Artisan and Artifacts

February has always, always produced significant changes in my life. I warned those around me that change was upon us (again) Do I make this stuff up? Probably! And, when I make this stuff up in my mind, change inevitably presents itself. You've heard of things like vision boards, dream journaling and creative visualization, haven't you? These things work for me and I might add, anyone who plays around with the many ways that prayer works.

Some awesome things showed up, as expected. I never know exactly what they will look like, but change is ALWAYS good and for me like unwrapping a gift. I know, it's going to be good, I just don't know exactly what is inside the package.

I was in belief that opportunity would appear that would provide me with more ways to make a living as an artist. After a heavy duty year of accumulating doctor and hospital bills around my husband's illnesses and surgeries, we just needed a boost to get to the other side of the financial obligations. Voila! A meeting of the minds with the owner of my favorite store,  Artisan Santa Fe, brought forth the chance to collaborate with this Santa Fe institution! I am now working with them as Outreach Coordinator to further the already successful classes, demos, events and their world famous Artisan Materials Expo . If there is something I love as much as creating my own art, it is nurturing creativity in the world! So, you see, I get to do both!

View from my desk at Artisan Santa Fe . Go ahead and drool if you love art supplies!

One of the terrific things about my new position is the flexibility that allows me to continue on my path as an artist. Speaking of THAT, my paintings landed in a beautiful gallery Artifacts Gallery in Farmington, New Mexico beginning in April! Just when I thought the only wondrous thing about Farmington was our youngest son and daughter-in-love and our cherished granddaughter, Layla. Now, I will combine two of passions (Layla and Art) in every monthly trip to NW New Mexico! How great is that?! Check out Artifacts Gallery  It is worth the trip. Stay tuned. I'll have much more to share about this serendipitous place!

 Layla helped me discover this magical gallery!

Kaleidescope Show

The past two years have been an art whirlwind! I was telling the story about how the very esteemed Dallas Dutch Art Gallery "discovered" me in Santa Fe and changed my life. Thanks to the very fine, Fine Artist, Sharon Hodges and incredibly talented and most hard working artist I know Painter Extraordinaire Kay Wyne for pointing Dutch Art Gallery owners Pam and Hans Massar my way! It's been such a wonderful experience being in partnership with an organization that sets the bar so high. Let's just say that after 50 years in business they know how the art world works!  The gallery is gorgeous and represents some of the finest artists from around the world. They treat their artists like valued partners and their collectors like family!

The Kaleidoscope show featuring Kay and Sharon and me opened with great success on Saturday. I am happy to say four of my paintings found new homes on opening day! Plus, a ton of my stationary with images of my paintings. The show is so colorful and inspiring with each of us bringing something totally new to the gallery walls. If you missed it, stop by and see it before March 1st!

You know, I am from Dallas, which adds the fun element of getting to see old friends when I come to these shows. Here are some of my loves and supporters of my creative career. I am truly one lucky artist!

Friend, Artist Advocate and Collector Gayla and Me

(and the Magical Mystery Tour! )

Just two little Beatlemaniacs who have loved each other since 5th grade! 

Cyndi and Me

 

Stop over to Facebook for blow by blow descriptions of this artist's shenanigans in between my oh so sporadic blogging! https://www.facebook.com/lisaadamsreedart/

 

Holiday Shopping!

Happy holidays art lovers!

I have a few things for you in all prices for gift giving. Contact me at lisaadamsreed@gmail.com and I'll ship your favorites to you right away.

Take your pick. The Star Mountain Series include 8 cards and envelopes, two of each season. Christmas special 12.00.

I also have a limited number of 6 x 9 spiral bound lined journals. Who doesn't love a new journal?! Stocking Stuffer priced at $14.00

And, how about a 9 x12 poster of Star Mountain Fall. It would be great framed! A deal at $20.00!


