Fine Art Fridays on Twitter

Much easier than blogging about some of my favorite artists on Etsy (and elsewhere), I decided to start doing Fine Art Fridays on Twitter! Today is my first day. This will be a fun, easy to keep up with, weekly tradition.

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/livefunky

Is your heart on your sleeve?

Fine Tuning the Dream - Acrylic on 9" x 12" canvas panel, 2009
Available at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/.

bits and pieces come together
woven parts of the past, the now
and what is yet to be all come back to me...
the rehash of the replay
all that's been said
is content instead
of critique.
what will be will be (she said)
and looking forward,
i'll fine tune the dream
forever in extremes...
you have my words.

This is where I am going with my art. I cannot hide or pretend or be anything other than what I am and I am an intense softy - or sensitivo as we like to call it around here. I'm a bonafide sensitivo of the highest order. You may picture a softy in demure pink and a cardigan, very polite and shy. I am not that kind of softy. I am a tall and boisterous, full color and bold intensity, heart bouncing off her sleeve into your face sensitivo and it's about time I unabashadly admitted it (as if it's been a secret... that's the funny part). This piece is my first step - just adding this poem with it on Etsy is a big step. I've been working on a special series concept behind the scenes and I want to include poetry into the experience of these paintings. My words, my feelings make me feel vulnerable but this is the direction of honesty I am called towards and I know I need to honor it. Courage must be met with confidence at some point in the journey and right now I MUST continue in confidence rather than courage. Courage inspires a movement, be it personal or public, but it shouldn't be relied on to weather the storm in its entirety. Confidence, however, is ready to take a hit or two and still emerge victorious and ready for more.

Artists, readers, how much do you wear your heart on your sleeve? Tell us about it. Inquiring sensitivos would like to know.

Back in action

You may have noticed I started off this year with a bang in my previous posts and then sort of disappeared for a bit. The last two weeks have been rather challenging - battling the same demons of fear and doubt that creep in whenever I give them the slightest chance to enter my mind. As a not quite starving (but close) artist, it's so easy to get over my head with these fears. Looking at wildly successful artists does not help. I truly have nothing but respect, awe and admiration for powerhouse artists like well, you know ;) ... honestly their success just proves to me that it's possible. It's when you play the compare/contrast game that gets you in trouble.

Maybe these thoughts should not be said out loud. Maybe it isn't the most professional thing to do. But I know that most of my readers are fellow artists and can relate. And here is where the tables turn. If I did not have a wonderful community of fellow artists to turn to, talk about the biz and all of it's ups and downs, I would have stopped doing this long ago. People like Meghan Henley and Amanda Hone, to name just two, have kept me afloat for years with encouragement, cheers when I succeed and compassion during the tough times. This week two artists helped me turn my frown upside down and I'd like to thank them with all of my heart.

Please take a look at their amazing artwork in their Etsy shops.

Aja of www.sagittariusgallery.etsy.com

and Kendra of www.teamzvonik.etsy.com


So... what's the plan? JUST KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON BABY!! Depression not only feels miserable, it halts all progress. It is good for absolutely nothing. I'm sure depression is a common issue for many artists - we are a deeply feeling breed and the highs are sky high and the lows are pretty bleak. Staying centered, taking one step and day at a time is a constant goal. What I learned from this time is to just let myself feel blue if I feel it - get it out of your system, don't try and stuff it and save face, it will come out eventually anyway. Take a break - step away from the computer or the easel and do something else - play a game, take a walk, watch a good movie. Cry it out, talk it out, then tell yourself tomorrow is a new day and I'm going to make it a good one!

I'm on the upswing now, and in the spirit of moving forward and being open to new possibilities and opportunities, I've signed up for a new art site that's been courting me the last few months. It could be a winner, it could not, either way it's worth a shot. I really like the look of the site and the studio section of your page is neat. Artists there approach that section in all different ways - I decided to share a picture of where I work, a commission example and an example of my prints with a link to my Etsy shop. This is my profile on DiscoveredArtists.com - http://www.discoveredartists.com/JessicaTorrant.

I'm so thankful for all of you and I want to be there for you if you need a friend to talk to. (I'm about to bust into "Lean on me!"). Seriously. I leaned hard on the shoulders of good friends this week, now how can I pay that back? If you need me... let me know.

Take my quiz to win this original work of art!

BLINK by Jessica Torrant
Original ink drawing over an archival art print of my painting Orange Sun. Hand signed and titled. Image measures 5" x 7" on 8.5" x 11" matte finish paper.

Enter to win this original work of art simply by leaving a comment! Contest ends December 29th at which point I will take all of your names/emails and put them in a basket and select one at random to be the winner. I will contact the winner via email or a comment on their blog. So anyone can vote - just leave some way for me to contact you. Good luck!

