New Small Paintings Here!

"Morning Light" oil on canvas 6x6x3/4" $75.00
 Click on link below if you would like to purchase this or see other art work of mine!
http://terriwestart.com/workszoom/870659

"Dusk" oil on canvas 6x6x3/4" $75.00

Click on link below if you would like to purchase this or see other art work of mine!

http://terriwestart.com/workszoom/870647/dusk

These two paintings are a square format and are perfect for small spaces  or office cubicles!
My art is evolving to more colorful abstracted landscapes and I love the texture in the trees  in "Morning Light".  Lots of thick paint was used with some knife painting as well.

 The second painting "Dusk"  is very colorful and a contemplative piece for sure. The misty out of focus landscape has spiritual qualities for me.

"Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."  New Living Translation (©2007)

Don't forget the Sanford Art Walk tomorrow night 6:00PM to 9:00PM. I have 3 paintings in the exhibit at the Historic  Sanford Welcome Center- come on out and say hello- there is some other fabulous work by other artists as well!

Sanford Art Walk April 2012

I have been working hard! One of my paintings        
(Florida Hammock II) is in the juried Florida Hospital Altamonte Healing Art Exhibit ( partners with Seminole Cultural Arts Council).
 And now Lemon Bluff II is in the juried Sanford Art Walk Exhibit along with 2 other paintings I dropped off today! The free reception for the exhibit in Sanford is at:
The Historic Sanford Welcome Center
230 East First Street
Sanford, Florida 32771 www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com
407-302-2586
 Reception is April 27, 2012 6:00 PM- 9:00PM.
 I hope to see you there!
 Along with getting ready for shows I have been working on new paintings and attending my art mentor-ship in Gainesville with Linda Blondheim at the Paddiwhack gallery.

I managed to make it to New Smyrna Beach for one day and got a cadmium red colored sun burn....now its in the itchy stage... But the day was an infinite beautiful inspiration for me. The water was cerulean blue ( which is rare if you know this beach...) and there was not a cloud in the sky. I saw two large live crabs, pelicans, sea gulls, and sand pipers...It was a wonderful spirit renewing day. While I was there I was thinking how wonderful it will be to bring my new grandson Wesley who is due to arrive into the world  in May... I am smiling as I think of the sandcastles we will build! Here is a link to the beach camera there for you to enjoy!

Information Overload

As an artist my main mission in life is to paint and to create. It is not to go overboard signing up for every art marketing newsletter, blog, book, Facebook friend, group, and Twitter feed etc...

I am in Linda Blondheim's Mentor-ship for this year.She is wonderful mentor and I am enjoying the comradeship  with the other painters. Linda is the "down home" on what works and what has not worked for her. She brings new  ideas for each particular artist's niche.

I have a serious Internet addiction when it comes to art marketing information on the web. At  one time that would have been a good trait. But now it tends to overload my time -- reading  to keep up with all that is out there. Its all great information... but my "painting for sale inventory"  has dwindled to only a few!

Being really overwhelmed with all the online advice to artists that supposedly will keep us from being in the "starving artist" category is my operating system these days. But what is the use if an artist doesn't have anything to market? Recently I was  wowed by an announcement of what my online Facebook friend Nancy Medina did at Artscape in Dallas this past weekend - she sold over 60 paintings! I am not the least bit jealous-- I am wowed!

But what I am jealous of,  is her perseverance and copious productivity. Linda Blondhiem is extremely productive as well. This is where I fall off the map-- I am or WAS a painter that waited for the mood to strike me... to begin painting. Unfortunately that has not been a great idea for me to make into a habit.
 It is especially complicated when I have the information obsession... because lets face it we can all spend 100% of the time messing around on the computer  on the Internet  in the name of research...:) and then call that time WORK.

 By the time I get done with that-- or any art business task...I am ready for a nap! NO Painting!

 Today I am dropping off this painting for an up coming  show at Florida Hospital Altamonte.

There is my water lily painting series to finish up and actually two other paintings that are 1/4 done -- then there is a gift  that I need to paint-- with a deadline no less. And all manner of general life's business invades my precious time to keep me from actually painting. So at this point I need to stop "reading about" and "start doing".

This is a picture of a little bird that comes and sings nonstop every spring in my front yard and this year was no exception. There is a nest inside a large bush that is located to the right of this smaller one that he takes turns sitting on when he has a mate -- no eggs yet! May be he needs to get productive and find a mate-- he is doing a lot of advertising and research but I don't see any products yet...

Paintings and Pickles!

