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.

End of The Day - SOLD

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"End of the Day"

Oil, 30" x 30"

Sold.

Now that I am finally home for awhile I was hoping the word "routine" had finally come back in to my life. Having been gone for the last four weeks and with one more trip next week I am not really sure when things will be completely normal again. Perhaps never. Life is never normal. We all know that.

When we were in Atlanta this past weekend we shared a tragedy that really made me stop, gasp and hold my breath. A tragic accident which involved a young woman killed in the crosswalk instantly by a bus makes no sense. She was the daughter of close friends of my brother and his family and when something like this happens it just knocks you off your feet. It can't be explained. It can't be accepted. And in no way does it even seem real.

As a parent it is so easy to start thinking "what if" and I have to say, don't go there. Instead be there for your friend who needs you. All you can do is be there to pick up the pieces. It takes a long time and for some, perhaps a lifetime.

So, go hug your kid today. Life is precious and don't forget to be thankful for today, yesterday and tomorrow. 

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

Relaxing in Newport

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"Relaxing in Newport"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$200.00 with display easel.

So we have been at the beach for almost a week and it has been heaven.  We are so fortunate to have all of our boys here with their friends. Each day there are between 11 - 15 guests staying here. And every night I cook a gourmet dinner for the hungry mouths (as a long day at the beach playing volleyball always seems to create a big appetite!). I am running out of ideas for menu's so if any of you have any suggestions, please help! We have already made BBQ steaks, chicken, burgers, Italian night with pasta and lasagna and taco night. Some of you must have some suggestions as to what I can cook for the next five nights ... and did I mention we will have 40 over here for dinner on Saturday? And this is supposed to be vacation ...

Actually, I am cooking in a kitchen with a fabulous ocean view so I don't mind it a bit. I guess you could say I am "relaxing in Newport" ...

Sweaty Palms

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Palette Knife Painting by Leslie Saeta

"Sweaty Palms"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$200.00 with display easel.

I have spent the last three days doing what I love most and enjoy the best ... watching my kids play sports! This time I have been at a volleyball tournament watching my youngest son compete as well as watching my husband's team play. It's been a blast. And we are heading out today for the last day ...

This little painting was fun to paint. I enjoyed mixing the blues and greens for the water. It worked well to create some depth. You can really see the edges created with the palette knife in this photo.

We have been in Balboa all weekend for the tournament and we took a long boat ride with some friends on a glorious Saturday afternoon. I took 480 photos which were mostly boats. So I am set for paintings ... for a long while!

Free Birthday Giveaway - Day Seven (and it's a free painting ...)

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"Safe and Sound"

Oil, 6" x 6"

This painting could be yours ...

Congratulations to Susan Walker. She won the free video featuring her art!

At last. The final day of the birthday giveaway. It has been so fun sharing so many things with you this past week and thanks to all of you for going along for the ride. To win the painting listed above, you don't have to do anything. Well, actually you do have to comment on this blog post so I know that you actually want to win the painting! I'll announce the winner tomorrow, I promise. Good luck. And thanks for letting me celebrate my birthday by thanking all of you for another great year. You guys are awesome.

Koi Pond

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"Koi Pond"

Oil, 12" x 12" on canvas panel.

$550.00

Throughout my painting workshops I find myself always asking my students "What did you like about that exercise?" or "What did you learn and what was frustrating for you?". At dinner most of the class agreed that they wished they could paint "more loose". So ... we painted "fishies" on the morning of Day Two.
I think the exercise was a wonderful one as it really required everyone to "paint loose" and we ended up with some beautiful paintings. Unfortunately my photo does not show how beautiful these paintings really are!

Over The Bridge

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"Over the Bridge"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel

$200.00 with display easel.

Today I tried something new for the first time. I went to a yoga class. Now, I should probably go ahead and remind you all that I am 5'11" tall and not really able to touch my toes. I was an athlete in high school ... not a gymnast ... not a cheerleader. I swam, played volleyball and basketball. I will even go out on a limb here and confess that I have never been able to do a cartwheel (and that even includes an evening in which my sisters tried to teach me ... once and for all ... in my front yard ... vodka tonics and all ...). Still no luck.
So back to today's yoga class. It was an advanced class but the time slot worked well with my girlfriends. And I figured, why not? I was a little worried when the instructor started talking about the light and reaching inside our hearts to find the light which somehow had something to do with the Royal Wedding. I am not exactly sure what she was saying because my mind instantly wandered to the huge auction I am in charge of that is next week.
So, once we got past the "touchy feely" talk, the work began. We spent an hour stretching and bending and stretching and twisting and stretching and bending some more. It was hard. But not impossible. And even the cracking in my knees wasn't bad. Loud, but no pain. And that's a good thing.
So, what was my take home? I probably should have started this 30 years ago. But it's never too late and I will go back. I just might want to buy a yoga mat, remember to turn off my cell phone and take three Advil before the class starts.

Taking The Day Off - SOLD

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"Taking the Day Off"

Oil, 6" x 6" on museum quality canvas panel.

Sold.

I will be "taking the day off" tomorrow as I will be at the swimming national championships. I can't wait! In the meantime, I finished this fun painting. Gotta love the sun light!