I'm Stuck in the Carriage House and Can't Get Out!

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"Stuck at the Dock"

Oil, 8" x 10" on museum quality panel.

$400.00 with display easel.

OK, so maybe I have exaggerated a bit. Truthfully, I have been in my studio in the Carriage House since 8am this morning. And they won't let me in my house. "They" are actually a production company filming a commercial in my house. It's for a seasoning company and they are filming a Thanksgiving themed commercial in my kitchen and dining room. Would you believe it takes 9 turkeys to film a 30 second commercial? And about 60 crew and seven trucks? And 14 hours ... for a 30 second commercial that I will probably fast forward and not watch anyway ... 

But there could be a big bonus when they "wrap" today. I am hoping if I hang around in the front yard and look really hungry when they leave they might just leave me one of the turkeys. And/or one of the five pans of stuffing. And/or one of the 11 pies. OK, at least maybe some cranberry sauce. Because ... since they have been in my kitchen all day ... there is no way I can cook dinner tonight. I am thinking a good ol' fashioned Thanksgiving dinner tonight would be really yummy. Maybe I could even pretend I cooked it myself.

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

Apparently I am now a "loose woman" ...

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"Cafe Near the Castle Green"

Oil, 12" x 12" on museum quality panel

Sold.

Click here to buy a print of this painting.

As a palette knife painter I have frequently been called a "loose" painter. In my workshop this past weekend I was referred to as the "loose woman" by one of our students. I do know that she was only referring to my painting style, but regardless, I chuckled at her comment. For some reason my paintings are much more "loose" when I am doing a demo. Must have something to do with the fact I am painting for an audience. Who knows!

But this is one of my favorites. There are 30 more paintings of this scene floating around Pasadena, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, Texas and Singapore.  It was a fun demo and there were some great "knife painters" or "loose ladies and one man" in the bunch!

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

An Amazing Four Days ...

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"Lazy Days"

Oil, 8" x 8" on canvas panel

Workshop demo, Day #2

$350.00 wth display easel

Click here to buy a print of this painting.

Attending an art workshop requires an investment. It's not just the time and money but also a willingness to open up your hearts and minds to learn.

These past four days I co-taught an oil painting workshop with my closest art friend, Dreama Tolle Perry. We were blessed with thirty amazing students students from all over the U.S. (and Singapore). The four days were a wonderful experience. We painted all day long and shared home cooked meals in the evening. We talked a lot about the joy of painting and being an artist. We broke through barriers and shared our hearts.

And painted really well.  I promise to post pictures of the completed paintings tomorrow.

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

Simply Amazing ...

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"Reflections on the Pavilion"

Oil, 8" x 8" 

Available at Debra Huse Gallery.

Click here to buy a print of this painting.

Twenty-nine women. One brave man. And two extremely enthusiastic instructors. That pretty much sums up Day One of our workshop. We shared stories, laughed, painted, applauded and even shed a tear.  It is simply amazing that 32 strangers can walk into a large brick empty warehouse, pour out their hearts, paint with an incredibly open mind and then stand back and look at their paintings in awe. I can't believe this was only day one.

And tomorrow after another great day of painting Dreama and I are cooking a really yummy gourmet dinner for the 32 of us. And pouring wine from the wine cellar. And telling lots more good stories. 

Thank you all for a simply amazing day.

Pictures to follow soon, I promise.

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

Waiting Ashore - SOLD

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"Waiting Ashore"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

Click here to buy a print of this painting.

It's hard to believe the weekend is over. I had lots of things to accomplish and only completed half of them. I did make progress finding homes for "the stuff" that was formerly located in the Carriage house. I also completed two paintings and started the very large preparation for the workshop I am teaching this week in Pasadena with my best bud, Dreama Tolle Perry. We are teaching a four day workshop and are fortunate that we have students flying from all over the United States and Singapore to attend our workshop! Our workshop includes two home cooked dinners at my house, so I am finalizing those plans as well.

