Julie Marie Etsy Seller Showcase

Just a quick note to mention a word of thanks to Julie Marie, an Etsy seller from the US, for featuring me in her Etsy showcase over the weekend.  Julie Marie makes beautiful purses, scarves, cushions and other goodies from a wide range of delicious fabrics.  You can view some of Julie's items here:

I'm having a little sale before Christmas.  If you place an order for a stock or custom painting before 10 December 2011, you get 15% off.  Simply enter the coupon code CHRISTMAS15 at the checkout.

 

New Paintings in Stock in time for Christmas!

I haven't added many new paintings recently as I've been busy beavering away on a new collection for Maidenhead Art Market on Saturday 3 December 2011. I have decided it's only fair to share some of those works with my lovely existing online customers and have put them up for sale in my Etsy shop. If you'd like to buy one, be quick as I can't be sure which ones I will sell on Saturday. There are 6 new paintings as of today and another 4 to come tomorrow.

Not Long Now Until Maidenhead Art Market!

Well it's been a little while since I last posted as I've been so incredibly busy. I've been preparing for Maidenhead Art Market on 3 December 2011 which has kept me busy in addition to fulfilling numerous custom orders.

Feel free to pop down and see me - I will be exhibiting paintings on Maidenhead High Street from 10.00-16.00 on Saturday 3 December 2011.  You will be able to buy any of the works on display on the day or place a custom order for the exact size and colours your want.  Any custom orders placed on the day will be completed and shipped to you in time for Christmas.  So if you have been thinking of giving somebody an original artwork or would like something new and unique to display when you're having your Christmas lunch, pop down and buy a painting!

Phew what a crazy busy few weeks I've had!  Where to start?!?!?

Gift-Wrapped and Gorgeous

Well first of all, some exciting news!  My paintings are now stocked by the lovely Gift-Wrapped & Gorgeous.  Currently you can buy the same paintings as you can buy direct from me, or on my Folksy and Etsy shops.  When I have some more time though I will be creating a range of exclusive items for GWAG.

Orders, orders, orders!

I've had a good run of orders from both the UK and the USA.  It makes me so happy that people so far away appreciate my work!  I've had the pleasure of speaking to some really lovely people from all over the place including Canada, the US, France, and Ireland as well as the UK.

Christmas preparation

I've begun work increasing the number of paintings I have in stock ready for Christmas so if you're looking for a unique, handmade gift that will last, you'll have plenty of choice in the coming few weeks.

Giant canvas

Although I'm known mostly for my trees, I do enjoy creating abstract work as well.  I've purchased some giant canvases and am hoping to find the time to begin work on them over the next month or so.  Although if it's busy I may have to wait until after Christmas!

Art on the Street

I've begun planning and preparation for Art on the Street for Maidenhead Art Market on 3 December. If you can, feel free to pop by and see me so you can see my work in person and meet me if you so wish!

Web Design

I helped my friends over at Moore Than Cupcakes set up their new website and online shop.  You can now order their gorgeous cakes for delivery anywhere in the UK!  I've actually helped a few friends who are makers & doers to set up their own websites so I think I'm going to do something over the coming months by way of tutorials and maybe even service to help other small creative businesses get online.  Watch this space!

Running for Harry

As you may know, I have been following the story of Harry Moseley, a remarkable young man who suffered with a brain tumour.  I have now signed up to Reading Half Marathon as part of the 'Running for Harry' team set up in his memory.

Back at Uni

The next module of my degree has started - I'm studying a BA (Hons) in Psychology & Philosophy part-time through the Open University - and have just begun the Philosophy element.  There's a lot of reading but it's genuinely fascinating.  I'm looking forward to my first assignment in a few weeks time!

I think that's it for now!  I'll try not to leave it so long next time!

 

 

Knit a Penguin a Jumper - Seriously!

It was brought to my attention that some poor penguins off the coast of New Zealand need some help after an oil spill.  So if any of my lovely blog readers are knitters I was wondering if they could spare some time and send some woolly jumpers.  They're used to keep rescued penguins warm as well as preventing them from ingesting oil by preening their feathers until they're cleaned up.

For more information visit Skeinz

With thanks to Etsy for the photo.

