New Dessert Paintings

Gotta Get Back To Work

Why is it so hard to get back to work after a long weekend when you LOVE what you do?  I found help for this dilemma on one of my favorite art/illustration blogs: Escape From Illustration Island.  While I was procrastinating and blogging, I came across this post about getting back into the groove after vacation.  (Made me think I should be working instead of reading blogs).  Luckily I found these tips helpful and will be back to the grindstone tomorrow!  Escape From Illustration Island is a must follow if you are a commercial artist or illustrator.  Check it out, then get back to work!        

A Surprise Painting For My Dad

This is a painting of my Dad rowing on the St. Lawrence river in northern New York.  While I can take credit for painting it, I can't take credit for the thoughtfulness of Tom Taylor, our family friend who commissioned me to paint it as a gift to my Dad.  Check out Tom's new photo blog.  Hopefully he'll send me more photos to paint - it looks like he has an eye for capturing beautiful scenery.  

Bagel Paintings Completed...pretty much

Two bagel paintings are done!  I have to consult with the client to see if she wants a third painting and if she wants text on the bottom but so far these two are pretty much done...

Bagel Bird's Eye View, 8x8 on canvas

Bagel and Cream Cheese, 8x8 on canvas

Bagel Painting Part Deux

So on Friday I worked on the small bagel paintings based on my photos.  I worked at my kitchen table...

which is now my workspace of choice since I can listen to the TV and paint at the same time.  For me the TV thing works mainly because I use it as a motivational trick to get me to start painting.  If I didn't have the pull of Regis &Wendy Williams I might procrastinate my studio time.  It also provides me with needed breaks while I am painting.  I almost never get up to watch it unless something really juicy is going on.

For now, my kitchen is my primary studio space.  What does your studio space look like??

Scones And Chocolate Ice Cream Anyone??

Scones and Chocolate Ice Cream don't exactly sound like a match made in taste bud heaven but they made a great pair of painting projects this week.  I am happy to be done painting baby faces (I recently caved and did two baby portraits against my best judgement) and back to painting food!

  

Custom Paintings Make Me and Others Happy

One of the most gratifying things in my new art career is getting to paint custom pieces for people who are really excited about what they're getting.  Just recently I painted this custom Pancakes painting for a customer.  The blue background, subject, and size were chosen by the customer to compliment her kitchen.  I sent her a photo before I mailed it and she seemed really excited.  I love that.  I hope I can find many more people who really enjoy what I do because it makes me happy when they're happy!

Work in Progress: Cupcake & Peppermint Painting

This new cupcake painting is for Betsy.  She wanted a gift to give to her new husband who she calls, "sweets".  I thought it was a cute idea!  I am going to put something in text on the painting, like Sweets Always.  If you have any good ideas for wording for this painting, let me know!

 Sweets Always - 10x10 oil on canvas

EVERYTHING ON SALE AT MY ETSY SHOP

Now that the street fair is over, I am having a sale at my etsy shop so I can make room for more inventory at home.  (Our office looks like a storage facility - not pretty).  I lowered the prices on everything from original artwork to prints.  Some of these paintings would make a great Mother's Day gift!  Please let me know if you have any questions!

 

Field Painting, Original Oil on Canvas

Prepping For The Encinitas Street Fair

EEEK!  The Encinitas Street Fair is this weekend and I am busy preparing my artwork and all the materials that go into setting up an art booth.  This is the first time I've ever set up a booth like this and it's definitely a learning experience.  I am nervous!  I hope it all comes together and you'll see me smiling calmly at my booth this Saturday and Sunday from 9am - 5pm.  Brad, my husband and treasurer will be there too so stop by to say hi!

Tooting My Own Horn...again

I just found out that my doughnut print, was featured on another COOL blog:  The Kitchn!
The Kitchn is a blog that I keep up with on my Blog Faves list.  It has amazing photos of food, great tips for the kitchen and even kitchen decor ideas.  I have always admired this blog and its sister blog, Apartment Therapy.  

It's exciting to get noticed by these great bloggers and I hope that it ultimately leads to sales!  

Maybe I Should Stick to Painting Cake

Some people thing it's weird that I like to do oil paintings of food such as cake and cupcakes, but it makes me happy and it seems to make others happy as well.  I can't say as much for the acrylic baby paintings that I did for a friend of mine.  Although the baby's mom was happy and loved the results, (what mom wouldn't!?), some of my other very honest friends and family members gave me the following feedback.  You gotta love real friends...

"not my favorite"
"fix the sweater lines around his boobies"
"background color is slightly blah"
"the baby faces look kind of creepy"

Sooo...here they are.  I guess part of growing as an artist is creating some flops.  I want to improve so please continue to bring it on, people!!

Burger and Fries Paintings

The paintings for Fatbelly Burgers are almost done.  I still have some color corrections, lettering and finishing touches to do, especially on the fries. Remind me not to work on food paintings around 3 in the afternoon - my mouth was watering!  

Advertising Experiment and DISCOUNT for friends

Tomorrow is the day that my first paid banner ad will run on A Cup Of Jo - a VERY popular and cool blog about fashion, design & photography.  The ad will link to my Etsy Shop and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will see some results.

Here is an added deal for my blog readers (family and maybe 1 or 2 more people) - if you email me directly at ebklos@gmail.com, I will give you free shipping on your purchase from my shop.  Just tell me that you read about this discount, let me know the item you want to purchase, and I'll take off the shipping charge.

Here are some new items in my shop:

     

Painting Techniques: Plein Air Painting

The term, En plein air, as found in Wikipedia, is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.  I got plenty of plein air this week as I ventured outside to paint sans photograph.  The reason for this new approach is to improve my painting techniques and become a better painter.  I truly believe an artist can always improve and it just takes practice.


This is exactly what my new over-the-phone painting coach, Ian Roberts, told me on Monday when I had a critique.  Ian stressed that practice is the most important thing for a painter.  His other key suggestion was to get outside and learn about what nature REALLY looks like.  Knowing the true colors and shapes of nature helps to fix problem areas in a painting.  Seeing a subject in true context makes it easier to add or subtract from a composition while keeping the painting balanced.  Learing to paint En Plein Air will help me create more dramatic and powerful paintings. 


My first outdoor painting below was done in black, white and yellow ochre.  This limited palette was intended to get me to focus on the composition, the color shapes and the sunlight.  Plein Air painting is a bit cumbersome at first but I know that doing it repetitively will help my painting technique overall.  

  En Plein Air:  A path at Torrey Pines State Reserve, 4:30 PM, March 17th

Mixed Media Monday

I just added two new original paintings to my etsy shop.  I've been sticking with this bakery themed art for a while now.  My process for making these little pieces is to decoupage the canvas with old cooking labels.  For example, I use old pie filling labels on the pie pieces and hershey wrappers on the chocolate pieces.  I like how this makes the paintings more of a craft.  Visit My Etsy Shop to see the new pieces and prints.

"No pleasure endures unseasoned by variety" - Syrus

I didn't sleep well last night because I was imaging new projects to work on.  Since I quit my job to become an artist I have a new passion and I am now invigorated by my work.  It's amazing!

I don't think I will become an artist who sticks only to one style of painting forever.  There are so many styles and ideas that I want to try.  Here is a new painting that I did yesterday.  I think I'll create another one and leave out the blue and red "glow" around the edge.  And make the background warmer.  Any thoughts?