I recently was involved in the ALOC - Artist's League of Orange County Annual Spring show which was held at the Casselberry Art House --to a packed house the night of the reception. The show is up till April 2, 2012-  Go check all the beautiful unique and affordable art on display. My painting "Storm" is there and it sold the night of the reception! I am deeply grateful for this importunity to get back into the art swing!~  I am so thankful for my patrons who showed up for the feast of the eyes and the palate that night. THANK YOU!

"Storm" also was picked  to be in the top 15% on the FASO BoldBrush Painting Competition Winners (February 2012)

http://faso.com/boldbrush/winners/75

Fast Favorite Garlic Dill Pickles
Often called kosher-style dill pickles, these are quick to make. Use either small whole cucumbers or cut larger ones into quarters. You can through these pickles together in the morning and eat them that night! I made them and let them set overnight in the Refrigerator.
2 Cucumbers sliced lengthwise or in chips.
2 cups of water
1/3 cup of white or apple cider vinegar-- I used the white
I slice of onion
6 whole cloves of garlic peeled
5 stalks of fresh dill
2 Tablespoons of salt--- I would use next time: 1 and 1/2 tablespoons --  I used sea salt
I quart container

In a small saucepan heat up: water, vinegar, salt and 1 clove of the garlic until it boils and the salt is dissolved.
While it is heating up, slice cucumbers and pop the garlic peels off Cut 1/4 inch of onion. In your container (I used a clean old Claussen pickle jar) arrange layers, cucumbers, dill, onion, and garlic. The order doesn't matter.
When the liquid comes to a boil, pour slowly into container. I set the container down in the sink and used a funnel so I didn't have to clean up a mess if I spilled it. Let it fill to the top and over flowing! Let the mixture stand for 2 minutes and then put the lid on. Shake it up well. and refrigerate for 4 hours. These are better the longer you let them sit.
*You can also add 1 tsp of mustard seeds and /or up to one tablespoon of sugar if you like a sweeter pickle and lesson the amount of the garlic

Tips From Epicurus
Garlic may turn blue or green in the jar. Nothing to be alarmed about, it is only the effect of the acid on the natural pigments in the garlic.
Extra! Tips from Epicurious:
• Pickling salt is free of the additives found in table salt, which can discolor homemade pickles. The popular brand Mrs. Wages is available online at www.canningpantry.com/pickling-salt.html. If you use regular table salt, the pickles will taste fine, but they may turn dark, with cloudy liquid. Do not substitute kosher salt, as the difference in texture can result in incorrect measurements.
• "The proportion of water to vinegar necessary to inhibit the growth of organisms produces a very sour pickle," says Topp. "While you can't change this proportion, you can safely add up to one tablespoon of sugar if you want to slightly sweeten the pickles."



"A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires."
Hedy Lamarr

Artist Residence Day 3

My oil  paint palette

The darks are in!

     On the left is my palette with starting at the bottom: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow Light, Cad orange, Alizarin Crimson, Platinum Violet, Ultramarine Blue, and Phthalo Green. I added 3 more colors as an after thought that I thought I might use for this Water Lilies Series.  Galkid Lite is used for the medium as I don't want to wait forever to continue painting on these. So the darks are in and I can't wait to pick up the palette knife to paint again!

     What have I been listening to as I paint?  Eat Pray Love  by Elizabeth Gilbert

 Here is a link to the official trailer to the movie 
 May you have peace and serenity  this coming week.
Terri

Artist Residence Day 2

Can you guess what my series is going to be about? I have dearly loved water gardens ever since I was 8 years old, when my family moved to Hawaii, for my father's new job at the University of Hawaii. There is a Japanese water garden there on campus in Honolulu, that we visited every Friday afternoon to meet my father for dinner in the college cafeteria. Here is a video that I found  of the place-- such memories feeding the Japanese Carp Koi fish :) 

Video of University of Hawaii's Japanese Garden 

When I was a little girl we hand fed these fish and there was at the time water lilies there. I apologize the colors are a bit odd in the beginning of the video. Here is a short clip that is not in stereoscopic :)

short garden video

Of course the artist Monet is probably the most famous for painting waterlily gardens and part of my research for these paintings has included looking up and studying what magic he painted!

Video of Monet Water Lilies at MoMA
Monet Information at the Web Museum
When I owned a house with a pool I had big daydreams of converting it into a giant waterlily garden yet somehow still being able to swim in it LOL!
 I invite you to sign up over there on the right side of my blog if you want to keep up with this series. Maybe you know something about making  and maintaining these wonderful gardens... I understand they are a lot of work!