Get 20% off - complete a quick survey

I'd like to ask you for some help please!  In return I'm giving away 20% off any existing painting in my shop and also off any custom orders. All you need to do is complete this quick 10-question, multiple-choice survey, and I'll email the discount code to you.  None of the questions are mandatory but I'd be very grateful if you can answer as many as possible!

To complete the survey simply click here.

Whitchurch Craft Fair

It's very short notice I know but I'll be at Whitchurch Craft Fair this Sunday 18 September 2011 from 2pm until 5pm.  Feel free to pop along if you'd like to meet me or see/buy some of my work!  It's also a fundraising even for Action Medical Research UK and there'll be a chance to win one of my paintings in the raffle.

Details:

Date start:	18 Sep 2011
Date end:	18 Sep 2011
Venue:	St Johns Rooms
Address:	Whitchurch Hill
County:	Berkshire
Postcode:	RG8 7PA

Last night I completed another tree painting similar to the red one I completed and sold last week except with a sunset yellow/orange background.  It is also available for sale on Folksy and Etsy.

Busy Bank Holiday!

Back to work today after the bank holiday weekend. I'm looking forward to sitting still at least even if my day job is busy!

On Saturday we (my husband Kieren and my stepson Henry who is 6 and I) went to the Tate Modern in London.  Henry made me laugh as he stood in front of the first item we looked at, pondered it for a moment before loudly exclaiming, 'that's not art!'  From the look on some people's faces I think he was voicing the view that several adults harboured but were too polite to say out loud.  He continued with his critique throughout sometimes asking, 'so why is this art?'.

What Henry did love was the 'Tate Movie' film project they were showing on the ground floor.  The project was set up to get more children aged 5-13 interested in art.  He was glued to his seat and didn't want to leave!  If you have time you can check it out at the Tate Movie Website.

I sold three paintings in all over the weekend including one commission which had to be posted to the US today so I had to work quickly to get that one done.  The other two were from my existing collection for people in the UK.  I have to say I was thinking of giving up on selling on Etsy because I hadn't had any sales but I have been getting sales on Folksy.  Then all of a sudden I get two sales in the same number of days from Etsy and another on Folksy.  Think I'll stick with it a bit longer then as the US is a big marketplace!

Last night I completed a new piece of two birds sat in a cherry blossom tree.  The background is a rich red sunset and the foreground is an abstract impression of a cherry blossom tree.

Candy-floss Sky!

Red sky at night, shepherd's delight!  I had to take a picture of the sky tonight as it looked like giant candy-floss was floating about!

Old Pictures Found in the Loft

My husband was having a root through the loft for some of his old vinyl and he found my old art portfolio from when I was at school.  I need to find some time to dig through it properly but here are a few I just found.  I keep meaning to do some pencil drawing again and maybe these could be some inspiration to get me started!

So here are the new original abstract tree paintings I completed at the weekend.  These are on canvas.  It's interesting to note how the background colours take more deeply on the canvas.  Partly because I used gesso.  I love these vivid colours!  All for sale on my Folksy and Etsy shops.

 

Productive Weekend

It's been a pretty productive weekend all in all.  Pretty much finished three canvas paintings - more trees (photos to follow tomorrow when it's light enough to take some)!  And I sold two of my new tree collection so had to varnish and finish those ready for sending.  All that and I managed to find time for a roast in the local pub and empty and refill the hot tub after it got a puncture!  Yesterday I also managed to sit down with my husband and stepson and watch Harry Potter - the Order of the Phoenix over a big bowl of popcorn.  Bliss!

Time for bed soon I think!

I finished work early on Friday and managed to have a really productive weekend. I finished 4 paintings in total, 3 of which I haven't gotten around to posting yet. They're all available for sale in my Etsy shop and I'm looking into getting some prints made for those of you wanting smaller/lower cost versions to brighten up your wall.

  

Large Abstract Tree

Trees are definitely my favourite subject at the moment.  I'm still painting on fibre board currently and have just completed this large one.  It's also for sale with 25% off on Etsy until Sunday.

