Now is the time of year for fantasy!

It really doesn’t take too much imagination to visualise these busy fairies darting about!  Hither, thither as they fly, darting from one area to another…..

An encaustic ACEO – Darting Fairies

A No Brainer!!!!

ArtFire is offering a limited number of people the chance to lock in a never-before-seen $5.95/month rate. In order for us to offer you this deal we need at least 20,000 members, including you, to opt-in for the exclusive $5.95 rate. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the best deal in e-commerce. Once this deal is over, it’s not coming back.

For more details follow this link!  http://www.artfire.com/groupdeal

Don’t forget if you promote this you could win a super prize!  Just let Artfire know the link and you could be a winner….. well, you would be anyway, at these fantastic prices!

What are you waiting for?

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

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!

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.

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?

Tidal Movement

The ebb and flow of the neap or spring tides along the seashore can be related to our feelings as they rise and fall. As the water rises there are turbulent feelings aroused as the sand gets churned up with the currents and disturbs the sea bed making the water cloudy until things settle down again.

I have listed this original encaustic on Artfire.com

Pat

Artfire.com – can you afford not to?

Some of my readers may have heard of Artfire.com and some may not. If you scroll down the blog page you will see my Artfire shop with some of my artwork being shown.

Founded in 2008, the company is based in Arizona with about 15 employees, with a passion for handmade, art, and indie business. As an interactive handmade market place and craft community their mission is to support your business and your brand with innovative features and functions.

Artfire.com is more than just a marketplace, it is an artisan community. On offer are a variety of crafting social networking features to help you interact with fellow artisans. Meeting fellow artists, connecting with art lovers is the mainstay of this group. Some of the features in which the reader can get involved are: Craft Guilds, Member Blogs, Artcast (just the place to go for in-depth instructional videos!). Learn new craft tips, projects, and ideas with high quality movies specially made by the Artfire team and many more. There are so many ideas to learn about and this is what makes this venue so exciting and ever evolving!

One of the newest features is called ‘Rapid Cart’. This is a system whereby the buyer is not required to sign up for an account to check out. This is a brilliant idea and saves so much time for the buyer!

A great idea was that initially for the princely sum of $7 a month for life if you could sign up. Yes, that is all!!!! No more listing fees or final value fees etc. However, it won’t last for ever. When a certain quota, and I believe there are only a few places left, is completed the monthly fee will go up to $12. If you cost that out alongside other selling sites it still makes for a very cost effective selling point!

WHAT TO DO?

Since I have been a member at the $7 rate for quite a while one of the ways Artfire.com want to reward me is by offering a referral system reward. This is also done for other members, not just me! Now if you are interested, and you need to hurry to enjoy the lower rate, you can join and use me as a referral. As my reward I get the chance to collect a certain number of referrals and my membership will be free!! Now you too can enjoy the chance but you will have to hurry!! Simply click on this referral link Register on ArtFire.com - You will have the chance of joining for $7 a month for life until the quota runs out….. HURRY!!!! time is quickly running out, and time is money!

I promise you will enjoy the Artfire experience where everyone can interact so easily - sell with no fees and no taxation on your creativity.

Different aspects of water

For the first time for quite a while I am in the right mood to put iron to canvas!  The wonder of encaustics is that you might have an idea of a subject matter but how it will evolve is up to the waxes on the day.

For the first painting I used my hot air gun.  Ooooh the power!   Well, actually, the heat.  I am always very conscious of where I place the gun once I have used it.  I really wouldn’t want to set the house on fire!

Whilst I was blowing the waxes around on the canvas and using different colours the idea of water lilies came to mind.  I am always amazed to discover how diverse water lilies can be in colour.  Remember the famous painting by the artist Monet?  Here is his interpretation of the subject.  I love the softness of this painting.

Now here is my interpretation.  A very different view but I still feel that the title Water Lilies is right for this encaustic.

 

 

Interestingly enough, I only searched out Monet’s painting after I had completed mine.  This painting is for sale on Artfire.com

 

In complete contrast but still using water as my main ‘prop’ I painted this one entitled Sail Boats.  I loved the feeling of release and freedom that the sea and sky offer to the lone sailor.  Just enough breeze to keep the boats moving!

This encaustic is for sale in my Etsy shop.

So, you see water has many moods depending on colour, application and ultimately, subject matter.

One of my alternative selling venues

Yes, I know!  I am extolling the virtues of selling my goodies in my different selling venues/shops but if I don't, who will?  I must admit it is one of my least favourite things to do and is so time consuming!  I would much rather just play with my waxes and have someone else do the marketing and listing etc.  However, that will not happen so you are stuck with me doing the dirty work.  Someone has to!

Today, I listed quite a few ACEOs and paintings on my Artfire.com shop.  Have you seen them recently?  They certainly vary in subject matter but do suit all sorts of budgets and I do try to make my art affordable for all pockets.

This is an ACEO entitled 'Looking out of the Cave'

 

If you have ever visited UK you may have travelled to Somerset and seen the Cheddar Gorge, a natural formation where many like to walk, climb or visit Wookey Hole which are awesome caves.  In this ACEO I have tried to convey the magnificence of the rock formation that could be found.

