Print On Demand Greeting Cards

I wanted to share with you a great article about Print On Demand Greeting Cards written by Bobbi Holmes.

Bobbi is a very talented artist on Greeting Card Universe. She has two shops, Lady and Spooky, and Painted Flowers. I fell in love with her cards immediately! Bobbi Holmes has a real talent for creating greeting cards. Check it out and you'll be glad you did. Why buy at a store where your selection is slim, when you have an unlimited selection right at your fingertips?

Bobbi Holmes also has a Zazzle shop

Christmas is coming and she has alot of great and unique items for gifts. Get some shopping done early.

Picking a Pumpkin

Here's a fun little 5x7 oil painting I did for the fall. I just had to put a cute little critter in there. I love wildlife. Will be posted in both my etsy shop and on my website soon.

this is a pic of me and my dog Dusty. He wasn't too cooperative on posing with me, but this one came out ok. He's a sweetie, and when he wants to eat he starts to talk. It sounds like he's saying 'I love you' with a lot of grunts in there.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
The sun finally decided to come out today, yah!!!
Tonight is my 25 Class reunion. I can hardly believe it. Think people will have aged somewhat? It's funny how we always imagine people how they were when we last saw them.
hugs,
Brenda

Rhino's

My Rhino painting is being featured in a blog post by Betsy Seeton about the illegal poaching of black rhinos. Did you know that their numbers went down from 65,000 in 1973 to a mere 2,300 in 1993? I'm not sure what their numbers are today. I still have alot to learn.

Betsy Seeton is a Private Investigator/Writer/Activist/Artist, and has a website about Ending Animal and Human Trafficing, http://livehonestly.com

On a lighter side, if you like chipmunks and ground squirrels, you have to take a look at this.

Her photos and blog of the little critters are adorable and really made my heart feel light.

This is a direct quote from Betsy's blog. "It's hard to even express how something so small is so delightful. People see birds everyday. Why or how could that be special? But it was. It is. It's okay that others might not get it. Experiencing it is enough. Just thought I'd try and share -- maybe plant a seed. Maybe remind you to go a little slower sometimes. Maybe then you'll begin to notice the smaller , simpler, joyful things in your own life and it'll add some good stuff the way it does to mine."

This is quoted from the last paragraph on this page of her site.

This is also one of the reasons that I paint.

I wish more people could take her advice and do this. I do not know what or how Betsy believes, but if you add to this, Faith in Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with him, life is worth living.

Follow Your Heart

I did another abstract yesturday, an 8x10. This one I am calling Follow Your Heart. As I was working on it I noticed a heart shape in there, so I defined it a bit more. I used my palette knife for the first time, and really had fun with it. I'm using some colors that I don't often use, such as the yellow, orange and red.
You wouldn't believe how many times I've wanted to paint so bad, but since I didn't have anything planned, or an idea I could not. Now it's so great knowing I can do an abstract during those 'must paint' feelings. I love getting the paint on the canvas and cover all that white!

I also worked on Hearts Cry a bit more and defined the heart and tear drops more, and changed other areas that I didn't like.

I hope you've enjoyed looking at my first two abstracts as much as I enjoyed painting them. Looks like I'll have to add a new category on my website for them. They will soon be posted at my etsy shop and website.

You can follow me on facebook, and I'd love it if you became my fan .

I am also on Twitter.

Until next time,

Be safe always, and have a great day!

Love,

Brenda

Abstract

This piece I am calling Heart's Cry. My first real attempt at abstract. I just needed to get something out, something unplanned that just flowed from within. So I put my Hoku cd in and this is what I ended up with. Sometimes, even if we seem to have it together, if we don't take the time to communicate with God, the one who will always love us, you can come to a loss, a tearing of the heart...my Heart's Cry.

This is 12x16 oil on stretched canvas with the sides painted as a continuation of the painting, so no frame needed.

I thought it was about time I showed you what I've done in my studio. That floor lamp was my parents, probably back in the 50's. I removed the ugly shade and this works great for lighting up my studio. I still haven't moved alot of my stuff in here yet, I want to keep it clean...atleast for a little while. Most of the drawyers are still empty, but I know that will soon change.

This is another treasure, my painting table. I grew up with this table, and I just love it. It has alot of meaning to me, and yes, it is blue.

Here's my easle. I am really enjoying it. It is a true blessing.

Beneath the table is an old black metal book rack that I grew up with until it was replaced with something newer, and this baby was banished to the basement. It now has a use again.

In the drawyers is now where I keep my oil paints. Very handy.

Peggy''s Cove

My daughter wanted me to do this painting for her of Peggy's Cove. This is an 8x10 oil painting, reference photo by my daughter, Jessica Thour.

You can find some of my paintings, pendants and magnets at my etsy shop. I would love it if you became my friend on facebook and my fan on facebook also.

Follow me on twitter.

Check out my zazzle store and CafePress shop.

My New Easel

Ever since I started painting, I've been using a table. For the past year I have wanted to get a floor easle and the other day I went on craigslist and found this beauty for an awesome price. Yesturday I went and got it and I already did my first painting on it.

The easel is a beautiful cherry wood and has two drawers. Good for both small and large paintings.

Yes, I use old clean holey socks for my painting rags. Don't tell my husband, but I am never sad when he gets a hole in his socks. : )

Here is the first painting I did on my easel. It is entitled Purple Petals, and is done as a gift for my foster daughter as a house warming gift. She will be moving into an apartment with a couple of friends and is very excited about it. She has been living with us for two years, and has now graduated from Highschool, will be starting college and ready to start the next chapter of her life.

For the last two years I have been using part of my living room as my studio to paint, and even though I am sad to see her go, I am very happy for her and I will be getting my studio back. She promises to visit. I certainly will have no problem turning my studio back into her room if she changes her mind and wants to come back home.

DSG giveaway #4 featuring Joan from 'thegifthutch'

Visit Here to enter

Nights Garden

This is an original 6x8 inch oil painting. Took me 2 months to finally paint it, but here it is.
Can be purchased through my Etsy shop along with other paintings, magnets and pendants with my artwork on them.

Revamped Old Lamp

This is a lamp from my childhood. I resurrected it from my dad's basement, I thought it was cool. I love the design but some of it was pukey looking, definately needed help. I forgot to take pics of it before I finished it, but let me give you the lowdown. This lampshade was a light yellow with Dark green and yellow swirls. I took it apart, cleaned it up and gave the lampshade several coats of Delta Ceramcoat Pearl Finish. The swirls are now dark brown, light brown and white, much better. The cord that fastens the shade to the wiring was dark green and was literally falling apart as I was removing it. I replaced it with brown cord. It's actually the stuff you can make necklaces out of.

The base is ceramic and light green with white splotches and I just love it! All it needed was cleaning.

The very bottom of the lamp was black and peeling, so I sanded it and spray painted it dark brown. My husband helped me put in fresh wiring, and when we plugged it in to try it out, I got tears in my eyes because I was so happy. It looks great in my family room, where the recliner is forest green and the couch is off white leather.

This lamp just really takes me back to my childhood, and it's a good feeling. Thank you mom and dad, Ronda and Paul. I love you all.

Oh, and this lamp is NOT for sale. : )