Fire

 Hello,

I am afraid of fire. When I was a kid I would sleep holding as many dolls as possible while I slept so no one would get left behind in case my house was on fire. I had them all in my arms and all around me all night long while I slept. Maybe it was a a past life creating this fear or a foreseeing. In 2016  I participated in an exhibit where I was paired with a business to exhibit my paintings. The business owner liked my work and I stayed exhibiting in the space for a long time after event. However, there was a fire in the business next door that spread into where I had my paintings. I lost thirteen paintings. Some completely gone the rest damaged. It was devastating to me. I had maybe two exhibits after that in other places that year. I was too nervous. I stopped exhibiting. Then in 2020 created a sketchbook and submitted to the Sketchbook Library in New York; they had a fire. My sketchbook was lost in the fire and I was devastated again and began to wonder if fire is following me?  Would I die in a fire? I have only had  maybe five exhibits since the first fire. It am still very scared to hang my work anywhere, but this is affecting my livelihood and I know one needs to face fears. I am exhibiting this year at the Edgebrook Art+Wine Walk at Dakota94 at 5304 W Devon in Chicago. Yes, this is the event I did years ago that paired me with a business that caught fire. You can imagine I am terrified, but we must move forward. I hope you will buy a ticket, drink lots of wine and buy lots of my paintings.  Click here for tickets!

Thank you for supporting my painting journey. Be sure to follow me on Twitter too.

Thank you!

Workshops

 Hello Friends,

This is just a quick message to share that I am teaching three workshops this Spring.  I hope you will share this blog with friends, family and I hope you all will grab tickets to these experiences.

Learn a flower tips and take home a beautiful arrangement.

Click here for tickets

Whether you are a beginner or experienced painter this workshop will bring out your creativity and you'll take home a unique painting.

Click here for tickets.

I am also teaching my Muse workshop on June 10, 2023. 

Both workshops are perfect gifts if you are looking for a Mother's Day gift. Check out more gift ideas: prints, pouches,  yoga mats, and notebooks.

Thank you for following. I appreciate you sharing my art with everyone!

Fresh Flowers

 I am happy to share my next two flower workshops.  

Click through TODAY to sign up!
Perfect experiences to celebrate Spring with loved ones.

Bring home a fresh flower arrangement you learned to create.

At all the flower workshops I have taught many, many, participants say the experience is therapeutic. We have great laughs and wonderful conversations. If you are looking for a different fun event, a workshop for inspiration; this is for you... and it's true flowers make you happy.

I look forward to meeting you. I appreciate you sharing my blog and events with your people. It's the best way to support an artist.  Thank you!

Where We Are

Hello Friends,

Here is what is going on...

I am about to start my 7th painting for my GoBig collection.  I am running out of room in my tiny apartment. This brings me to the search for Oktober Studio II or 2. I cannot remember. Anyway, it has been such a struggle to save money and I had a breakdown (which was crying for an hour over money and feeling poor) because, even though I am closer to purchasing; it still seems so far away, but we carry on. I have to remember to have faith and patience.  I have narrowed down the neighborhood I want to be my forever home. It's a place that reminds me of where I grew up and that nostalgia feels good and it feels like this must be the place. Here is a close up peek at the current GoBig painting covering my kitchen floor. This giant collection is literally closing in on me. I'm going to need a pole barn!

I recently took a free class with artist, Jodi King out of Texas. Her class structure was about getting grounded before painting by journaling and meditating; then paint. It also covered color tips and being confident and honest with your art. My favorite part of the class was the meditating, but I am always looking for another way to sleep, because I really love mediating to sleep. I just feel so rested afterwards. Journaling is not for me though, however after this class I feel I want to journal more with paintings not writing. Here is one of my journal entries.  

I really enjoy painting with a blending/smoothing technique. I do not have many pieces in this style, but I want to create a large size collection with this technique. Here is a small canvas I recently painted blending the colors with my hand instead if brushes. For me the energy of this painting is the calming from the sea blues and sea greens. It reminds me of my 50th birthday in the Outer Banks. The painting strokes create a waving movement and you can feel a light feathering touch. This painting is 12x36, acrylic on canvas and titled, "Kill Devil Hills".  This painting is $100.oo + Shipping/ US Shipping only. To purchase you can contact me directly: oktoberstudio@hotmail.com.

Are you looking to add some brightness to your space? Check out my framed prints at my Society6 shop. These prints are perfect starters for beginning your art collecting.

Thank you for reading by blog. I appreciate any referrals and please check out what's fueling me on Pinterest.

Talk to you soon.

Goddess Collection

Hello,

You are the first to see this. I am pleased to share my new collection.

Goddess Collection

 "Love"

 
"Grateful"

 
"Joy"

 "Awe"

 
"Peaceful"

 
"Enchanted"

Each painting is acrylic on canvas, 10x10 and $50.00+shipping (US Shipping ONLY) each.

I am an abstract painter and the majority of my work is designs, patterns and shapes. I had always wanted to try to paint people, portraits or faces, but still have an abstract vibe. I always feel that I do not know how to paint people or faces. This collection helped me take a step to getting over that fear. What came to was a collection I am very excited about and I hope it gives the feeling of a strong woman. 

Thank you for your continued support. I would be grateful if you would share my blog. To purchase from this collection or the whole collection, please contact me: oktoberstudio@hotmail.com.

Thank you.

Come back to see more.

Seeing Red

Happy Holidays,

I applied for an online exhibit "Seeing Red" with Art Fluent and I am excited to share that my painting "Between You And Me" was accepted. 

Congrats to all the other artists, your work is brilliant!  Click here to view the exhibit.

If you know me you know red is my favorite color and this exhibit was perfect for me.  I am thrilled to be included.

Check out a few red prints perfect for this holiday season. BONUS: FREE SHIPPING Order by 12/12/2022 for 12/24/2022 Delivery with code: MERRY22.

 

Thank you staying with me on this painting journey!

50

 Hello,

This year I turn 50 and I thought it would be hard, but it's not. I am actually giddy... happy. In fact I've been celebrating all year! I wanted to share my celebrating and happiness with everyone. I'm telling you first. My birthday project is that I will give away 50 free mini paintings from October 1-14, 2022 (14th my birthday!). They will be hidden all over. I hope you will find one.  

It's Libra season and I am just filled with juicy energy. Be sure to purchase your favorite Libra a gift from my Society6 shop.

Also Inktober will be starting October 1, 2022 and I have begun my sketching. Here is a peek at one of my sketches.

Next, I am on my 5th painting for my GoBig collection.  This 5th one will be my 2nd painting that is stretched. I thought this project would take long, but I am zipping through the canvases. The only three hold ups are the extra fees such as buying stretcher bars and getting a ride to the art supply store. Plus storage; I am running out of room at my tiny apartment and I am not so sure how to store the flat paintings. I have them rolled now, but I think I need something better. I'll be working that out soon. It would also help if I can find Oktober Studio II, but that is a rant for another blog. I love that these paintings are taller than me.

I am very excited I have been selling mini pumpkins again at CoOp California. They are selling quick. Please pop over to grab a few.

I am happy to say I have another flower workshop with Local Goods Chicago. I hope you will make it. 

Thank you for sticking with me. I appreciate you sharing my art life with your loved ones.  See you soon!