I've been having real fun creating ACEOs (Art Cards Editions and Originals). There is a set size for them, 2 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches, and people collect them like baseball cards. I may be a little late to this party, but who cares! Maybe it will last a long time! They are created from all sorts of materials such as traditional watercolor materials, canvas and oil or acrylic paint, or even tiny collage materials. Since I primarily work in oils that is what I have been using. At first I gessoed 4-ply mat board and painted on that. That worked fine and was very light to mail after selling on Ebay. Then I decided to  use my regular oil setup of canvas glued to masonite or birch plywood. Those are really, well, I guess "cute" or "precious" is the good old southern term. They have the advantage of being nice for display with a small table-top easel. I always paint the edges and the back so they can be displayed without a frame.It is customary to sign and date on the back side.

These sell on eBay rather well. There are thousands of listings all the time. That's a little discouraging at first glance, but take a look at the "ending soonest" listings. Amazing how many have sold, granted most for a price that's hardly going to keep you out of the bread line. The challenge is to create interesting, real works of art without spending enough time to create a major painting. The painting I'm displaying with this entry is an ACEO that recently sold.

A great day to everyone and happy painting, sculpting, throwing, weaving or whatever you do to let out that creative drive!

    It's been a few days since my first post. Going to have to work on this being a regular feature. So easy to put things off, and then the day has gone by. And that's kind of what this post is about: Tip #2 for
those of us who work up to the last minute, putting off for five
minutes, then ten the fifteen minute ritual of cleaning those brushes.
Because I can't seem to break the habit of cutting the clean-up phase
of a painting session close to the wire, I came up with a partial
remedy. Here it is: (And it only applies to those of you who subscribe
to a newspaper.) Save those orange or blue plastic bags your newspaper comes in when it is thrown on the front walk. Then when you have done a cursory cleaning with mineral spirits, you know - swish, swish, wipe, wipe - drop them into one of the saved bags, squeeze out the air, and tie a knot in the open end.
   This really works for me since I have my studio in a location away from my home. I have been known to leave them for up to 36 hours, and they have still been flexible and ready for their thorough cleaning with soap and  water. Ivory bar soap works fine, but I really like the liquid brush soap called Pink Soap Brush Cleaner. I buy it at my local Michael's, always with a 40% off coupon. Back to the plastic bags: This works especially well when painting on location. The bags save the brushes till back at headquarters or at home and also save your tote bag, your clothes, and possibly your car upholstery.
    And be advised: I do realize that many fellow artists do not live in residential neighborhoods such as mine in little old Abilene and have
newspapers tossed on their walkways each morning. However, perhaps this will get you thinking and you'll come up with another viable solution to the problem of no time left for brush washing. Post your own tip along these lines in Visitor Comments.
    Happy painting everyone!
     

Yes, home again, home again! The last week in July I had several wonderful days painting at sites along the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico. The weather was interesting - more rain than I have ever seen in NM. I was told it was the monsoon season which I did not know occurred in NM. Live and learn! Even though my long-time painting friend, Elaine Koehler, and I had good shelter under the canopy of her sport van, it didn't always help. One day while painting under it we were informed by a local resident that we really didn't want to be in that arroyo when it was raining. He had seen a five foot wall of water swoop down from the mountain, giving only about 5 seconds to seek higher ground. Reluctantly, but grateful for the warning, we packed up and headed for another safer site.

Another day on the Sandia Crest road in a nice picnic area we had wonderful paintings going when thunder and lightening began. Again we packed up and left! All in all, we felt more like storm chasers than painters! However, plein air people are a hardy determined bunch, and the PAPNM mounted a show of about a hundred works that will hang at the Sumner and Dene Gallery in Albuquerque for the month of August. Check it out if you're in the area. In a few days I will post some of my new works which came out of that week.  I will also be sharing some tips for getting out there and enjoying the great outdoors with brush and canvas.  Tip #1: Continually work on lightening your load. It makes running from a storm so much easier!