My Black Friday Art Haul.....New Vlog

'The Snow Painter'           5x7         pastel        ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $45

 What is a Vlog you may be asking?  Or you may already be hooked to some popular YouTube vloggers. A vlog is simply a blog in video form.  Here is the Urban Dictionary definition of Vlog:

1. vlog

A video log. A journalistic video documentation on the web of a person's life, thoughts, opinions, and interests.
A vlog can be topical and timeless, instructional and entertaining. The main thread is trying to communicate on a personal level with your audience.

Last Spring I started my You Tube channel and posted a few videos and called them 'What's in my Studio'.  Now that I have my new GoPro video camera it will be easier to add videos to my channel. So today I have posted my latest installment to my channel....

My Black Friday Art Haul

A sneak peek at the great stuff I got on Black Friday/Cyber Monday

I did some shopping for art supplies over the Black Friday weekend.  Online art stores had good coupons but I found most stuff in regular discount stores!  You just never know what you might find for art in just about any store. I am always looking for ways I can repurpose things for art.  Of course I will be writing more detailed blog posts reviewing all my finds but the video gives you a sneak peek!

Here is the link to my video:http://youtu.be/w9kvTPFHwUM

Why Pastel Painting is Like Fine Wine

'Lap Warmer'             8x10              pastel           ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $125

I wanted it very dark. I knew that a dark background would set off the warm sunlit fur of my cat. The photo I was working from showed the background as black. Photos often do that to shadows and dark areas.  But I didn't want to use black.  I rarely do. It tends to be dull and lifeless. I needed liveliness and complexity!  That's when it occurred to me.

Layering pastels is like a fine wine.  

Layering makes a painting lively and complex. Consider these two words we use to describe wine (from Sunset magazine)

COMPLEXITY. A complex wine has multiple layers of flavors and aromas. Each sip reveals something you didn't notice before. Complex wines are more fascinating than their opposites ― simple wines.

FRESHNESS. A wine that tastes clean and lively is often described as fresh, a sense that often stems from its natural acidity. A wine with too little acidity frequently tastes bland and dull, or flabby.

We can have a simple, bland and dull painting or we can have a fresh, lively and complex painting. It has a lot to do with the way we layer our colors.

single color wine vs. complex wine

How does layering pastels compare to wine?  Consider the illustration above.  In the glass of wine on the left I used one layer of pastel. It was a dark wine so I used black. I could have used dark red or dark blue. The important thing is that I have only used one layer of dark pastel.  Dull, flat and boring!

In the glass on the right I used four layers of dark pastels, dark blue, green, dark purple and dark red. I layer them lightly and they mix and mingle and blend together. Click on the photo to enlarge and see the subtleties of the colors.

The glass on the right has more liveliness, complexity and interest.  This is what I try to do when I layer my pastels. If I am building up an area....whether it is dark , middle, or light value.....I don't use just ONE pastel. I layer several pastels that are all the same value. This creates a much more interesting painting.

So next time you are painting....remember that glass of wine. Which would you rather drink?

Choosing an Underpainting Color

'Tomorrow's Promise'               12x24              pastel              ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $225

 It has to be my most popular question. The funny thing is that there is no right or wrong answer. Only possibilities.  The question is about choosing colors for an underpainting.  We often wish there was a black and white answer.....I would be very popular if I came up with an underpainting color chart. Wouldn't that be fun....a chart that tells you what underpainting color to use for a certain subject?  But that wouldn't be a good thing.

If every artist made the same color choices our paintings would all look the same!

The beauty of art is that we have choices and possibilities.  Sure there are some general guiding principles for choosing colors. Certain colors or toned papers will effect the way the painting will ultimately look. Colors can create a mood or make the other colors used in a painting appear different.

I chose a warm underpainting in reds and oranges to create the warm glow of the sunset

The only way we will know how the colors will interact is to try them and see what happens. Practice and experience with many different underpaintings will lead to more intuitive choices.  If you have experienced what red does under green for example then you will have a better idea of when to use it.

So take the time to experiment. One of the best exercises I ever did was Richard McKinley's Underpainting exercise. He recommends doing the same simple painting with the same colors on 9 (I think) different color surfaces and underpainting types. The details are in his wonderful book Pastel Pointers.  Try it and I promise you will not regret it. You will learn so much about choosing underpainting colors.