I also had the pleasure of speaking on an Art Marketing Panel for the California art Club this afternoon. It was wonderful to see so many artists interested in marketing and I am fortunate to have been invited to participate.

Finally, as most of you know, I love painting with vivid colors. I had a tremendous response to my last painting and so I decided to try another one with even more intense color. I love painting with yellow! And  I have been staring at this photo for quite some time. I am thrilled I finally got around to painting it. 

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

Still Waters - SOLD

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"Still Waters"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

Click here to buy a print of this painting.

I am still in awe as to the difference my new Carriage House studio has made on my general sense of well-being. I cannot recall ever being this excited to paint. Or inspired. Or motivated. It's hard to fathom that a "space" could turn in to such an inspiration. But I've got it. And I am really happy.
Enjoy your weekend. I will. And you can guess where I will be ...

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

Mission and Fair Oaks

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"Mission and Fair Oaks"

Oil, 12" x 12" on canvas panel.

$550.00 with display easel.

Click here to buy a print of this painting.

It is always fun to paint scenes around town and I really like painting the Fair Oaks Pharmacy. I have always painted it from the front so I thought a side view might be a nice change.  I am still cleaning out behind the Carriage House and I am really close to finishing this wonderful (not!) project! Next week, when Dreama and I host our workshop students for dinner, they had better all notice how nice it looks in our back yard! Kidding ... maybe Dreama will notice ...

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

Alaska Boats - SOLD

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"Alaska Boats"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

I spent all weekend trying to "find a home" for all of the "stuff" that used to be stored in the Carriage House. If you remember the before photos, then you know how much "stuff ... aka junk" was in there. I have already had a ton of it hauled away (including about 25 cans filled with old paint) but there is still more that needs to find a home! Many items were picked up by friends, donated and given to my contractor! I honestly hope that by the end of this week the area behind the Carriage House will be looking clean and good again!

I have a very serious goal to paint every day in my new studio. I would love to "get ahead" so we'll see if  can use the morning house like I am supposed to do! I am teaching next week with Dreama so I do need to see if I can get ahead of schedule. Plus, I have to plan the two menus for the gourmet dinners Drama and I are cooking for our students. Did I mention, that means we are cooking dinner for 30??? What were we thinking????

I also have four Marketing Consultations this week ...

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

A Day at Garfield Park - SOLD

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"A Day at Garfield Park"

Oil, 11" x 14" 

$700.00

Sold.

Click here to buy a print of this painting.

I spent all day in my 100% finished Carriage House Studio today. It was amazing ... as it is a wonderful place to paint. I have a big screen for photo references, great music and all my supplies located in one place! I finished this one today. Garfield Park is a local park here in south Pasadena and one of my favorite landmarks!

Don't forget if you enroll in my November 3 - 6th workshop which will be held in Balboa, Newport Beach, CA you will also get a free 90-minute Marketing Consultation. I had to change the dates (conflict with one of my kids college events) so this is my way of making up for the date change! For more information about he workshop, click here. By the way, both of my upcoming workshops with Dreama, which are this September and next February, are sold out!

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.

Free Art Marketing Consultation

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"Cruising"

Oil, 8" x 10" on canvas panel.

$350.00 with display easel.

As artists, we all struggle with managing our personal and professional lives. I always try to keep an up to date calendar to prevent scheduling conflicts. Although my recent conflict was not my fault, I hate it when this happens. 

My son's college actually re-scheduled the date of their Parents Weekend which conflicts with my October workshop scheduled at Debra Huse Gallery. The October dates have now been changed to November 3 - 6th. I realize this is a huge inconvenience to those already signed up for the workshop but I promise you ... my son would never understand if I missed his first Parent's Weekend at Davidson College in North Carolina! 

So ... I have decided to offer a free 90-Minute Marketing Consultation ($200 value) to anyone who attends this workshop. It's my way of saying SORRY for changing the dates and also a way to let you all know that it isn't too late to sign up for this workshop! Details about this workshop can be found at Debra Huse Gallery and on my website.

Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops at http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Workshops.html.