All Artists Need to be Square ... Like Me! SOLD

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"Three to Sail"

Oil, 6" x 6" 

Sold.

Good news ... if you are an artist and you have always wanted to be able to accept credit cards without the hassle of setting up a merchant bank account ... the solution is finally here. "Square Up" is a relatively new gadget that works with the iphone, ipad and Android. It's very easy to get as all you have to do is sign up online. There are no set up fees, credit checks or agreements to sign. You just sign up and link it to your bank account. They even send you the "reader" gadget for free that plugs in to your phone.
It's actually cheaper than paypal if you physically swipe the card (2.75%). It's a half percentage more if you enter the credit card number manually. And the money is deposited directly in to your bank account, less the transaction fee. So, why do artists need these?
Well ... you can finally accept credit cards ... on the go. You can use it at an art fair,  a collector's house ... or even at a workshop. Think of all those times you could have made a sale ... only if you were able to accept credit cards. Well, now you can. And pretty simply at that!

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!

End Of A Long Day

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"End Of A Long Day"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel

$200 with display easel.

Even though this painting is titled "End of a Long Day" I do have to say that in reality today is the "end of a long month"! Between traveling, kicking off the "Artists Helping Artists" blog, painting, commissions and way too many hours at my computer marketing my art ... I am tired!
I am so looking forward to August! My oldest son is swimming at the National Championships, we have a beach vacation scheduled and all three boys are home ... so I am a very happy mother and wife! I will enjoy every single day this month because I can't even stand to bear the thought that next month the boys will be back in sch**l (I can't even type the dreaded word!).

I finished my newsletter a few minutes ago (quite pathetic since it is my July newsletter and today is the last day of July ... Dreama and I have been very tardy this month!). I do want to share with you a new program I kicked off in my newsletter today. If you recall, I sold a painting earlier this week and donated all of the proceeds to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I have decided to sell a special collection of "Pink Power" notecards (they are a set of six for $20, including shipping) and I am going to donate all of the profits to the Avon Walk. This is a cause very dear to my heart and I would love it if you would purchase some of these cards and allow me to make a donation on your behalf! Click here for more info. Join me in fighting this disease that affects one out of every eight women!

Yellow Sail Reflections

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"Yellow Sail Reflections"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$200.00 with easel.

I am heading off to a Girls Night Out celebration for my dearest friend who is moving to Portland. As I look outside and see the beautiful Southern California weather I realize she will, in no time, miss the glorious weather we have on a daily basis. I know she will miss the neighborhood, our frequent lunches and Friday night happy hour celebrations. Also there are the power walks in the morning, sporting events with our kids and the casual "drop ins" that we both love.

But life presents wonderful opportunities and I know this move is absolutely the best thing for my friend. It makes sense on every front and I am so excited for her. But I will ... miss her daily. Thank goodness for email, facebook and cell phones ...

First Day of Summer - SOLD

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"First Day of Summer"

Oil, 8" x 6" on canvas panel.

$200.00 unframed.

Sold.

Even though the weather was overcast, today officially felt like the first day of summer. Andrew and I arrived last night from Stanford with a car stuffed full of ... well ... "stuff". He is home for ten days and then he will head out of state swim and train all summer. So ... for a short time all three of my boys are home (yeah!) and just having them around the house today left a smile on my face. We started early with pancakes and the World Cup (at 7:00 am) and we will complete the day with a barbecue tonight with the five of us. I feel complete again.

A Sunny Day

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"A Sunny Day"

Oil, 8" x 16" on canvas panel.

NFS

I gave a palette knife demonstration at SoPas Gallery yesterday and ... it was so much fun! There were wonderful artists and friends in attendance and I do think I might have some new "converted palette knife painters". The painting above is the completed demo piece, and one of the lucky attendees was awarded the painting as my gift!
I used a reference photo that featured a very cloudy day, so it was fun to bring out the sun and brighten up the painting. It only took me about an hour and twenty minutes to complete the demonstration. I will be teaching a palette knife workshop in the fall so let me know if you are interested!

A Trio Waiting

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"A Trio Waiting"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$250 framed.