Of course, my original paintings including five brand new ones are on my website. Who wants to surprise someone with a very special gift? Shop here> http://lisaadamsreed.com/

I am so grateful for this year in art. Thank you deeply for supporting me in so many ways!
With holiday blessings one and all.
Lisa

Dutch Art Gallery Anniversary Show

My head is spinning from the events of the past couple of weeks! Beginning with a trip to Dallas for the 50th anniversary celebration of Dutch Art Gallery. Three of my paintings were in the past Present Future Juried Show. I'm so honored to be included with so many wonderful artists at such a premier gallery! They haven't been in business for 50 years for no reason! I got goosebumps when I was presented with The People's Choice Award again this year. I am so fortunate that so many people come out and vote for my paintings! It brings me incredible joy and the encouragement really keeps me going on this art journey.

Super treat to have Scott and family come by. He was in our house as much as our own sons growing up and I feel like he's my own. Little Parker helped me accept the award!

My family turns always turns out! Sister and beau from Santa Fe, nieces, brother and sis in law from Austin and Aubrey and old friend I've known since birth from Dallas. Paul said he always loves to see how people react to my work. I felt loved!

Mark your calendars for the next show. February 7th same place! This one will be extra special! Details will follow on my website. 

http://lisaadamsreed.com/

Free Poster Anyone?

I am at a point on the layering process where the carving begins and final paintings start to appear at a pretty fast clip. I'll be posting daily and want to be sure the paintings are seen by many so they can find good homes. I'd be ever so grateful if you would help me! Here's how to help and for me to show my appreciation.

FREE POSTER!

I am giving away an 11 x 17 poster of one of my most asked about sold paintings, "Star Mountain Fall".  Here's how to win:

*Subscribe to my website that will allow me to send you an occasional newsletter. Just click here and scroll to the bottom of the page after you've looked around. http://lisaadamsreed.com/ Your name will be entered into a drawing for the poster. That's easy!
 
Have you already subscribed to my website? Thank you!  You can still play! Just share My Website (and this offer) with your friends on your favorite social media spot and make sure I know. Your name goes in the hopper, too. Win Win Win!

Drawing will be Sunday night. I'll notify the winner by email. The poster is packed and ready to ship to the winner.

Thank you for popping by and for supporting my passion to bring beautiful art into the world!

Lisa

Nurturing Creativity-Part II

Expressing Gratitude-This is a BIG one for me. Many years ago my life was tremendously impacted by a sweet book written by Sara Ban Breathnach. It was "Simple Abundance". The world was abuzz with the concept of keeping gratitude journals. Not a new concept, but instantly driven home to the masses by this book and Oprah's endorsement. I bought a dozen copies and gave them to the women in my life that I loved dearly. It was just too good not to share the power of simply writing down five things we are grateful for every day and how this practice creates abundance. It's a universal law. REALLY, it is!

That was about seventeen years ago and I still practice gratitude journaling to this day. I remember it being difficult at times. But, most days, I could go on and on. Last week, I modeled for some students in an art class and spent the entire three hours listing (in my mind) all the things for which I am grateful. I wish I had counted them as I went. But, when I get started, the things I am grateful for rather flood my brain and there would be no way to keep count. It's truly euphoric! 

 This is me being grateful!

 

Although there are many brilliant works on this topic gratitude ,  I share with you this turning point for me as I recall lying in the hammock every evening while my husband, Charles, read the daily writings of "Simple Abundance" to me. We both shared what we had written in our gratitude journals and marveled that we had so much overlap. 

Grace is available for each of us every day-our spiritual daily bread-but we've got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart and not worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.
 -Sarah Ban Breathnach

It is a lifestyle of expressing gratitude that nurtures my creativity. Seeing simple beauty around me supports my mission to create more beauty. And, that's how I see it! What nurtures your heart's desires?

Come see my new paintings!

With much gratitude,
Lisa

Nurturing Creativity-Part I

Nurturing creativity is a big job but I am up for it! For me, it's not as simple as walking into the studio and picking up a paint brush. My whole life needs to be about living full out passionately and creatively as a way to feed my heart and soul.  Hopefully, that focus translates to what I create in my studio.

Thinking back on the past few days of what fed my creativity I noticed these are some of the things that brought inspiration to me:


Dancing. There is always dancing before dipping my brush into paint.  I also had a ton of fun dancing and drumming this weekend at our Co-housing Community's Annual Feast Day.

