I will be back!

Yes, yes, I know I have been absent but I have been painting for the FB competition, been on vacation in US, busy with day to day business - those are my excuses, but, I will be back!

Just give me a couple of days and I will show you what I have been up to!
Pat

I just squeezed this one in too!

Sometimes I like to play with my waxes.  This time I cut some card to measure 4” x 4” to create a square.  Then taking autumnal colours and my trusty iron I created

Autumn Mandala!

Keep watching this space since once the competition is over I shall be selling all three entries in my two shops, Etsy and Artfire

Another entry for the FB art competition!

Well, I took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and created another encaustic painting for the Facebook art competition.  Someone suggested that the entries to the competition were listed to allow you to enter a virtual art gallery without leaving the comfort of your home.  How right they were!

Anyway, my second entry is entitled ‘An English Autumn’

Good luck to all who entered…… the talent is amazing and wonderful to see!

Judges are:
Pastel Category: ................ Marsha Hamby Savage
Watercolour& Mixed Media: ..... Soon Y Warren
Oils & Acrylics: .................. Gladys Roldan-de-Moras

Thanks so much to Nancy Medina, Jean Levert Hood and Sandy Askey-Adams  for organising this incredible event!

One last bit of super news! Stephen Doherty, Editor in Chief of ‘The American Artist’ magazine quoted that they will be announcing the winners in their publication!  Accolade indeed!! Thank you.

I have entered an art competition!

Yes, you read it correctly! 

The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition on Facebook.

When I read the title I just couldn’t resist it!  I first had to make sure my style of art was eligible since the categories were oil, watercolour and mixed media.  I need not have worried as my encaustics fall within the mixed media criteria.  Phew!  First hurdle overcome!

OK.  The title of the competition suggests an autumnal theme.  Now to see what artists are submitting.  Oh my goodness, what talent!  And, I have committed myself to place two entries in the competition.  Much scratching of heads required to see what my trusty waxes can come up with.

After trying out a few ideas I decided on fungi (mushrooms).  I had recently been on a walk through some local woodland and discovered some amazing mushrooms growing and since they do seem to grow more in the autumn due to the dampness I decided that they could be my subject!

I really did feel very nervous because once you have browsed through the other entries you will come to realise the incredible talent from around the world.  Some of the paintings really give the impression that the viewer is actually there.  Just wonderful!

The rules are simple.  The painting has to have been completed in October and entered before 31 October.  As long as it falls in the categories I described it is free to enter.

Anyway, you will be curious to see my first offering?  Here it is!  Woodland always has such a diverse amount of foliage, fungi offering a bountiful supply for the artist to enjoy and try to replicate.

‘Autumn Fungi’

Once the competition is over I will be offering this painting for sale but in the meantime just enjoy the view!

A refreshed banner

I am always seeking new ideas in all I do.  Now I have turned my attention to my shop on Etsy.com where you can find not only my encaustic art but also beautifully handcrafted items.  The holiday season is virtually upon us!

Anyway, I thought I would refresh my shop banner.  I took a painting I created some time ago and simply ‘cropped’ a chunk out of it!  Then typed the title which includes my name and hey presto….. a new banner.

What do you think?

A brush with Winter

One of my latest additions to the ACEO family…..

First of all, what is an ACEO?  Well, there is only one rule governing the creation of an ACEO which is short for Art Cards, Editions and Originals.  That rule being that an ACEO must measure 3.5" x 2.5".  No more, no less.  It can be portrait or landscape and be created in any medium.

This means that if you are interested in original art you can now afford to have your very own collection!  There are different ways of showing off your collection too.  Either you can purchase all manner of miniature easels on which to stand your treasured ACEO or you can place them in attractive albums which are then placed on your coffee table so you and your visitors can browse to your heart’s content.  Another idea is to mount them in frames, either individually or as a group.  Sometimes, using this latter method, especially if grouped by subject matter or colour, you can give quite a visual impact!

Anyway, back to showing off my latest ACEO for sale in my Etsy shop!

