Funny How Time Slips Away

I've made an early New Year's resolution, that I will post on my blog at least once a week so here I am again. I've been creating a painting for a Christmas card for the past 6 years and I just started this year's yesterday.I always wait until the last minute. Every year I say that I will get it done early but I never do. Time just seems to slip away. Maybe next year. The attached painting is the very first one that I painted and I was doing landscapes then. Here is a little information on how my creative process in case you ever wondered how I come up with my paintings. I love to paint reflections and shiny things and I love vintage. I also like to feel challenged which is a detriment when I need to get a painting finished in a hurry. For my Christmas painting, I decided I wanted to paint candy since my other candy paintings have been so popular. I spent most of a day looking for vintage candy and containers and then another day taking lots and lots of pictures from different angles and perspectives while changing the placement of the objects. After downloading the pictures, I study them for hours. There just doesn't seem to be a fast way for me to paint in my style or at least I haven't found it. But still life painting is my absolute favorite thing. Marsha

I'm back to writing my blog.  I hope I can continue it this time. I just can't seem to find time for everything. After I won Daniel Smith's 12th Customer Art Contest for September, I promised Deborah Burns who writes the blog for Daniel Smith that I would write my blog again. Everyone keeps telling me that it is more important than a website, Facebook or Linked In so I will diligently try to keep it up.

 For those who missed the Daniel Smith Blog, you can read it at
http://www.danielsmithblog.com/marsha-chandler-12th-annual-daniel-smith-customer-art-contest-monthly-winner-for-september-2013/  By the way, I won a $100 gift certificate that I spent on new brushes and paints. The brushes are Silver Brushes (Black Velvet) that Soon Warren recommends and I can't wait to get them. I'll let you know if I like them. My old ones are in terrible shape and I can't get a smooth line with any of them. I will also have a 1 in 12 chance of winning a $1500, $1000, $500 or $250 gift certificate. This is the link to the contest. Who knows, you might be the next winner. https://www.facebook.com/DanielSmithArtSupplies/app_451684954848385

 VIP Reception at IGOR Show

I've just returned from trips to three amazing shows for which I am so grateful to be a part. The first show was the International Guild of Realism 8th Juried Exhibition held at the Tempe Center for the Arts in Tempe, AZ. The center is an architectural marvel and it was such a thrill to be in an art show in such a beautiful venue. We had a day of very informative seminars and a VIP reception on Friday, October, 5 and a public reception on Saturday, October 6. It was truly an informative and eventful weekend. IGOR knows how to host an art show! This is a link to the paintings that are in the show http://www.tempe.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=19588

 If you paint realism, you should check out IGOR. It really is a great orginazation with a juried  membership. Their website is http://www.realismguild.com. The tentative location of the 2014 show is the Robert Lange Studio Gallery in Charleston, SC.

Tempe is only a few miles from Scottsdale so we were able to visit the galleries there. They have many realism galleries so I really enjoyed seeing them. However, there were very few watercolor paintings. When will people realize that Watercolor Paintings are Fine Art but that's for another blog. Thank you for reading.

Marsha

Stages of painting Hot Peppers

Good morning everyone,

My daughter's wedding and my husband's knee replacement are over so I've been in Florida for a few days for a much needed break. Now I'm excited to get back home and paint!

 

I did start a new painting during his recovery and thought you might enjoy seeing it's progress. I forgot to make a picture the 2nd day I worked on it so the 2nd picture is the 3rd days progress. This is my first attempt at  painting plastic and I'm really enjoying the challenge.

 

Hope you enjoy seeing it! I'm also trying to think of a catchy name so I'm open for suggestions.

 

Marssha