Doodling and sketching. I think I have always had a writing instrument in my hand since birth. It helps the old ADD situation to scribble while attempting to concentrate!

 
Life Drawing Group is a a new found lifeline.for me. It's so very different from the work I do professionally. It truly creates new openings in my brain that make things flow a bit easier when I hit that canvas with cold wax! I LOVE it!

The Artist's Way. Huge topic but something that has helped me uncover my creativity and feeds my spirituality beyond measure. I have participated in many groups, facilitated some and even attended one led my Julia Cameron herself.  The entire process is a lifestyle for me that I recommend to anyone wanting to know themselves better.

Nature is critical in nourishing my creativity. I mean, I paint trees. I owe it to them to be out there with them showing them my gratitude. Plus, it's clearly fall in Santa Fe and that makes my heart sing!

Meditation happens almost every morning of my life and keeps me on the sane side of the scale so I can get crazy with paint after I've had coffee!

Photography- nothing fancy here. But, taking pics of ordinary things gives me moments of focus and appreciation for the beautiful things surrounding me.  

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it" Alice Walker

Who knows I might even be inspired to paint something purple!

Thanks for stopping by. I'll post Part II on what helps me stay inspired later.

My website has some new paintings and  news of upcoming events. I hope you will visit me there and sign up for my newsletter. http://lisaadamsreed.com/

On this beautiful fall day that's HOW I SEE IT!  What inspires you??

Manifesting the Perfect Galleries

 
I'm big on writing things down in order to manifest my heart's desires. I'm sure that is one of the ways I found myself in four galleries in four cities my first full year as a full time professional artist. I have learned more than I can possibly share about the process of locating the perfect galleries and the best partnerships to ensure success for the gallery and me. I've made a few mistakes and am grateful for those. I am smacking myself a bit that I didn't apply all the things I know from past careers in management, sales, retail, business, entrepreneurship etc. before I accepted some invitations to show my work in galleries that were not a good match. Hey...I am still learning discernment, okay?!

There is much written for artists about how to select gallery representation. I say "select" because I do feel some artists (ahem, me) can be so eager to have representation they settle. That is not good for anyone. With so many ways to market ourselves it's possible for our art to be sold while searching for the perfect partnerships with the very best galleries. A bad partnership is far worse than no partnership.

So, I have gone through the process of listening to my heart (duh, I forgot for a moment!) and have made my own list of criteria for what I need from galleries with whom I entrust my work...my heart. I look at it the same way I would if I were interviewing for a job. Not only do they need to want my paintings because they know they will make them money, I have to believe in them and their professionalism and integrity.

Maybe my own list of what I need from Gallery Representation will help other artists who are on the same journey. And, the list serves to remind me that it is great partnerships that are non negotiable for me. 

I see the galleries with the below qualities:

Partnership with artists is important to both parties

Agrees to have adequate number of paintings hanging (one or two paintings won't pay either of our rents and takes me off the market in surrounding areas)

Professional sales people on staff

OPEN retail hours of business

Advertises

Co-op advertising possibilities

Participates in local marketing opportunities

Does local networking

Hosts Artist's receptions

Has Artist's shows

Website is updated regularly

Utilizes Social Media

Stays in contact with existing collector base about new work

Notifies artist when paintings are sold and provides feedback

Scheduled monthly pay schedule

Open to Artist participating in demos and receptions

Does marketing via email and snail mail 

Nurtures collectors by showing appreciation and inviting back to gallery

There are so many other things to share that have already been written about the Artist/Gallery relationship. I share this article for that purpose. http://www.artbusiness.com/choosedealer.html

I am now tenaciously and actively focused on manifesting representation in all the places I know will sell my paintings with joy and gratitude and make us all successful!

I am fortunate to be in the  Dutch Art Gallery-Dallas who has been in business for 50 years! Obviously they know what they are doing and have set the bar VERY high!  See you there On November 7th for the 50th Anniversary show!

Thank you for stopping by and come on by my website often to see newest paintings. I am ever so grateful for your interest!

