Friday, March 29, 2013

Paint Party Friday: Week 3, Year 3 Check-In

Welcome to Week 3, Year 3 of Paint Party Friday! Thanks so much for all your input last week about whether Year 3 needs a "theme". We have decided to go ahead with the idea of showing one of the submitted paintings, based on a random number generator. If anyone still wants to submit an interview though, we would love to hear your story! So we will also continue to run interviews as we receive them. (But will stop begging for submissions - haha!)

Last week there were 101 partyers! Wow! For the first PPF Painting Spotlight, the random.org number generator gave us #44 - Victoria Pettella! Below is one of her wonderful spiritual paintings from her post last week:
 

The Visionary~ Sacred Sister Weaver
image courtesy of Victoria Pettella
 
As always, please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.
Have a Happy Easter weekend if you celebrate, and a fun and creative week!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Paint Party Friday: Week 2, Year 3 Check-In

created at photofacefun.com

Welcome to Week 2, Year 3 of Paint Party Friday! We would like to again thank the artists that contributed their time and talents to the Paint Party Friday Auction Blog Hop to Benefit The Sandy Hook Elementary School. Thank you for helping to make this auction blog hop possible! We also want to thank all of you who put in bids, whether yours was the winning bid or not, for these lovely pieces of art. And to all of the rest of you for your encouragement and comments. You are each such a special part of the Paint Party Friday community and your support, effort, and kindness mean the world to us...
It looks like the final total for the auction was over $400.US!

Year 3 - hmmm. We have been debating about what, if anything, to have as a "theme" for Year 3. Year 1 had our art-related or fun polls, Year 2 focused on our Featured Artists. For Year 3, we will continue to have our weekly painting check-ins so we can all paint and party together. Do you want us to do anything more than that though? Some themes/ideas that have been put forward are:
-  a totally optional challenge put forward by one of you for the following week (though some of you really love that PPF has no challenges...)
- a PPF Painting Spotlight: a featured painting of the week selected (by random draw) from the previous week's links
-  links to favourite tutorials (Kristin is already doing some of this on her blog)
- ????

What do you think? Any ideas for a theme? Or shall we just do the check-ins without much ado? Please let us know in the comments, or if you prefer email us with suggestions.
In addition to a great auction last week, it was another hopping party with wonderful art!

As always, please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.
Have a lovely creative week everyone!

P.S. It seems the amount of spam has been increasing. Ugh. Rather than using the horrid and amazingly difficult captcha, we encourage you to either moderate comments or not allow anonymous commenters. Don't click on the links. Just delete the comments. Most are caught in your blog's spam filters anyhow but ignoring and deleting is the easiest strategy! Captcha prevents most people from commenting so please try not to use it. Just delete the spam. Thanks!!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Paint Party Friday: Auction Blog Hop to Benefit The Sandy Hook Elementary School


Welcome to Week 1, Year 3 (!!!) of Paint Party Friday!  We are thrilled with the fun and inspiration that is shared here every week.  So, in honor of  our anniversary, and this wonderful community of artists, we are so excited to bring you the Paint Party Friday Auction Blog Hop to Benefit The Sandy Hook Elementary School!  (What better way to celebrate than by giving back?!?)

We would like to thank the artists that contributed their time and talents to this auction blog hop.  You are each such a special part of the Paint Party Friday community and your support, effort, and kindness mean the world to us... Thank you for helping to make this auction blog hop possible!

Even if you haven't created a painting for the Auction Blog Hop, you can still help... Bids for the artwork are a great way to show your support (bidding takes place at each individual's blog, not the Paint Party Friday blog), and we would love it if you would help spread the word: Facebook, twitter, and instagram are all great places to share this post!

Please click on the link below each of the following images to visit each individual auction:


















*Update*
We just received another auction piece link:


*Please place your bids at the blogs listed 
beneath each painting.*
(Bids will not be accepted at The Paint Party Friday blog.)


As you make your bids, please keep in mind that all proceeds go to a worthy cause... Happy Bidding!

As always, everyone who has a painting post (auction related, or not) is welcome to link-up below.

*** Auction Participants:  Please also use Mister Linky.  And, when you type in your name, be sure to write "AUCTION PIECE".  Thank you again for your contributions!!!

As always, please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

There Is Still Time!

"Sandy Hook Angels"
image courtesy of Geralyn Chouinard

The Paint Party Friday Auction Blog Hop
To Benefit The Sandy Hook Elementary School
is just a few days away...

There is still time to send in your image!

For more details about the Auction Blog Hop,
please click here.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Paint Party Friday: Week 52, Year 2 Check In - The Auction is Next Week!

