Audience Choice Winners :: Autumn Paintings in Gouache

Yayy I’m so excited to be sharing the Audience Choice Autumn Paintings winners with you today! Sooo many folks chimed in to vote here, through my newsletter, and on Instagram and YouTube - I was truly floored!

I have been really feeing the cozy, colorful fall vibes hard this year and I think you all chose two photos that exemplify that superbly!

So without further adieu, the winners are…

If you’re not already, subscribe to my YouTube channel while you’re up there and/or make sure you are following along on my Instagram because I will certainly be doing ‘audience choice’ artwork again since I got such a huge response from this one!

Here are the winning photos:

And here are the final paintings! Yay!

They are actually bigger here than in my sketchbook, kind of fun to see all that detail up close!

Thanks again everyone who contributed! Y’all gave a great response and I can’t wait til the next go round! Happy Autumn!

11.23.2022

'Splendorifica' :: New 3D Oil Painting

Hooray hooray! I was finally able to finish this large oil and resin portrait! My first ever 3D portrait of a male subject! And he’s got the most insect adornments of anyone I’ve painted so far!

This model is actually a Charleston/hometown friend of mine from way back in my middle school days of mixed tapes and Airwalks, Chris, who I’ve been lucky enough to have a super deep connection with still to this day.

I love the look of wonderment and possibility captured in his face. Knowing Chris as an intellect and thoughtful person, I really wanted to bring that personality trait to the forefront of this piece in an infectious way. I want the viewer to get lost in thought with Chris’ still dynamism as he almost seems to be pondering a clear future right in front of us.

This piece is a nice large size of 14 x 18” and includes a real butterfly, a bee, a lizard, a leaf bug, a wasp, a cicada and two water bug exoskeletons, and a few reproduction butterflies along with a flurry of gold leaf and pink pinwheels the tree outside my apartment shed last fall. Add in a few dried ferns and the painted-on mushrooms and Chris really is pretty well splendidly nature-iffic!

I know most of us are used to painting and drawing the lovely ladies most of the time, but today I’m happy to show that guys can be just as inspiring too! I know I certainly plan to paint more!

4.5.2022

4 Great Reasons You Should Start an Art Blog

If you saw my video last time about the 11 essential things every artist website should have, I had to cut myself off from going on a tangent discussing why every artist should have a simple blog on their website in order to make that video concise. However I made some really good points in my lil diatribe, which I felt merited its own video, so here you go today!

Even if you don’t think this could possible apply to you (or even if you’re scared that it might and don’t want the “extra work load”) I urge to strongly considered even just blogging once every other month. I promise, it get’s easier over time and you will be so glad you did.

4 Reasons to Start an Artist Blog:

1. It let's the algorithm know your website is active

2. Visitors to your website will see that you are active and current

3. Potential clients or curators will know you are actively working and open for business/art opportunities

   3b. Potential clients + curators can learn more about you which will *hopefully* make them more devoted to your work

4. It's like a personal journal of your own artistic journey that you’ll be grateful you made

So don’t be shy! Get started today!

3.20.2022

11 Artist Website Essentials

We talk a lot here about what your small art biz needs to succeed. At the top of that list is a website, so today I am breaking down 11 components that you definitely need to have for a successful, professional art biz website.

Today’s vid has a lot of information in it, but don’t stress having every single thing finished and perfect before launching your creative website. Really items 1-4 must be ready at launch, and the other things you can work on and add as you go.

Below is the list of all the other helpful videos I reference during this one. Just bookmark this blog post and come back to each video one at a time as you’re ready to tackle each step. And don’t forget I am always here to guide you one-on-one through my Creative Coaching programs if you like more of a hands-on approach with feedback for creating your website.

11 Things Your Artist Website Must Have:

1. A gorgeous gallery with great pics! Even if you are just starting out and only have 8-10 artworks to post, it’s never too early to make sure they are high quality. Here’s a video I made about the easiest way to take quality art photos using natural light and a smart phone. And here’s one if your art is shiny and has a glare.

2. Social media links. If someone has taken the time to visit your website, they probably like your art enough to want to follow you so show them all the ways they can right from your home page!