What the heck is cold wax?

When I say I am an artist working in Cold Wax and oil, the next comment is often "Oh, Encaustic!" Many people know about or have heard of Encaustic painting which is a totally different ball game using heated beeswax. Hot vs. cold---get it?  I thought I'd share a resource that explains what cold wax is, how it works, resources and artists (including moi of course, go see!) who work largely in this, my personal favorite yummy medium-Cold Wax. All you ever wanted to know about cold wax and the artists who love it>  COLD WAX PAINTING. 

Don't you just want to get your hands in it? Psssst...SECRET: I reach into the gallon jug of Cold Wax with my hand and slop it right onto my palette-by the handful! It's a messy business I tell you. I love the super creamy, almost sensual, feel of it. Plus, I paint with my heart and soul and I suppose that begins with my fingertips. When you come to my studio, you WILL touch it, too. It's my way of entertaining my guests and sharing my passion. Stop on by when you're in Santa Fe or just look in on my website. Bunches of new things on the horizon so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss all the important stuff i.e shenanigans. http://lisaadamsreed.com/
 

It Takes a Village!

It sure takes a village for an artist to be able to make and sell art!  Artists who want to create simple can't be stopped. But, we can sure stall out if many things don't fall into place. I am here to express gratitude to all the people and components that have fallen into place to make my art life possible. The people who support me and love me. Wayyyy too many individuals to list, because each of the people that believe in me have supported me in their own unique and generous ways like:

Brainstorming on how I might get to where I wanted to be as an artist
Handed me money to buy supplies (so that I could buy more than one tube at a time!)
Put a down payment on a painting that they just knew would happen in the future
Honestly and gently critiquing my works in progress to help me get better
Gifting me with my website
Coaching me on how to promote myself
Creating a name for my work-Soulscapes
Connecting me with people that matter
Buying my paintings
Paying me more than I even asked!
Sharing your love of what I do with others
Letting me know that what I do brings you joy
Propping me up when I've been really really scared!

I could go on and on and on. All I know is that there are so many super talented artists that need the same sort of encouragement. We can be a fragile bunch and I know too many gifted artists that could use the same sort of help you have given me. I am FILLED with gratitude!

I wrote a letter to the awesome owner of Santa Fe's art store Artisan  Ron Whitmore, when I was overcome with the serendipitous sequence of events that led me to this place of being a Cold Wax artist. I saw he added it to the monthly newsletter sent by his store and thought I would share. It summarizes my story a little bit if you have an interest :)  http://artisan-santafe.com/artenews/

It takes a village. And, that's the way I see it. 

With gratitude that grows and grows because of you,
Lisa
www.lisaadamsreed.com ---won't you go see my latest art and news and subscribe? 
https://www.facebook.com/lisaadamsreedart ---please like me

Note Cards-SALE!

I have a few sets of note cards of my Star Mountain series available for sale. There are eight to a set-two of each season. If you'd like for me to send some your way email me at Lisaadamsreed@gmail.com. That is also my paypal address where you can send $15.00. That includes shipping. You can also pay by check if that suits you. Let me know and I'll send my address. Be sure to include yours in the email. Thank you and I hope you enjoy for yourself or for gifts! 

River Light Gallery-Crested Butte Colorado

We just returned from Crested Butte Colorado where my work is now being represented by the beautiful River Light Gallery.  It was an incredibly special experience because my family has a very long love affair with the area. My grandparents began exploring the area before I was even born! We have photos of my first vacation to Spring Creek Resort. I was a baby being bathed in the cabin’s kitchen sink! Charles and I got married by the banks of Spring Creek in 1981. And, now my brother and sister in law have a dreamy home nearby.  This feels like a very surreal, full circle experience having my paintings hanging in a gallery right smack in the middle of Crested Butte!

What a bonus to get to hike amidst the Aspens that so inspire my paintings. There was something so special about exploring caves and deteriorating 1800’s miner’s cabins. The ground feels eerily sacred and fed my creative soul. Can’t wait to get into some paint to see what happens next!