New Demo Release...A Simple Landscape

'Early Morning Impression'            9x12             pastel           ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $125

 All you really need is a piece of paper and a few pastels.  Sometimes you just want to keep things simple.  I love the versatility of pastels. I love all of the wonderful techniques we have. Who would have believed we could paint with vodka and pastels!  But we can...and it is a lot of fun.

Our choices can be overwhelming. And sanded pastel paper can be expensive. Wouldn't it be great to sometimes just take out a piece of Canson paper and a few pastels and paint a quick painting?  No big plans. No messy underpaintings. No big expense.  Just pure expression on paper.

I like to go back to basics sometimes. I like to do quick studies on Canson Mi-Teintes paper. Just for fun and for practice. I am always trying to get in my Miles of Canvas!  In my latest digital Demo Download I share my approach for a quick study on Canson.   The demo is available in my Etsy shop for $6. You can view in online as a PDF or print it out and follow along.

a screen shot of the Demo download

Here is an excerpt from the demo:

Like many artists new to pastels, I first started with Canson Mi-Teintes paper, someNuPastels and some Rembrandts. And like many I struggled with this combination. Icouldnʼt get the rich colors that I admired in so many pastel paintings. Mine were muddyand dull. Once I discovered sanded papers and softer pastels I didnʼt buy any more.Canson paper. I decided I didnʼt like it. I am so glad that I decided to give it another tryafter seeing the work of several artists who do beautiful work on Canson.  

A photo from my demo

If this painting looks familiar to you from my recent YouTube video it is the same scene!  I painted two versions. The first was for the YouTube video and the second one was done as a Time Lapse video for my digital demo download.  You can see the time lapse video at this link:

http://youtu.be/bQNk7tqmpHI

The pastels I ised for this painting

I am excited to share these demos with you. I never have enough space on a blog post to share all I would like so these mini lessons allow me to share even more! Thank you!

A Texture Tip for Pastels

'An Afternoon at the Preserve'                18x24           pastel           ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $450

I crave Texture. I love thick and juicy paint. I love seeing brushstrokes in a painting.  That is one of the wonderful properties of oil paint that I love.  The ability to make texture is something that I miss with pastels. But creating texture is possible!  It just take a little more work and some experimentation.

I admire the work of Bill Creevy for his ability to introduce texture to his pastel paintings.  Check out his classic book The Pastel Book for a good introduction to the many ways to use other media with pastels and how to create more interesting textures.

I like use some of these techniques to get a thicker buildup of pastels in my paintings but today I wanted to share a tip I learned from Stan Sperlak...another great pastel artist and instructor.

close up of textured grassy area

 I'm not sure is Stan had a term for this technique but I'll call it SCRAPING.  It involves laying down several layers of pastel and then scraping into it with a sharp tool of any kind. This scraping will reveal the layers underneath.  Kind of like scratch art!  It works even better is you use some kind of fixative in between layers. I use Blair Low odor workable fixative in the green and black can. (if this is low odor I'd hate to smell odor...it smells!) This build up and scraping away of pastel eventually leads to a more textured look to the painting.

It also helps if the bottom layers are dark....like a scratchboard. That way when you scratch it or scrape it you reveal the darker layers underneath.

What tools to use for scraping?

That's the fun part.  In the workshop I attended Stan used the edge of a metal banker's clip but anything tool that is hard, thin and metal does the best job of scraping and scratching. I try to find tools that are both very thin and a bit wider so I can get a variety of marks. Have fun discovering tools to scrape with!

close up of distant marsh with scraping

Scraped and scratched areas can also be reworked.  In the first closeup I scraped grasses into the pastel then I sprayed some fixative before add ing more soft pastel. The scraped areas resisted the pastel leaving marks.

You can also use your scraping tools to remove small areas of pastel. In the second closeup I used a thin metal pin to scrape away pastel making my edges straight and level.

About today's Painting:
This is an 18x24 pastel done as a demo for a private student. This was our lunch break entertainment demo!  I have so much fun sharing the wonderful world of pastels in these private sessions. If you would like to spend a day or 2 or 3 in my Marietta Studio contact me for details. My 2014 schedule is filling but I still have some available time.

