Mary B Spires Watercolor & Art Stuff

With the age of cyber space, it's so important to get into the social networking society.  Blog or blogging is so user friendly.  Anyone can do it, believe me when I did  my blog a couple of years ago, I was one step above getting my email.  Talking to friends I've found the hardest part for them to understand is the down sizing of a photograph.  I use Google's Picasa, a free photo editing software that makes your pictures look great, plus lets you edit and down size for uploading to the Internet.  For more information and step by step how to, just "google' Picasa and go to the bottom of the page and click on Getting Started Guide. A few years ago I was lucky enough to take a workshop in Austin Texas with Carol Marine and Karin Jurick.  (check out both of their blogs    http://karinjurick.blogspot.com/     http://carolmarine.blogspot.com/   )  Both artist, plus a couple of their friends, said that once they started blogging they started selling more art.  Karin &

I'm still working on the newsletter, but took a few photographs of the light box.  This is how it looks when I'm ready to shoot.  More details on how to build it in the this months newsletter, out later this week.

Just a quick view of Dick's area in the studio.  Still working on the "put back"and "edit" stuff.  Hope to finish today after class.  Dick's still working on the top for the old roll top desk,  needs to stain and seal. 

I finally did it!!!!!  It's only been 23 years, the studio had the original builders paint.....so I moved everything into the garage, and started painting.  It's now a very soft pale green (sage), which is the best paint color for a studio.......Dick was happy to help because he got a  new space across the back of the room overlooking a great view of the back 40! We made a new top for the old roll top desk....hope to be finished this week.  Added a few new selves, including a gray plastic one for still life stuff and plein air boxes.  Moved the mat cutting cabinet (Dick made about 20 years ago), it has storage for mat board and watercolor paper.  This created a new space for still life set up, plus photographing paintings with my light box.  More info on how to build it in the newsletter due out this week. 

I've been doing a lot of research on today's marketing strategy .  With this age of cyberspace, it's a whole new ballpark.  I spent most of my (real job) working life, doing marketing and sales.  A couple of years ago I purchased a wonderful book "I rather be in my studio!" by Alyson B. Stanfield, "The Artist No-excuse Guide to Self promotion".  She has a wonderful website http://www.artbizblog.com/    If you subscribe to her newsletter you will get a wonderful tip every few days.....I'm lovin' it!  check it out. 

8x10 Watercolor on Rice Paper This was the first time painting with the batik technique.  It's like using masking fluid to reserve the white of the paper.  My friend and wonderful artist Kathi George has been painting in this style for many years.  I've always wanted to try it, but didn't understand the process 9it is just like doing batik on fabric). She was featured in the August 2011 Watercolor Artist Magazine!  I really enjoyed the painting process but need a little more practive.  This Hollyhock I also painted in oil and transparent watercolor.  I really enjoyed the process of painting the same subject in all three media.  It is a way of truly getting to know your subject!

Great Classes at Convention.  Five classes about 130 students.  Worked hard, but we sure did have fun.  Back from my mom's in WVA.  She's about the same, but no more chemo.  Back to Tuesday class tomorrow, hope to get the old oils out.....need a tune up, it's been a while.  I have lots of FYI stuff to post so check back soon!

Everyone really had a great time!  A few of the students were way ahead of me in doing Zentangles. It was so nice seeing old friends and catchn' up.  I really missed teaching last year.....no class tomorrow, but the trade show opens, then it's party time.....but can't stay too late have 8am classes the next three days.......YUK!  Have to be downtown by 7am........up at 5:30......but it's worth it!  Thanks everbody for a great class today.....don't forget if you have any questions just give me a email!

11 x 14 Watercolor/Mixed Media This is the current picture on my front page of the web site. I will be featuring more painting as they get painted!  You know me maybe today maybe not! It's up and running great!  I 've been working on it for about a week or so.  Still has a few under construction pages, but I'm very happy with the over all look..... Please feel free to add any comments like or dislike....most artist can't see the trees for the forest.....so if I've overlooked something let me KNOW. I hope to start adding some new features to my blog and website in the coming weeks.....I talked to my friend Robert Warren of   http://www.robertwarrenartloft.com/ about maybe doing a joint adventure into the blogging world.....so please stop back soon to the website and Blog.... We have HOOT next week so we are under the gun......

I did it!  It will be published later tonight......we have slow upload this time of day. I would love to hear from ya!  Any suggestions about like or dislike.  Of course I have a few pages still under construction......