THE QUIZ

1. Have you ever purchased original art online? Y/N
   
   
2. Have you ever purchased art prints (reproductions) online? Y/N
   
   
3. If you answered no to questions 1 or 2, have you ever purchased either in a shop or gallery in person? Y/N
   
   
4. When you are considering purchasing art what sizes do you usually look for?
   a. Miniature, ACEO
   b. Small 5" x 7" - 9" x 12"
   c. Medium 8" x 10" - 16" x 20"
   d. Large 20" x 24" - 36" x 40"
   e. Extra Large 40" and higher
   f. All of the above or your own alternate answer
   
   
5. When you are considering purchasing art what subject matters interest you?
   a. Abstract
   b. Figurative
   c. Landscape
   d. Still Lives
   e. All of the above or your own alternate answer
   
   
6. When you are considering purchasing art what mediums do you usually look for?
   a. Ink or pencil
   b. Oil paint
   c. Acrylic paint
   d. Watercolor paint
   e. Collage
   f. Digital media
   g. All of the above or your own alternate answer
   
   
7. On a scale of one to ten, how much or little are you interested in the following art forms or styles?
   Abstract Art
   Traditional Realism
   Contemporary Realism
   Dark Art
   Fantasy Art
   Graffiti Art
   Kitch/Vintage Influenced Art
   Folk Art
   Surreal Art
   Children's Art (made by children)
   Art for Children
   Outsider Art
   (Please feel free to add any other styles in your answer that interest you)
   
   
8. When you are considering purchasing art, what are you looking for when it comes to the surface? Please rate each on a scale of one to ten, ten being the most desirable.
   Paper (any kind)
   Watercolor paper
   Wood
   Standard canvas with staples in the sides
   Gallery wrapped canvas
   Gallery wrapped canvas with 1.5" deep sides
   Custom framed art with mat and glass
   Custom framed canvas (no mat or glass)
   Recycled materials
   Other
   
   
9. How important is a Certificate of Authenticity?
   a. Very important
   b. Don't care either way
   c. It's a waste of paper
   d. What's a Certificate of Authenticity?
   
   
10. If you were to purchase original art online, where might you go looking to buy? Please answer Yes, No or never heard of it (which you could mark with a ?) to each of the sites below.
    a. Etsy
    b. eBay
    c. Dawanda
    d. ArtFire
    e. Boundless Gallery
    f. Yessy
    g. MySpace
    f. Other (please include any other sites you would consider)
    
    
11. Would you consider purchasing art directly from an artist's website or blog?
    a. Yes, I prefer that to purchasing it on another site (like Etsy).
    b. Yes, but I prefer buying through other sites (like Etsy).
    c. No
    
    
12. Would you ever consider asking an artist to create a commission (custom work of art) for you?
    a. Yes and I have!
    b. Yes and I will at some point.
    c. Yes but I don't think I will because I'm concerned about ______. (fill in the blank)
    d. No
    e. No and artists that offer that service turn me off as a collector
    
    
13. On a scale of one to ten, how important are these factors when considering purchasing from an artist online?
    Professional experience
    Educational experience
    Longevity of career
    A history of showing in physical galleries
    Word of mouth/buzz
    Professionalism in presentation
    Silliness/light hearted approach to presentation/writing
    Good photography skills
    Good writing skills
    Extensive descriptions of art
    Personal anecdotes, poems, or artist's thoughts about individual pieces
    Large amount of previous sales
    High feedback rating
    Seeing a photograph of the artist
    A return policy
    First class shipping
    Priority mail shipping
    Insurance on shipping
    Delivery Confirmation on shipping
    Age
    Gender
    
    
14. Which answer sounds the most like you?
    a. I like to buy art from as many different artists as I can.
    b. I like to buy art from a very select few of my favorite artists.
    c. There isn't much rhyme or reason to how I buy art or from whom. I just fall in love with something and have to have it!
    d. I like to buy art from people I know.
    e. I don't buy art.
    f. Other
    
    
15. If you purchased art, what would be the biggest turn offs to you as a buyer? You can pick just one or rate these from one to ten - ten being the biggest turnoff.
    Poorly wrapped/packaged and arrived damaged.
    Long shipping time.
    No communication.
    Pet hairs.
    Smells of smoke.
    Smells of perfume or incense.
    Colors don't look the same way they did on the computer.
    Unsigned art.
    No personalized thank you note.
    No extra gifts.
    Promotional materials from other Etsy sellers (not the one you purchased from).
    Religious materials included.
    Candy or food products included in non food purchase.
    Scented extra gifts (like soap or candle) in a scent free purchase (such as a tshirt).
    Poorly crafted product.
    
    
    

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions! To make commenting/answering easier, just copy and paste the quiz into your comment.

New Paintings

Coffee and Cream - SOLD

Acrylic on 8 x 10 canvas, 2008

Make A Wish

Acrylic on 8 x 10 canvas, 2008

Available for purchase at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/

I got a Treasury!

For those of you that don't know what I am talking about, a Treasury is a feature on the site www.etsy.com that allows you to curate your own little gathering of Etsy listings with a theme, or color connection or just your favorite things. There are limited slots and time limits to each list, so they aren't super easy to get. It's been on my mind to try and get one for the last few days and finally today the timing was right and I snagged one on Treasury West. Check it out while it lasts! :)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=1787