Etsy Fun

 I opened an Etsy last week to show my bird drawings. I’m having some fun getting started. It is complicated and has a learning curve but I am working on improving it a bit each day. The biggest problem I have is the photos. I can’t figure out how to get them positioned correctly in the thumbnail slots. They often show the middle of the bird instead of the head. It is weird. 

 

The shop is called BlondheimBirdArt. If you get a chance, check it out. I had two sales in the first week, so I’m pleased. I raised my prices to 22.00  to cover fees. I will see how the shop goes for awhile. It is fun to try new things.

 

 

 https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlondheimBirdArt

Bird Art

 I’ve had a growing interest in creating bird drawings this year. I reorganized my design studio to incorporate my drawing table in a better position. 

I decided to open my Etsy shop again. It is Blondheim Bird Art. It is a way to expand my bird art followers. I will keep the Etsy drawings separate from my web site just because it is easier for me to keep track of sales. Etsy works well for selling small art.

 I am getting more excited about my bird work now, so it seems like a good idea to promote a bird only shop for bird lovers. I’ll never give up my landscape painting joy, but I love birds too. It seems that online shopping is here to stay, now that Covid never ends. It won’t hurt to have a second shop. 

 Country artists like to experiment……

Cartoon Doors

 I have been doing these cartoons of studio doors for about 50 years. It has been a long theme for me. I think it became an icon for me because I have always felt great love for studios. They are places where magic occurs. 

I’ve had about fifteen different studios in my long career. I have visited hundreds more, owned by other artists, interior designers, industrial designers, graphic designers and food designers. 

All are special to their owners. Having a studio is a privilege. We each have our own tastes. I am a minimalist by nature. I like white walls, plain floors, very little ornamentation.  It is pretty industrial in feel. I keep my studio tidy for the most part. My palette and brushes are ready to use every day with no messiness left over from my last session. 

I had a ceramics friend years ago. Her studio was an absolute mess and yet her pieces were delicate, atmospheric and finely crafted. Some fine work is produced by very messy artists. Each artist’s personality is reflected by their studio. It is a safe and happy space in a sometimes frightening world. My cartoons remind me of the wonder of our studios and my imagination makes that secret space as fun as can be.

Country painters love their studios……

Interpretations

 I have observed that artists definitely see differently in regard to value and color temperature. My good friend MJ and I have had many discussions on that observation over the years, as painters. 

 I have a warm temperature bias in my work. Most of my work and preferences are warm temperatures. I like earth colors, warm blues, oranges, greens, and yellows much of the time. 

 My value range tends to be full range, from the lightest light to darkest dark. Seldom do I stay in the middle value range. Contrast is my middle name. When I view other artist’s paintings I often think they have missed the light. This could be due to my value bias. Many artists are more comfortable with close middle value relationships. 

 It could also be a bias for me due to many years of Notan study. I tend to group my values into five families only. Light, half tint light, mid tone, half tone dark, and dark. 

Years of plein air painting has also formed my love of light and contrast.

 These observations are important to understand for artists. “Know thyself” comes to mind. I have learned to use my biases to become the painter I am. I don’t try to be anyone else, even when their work is better or more popular than my own. As my daughters like to say, “you do you”.

 

Country painters enjoy painting…..