Special thanks to Charles and Gretchen, my biggest supporters, for being there for every minute of the inspiration and celebration. And, to the super talented Mike Mahoney and the wonderfully welcoming Pam Mahoney for making me feel like I belonged with the talented artists at River Light Gallery. It was a weekend to remember!

I'm baaaaack! And, here's how I see it........

Here's (some) of what happened since we last connected in the Land of Blog.

1. I got lost in the social media world of, well mostly Facebook , and forgot how much fun I used to have blogging. Someone told me that not everyone is on Facebook.  Whaaaat? Took me a minute to pick my chin up off the ground and consider that it might be true. So here I am blogging again!

2.  I dove head first into the world of My Paintings.  And, if you know me you know I cannot actually dive, so it was more like a cannonball splash with some crazy flailing along the way.

3. The harder I've worked the luckier I've gotten. In my first year of being a full time artist, I found myself (my paintings) in FOUR galleries, won a bunch of awards and received recognition that actually makes me humbly shake my head. Alternately, I pat myself on the back for all the hard work :)

4. We became grandparents to the sweetest little girl child that ever walked the planet! And, since she walked at eight months old, she is clearly a phenom. I have no words or paintings that compare to the beauty of having a grandchild.

Here's a painting that represents all the growth and change that seems to happen if you just show up and follow your heart. The Tree of Life can be seen on Canyon Road at Bill Hester Fine Art.

While you are here, I'd love it if you followed my blog. There's so much more to come. It's good to be back! Thank you for joining me

Blog CPR

Wow!  I haven't posted a thing to this blog since May 2011. So many reasons I suppose- busy family, work, enjoying all that life in Santa Fe has to offer..yada yada.  I simply gave up a daily sketching practice. My art went an entirely different direction. Since I went through that little vision loss incident a few years ago, I always felt there was something new out there for me to create. I knew there was a medium, yet untried, that would make my heart skip a beat. And, I experimented with many things. I found the medium I loved in something I had never even heard of until a year or so ago. Cold Wax! It's the yummiest. Mixed with oil paint, it goes on like creamy canned frosting. More on the process later.

I've been into this stuff like a crazy woman, painting like a maniac. My dear friends Jilly and Danny and Ralph http://www.posterboyz.com/ gifted me with a website for my recent birthday to spur me on and nudge me to sell my creations. It's been such a delightful reinforcement to have people buying my paintings right out of the gate. My heart is in my art and it brings me great joy when people enjoy it and are willing to pay for it!

So, if you've hung around this long to share my journey, I'll be extra tickled if you go check out my new website. And, if we're not already friends on facebook, we should be. That's How I See It :)

Come see me. I hope you like :)
http://www.lisaadamsreed.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LisaReedSF
https://www.facebook.com/lisa.adams.reed

21 Days of Gratitude

My "High Five" for this day is rolled into one. See how bad I am at following directions?! I know my instructor understands me!

I did this little ink and watercolor sketch of where I work. It's Santa Fe Dry Goods on the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am grateful for it for many reasons. Here are five of them:

1)It's the best place to work in Santa Fe
2)I am happy to be making money
3)I enjoy building teams
4)I love my boss
5)It's cool working on the Plaza
And, that's the way I see it!

21 Days of Gratitude

The class assignment had something to do with expressing gratitude about food. I suppose I could have been more reverent than drawing a pint of Ben and Jerry's. But, of well. Thank you God, for ice cream!

21 Days of Gratitude

So grateful for time to spread out art supplies and play on a Sunday afternoon! This is a bunch of old zentangles that I mutilated and collaged back together. Something about doodling that makes my brain happy! At least, that's the way I see it!

21 Days of Gratitude

I am enjoying the 21 days of gratitude, even though I am doing things out of order and not getting around to posting. I suppose I am not much a a linear thinker and am prone to breaking the rules. My "plan" is to enjoy all kinds of mediums in this class and not to torture myself when I miss a day. It's a fun way to express gratitude and I never stop doing that!

So here is a funky altered photo I did. The background is a mixed media background that I did sometime ago. An old photo of me and my boys layered on top of it and altered in Picnik, which is just as fun as it gets!

