Oh my, check out this blast from the past!

This is too funny! I wrote this booklet in 1988 when I was doing some work for a craft book publisher. I Googled my name today and this popped up! It was for sale (SOLD, I might add, back in June) from an Etsy seller located in Hawaii.......I had completely forgotten about it. Think I could collect some royalty on that $3.00?!

 

 

New Work for the week!

The first really large one I have painted in a while....and YES, this was from a picture of a REAL sunset on Lake Keowee.  Some of the best sunsets I have ever seen are on that lake!

"Sunset Sail"

36 x 48, acrylic on canvas

$3450 framed

©2013KarenAlley

Click here to view or purchase

New Gallery!

I am excited to announce that beginning March my Artwork will be represented in Charleston, SC at the Ellis-Nicholson Gallery. Ellis-Nicholson is located on historic Gallery Row at 1 1/2 Broad Street. I am looking forward to working with Jeannette and Victoria at their beautiful Gallery!
http://www.ellis-nicholsongallery.com/

New series!

In the new year I have also decided to try and work in series, or a group of 4-6 paintings with a "theme".  Looking through a bunch of pictures I took over the holidays I got the idea to paint a series of paintings with "distance" to them, where the subject or focal point is far away.  Here is the first one, and I really like the way it turned out!  Don't you just want to see what is at the End Of The Road?

"End Of The Road"

24 x 48, acrylic on canvas

$2300 framed

©2013KarenAlley

Click here to view or purchase.

Just off the easel.......

Finally, after a brief rest from the 30 in 30 Challenge, I am posting again!  This is also a small one which got me back in the groove to then start some bigger ones, which you will see next week!  This was done with only a palette knife, which always keeps me nice and loose in my style.

"Looking Across"

10x8, oil on canvas

$200 framed

Click here to view or purchase

My Challenge Thoughts

Again, thanks to everyone who followed and encouraged me during my 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!  Here are some of my thoughts before and after the 30 days and my guess is that they can apply to others thinking about doing anything out of the ordinary.

First of all, here were my reasons for NOT accepting the Challenge:

1. What if I could not finish all 30?  I'd be embarrassed.
2. What if all my talent ran out after painting #10 or #17 or #28!?
3. Just the word "Challenge" makes it sound hard.  It's out of the norm, I'd probably have to work harder and longer.
4. Time constraints.  Could I plan it out that well?  What about the two weekends when I was going to be out of town?  I would have to have extras!
5. It's a commitment. Do I really need ANOTHER commitment?!

However, mainly because my friend Dottie told me I needed to do it, and many of my other artist friends were also participating, I succumbed to the Challenge pressure.  And here is what I learned:

1. I have it in me.  I COMPLETED what I started.  I am PROUD of myself.
2. My talent did NOT run out.  Or at least I don't think so, everyone seemed to enjoy all of the paintings.  (And 10 of the 30 sold!)
3. I took the opportunity to play with different types of canvases, sizes, and techniques that I had not done before, and found many I will use again.
4. A better planning of my day allowed me to accomplish much more than I thought I could.  I need to apply this ALL the time.  I would get much more done!
5. Challenging yourself every now and then is a GOOD thing.  Don't look at all the negatives, because THE POSITIVES WILL ALMOST ALWAYS OUTWEIGH THE NEGATIVES.

Have a great weekend!!!