The Latest Effort

I've recently completed this watercolor of the very common American Robin standing amongst a very prolific garden plant, the Northern Sea Oats. I live nowhere near the sea, but the oats don't care. I planted a few small clumps of this grassy plant in my garden, and now I have to keep it from taking over. It has a pretty growth habit and in the fall the seed heads are attractive, but do they ever get around. Robins are extremely common, too, but they behave themselves.

Original Watercolor by Anne Gilna

Getting Ready

Stage one of the loading process: Gather up all art cartons, tubs, tools, bins from the "studio". (This term is applied loosely to the extra bedroom in which I create and store my art).
Stage two: Move said objects from the upstairs studio into the hallway. I'm currently in this stage of the process.
Stage three: Bring all items downstairs, and place close to the door leading to the garage.
Stage four: Load tent materials, tables, chairs, step stool & cart into van.
Stage five: Load items mentioned in Stage one into van.
The show this weekend will require kind of a hybrid display system. My booth will be under a large tent-like structure, so I will need my tent for the framework and the display panels, but won't need the canopy or side panels. Neither will I need stakes or weights. This makes the loading and setup process easier. Now, doesn't that seem easy?

Ups and Downs

Wow, those art shows get more exhausting every year. Not only the physical work of  loading the art and the display, unloading and setting up, taking down, loading, driving home, unloading, but the emotional ups and downs of  the process of hoping that buyers for my art happen to visit my booth. And actually buy something. Last weekend, things worked out okay. And I'll keep doing it.

I Just Can't Stop Loving the Website

I've spent many hours recently updating my website. This is something I learn as I go. I don't make major changes very often, so when I do, I forget how to operate the various functions and almost have to start from scratch. I'm working on ease of navigation, simplicity, lots of links but want to avoid visual clutter. This is an issue in many sites I visit, where the eye jumps around the page without a central focus. I want the art to shine and keep the viewers eye on it, not distracting text.
So, here is the latest version, still a work in progress-
http://www.artbyannegilna.com/

Tulip Crazy

In my effort to add some new botanical paintings to my collection, I've painted another tulip watercolor, based on some cut flowers bought at a Trader Joe's. I plan to frame both of the new tulip paintings the same, and no larger than 11 x 14 each. Here is the latest:

Tulips, Watercolor by Anne Gilna

Keeping It Simple

I haven't painted a botanical subject in a while until now. I admit to having a preference for birds, with or without a botanical component. Now, however, I have decided to downsize some of the dimensions of my original art. Until recently, I felt that the smallest size painting that potential customers would prefer would be 16 x 20, and I have several larger paintings as well. I'm getting the impression, though, that smaller works may be appealing, too. I guess it goes with the general trend these days, and that needs no explanation here. When this tulip watercolor is framed, it will be 11" x 14", and I may do another one to display as a pair.
So, here it is...

Turn the Page

I'm starting to put together the art show schedule for 2012... more to come in future posts. I'll probably come up with one more new painting in time for the first show at the end of April. FOCUS!