This one I entitled ‘Winter’s Brush’.  I know winter is just around the corner in the northern hemisphere but maybe this little spot has already been brushed by the cold of winter and then was just left?

A new painting!

Yes, I know!  Please do not shout but I have really been a wee bit busy with wedding plans, wedding of DD and now in a couple of days she will be returning to reality after a wonderful honeymoon!

So, at long last a new creation!

‘Just off the Headland!’

Using my waxes I ‘ironed’ the colours onto canvas.  It is one of those views where you can sit and find different things, can’t you?  See the mountain range in the distance coming down to the water’s edge?  A couple of boats are just messing around on the still water.  Perhaps one of the only sounds would be the gentle lapping of the water?

Want to read more about it?  I have it listed in my Etsy shop, see you there!

A Swap painting

Once in a while the group I belong to on Etsy.com called Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team, or just plain the BBEST team, enjoy a swap experience.  Those interested in swapping with a secret partner put their hands up.

At a given date the names are all collected and it is then decided to allocate names.  This is usually done by pulling out the names from a hat.  Somewhat similar to when our football teams have their names pulled out of a hat to see who they will play next.

The joy of this system is that you learn to whom you will be sending your swap but you do not have a clue who will be sending something to you!

And so, we come to the point where I now know to whom I should post my swap but do not know from where or who my swap will be coming from!

Oh, since I have only just posted my swap….. I can’t tell you where it is going!  But, I can post a picture of it here!

I have entitled it ‘A Summer’s Day Dream’ since the subject we were all given was ‘Summer’ to interpret in any way we wished.  Here I visualised a view looking out early morning when the mists had not quite cleared the horizon leaving the viewer the opportunity to dream.

The painting has been created on canvas with my usual waxes and sealed.

At last! A new ACEO!

At long last!  After a long barren stretch when it seemed my muse had gone to pastures new she decided to pay me a visit!  Thank you.

Result?  Well this ACEO entitled Cave Opening is similar to one I have done in the past but it isn’t, if you get my meaning?  You can even compare by reading my last post!

It’s one of those paintings that, you the viewer, can decide which way you want to look at it.  Even, which way you want to interpret it.  That is the joy of encaustics.  They allow the imagination to go with the flow!

This ACEO is for sale along with other ACEO’s and other paintings in my Etsy shop or for more why not visit my Artfire shop?

See you there!

Artfire sale!

I was very excited today when I switched on my computer to find I had made a sale overnight!  It was my very first one from my artfire shop. Hopefully, not my last!

The sale was one of my favourite ACEOs entitled:

A view out of the cave

An iconic view of London

I guess most visitors to the UK will come to London although there are beautiful parts to the UK which often get missed. However, London does draw the majority since it offers so much history and places to visit all in the one city.

The Houses of Parliament where the seat of our heritage and government sits is viewed in many different guises.  Here I have used my encaustics to create an ACEO depicting an artist's impression of the Houses of Parliament with the river Thames flowing in the foreground. You will also note the tower which houses the famous London clock, Big Ben, whose large bell resounds the time over the City of London.

Remember, ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) can be mounted, framed as a set or individually. Or, simply kept in a wallet as part of your collection. The only rule concerning ACEOs is that they should be 3.5" x 2.5". Thus allowing the ownership of an original work of art at affordable prices.

Check out my Etsy shop or my Artfire shop for more ACEOs and other creations!

Forsaken Landscape

Countries where drought persists; places where farmers have tried to tend to their animals but simply had to give up to the forces of nature which made life too harsh to bear.  Perhaps, something totally different?

Take a look at this encaustic ACEO I have called ‘Forsaken Landscape, an original painting in wax and tell me what you see? 

Weather systems at Sea

Having lived much of my life near the sea, well my main youth years, I have a total fascination with water in its many forms.

The encaustic medium is amazing at helping to create the image of lucidity and volume of water on a support.  Here are a couple of examples to be found in my Etsy shop.

The first painting in wax is that of a turbulent weather system which can produce ‘twisters’.