Cheddar Gorge, UK

 

 

In complete contrast here is a painting created using the inspiration I have of underground passages, water and caves.

A Journey Below

 

 

 

Like what you see?  Then why not visit my shop on Artfire or my Etsy shop where there are more examples of my encaustic art.  Thanks for looking!

EEny, meeny, miny,mo.....

Having just finished creating my latest encaustic painting I now have a difficult decision to make.  To which shop do I post it?  Do I list it in Artfire.com?  What about Artgallery.co.uk?  In the end I decided to stick with Etsy for the time being and list this encaustic in my Etsy shop, On A Whimsey.

For those of you who are feeling the cold today including me I think this painting will give a warm feeling.  Hope so!!

Once I had completed it I had to put my thinking cap on to make another important decision!  What title to place on it.  Then like a bolt of lightening I thought of that wonderful group called Simply Red and realised that would be my title for this encaustic!

So, ladies and gentlemen, may I present....... drum roll please.....

Simply Red

Painted on box canvas this painting needs no frame since the sides have also been painted.  Measuring roughly 11.5" square and 1" deep it would not look out of place in the home or office.

 

Here are a couple of pictures showing the side angle to demonstrate how the sides have continued with the main theme and colour.

A new shop!

The start of another year and always ever hopeful and full of excitement to see what it will bring.

For a variety of reasons which I have yet to fathom my shops on Etsy, Artfire, Art Gallery have been very quiet.  Often visitors to the shops look at the paintings but that is as far as it goes.  So, why not stretch to another shop?  I can hear you say, 'Another!! What on earth are you thinking?'  Well, ever the optimist I thought that by throwing some more bread on the waters I might get noticed more!

So, whilst trawling around Twitter.com I noticed someone mentioned an online shop called Silkfair.com.  In for a penny, in for a pound and I have now opened another shop, now at http://onawhimsey.silkfair.com

One thing I have noticed is that you can import your listings from Ebay and Etsy!  Then all you have to do is check them to make sure you are happy, alter anything in the descriptions etc and make them live.  Nothing could be easier!  All is fair in love and war, I believe the saying goes.  Well, looks like it to me!  So, we shall see what happens.  I have only one item listed so far but will be adding to my inventory pretty soon.

My first listing on Silkfair.com

I called this Crocus and it is an ACEO, an original in encaustic art, beeswax!

A very Happy New Year!!!

Just a quick word to wish everyone a wonderful 2009! I know the forecasters are voicing doom and gloom but there is a lot of positive thinking to be done! As much as things are not good, make your own luck, think positive!

This year I intend to concentrate on my On A Whimsey shop on Etsy where I display affordable art. Other shops where I sell are Artfire.com, ArtGallery.co.uk, MyEhive.co.uk

So, this year will be THE year!

Enjoy this time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and work out a plan of action! You CAN do!

Happy New Year!

The Muse .... She has returned!

My long suffering friend has returned! My Muse. Oh, I have been truly lost without her and have just drifted along with no real ideas or aim regarding my encaustics. This is really unusual for me but now I hope to be all geared up again.

At least with all those Christmas preparations over and done with I now have more time to devote to creating again. What really helped was that I was given a hot air gun with variable heat settings as a Christmas present. This would make hot air work so much more easy to do rather than fight with my hair dryer all the time when the hot air and wax had lives of their own!

Anyway, my first creation for quite some time has now been completed and I have listed it on http://onawhimsey.artfire.com

It is entitled The Eyes Have It. I love flowers and I guess I often look right into their centres and imagine I can see into their souls through their eyes. Using several layers of colours I moved the hot air gun over the box canvas. To add detail I used another small iron attached to the hot stylus to create the flower aspect. The final detail of the eyes was added with the hot stylus. The grasses around the painting which were also taken around the sides were added with my encaustic iron. So, there you have it. A touch of fantasy with some thought thrown in for good measure!

More sites I sell on!

Always looking for different Internet sites on which to list my paintings.  After all, the more exposure the better it is!

One site I sell on (you may have noticed the logo button at the side of this blog) is called Artfire.com.  Here you can list for free or you can become a verified seller and pay $7 per month for life for however many listings you want.  Once they have 5000 sellers signed up the fee will go up to $20 per month.  You also get a chance to show loads of pictures plus lots of other incentives which are well worth looking at.  It is easy to copy and paste from Etsy, in fact it is encouraged!!  The whole listing process takes place on one page thus making it a lot more user friendly.

The other site I have started to use is specifically for UK based artists but the buyer can come from all over the world!  This site is called Artgallery.co.uk  and offers original art from UK artists.  The exciting layout of this site is that you can 'test drive' your painting to see what it will look like.  Obviously, it works better if you have a large painting but this service is one of the first I have come across.  I must admit I have played with Photoshop to achieve a similar effect but here it does look that much more professional.

The decision is always hard to make.  Do you spread yourself around thinly or concentrate on one venue?  Only time will tell and, of course, a sale or two!!!