When More Is Not Better....Painting Tip of the Day

'Summer Reprise'           11x14          pastel          ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $165

Just one more!  That's all it needs. One more blade of grass.  One more pop of color.  Before I know it I lose track and I have lots more grass and lots more color pops.  Nothing is special anymore.  I have overworked the painting by adding MORE.

We've all heard the advice. Less is More....Leave something to the viewer's imagination....suggest things rather than spell them out.  It is easier said than done.

Has this ever happened to you?  You are painting and add something that really works. Maybe an interesting mark. Maybe a spot of unexpected color. Maybe the way you created an element such as grass or water reflections.  It is a bit thrilling. " Ohhhhh I did it! It looks great. Let me do MORE of that!"  So you add another and another.  Oh Look this is looking so good!"  You add more still.  And then you realize you have lost that magic.  You lost track and overdid it. 

I am going to print this out and put it on my easel:

MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

this is the oil stain underpainting for my coneflowers

How can we avoid this problem of overdoing the details in a painting?  How can we develop the restraint we need to just leave it alone?

• At the end of the painting process slow down and make sure that every mark you make has a purpose. Make a mark, step back and evaluate the painting. Does it need more?

• Keep a mat or frame handy and when you work on an area that really pleases you.Stop. Put the mat up to the painting and step away. This can help you see that more may not be needed!

PLEASE NOTE:  I sincerely apologize but I have had to turn word verification back on for the comment section. I have been overwhelmed by spam comments...sometimes as many as 25 a day and most of them obscene. I have been just deleting them but I will be going out of town next week and won't be able to keep up with all of the nasty spam. I hope you all understand. I truly appreciate all of your comments and if there was a way to have you post without going through the word verification I would be thrilled to do it. Any tips???  Thanks for understanding!

A Tip for Painting Color Studies

'Sanibel is Calling'          8x10       pastel         ©Karen Margulis
sold

 Sometimes it is the simple things that elude us.  We can get so caught up in the process of painting that we overlook the most important things.  Take color studies.  I love to do color studies before a painting.  It makes so much sense to me to try out my color palette on a small piece of paper before committing to a larger 'good' piece of paper.

value study and small color study 2.5 x 3.5 

I am a big fan of limited palettes with pastels.  I find it so easy to get lost in a big box of pastels. There are so many choices, so many wonderful colors all wanting to be used.  If I am not careful I just might use too many and end up with color chaos.  So my solution is to pre-select the pastels I THINK I will use for a painting.

Often I take this preselection a step further and do a small color study with my choices. I usually do a quick study on a 2.5 x 3.5 piece of paper. That way I am not wasting paper and if the study is decent it goes in my petite pastel collection.   If you like to do color studies, I have a tip....it is something we often overlook:

It is important to do the color study on the exact same type and color paper that you will be using for your painting. 

Simple. Yes I know but I don't always remember and just grab a random paper scrap. The problem with this is that your  colors will not look the same on different types or color papers. To get an accurate idea of what your choices will look like the papers need to be the same!

reference photo

painting with studies

How to Avoid a Plein Air Nightmare

'Color Across the Creek'          6x6        pastel        @Karen Margulis

It was a relief to wake up.  Thank goodness it wasn't real. It was just a dream. Well actually it was a nightmare and one of those very real nightmares. The kind that are so real that you can see, hear and feel every detail.  

Let me explain....remember this was just a dream but it could very easily happen so there is a lesson to learn!  In this dream I was at a pastel workshop.  We were at a beach. It must have been the Caribbean because the water was such a beautiful turquoise blue and was crystal clear.   I was painting. I was very involved with my painting. I was totally in the zone and was oblivious to everything else. 

At some point the instructor came by to let me know the group was headed to lunch.  I realized I was hungry so I closed up my box and went for my backpack. My Backpack!  Where was it? The beach was deserted so no one could have taken it. Then it dawned on me. The tide had come up while I was engrossed in my painting. I looked and could see the backpack out about 10 feet... underwater....I could see it in the clear water....swaying gently with the current surrounded by fish.  OH NO!  My cameras, my extra paper and pastels, my money, phone and passport! All underwater. What a disaster. As I tried to decide what to do the alarm when off.  I woke up filled with relief that it was just a bad dream.

  I consider myself forewarned.  So how will I avoid a Plein Air disaster like a rising tide?