Artist Residence Day 1

George
George tried to distract  me but I could not be led astray from my task at hand for today: wire, and under paint / prime 5 paintings.
Done!
(the other 3 look just like these LOL!)

 Now they need to dry and while waiting... I have updated my website at  http://www.terriwestart.com

with an event that is coming up in March... check it out! I will blog about it when the time gets a little closer. If you just cant wait to buy a painting I have added Paypal buttons to my available works on my website! You don't even need a Paypal account to buy- just plug your credit card in on the secure website and soon a new piece of art will be traveling to you!  Free Shipping!

Meanwhile back to making art.... I have some unfinished paintings that are dry  that need some attention...

 Blessings to you! Thanks for stopping by!

Terri

My Own Artist In Residence

      My friend and mentor Linda Blondheim has a blog  where she writes about her Artists in Residence Project. She is lucky to have the freedom and the "where with all" to be able to do this project and I enjoy her posts on the places she has been and the paintings she has completed.
   I have so many distractions that I sometimes put these above my art business and painting. This is a discipline that I have decided to attack and embrace as one of my goals this year.

     My artist in residence will be in my own studio. I am declaring it to start Monday February 20, 2012 and end Friday February 24, 2012. I am going to treat this time as if I am in residence or on a week long workshop.
 My goals are:

1. I will  be in my studio or outside at a place in the Orlando area painting everyday 9AM-5PM.
2. I will NOT be using the computer or my smart phone to cruise the internet or post etc... until after 5PM.
3. I will not have the TV on from 9-5PM.
4. I will start a series of new paintings and finish them -goal 5 new paintings
5. I will post on my blog Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, in the evening- the updates to my endeavors

  Between now and  Monday AM I will be in the planing stages: selecting and getting photographs to work from, deciding on compositions, drawing,  Notan , selecting the color palette I will be using, doing a few color charts and preparing the canvases.

I am going to treat this time as if I paid over a thousand dollars for a workshop and therefore nothing else is more important! (barring real emergencies) :) 

Wish me luck! 

Terri

Dark Night of the Artistic Soul | Lynne Hurd Bryant - Blog

"Golgotha"- Mixed Media-Artist Collection

 Lynne Hurd Bryant blogged recently on a subject that I find intriguing both for spiritual / religious purposes as well as in my art world: Dark Night of the Artistic Soul | Lynne Hurd Bryant - Blog
  The phrase "Dark Night of the Soul" originally comes from  the name of a poem called  Dark Night of the Soul written by a Catholic Carmelite  mystic named St. John of the Cross. I am a member of  the Lay Carmelites in my church and we study this subject extensively. I had a rather long spiritual "Dark Night of the Soul" before my  profession and it also included my whole art business,... indeed my whole life as well! If you are curious as to what this state is you may want to check out  the Wikipedia explanation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Night_of_the_Soul

 And here is a translation of the poem to read if you are interested: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/dark_night.txt

      My art that I am making right now has many deep sometimes religious meanings to me- Sometimes I can explain them to my collectors - some I leave the explanations  up to their own interpretation.  Coming out of the dark night of the soul state... I am more  tender, humble, grateful, loving, joyful and a whole host of other things that I wasn't before this extremely painful state.  Now I can say with confidence and joy:
  "...And thus, speaking of its higher part, the soul then says in this last line: 
My house being now at rest."

"Tree of Life" Mixed Media -Artist Collection

2012 Revising My Business Continued

"Pear Diva" Acrylic on Canvas Professionally framed
Professionally Framed dimension 7x9x2-3/4 inches
$140.00 + tax
Free Shipping!

      This "little Diva" is waiting for the perfect owner... possibly a gift for Valentines Day ;)
I have been very busy updating my website at: http://terriwestart.com
My studio never looked so good with all the cleaning I have done -- its amazing what you find that one forgets they had!
      I am involved with a few upcoming shows that I will blog about when I get all the details and I have a few bigger shows in the works for 2013! SSHHHHHH! Crossing my fingers!
      I have a new quarterly newsletter called the The Tranquil Path of Art that is available if you would like to keep up with my comings and goings in the art world and here in Central Florida. I promise never to sell or divulge your email or to abuse the privilege in anyway. It will be sent out approximately 4 times a year.

     We have had a very mild winter for Florida compared to years past, and I have enjoyed being outside poking around in the yard. Topaz my studio dog that I have affectionately dubbed "Fabio" because of his long flowing fur (he is a Pomeranian) has really liked running around back and forth and taking walks on these mild days. It is hard to believe that he is over 8 years old possibly closer to 10 in this picture (He is a rescue)! 