Imagine the wind howling as it pulls up the water into an amazing rough sea and then tries to drag air up into twister shapes.

In total contrast my next painting, A Cliff Walk,  is that of an image I often encountered as I walked along cliff tops on an island called Guernsey in the Channel Islands (mid way between England and France).  Although there are many concrete relics of WW2 from when Hitler invaded the islands, there are many areas of peace where the walker is allowed to enjoy and contemplate along with the local birds.

Top Artists’ Directory

Wow!  Look what I found this morning when I switched on my computer!

‘Featured Artist of the Week’  Pat O’Neill

Also Kim has chosen one of my personal favourites, ‘Cascades of Water’

If you want to read about some extraordinary artists do visit the Top Artists’ Directory -  it makes for fascinating reading!

Interested in seeing more encaustics?  I have paintings in a wide variety of subject matter.  Although, my favourite is water in all its forms.  Paintings to suit all budgets are also available in my two main shops on Etsy and Artfire.

Yart Sale

Last year was the first Yart Sale. What is a Yart Sale I hear you ask.  Yard + Art + Sale = Yart Sale!

The first one took place on Etsy.com last year and was totally unofficial but so many joined in, including me.  I took my time changing all my listing descriptions and prices to reflect the sale as well as a special shop announcement.  I can honestly say that it made no difference.  So, I ‘unchanged’ all the descriptions and prices as well as returning to my normal shop announcement.

Now Etsy have decided to make the Yart Sale official this year.  Many are joining in and I really wish all a very successful sale.

For me?  No, not this year.   I feel my prices are just about as low as I can afford to offer and making them less in the sale would not be of any benefit.

Therefore, you will still find original art to suit all budgets in my shop, all at a very reasonable price!

Do stop by!!

Wild Blue Iris

At last the muse returned from her holidays!

In celebration she allowed me to open my eyes for we are really spoilt at this time of year when we look around us at the prolific display of colour in the form of nature's displays.
I tried to capture the delicate feel and look of the wild blue Iris flower using my encaustic waxes and have now listed it in my Etsy shop.

For starters I decided to create an ACEO (this format can be done in any medium with only one rule – that it must measure 2.5” x 3.5”)

See what you think?

Thank you!

A huge ‘thank you’ to all of you who have been coming by to read my blog.  Hopefully, you will have found something of interest amongst my varied posts.

Most of all ‘thank you’ for consistently dropping an Entrecard and for this I am very grateful.

Here are my top droppers for May 2009!

Thank YOU!

Artfire.com

The art really is on fire on this site! Well, not just art but all handmade items and there are some beauties including my Cascades Waters!

I have been on Artfire for a while now and find it such an easy, friendly site to work on. This site really ‘wants’ to sell your stuff. Now, very unusually, you only pay a small monthly sum to sell your products. Yup, just one payment and that’s it! No final value payments, listing fees etc.

Another thing! They really want to help you as a seller. Artfire want to reward you for your hard work and loyalty. For instance, if you follow this link http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=power_up&refuid=478 you can join and use me as the referrer. If I get 12 folks doing this it will pay my monthly subs. Then you do the same!!! Imagine being able to list and sell for free??

I quote here the message that Artfire have sent out to their members…..

‘Your confidence and your investment in the ArtFire community is appreciated and does not go unnoticed or un-rewarded! With the ArtFire Free Ride program for a limited time, you can earn an upgraded Verified account with full functionality and the ability to list unlimited items in your Fusion Studio absolutely free for life! Just refer 12 of your friends and when they join as a Verified member you, PLUS a friend of your choice receive a Free Ride! We provide a custom link for you below, just copy it and paste it in blogs or forums you frequent and email friends to participate!’

So, what’s stopping you and whilst you are about it….. have a look around my Artfire shop?

Creative Cafe

This painting comes under the subject matter called ‘Mandala’.  That is to say the pattern created is called that.

For those of you who are not familiar with term 'Mandala' think of your childhood when you used to play with a tube which you held up to the light and along which you could view moving beads etc as your rotated the tube. This would have been called a kaleidoscope, remember? Anyway, moving on! A Mandala is a uniform pattern that can be viewed from any direction. 