Today was one of those days in which I felt productive but didn't get much done. I kept trying to get up to my studio but was dealing with the "aftermath" of the moth infestation (it's a long story ... but a beautiful oriental rug is now in the trash and a "fogger bomb" has fortunately led to the subsequent death of about 1,000 moths ...). My studio is all clean and and back to normal. And no one was poisoned in the process. Except for the moths of course ...

I am still getting ready for the Balboa Artwalk this Sunday. Still need more paintings so maybe I can have another "four painting" day tomorrow? Not likely!

A Great Day

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"A Great Day"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel

$200.00 unframed.

A few weeks ago I posted on my blog about how frustrated I was that I was having a bad painting day. After the day I had yesterday, I can honestly say that is behind me! Yesterday was just one of those days that I was in the zone ... and as a result I painted four paintings. Yes four paintings! And the best part, I like them all!
The painting posted above is the fourth one I painted. I started it at about 10:00 p.m. but I was on such a role that I didn't want to stop. Maybe I was afraid that if I stopped I might lose the good painting karma?
All four pantings contain my favorite subject matter (boats!) as I am getting ready for the Balboa Artwalk which is this Sunday, May 16th. I hope to see you there!

Sailing Alone - SOLD

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"Sailing Alone"

Oil, 4" x 10" on canvas panel.

Sold.

Wow.  It is so nice to be back in town. I did take the red eye last night so I am painting and typing on zero hours of sleep. I have never figured out how to sleep on planes. But you know me, I honestly believe that sleep is totally overrated and can always be made up tomorrow! After I unpacked my suitcase this morning I went up to my studio and painted this odd-shaped gem. I will have the perfect frame made for it! 

I Miss Painting Boats!

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"Banana Boat", Oil, 6" x 6"

Sold.

I am almost finished painting for my upcoming show "Headlines". A few more days and I will be done. I am so tired of painting trees and city scenes.  I miss painting boats terribly!! The painting posted here is one of my favorites. If you recall, I did a 30" x 40" larger commission for a wonderful client in New York. But I still have the little one.

Time to Sail (and cook)!

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"Time to Sail"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

$200 unframed.

You all know I am just swamped cooking and getting ready for our annual holiday party (which is this Saturday night). A few of you emailed me and asked if I would print the menu. I do cook everything but I also have a crew that comes in on Saturday night and cooks everything I have made (so I can enjoy the party).

So, here is the menu ... and yes, I am completely insane for cooking this every year. But I do love it. (OK, maybe I don't love it this week but next week it will have seemed like more fun!)

I guess you could say this is my holiday gift to all of our family and friends. So, if you don't see any more new paintings on my blog this week ... you now know why!

Holiday Party Menu (for 150 guests)

Spicy grilled shrimp cocktail in shot glasses

Smoked turkey with cranberry/orange muffins

Smoked salmon and lemon dill sauce

Chinese Chicken salad in won ton cups

Assorted veggies with Roasted Red Pepper Dip

BLT tomatoes

Caesar salad on parmesan cheese flat cups

Blue cheese, Walnut and Cranberry Crostini

Skewered chicken with peanut sauce

Skewered flank steak with peanut sauce

Brie cups with pomegranates

Cape Fear crab cakes and dill sauce

Sesame Ahi with sauce & rice in shot glasses

Pesto stuffed mushrooms

Four cheese puffs

Tart shells with spinach/artichoke dip and parmesan cheese

Whipped sweet potatoes with brown sugar topping in pastry shells

Crab quesadillas

Butternut squash, coconut ginger soup

Cranberry, chocolate & toffee oatmeal cookies

Peanut butter fudge

Frosted sugar cookies

Cranberry shortbread cookies

Chocolate Mint Marvel cookies

Back to the kitchen!

Caught in the Wind

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"Caught in the Wind"

Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.

Sold.

We are back in town from the family vacation and I am trying to get caught up on everything. I have six commissions due this month and two more requests that came in today. Am I the only artist that gets stressed out with commissions? I am always terrified that my client won't like them! Your thoughts and suggestions?