Fresh Paint

Just had my first taste of Fresh Paint. Digital finger painting! Very therapeutic.

Holiday Sale!

Stop by my Etsy shop  
& use coupon code: HolidaySale2011 
to Save 20% thru Friday 12/2!

These simple, yet unique "Buoy Bracelets" make great affordable gifts. They come attractively wrapped, ready to slip into a card, stocking or your pocket for easy transport to your dinner hostess or office gift exchange.

The Shack also offers a selection of Fine Art Prints & Archival Quality Coastal Photographs, perfect gifts for your ocean loving friends & family.

Wishing you all a relaxing & enjoyable holiday season!  

Woo hoo!

The new & improved website

is up & running!

To paint, or not to paint?

Art in the new millennium.

I find myself in a strange place & time these days. It’s like the beginning of rock & roll for the visual arts. I went to school, learned the basics of my craft, & then history was rewritten. 

Now we’ve got so many tools available that it’s tough to decide where to start. We’ve all plugged in, & who knows who could be the next Jimi Hendrix…..or Peter Frampton. Where’s my wah-wah pedal!? How much distortion is just enough? 

Should I work on painting like a photographer or Photoshopping like a graffiti artist today? Or maybe I should collect debris from the beach & hammer it together in the garage, that might be more environmental…..then again, perhaps it would be better to document the debris on the beach & blog about it. I could go back to basics & draw…..or should I use Illustrator?

The possibilities seem endless. I probably need to work on focusing. I’m going to yoga now.

Happy Valentine's Day from the Shack!

Archival Quality Prints available here.

Shoreline Paintings on Recycled Cardboard

I've been enjoying working on a smaller, medium colored ground. It's refreshing to start in the middle & work towards both light & dark. The color & texture  of the cardboard pick up metallic paints nicely too.  

8" x 8" prints available here.
6" x 6" originals available here.

Freshly Stretched......

Can good things be far behind?

 

On Curating & Treasury East.....

I've discovered that I have a passion for curating.....

Mid Retro
 

Last Friday Etsy launched it's "Treasury East" as a beta feature. It offers the opportunity to create collections of handmade & vintage items listed on Etsy. The collections do not expire, & are rated in terms of "hotness", based on visits. With "hotter" collections gaining greater exposure.

On the (ocean's) Edge.....

I couldn't stop myself, & created these three! 

Feel free to visit them.....& discover what other items each of these unique shops offer.

I have always loved arranging things ~ work spaces, collections of things around the house, plants in the garden, have enjoyed jobs working as a merchandiser.....

True Art

.....& really enjoyed discovering & gathering these items together. In the process I've met several interesting & talented people. It feels good to help promote their work, which in turn inspires me. 

My latest discovery is Solsticehome's amazing blog.

I look forward to updating these "Treasuries" with new finds as time goes on.

Recycled Cardboard Tiki Surfboard Paintings!

I just finished these. 
 




I hadn't painted for a while, so I thought a mini surfboard series would be a good warm up.









I liked the look of the recycled cardboard, & figured it would be a friendly, non-intimidating surface to paint on, but ended up really enjoying its corrugations.









I started wiring & gluing things into the channels & ended up with a kind of tiki vibe. More here.....

Mini Surfboards for the New Year.....

Here it is. The beginning of the first project of the new decade here at the Shimmering Shack.....Haven't figured out exactly where I'm going with these yet, except that I think they will be bristly & colorful. I like the way they look in the drying rack, though. I've got a good feeling about 2010.