• Be aware of my surroundings. It's great to be involved in a painting but when you tune everything out not only do you risk safety, you miss out on the sights and sounds of the location. That is also one reason I don't like to listen to music. I like the music of the birds and wind and waves.

• Keep the backpack in sight. I won't just plop it down anywhere in my mad rush to set up and paint.  In fact my new tripod has a hook for a weight so I will be using the backpack as the weight and it will be right at my feet. 

• Keep my money and ID on my person. Why on earth did I have it in a backpack that I wasn't even keeping track of?  I should know better. I now have a money belt for security. And camera and phone will be in my pockets. 

Do you have any plein air tips for avoiding disasters like a rising tide? Feel free to share in the comments.

Three Reasons to Paint with One Color

'Lowcountry Treasure'              8x10            pastel          ©Karen Margulis
sold

Color is everything. Or is it?  Most of us are drawn to pastels because of the wonderful array of colors. They are all there in front of us. We don't have to mix them to see the possibilities. We want them all and we never have enough.  But color can also be our downfall.  You've heard it before:

Color gets the Glory but Value does the work.

If we don't get the values correct then all the colors in your box will not make the painting better. In fact the more colors we add to try to fix the painting the more we risk making mud.  Value studies are good. Value block- ins are helpful. Lots of practice seeing value is important. I have a great exercise to try. Why not try limiting your palette?

I love painting with ONE COLOR....a Monochromatic color scheme.  I pick a color and allow myself to use a full value range of that color. I give myself permission to use both warm and cool versions of my color. This gives me quite a few choices.

I did an alcohol wash underpainting using only yellow Nupastels

Here are Three Reasons to Paint with one color

1. Working with one color helps the value challenged.  If you have trouble simplifying a busy scene into a few values often adding color choices to the mix makes it even harder.  Working with one color takes color out of the equation so that you can concentrate on getting the values correct.

2. Working with one color helps you become intimate with the color.  Not only is it easier to see value within one color it is also easy to judge color temperature.....putting a cool yellow next to a warm one makes the difference between them more clear. Is one closer to orange? Is one closer to blue or green? It is easy to see when they are together.

3. Working with one color is manageable.  Sometimes it is nice to keep things simple. Pick a color, any color and forget about all of the pastels in your boxes. Keep it simple and concentrate on your values or your composition or your strokes and mark-making. Give yourself one less thing to worry about!

Yes I cheated a bit in my painting. You probably noticed it is not strictly monochromatic. I couldn't resist a pop of blue-purple. My yellow needed it (but I waited until the very end!)

This week's challenge:
Try a monochromatic painting. Either stick to a value range of one specific color such as Ultramarine blue....or choose a color and allow for warm and cool versions of the color.

Painting Cats and Dogs in Pastel

8x0      pastel on LacCarte pastel card               ©Karen Margulis

It was a good day to stay inside.  Rainy, cold and dreary with no errands to run and nothing else to do but paint.  So I took advantage of this opportunity and worked on some pet portrait commissions.  I have a totally different way of working when I paint animals in pastel so I though I would share some of the things I do.  Pet portraits make great gifts so if you paint....perhaps consider painting a favorite pet for a gift!  Here is my list of 10 things I do when painting animals.

my current pet portrait commissions all 8x10

1. I usually sit down to paint animals. Because I tend to work small (8x10 or less) and I use more detail than my landscapes, it is easier to sit. I use a tabletop easel and tape my paper to a piece of foamcore.
2. My favorite paper for animals is Sennelier LaCarte. I like all of the colors and I usually choose a paper color that will also be a part of the animal.
3. My favorite pastels are Terry Ludwig. I don't use hard pastels exception below.  I LOVE Diane Townsend lights for the lighter fur colors.
4. I never use pastel pencils for detail. I may use the sharp tip of a Nupastel for whiskers.
5. I never use pure white. For white fur I use the lightest light that has some color....pale pale values of yellow and peach are great.
6. I always paint a background. I am too sloppy to just let the paper show!
7. I work on the background as I work on the animal....I never wait until the end.
8. Background colors are intuitive.....basically what works with the animal. I may change it several times as the painting develops.
9. I don't try to get a photorealistic portrait....My goal is to capture the animal's personality.
10. I work from photos on my iPad. It is very challenging to work from distorted photos or photos with bad color and light.....but it does lead to a more expressive portrait.