I am grateful to have these guys!

21 Days of Gratitude

I have signed up for a 21 day art journaling class that started today. The theme is gratitude. If you read back or know me, you know that I am a big believer in writing down what I am grateful for. And, that I set an intention long ago to express it through art. My blogging buddy, Donna, who is a creativity coach and delightful artist is leading the online course. How could I resist her talent and charm?? http://creativitymattersblog.blogspot.com/ 

So, barely unpacked in our bigger place in Santa Fe, and trying to get my legs under me in a new job, I decided why not now? Right??  I have plenty to be grateful for and want to share that. I begin with a photo I took on a recent visit to Napa (shout out to the Bads)  and plan on using paint and who knows what else in the the next 21 days to express the gratitude I feel for everyday things, people, places, feelings.... 

Sooo, here we go............and that is how I see it!

Denton, Texas- Downtown Square

Last night I "met" a new person online who had become a follower either here or on Flickr. She is a talented photographer who had taken many photos in  the North Texas Area, more specifically, Denton! Today, I stumbled upon some sketches I did around the charming downtown Denton Square. Like most small towns, some antique buildings have had a metamorphosis. Dentonites (is that the right word?) will recognize this old theater which eventually became a place of worship. I meant to go in the building while we lived nearby and never did. Shoot! What's it like inside?

I am thinking of all the people I love in the Denton area. Sketches certainly imprint fond memories!

Mais Oui, Sunflower

The previously mentioned workshop has me fully charged and I am playing with so many old sketches and turning them into new "creations". Truly, it's a blast!

So the first image is stage one that includes torn up copies of a some of my mixed media journal pages, (thanks Linka for teaching me how to do that!) and various fruits, flowers, leaves, stamps from other old paintings.

I added gesso to some Strathmore Inkjet Textured Paper. After all, the 15 minute online workshop I took was sponsored by Strathmore. Oddly, I had bought the paper before I even knew of the workshop. Then, I added some really drippy acrylics. I ran the original collage through the printer onto the newly painted paper.

I have some ideas about how to proceed. Stay tuned! Could be interesting :)

So, I did the next step according to the lesson and I had no feel for what to do with oil pastels. None. And, I haven't even decided I want to learn how to use them. I added some black. Linka always tells me "you need a little black". And, outlined some lettering, smeared some pastels around and walked away from the painting! So, I'll wait for the next lesson to see if I continue this little exercise. It's a process!

Sacred Sepia

There are so many inexpensive and even free workshops online. FREE fits right into my budget! I signed up for a cool little series of Visual Journaling workshops and took the first today.  http://www.strathmoreartist.com/vjworkshop2011.html.

It was more fun than a barrel of monkeys collaging with bits and pieces of old sketches, photos and miscellaneous ephemera!

*******************************************************************************

Step 2--added a little depth, definition and softened some edges with colored pencil

****************************************************************************

Step 3
I think I mushed this one up trying the oil pastel route. It's either take a class or trash those suckers! Poor lady, looks like she got socked in the face. Back to the drawing board!

Last step. Hard to see the changes actually. Changed the Artist's Way to Enjoy and it's definition.There is alot of metallic added to with ink, pigment and markers that simply don't show up in this post. Per the lesson, I added some designs and doodles in the negative spaces, added some white and darkened some lines. a very fun exercise. Now, on the finish the next! (Not that I won't revisit this one at some point!)

As I said, I had to revisit this project. I am addicted to altering images in http://www.picnik.com/  It is so much fun!! This is simply "reversing" the previous image. I think it is far more interesting than the original, but I love color and these colors appeal to my senses.

House portraits

I have started to do these house portraits again and really enjoy it. They seem to make the owners really happy and that makes ME happy!

These were challenging, with so many amenities, I had to leave some of them out. Hard to get the fish ponds, pool, outdoor kitchen, putting green etc. in the small sketch. But, the home owners seemed tickled...whew!
I hope you will visit me often as I update my other site with new photos of house portraits.
http://sketchmyhome.blogspot.com/