3. Contact info. Definitely make sure folks can send you a message because you never know what kind of commissions or opportunities you’ll miss out on if folks can’t reach you. Don’t share your phone number here though, just a contact form and email.

4. About Me page. This is a casual way folks can get to know you. Think of it like a conversational introduction to why you do what you do. I’ve got a video for you here on how to write a short About Me that really compels people to want to learn more about your journey as an artist.

5. A Bio. This is different than the About Me page; it’s a little more factual and might be something you come back to later as you’ve progressed on your educational or professional art journey. When you are ready though, ya Birdie has got a video for you right here.

6. An online Shop. Give the people what they want... the ability to purchase your artwork - yay! Here’s a great video on how to create a tempting and beautiful online art store (or an alternate video if you’re really only ready to sell through Instagram for now).

7. An Artist Statement. It doesn’t have to be a long one if you’re just starting out, but folks who visit your website and like your work definitely want to know about why you create what you do and what you’re hoping your work will do in this world. It’s one of the trickier things for artists to do, but one of the most important. Go make a cup of tea and watch this video full of step-by-step information and inspiration for writing an exciting artist statement that will really connect with your audience.

8. A listing of any Awards, Accolades, Press, and your CV. Basically any documents or links showing other people have paid attention to you as an artist, or that you have started to make your mark on the professional art world. Again another one I have a video for that you can watch when you’re ready.

9. A blog. I know, I can hear the groans from here, but all this is is a simple place to update your audience on any interesting artistic projects, happenings, exhibitions, ventures, or art-related events that may be going on in your life or studio. It really only needs to be updated every month or two to show both your website visitors as well as search engine algorithms that you are an active artist working on current projects. There are multiple great reasons to host your own art blog, which I’ll tell you all about in this video.

10. A Newsletter sign up form. Another great way to connect with your audience is by having a newsletter. Trust me, you do not want to rely solely on social media for connecting with your audience. You need to have a way to connect with your audience and collectors that you are in complete control of by sending out periodic newsletter updates. Here’s a video explaining why this is so important, and how to write a great one.

11. Legal stuff. Definitely the driest part of your website, but a total necessity. Just clear a few days from your art biz calendar and learn how to tackle this beast right here. Luckily, you really only need to do it once, and then just check on or update it yearly.

12. OPTIONAL: A custom art or services contact form. If you provide anything custom, such as family portraits, murals, graphic design, or even consulting or tutorial sessions, having a distinct contact form to get the conversation started between you and your potential client shows that you are a professional in control of the situation and their artistic needs will be met. A real win for both of you!

Now I know that’s a lot of info for you all in one day…

But don’t worry! I have compiled all of those videos on one playlist right here you can save on YouTube and come back to as you are ready for each step.

And of course I am here as a Creative Coach that is more than happy to help you through each step of setting up a beautiful website you can really be proud of. I also do website reviews to give a helpful critique of what you’ve already got setup with a ton of suggestions to really help it shine. Drop me a line here to chat further about options.

Featured Videos:

Brand Yourself and Get Recognized

How to Photograph Artwork Using Natural Light

How to Photograph Artwork Without a Glare

How to Write an About Me for Artists

How to Write an Artist Bio

Setting Up an Attractive Online Art Store

Open an Instagram Shop for Free

How to Write an Artist Statement

How to Write an Artist CV

4 Reasons you Should Start an Art Blog

How to Write an Exciting Artist Newsletter

5 Legal Things Your Artist Website Must Have

3.6.2022

Shortie Process Vids

Lots of people have jumped on the TikTok bandwagon, which they seem to love, but I just can’t quite bear to sign up for yet another social media app when I don’t even post on the ones I have as often as I like. So rather than guilt trip my way around another time-suck, I’ve been having fun making shortie vids for Instagram and YouTube.

Here’s a few fun little ditties of my art making process, and you can subscribe to me on YouTube here (and make sure to ding the bell!) to see my future Shorts too!

I try to find cute music to accompany my drawing or painting so make sure you’re not watching them on mute!

These two (above and below) are processes if my current painting, which you can imagine has been quite time consuming! But in the end is very satisfying to have accomplished. I’ll be sharing the finished painting first on my Birds of a Feather monthly letter, which you can sign up for here if you haven’t already.