This gives you an idea of the things I think about when painting an animal. I have a very definite order to the way I lay in and build the painting. It is all about the value and not the local color. I have a digital download demo with all the details and lots of photos. The demo is available in my Etsy shop for $6. You can follow along online or print it out and make a booklet.

.https://www.etsy.com/listing/157439997/pastel-painting-lesson-demo-pdf-how-to?

If you are interested in commissioning a pet portrait I offer a custom order option in my etsy store. pastel portraits start at $100 for 5x7. For more information: https://www.etsy.com/listing/163134031/original-pastel-pet-portrait-custom?

Pastel Underpainting with Vodka

'Summer Joy'             11x14            pastel               ©Karen Margulis
sold

There was a misunderstanding. Or so I thought. Whatever happened it inspired me to try it....a Vodka Underpainting!  I was working with one of my online mentoring students last month and the assignment was to do an alcohol wash. I was certain I clarified that I use isopropyl alcohol. But when the assignment was done she told me she had used vodka for her alcohol. hmmmmmmmm. 

I didn't see why it wouldn't work. It's a clear liquid. We just need to wet down the pastel with a liquid. Her painting was wonderful!  She explained that she had seen a Youtube video of a Vodka underpainting so decided to try it.

Well know you know me....if I haven't done it yet I need to try it myself.  So into the liquor cabinet I went for a bit of vodka. 

a little bit of vodka in my empty cup

 I didn't use the good stuff. It was actually Costco brand and at about $10 for a big bottle makes doing Vodka underpainting pretty cost effective. You really only use a tiny bit.  I really liked using the Vodka. It had no odor. I sort of made the pastels spread very smooooooth.  I had put down a layer of Nupastels in warm colors on an 11x14 piece of Uart 500.   It immediately started making interesting drips. I call them spiderwebs or root systems. Usually I get this effect with turpenoid and not as much with rubbing alcohol or water. But the vodka made cool drips.  It did take longer to dry than rubbing alcohol.. I would say nearly 30 minutes for it to be completely dry.

The vodka underpainting when dry

Working on the dried underpainting felt the same as any other wet underpainting. I saw no difference. I did manage to cover up all of the cool drips which often happens. Sometimes I am successful at leaving them show and other times I get carried away with pastel! This time I did get carried away and even added some shaved pastel flowers!

I did enjoy using the Vodka and will definitely give it another try!  Maybe a painting party is in order...cocktails and underpaintings!

close up of texture

Don't forget it's Cyber Monday!  Give art this holiday season!  I am offering  a 20% savings on everything in my Etsy shop. Use coupon code GIVEART at checkout.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/KarenMargulisFineArt

The Pure Joy of Painting

'A Magical Memory'              5x7          pastel            ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $55

 Painting is truly Magic. Artists take a blank canvas or piece of paper and create something from nothing.  What could be more exciting than to create a new world on a flat surface.  This is what I love best about painting. Creating something from nothing is such a great feeling. It is pure joy.

I went through a photography stage before I decided to learn how to  paint. I love photography. Capturing beauty and interest with a camera is also magic.  But painting is even better.  Painters don't have to wait for the right light or the perfect moment. We can imagine it. We can invent it. We can create it.

'Blue Sky Day'                5x7            pastel
click here to purchase $55

Some artists develop a fear of the blank canvas. It is scary. What if you mess up?  I don't let this fear stop me. In fact  I am never afraid of a blank surface. To me it represents possibilities. A chance to create a new reality. It doesn't matter if the painting doesn't turn out. It is the process of creating that is the high. Besides we can always fix it.

The original paintings before my touch ups

Take today's paintings. I unearthed them from a dusty pile of older work. (I never throw anything away)  They were plein air studies on Pastelbord. They were some of my very first plein air efforts that I did while on a painting retreat to Creighton Island, Georgia. That was probably 5 years ago or more. They weren't awful but they were dull and dingy and didn't really represent the true beauty of the island.

So I decided to touch them up. It was Pure Joy to take out my pastels and bring these little paintings back to life. All they needed were a little TLC, workable fixative and some nice soft Terry Ludwig pastels!