Wedding Anniversary

The weekend was a bit of a write-off for painting because it was our first wedding anniversary and as well as going for a lovely dinner, we ended up getting rather drunk!  We spent all day Sunday laid out in front of the TV like a couple of slugs dehydrating in the sun!  Such a shame as we didn't even venture into the garden to enjoy the sunshine.  I tried for 10 minutes but the heat didn't go down well with my headache.

We had a lovely time mind you.  We went to Villa Marina, an Italian Restaurant in Henley and it really was very nice.  We're not usually particularly soppy as a couple but it was quite nice to spend some time reminiscing about our wedding day and honeymoon etc.

Mini Striped Painting

Here is a mini striped painting in Lemon & Lime colours I completed last night.  It's on a 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm) canvas and stands happily by itself and is also ready to be hung.

More Stripes - Sherbet this Time!

Did I tell you I liked stripes?  Well, in case I didn't, I do love stripes!  Here is a striped painting I finished last night.  It's on a 12" x 12" (30cm x 30cm) square deep-edged canvas and painted in the colours of sherbet - orange, pink, red, yellow, white using vertical stripes.  The sides of the canvas are painted yellow and the top and bottom edges are a glossy red colour.  It's very sunny and will brighten up the room for the person who buys it.  It's for sale in my Etsy Shop if you'd like to buy.

Stripes!

I've just finished a striped painting.  I've done quite a few of these - I love stripes!  This one is red, black, and white and 12" x 12" on chunky canvas.

Addicted to Canvas

I have just ordered some more canvas.  I prefer chunky/deep-edged canvas as it doesn't need framing before hanging and I like to treat the sides as just as important as the front of the painting.  It gives a bit more dimension in my opinion and there's something really satisfying about catching a glimpse of the little extra details on the side of the canvas.  I also prefer to sign my paintings on the side as that way I take nothing away from the actual painting.  I can't wait to get my hands on them and start covering them in gorgeous colours!  

Teaching Someone to Drive - Recipe for Divorce?

So I'm going to be teaching Kieren (my husband) to drive.  I've told him to book some lessons too but going on his general laid back approach to things, I doubt that'll happen any time soon.  I've insured him on my car, all we need now is some L plates and an empty business park.  Is it a good idea?  We tried working together and that ended in disaster as he HATES being told what to do!  Oh well, we'll see what happens.  I suppose he can't be any worse than Maureen from that TV show Driving School!

Hot Tub!

We got a new hot tub delivered at the weekend - one of those inflatable ones.  Yes I know it is the epitome of utter naffness but it's fun and it's actually pretty good.  My stepson who is 6 adored it.  He jumped in and called out, 'Hello Ladies'!  The problem is that the weather doesn't seem to want us to use it.  It's been raining every time we've wanted to use it.  Time to put the gazebo up I think!  It'd be good if it was a hot tub time machine though - we could use it to go back to when summers were actually sunny!

50% off all work on Etsy

As I'm a new seller on Etsy, I've decided to offer 50% off the list price of my paintings in order to get my first few sales and some feedback.  When buying, simply use the code INTRO50 and it will take 50% off.  Can't say fairer than that I don't think!

New WordPress Theme

So I've installed a new WP theme that's a little different to the default template.  Still not entirely happy with it - I prefer to do my own templates but I just haven't had the time!  I will get round to it eventually though and this one will hopefully do for the meantime! You might want to visit the guys who designed it - http://www.freethemeforwp.com/.

New Etsty Shop

I've taken the plunge and opened an Etsy shop.  It's the first time I've tried to sell my art online so I'm not sure how it'll go.  I've started with low prices to encourage people to buy and leave some feedback.  I don't really like to shout about it too much to people I know as I'm a bit nervous of their feedback!

If you're interested, you can browse here.

Getting started

Welcome to my new blog.  My name is Louise and I live in Reading with my husband and two extremely demanding cats.  I love to paint and draw, acrylic on canvas is my favourite for the freedom it gives although I am experimenting with other mixed media as you'll see from forthcoming works as I post them!

I've done a few blogs in my time but this is the first one as just me, myself, and I!  I wanted a place to show my paintings and artwork and discuss works as I'm creating them, inspiration etc.  Looking forward to updating you soon!