     Tomorrow I am heading out and up to Gainesville for my monthly artist mentor-ship with Linda Blondheim  and I am going to make  a batch of  Chipolte Kettle Corn from the recipes at Better Homes and Gardens to take up there for a snack!
 Here is the recipe below if you want to try it!
Have a great "tranquil" weekend! 
Terri

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/appetizers-snacks/chipotle-kettle-corn/

Chipotle Kettle Corn

Yield: 16 cups

Start to Finish: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1
  cup sugar
• 2
  teaspoons salt
• 2
  teaspoons ground cumin
• 1
  teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper
• 1/3
  cup canola oil
• 2/3
  cup popcorn kernels

Directions

1. In a small bowl combine sugar, salt, cumin and chipotle pepper. Heat the oil in an 8-quart pan over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn and cook, shaking occasionally, 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture. Cover and cook, shaking often, until popcorn begins to pop. Once popcorn begins to pop, shake continuously until the popping slows. Immediately remove from the heat and carefully pour into a large bowl (popcorn will be very hot).

2. Place remaining sugar mixture in a shaker jar. Sprinkle some on the popped corn and pass remaining. Makes 16 cups.

From the Test Kitchen

• Variation Microwave version:Prepare sugar mixture as above. One at a time, pop two 3.3-ounce bags microwave kettle corn. Immediately after popping pour into a very large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of the sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining bag of popcorn and 2 more tablespoons of sugar mixture. Pass remaining sugar mixture as above. Makes 20 (1-cup) servings.

Nutrition Facts (Chipotle Kettle Corn)

• Calories 111,
• Protein (gm) 1,
• Carbohydrate (gm) 17,
• Fat, total (gm) 5,
• Monosaturated fat (gm) 3,
• Polyunsaturated fat (gm) 1,
• Dietary Fiber, total (gm) 1,
• Sugar, total (gm) 13,
• Vitamin A (IU) 49,
• Thiamin (mg) 0,
• Pyridoxine (Vit. B6) (mg) 0,
• Folate (µg) 4,
• Sodium (mg) 293,
• Potassium (mg) 23,
• Iron (DV %) 0,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

January 2012- New Beginnings

Here are a  few pictures of  the Linda Blondheim Artist Mentor-ship program  that I am a part of for this year. I am so grateful for Linda and the other artists involved--it is really going to be a great productive year! Linda Blondheim has a gorgeous studio at the Paddiwhack in Gainesville.... everywhere you look -- eye candy!

It is challenging to get my art business back up and running since I shut down for a while because of the economy. I did not stop making art or crafting... just stopped the business end and went back to school! Well, once you have art in your blood-- it really never goes away ... being creative just gets poured out into all kinds of things like cooking, crafting, hobbies, photography and life in general. I collect other artists' works as well as produce my own art.  Collecting art and making art is  pleasure that I can't describe very well.  Art can be like a good book or movie that you keep reading or watching because you learn new things each time you view it. For me the feelings border and usually are... spiritual in nature. Just like nature which is ever changing, so is the art kaleidoscope.

New hair for me! Just a little wacky don't you think!

Here is a photo of an oil painting that I am revising. I have 3 that I am working on at the same time- none of them are in a series  per say. I do have a few series painting ideas  that are floating around in my head- so I need to finish what I started to make room!
 I do have a new .com so please visit! AND here are some other places that you can find me on the Internet world!
My Official Website: http://terriwestart.com/
"Like" My Facebook fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/TerriWestArt
Subscribe on General Facebook:
Find Me on Facebook!
Follow me on Pinterest!:
http://pinterest.com/tlwest1/
Read my Tweets on Twitter!:
 https://twitter.com/#!/tlwestart

January- Baby It's Cold Outside!

Here it is January already! 2011 flew by and now we are in the year 2012.

 This time  reminds me of this old song: Zager And Evans - In The Year 2525.

As a teenager I used to  love to muse on what these current years would be like. It is not 2025 yet but some of my friends and colleagues do feel like time is speeding up. I often wonder where my time goes now. I wonder how I got anything done working full time with a young family way back when.

Do you feel like time is slipping by? 
This brings me to what I am doing now. Currently I am writing down, contemplating, gathering, working and getting ready for a re-emergence. Of what you say? 
Art of course! 
I am relishing every wonderful plan and idea and making those all important steps to make them happen for 2012! 
My wish for you is to fulfill your wildest dreams this year! What are you going to do? What is your wildest dream?
See you soon!