Last but not least, here’s a small alla prima pitcher plant mini painting from a photo I took at a botanical garden on O’ahu. These little plants are so mysterious and full of personality!

8.26.2021

A Big 'No Go' to the Van Gogh Immersion Experience

Vincent Van Gogh was one of the least appreciated artists of the 19th century, yet has become one of the most famous artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, especially these days considering his artworks are no longer protected by copyright.

That's right, his artworks can literally be used, reproduced, and profited off of by anyone in the world now... but should they?

Today I want to share with you some of the ethical concerns I see arising from this wave of Van Gogh immersive experiences popping up in cities all across the US. I'm sure it will be a fun experience for those that choose to attend, but being an art history teacher and knowing so much about Van Gogh's last years and the suffering he endured, I have a few ethical concerns to share regarding this traveling exhibit that you may be interested in learning for yourself.

Here are the images I shared in the video. The first ones are Vincent Van Gogh and the last four are by his friend and notable artist Paul Gauguin who moved to Tahiti where he became known for painting the local women.

After watching the video, I would love to hear what you think of random companies being able to profit so heavily off of art they find in the public domain. While I think the ability to access old artworks, songs, and other creative accomplishments as copyright free and able to be built off of long after the artist has passed on is a wonderful part of our society, turning that work into an exclusionary event just feels wrong. Leave me your thoughts here or on the video comments!

7.4.2021

BiG Announcement on YouTube Live Today!

Don’t worry, change is a good thing!

5.24.2021

'The Dreaming Witch' 3D Oil Painting Demo

I'm so excited to share my latest 3D oil, mixed media, and resin painting with you! I've been working on 'The Dreaming Witch' for months now and was finally able to ensconce her lovely ferns, petals, and gold leaf flakes in resin just last week.

This is an oil painting on linen with an aerosol background. I used dried ferns and other plants I collected in Hawai'i and Florida, as well as a cruelty-free reproduction moth, with gold leaf flakes scattered about.

I'll have this painting available as a limited edition print with hand embellished gold leaf accents in my Shop for a short time. You can grab yours here.

These prints will only be available as a pre-order for a limited time, and each one will be hand embellished with gold leaf. Grab on today!

3.21.2021

How to Mix Skin Tones in Oil Paint

Today is a long requested video about mixing skin tones with oil paint. And to make mixing these skin tones extra easy for you, we're only going to be using 4 colors plus white to create a large variety of skin tones for anyone across the world. These are the same five oil paints I recommend picking up as a beginner, so if you'd like to see how to create most of the other colors of the rainbow using just these same paints check out this video here

Check out my Complete Guide to Oil Painting here (More videos coming soon so make sure to save it!)

FREE Skillshare workshop coming Nov 2020!

Need any of these paint colors? Any purchases through my special Dick Blick link helps to support this channel at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Titanium White: https://bit.ly/2Uqiugo

Cadmium Yellow: https://bit.ly/30e3iWh

Alizarin Crimson: https://bit.ly/2S9HO8t

Ultramarine Blue: https://bit.ly/308ydmU

Raw Umber: https://bit.ly/2xrsAF5

11.8.2020

Oil Painting Basic Color Palette

In keeping with sharing all my beginner oil painting technique and advice, today we'll dive deep into a great oil painting basic color palette. Along with the confusion of using mediums and paint thinners (video coming soon!), one of the most disconcerting things about oil painting is the sheer monetary investment in paints, brushes, and materials.

The good news is that you can start off with just 5 different oil paints to really hit the ground running by mixing a plethora of colors with a minimal oil painting palette. So before you wind up at the art store again wondering which paints to buy, let me break down the essential beginner artist oil paint colors.

Here are all the paints I recommend, and if you get anything through my special links it helps to support this channel at no cost to you. Thanks!

Titanium White: https://bit.ly/2Uqiugo

Cadmium Yellow: https://bit.ly/30e3iWh

Alizarin Crimson: https://bit.ly/2S9HO8t

Ultramarine Blue: https://bit.ly/308ydmU

Raw Umber: https://bit.ly/2xrsAF5

(Optional)

Payne's Grey: https://bit.ly/3arumV1

And find out all about the best brushes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsnLq6dAXo

9.27.2020