The word "Mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated it means 'circle' and can be related to all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community. I suppose apart from enjoying the design there will be many ways in which to approach the concept of a Mandala whether in a material or spiritual sense.

Now to the interesting part from my point of view!

A little while ago I joined a group on the Internet called Creative Cafe.  Creative Cafe is a social network where members show off their art, photography, crafts, music, videos and write blogs. Creative Cafe is a charitable group run by volunteers with mental health and other disabilities in Brighton UK. Membership is free and open to everyone.

As is often the case, you will find the most amazing talent on show here so it is well worth a look and if you are interested it is easy to join!

Well, Jill who is the founder and leader, came up with an idea. She invited members to submit a picture that would look good if it were placed at the side of the main text area.  Winners would be pulled out a hat and as well as having the opportunity to see their work for a period of two weeks they would also be eligible for more!

Guess what?  I was the first one to be pulled out of Jill’s hat! Yippeeee.  Check out this post to see the above Mandala as a side picture.

Now to wait and see who will be the next winner?

Reservoir and Beyond

The one thing I love about painting with wax (encaustics) is that not only does it allow my imagination to flow but also that of the  viewer.

Having completed this painting recently I decided to list it on Artfire.com where I have several other paintings for sale.

‘Reservoir and Beyond’ allows you, the viewer, to rest and feast your eyes upon a landscape that can be found in almost any corner of the world.  It could be Afganistan, it could be in the Lake District of England – just let your imagination realise!

As you stand high up on the rocks you can look down on a stream that is curling its way down into a reservoir.  Beyond is a landscape which appears lunar like in quality.  It is obvious the winds gather in this remote spot sweeping the clouds across the sky.  What else can you see?

An ACEO for Spring in encaustics

Global warming they call it.  So, why is it still cold, wet, windy etc etc?  At least the grass, weeds and lovely flowers are flourishing.

In celebration I created this ACEO entitled ‘Astor’ which I have for sale in my Etsy shop.

Remember!  An ACEO only has one rule.  It must be 3.5” x 2.5”.  It can be made in any medium you like.  I find in these days of ‘the credit crunch’ (I have come to dislike that phrase because it covers a multitude of sins) people still enjoy art but might not have enough spare cash to spend out.  So, by creating ACEOs you can own an original piece of art, show it off however you wish without breaking the bank.

How to display your ACEO?  Try framing it.  These days you can purchase frames and mounts specifically for ACEOs like Custom Art Framing who sell these on Etsy.

Or you can place your ACEO in an album on your coffee table ready for your guests to browse!

Another way to display your collection of ACEOs is to place them on individual stands such as these from Pettman Art on Etsy.

Or, you could be really classy and use this black stained glass stand from Nonnie’s Treasures.

Change of banner wording?

I need your assistance and feedback.  Having searched through many sites I am now wondering whether I should concentrate on my own name more than On A Whimsey?  As a viewer or buyer do you prefer to equate to the shop or the personal touch of the name of the artist?

It is sometimes nice to be able to relate to the artist themselves, get a feel for them, find out their likes and dislikes.  Imagine going into a shop.  Would you prefer to be dealt with by an automated machine or by a shop assistant/shop owner who actually wants to chat with you, is interested in you so that they might help you find what you want.  I know which I would prefer!

My banner has already been altered to show my real name whilst underneath I still use the On A Whimsey description as can be seen if you look at the picture below or follow the link provided.

‘On A Whimsey's Art in the Wax by Pat O'Neill’

Apparently, this will help with Meta tags which I am trying to understand at the moment!

Certainly on my Facebook I am known as Pat O’Neill and have now placed a picture of yours truly rather than the encaustic image which makes it all that more personal.

So do you want to see automated imagery or the personal touch?

By the way,  I had good reason to be really happy in this photo since it was taken just before our son’s wedding last summer.  It was really hot which is why there is a glow on the skin!