I find. People who live with my art & love it, generally know others who have the same inclinations!
I empathize with your sacrifice of space to your daughter. I’m so used to messing up the entire house with my art stuff, it will be a difficult adjustment when my son comes home this summer!
But it’s good to have them home for a little bit, isn’t it?
“Knowing” became more powerful with your changes. I love the eye on this one.
I’ll be interested to hear how the Etsy shop works for you. Good luck!
Thanks Margaret!
You go girlfriend!
Ruth, your Etsy shop looks fa-a-abuulus! Isn’t it a user friendly site? So glad to see that I can access your Etsy shop with just a click from your blog.
Good to read what you’ve been up to and to know that you now have an etsy shop! Very big step forward and a wonderful way to market your lovely art outside of galleries and festivals!
Hi Ruth,
I was just visiting Donna Z’s blog and saw your comment and wanted to say hello. It’s been awhile but perhaps we’ll see one another at one of the summer art fairs.
I hope you and your daughter have fun sharing space. I take it she paints, too?
Thanks everyone 🙂 Keeping my fingers crossed for some sales!