CYBER MONDAY...take 20% off anything in my Etsy shop. Use Coupon code GIVEART

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KarenMargulisFineArt

Finding Your Tribe...the joy of the art community

'Fall Splendor'            12x18           pastel           ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $175

 It took me 42 years. But I found my tribe. Being a part of a community of artists is something I am very thankful for.  I am lucky to have family and friends who are not artists and they enrich my life tremendously. But no one else quite gets me like a fellow artist does. I have had this discussion with many of my artist friends. We all agree that often we are the oddballs in our family. Who else gets excited by the way the late afternoon light makes even a garbage can beautiful?  Who else understands the pleasure in spending hours looking at art supplies?  I could go on......

My artists friends get it.  It is an exclusive club but one that is very welcoming. I have met some of the most wonderful friends through my involvement with pastels. They inspire me. They motivate me. They make me laugh. From beginners to professional artists....we all get it.   I am privileged to be able to learn from the best artists and in turn to share with others.  I am grateful for this blogging platform and social media that allows me to connect with artists around the world.

So a special thank you to all of my artist friends....from my VIPS, my Art Spirit Friends, my wonderful teachers (you all know who you are)  to the friends around the world that I have met and thoseI have yet to meet in person....Thank you for sharing this journey with me.  I am proud to be a fellow artist and friend!

drawing for painting done with compressed charcoal

As a special Thank you I am offering a 20% savings on everything in my Etsy shop in case you were considering the gift of art this year.  
Use coupon code GIVEART at checkout.https://www.etsy.com/shop/KarenMargulisFineArt

Seeing Beauty in the Ordinary

'Fair Ladies in the Meadow'            8x10         pastel          ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $150

 "Are you painting the weeds again?" my husband likes to say when I am working on a Queen Anne's Lace painting.  

Weeds? Maybe. But they are glorious.  Have you ever really looked at a patch of Queen Anne's Lace?  I mean really look carefully at them.  The way they gracefully sway and nod in a breeze.  The complexity of a bloom which rivals the finest piece of lace. The beauty of the various stages of bloom from the tight bird nest stage to the wonderful colors of a spent bloom. And the colors ....greens and peach and lavenders and sometimes a delicate pink....heavenly.

Queen Annes Lace is  often overlooked. It is so common and ordinary.  They fill the roadsides and we hardly notice them as we speed by.  Not if you are an artist. Or anyone with a sensitive eye. We are able to see the beauty in the ordinary. We are fortunate to be able to see something interesting in the most common overlooked places. We are able to see and appreciate light and how it creates beauty.

I am thankful for being able to see the beauty that surrounds us. To really see it. To take it all in and then express it in a painting. It is my privilege to share this vision. In my paintings and by pointing it out to those who might not notice. And when they do start to notice.... it is wonderful.  I have done my job.

About this painting:  This is 8x10 on Uart 500. I have done a watercolor underpainting and used a mix of Diane Townsend pastels and Terry Ludwig greens.

Give the Gift of Art this holiday season!  I am offering a 20% savings on everything in my Etsy shop! Use coupon code GIVEART at checkout. 
 Link to my shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/KarenMargulisFineArt

The Thankful Artist....My Top Three List

'Among the Trees'            18x24           pastel             ©Karen Margulis
contact me for availability 

I am sitting here in my warm and cozy studio. Writing my post while waiting for a student to arrive. I have the holiday weekend ahead of me to do nothing but paint. It is great to be an artist.  In this time of giving thanks we all reflect on what we are grateful for. Of course my family and health are at the top of my list. But then comes art. 

Today I am a thankful artist. There are many things about being an artist that enrich my life so I will narrow it down to my top three. 

'Autumn Joy'   8x10    pastel    $125  click here

In this post I will list my top three things that I am thankful for. I will expand on them over the next three days....during this weekend of Thanksgiving.

1. Being an artist gives me the ability to see the world with a new and sensitive eye. Artists can see beauty and interest where others may see nothing.

2. Being an artist connects me to other artists. This community of like minded people is a treasure. One doesn't need to be a professional artist to benefit from being a part of the art community.

3. Being an artist gives me pure JOY.  There is nothing like creating something from nothing. The sheer joy of painting is such a rush. It's the process that makes me happy. A good painting is icing on the cake.

What are some of the things you are thankful for?