Welcome to Paint Party Friday Week 52, Year 2! The Auction Blog Hop to Benefit The Sandy Hook Elementary School is next week!  There is still time to create an auction post and participate. (If you'd like more details, please click here.)  Even if you haven't sent us an image, you can still participate. You will be able to link your auction post next week, the only difference is that your image may not show up on the PPF homepage the day of the auction.  (We will continue to check our inbox for images though, so we'll try to include ones that are sent in past today's deadline.)

Today, we are sharing a sample auction post that might help to give you some ideas for when you are writing yours, and we hope it will also answer any remaining questions.  (This is just a sample - it is not an actual auction post.)  If not, please ask any questions you have in the comments or by email...

"Tribute (One World One Heart)"     10 1/2"x11"     acrylic on wood

I am thrilled to welcome you to my auction post for The Paint Party Friday Auction Blog Hop to Benefit the Sandy Hook Elementary School!

On December 14th, 2012, tragedy struck as 20 innocent children and 6 brave adults lost their lives in the second deadliest shooting in American history...
---------
This would be a good place to write what impact the Sandy Hook Tragedy had on you, why you're auctioning the painting, and any other personal things you may want to include.
---------

All proceeds from this painting will go directly to a Sandy Hook Elementary Charity.
(Details below.)


About the Painting: 
This painting was created with acrylics on a 10 1/2" x 11" piece of wood.
The 1/2" sides are painted black and it has a coating of gloss polyurethane for protection.
The back is signed and dated by me, and it has a sawtooth hanger attached 
(so that it is ready for immediate display)!

Auction Details:
This auction will run from Friday March 15th, 2013 until 
Monday March 18th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EDT.
(I am in New York, to find out what time that is where you are click here.)

Shipping (anywhere worldwide) is free. 
(If painting is shipped internationally, shipping is still free BUT 
the buyer is responsible for any duty/taxes/etc.)

How to bid:
1. Place a bid (with a way to reach you) in the comments section.
2. Bookmark this page so that you can easily check back to see if you've been outbid 
(and need to make another bid).
3. If you are the winning bid, I will contact you.
4. Payment will be made from you to a Sandy Hook Elementary charity (see below).
*I will not personally be collecting any money.*
5. Once you have made your donation to the Sandy Hook Elementary charity, you will send your proof of donation (a forwarded receipt) to me at: 
insertanemailaddresshere (at) gmail (dot) com
6. After I have received your proof of donation (and you have given me your address), I will mail your painting out to you! 

As you make your bids, please keep in mind that all proceeds go to a worthy cause...
Happy Bidding!

Sandy Hook Elementary Charities where donations can be made:



**

The above post was just an example.  When you are writing your own auction post, you can write whatever you would like, but be sure to include important details like:
- The size of the painting and materials used to create it
- When the bidding starts and when the bidding ends (we recommend keeping the auction open for at least the weekend).
- How (and where) to make a donation
- If you will ship internationally (remember that as an auction participant, you are responsible for shipping costs)




 ***IMPORTANT*** : 
Although Paint Party Friday will post images and links on the day of the auction, the Paint Party Friday blog will not be accepting bids, collecting or sending money, contacting winning bidders, or shipping any paintings. Each participant will be responsible for their own individual auction.


We're excited for next week, hope you are too! Meanwhile the party comtinues to hop and the art is awesome and inspiring. Thanks everyone!
As always, please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.
Have a great week!

Friday, March 1, 2013

Paint Party Friday: Week 51, Year 2 Check In Featured Artist: Marjorie Thompson

image courtesy of Marjorie Thompson

Welcome to Week 51, Year 2 of Paint Party Friday!  This week's featured artist grew up in a gallery (literally!), and it is very apparent when you view her amazing paintings that she is definitely at home in the studio.  Please welcome Marjorie (Marji) Thompson!




Please tell us a bit about your personal history with painting. (When did you start painting? How has your painting evolved since you first started?)
I started painting as a kid. My Dad was an Artist; a painter. Our beach home was his studio and art gallery which was open to the public on weekends and in the summer. I grew up immersed in art and working in and creating for the gallery. I learned everything I know about art from my Dad. I have no formal training in terms of art schooling. The mentoring that he provided to me growing up is what fuels me now as I go forward with my art.



When I went off to college, art came to a screeching halt for me. No art in my life for about 17 years while I got on with life. I jumped back into art again by working with metal and creating fabricated silver jewelry. The jewelry business treated me well, but I never felt that it was the “be all end all” for me. I left that behind after 7 years and dabbled in being a small business owner. In order to concentrate on this new business, I closed the door on my studio and once again shut art out of my life. It took me 5 more years to finally understand that a creative outlet in art is what makes me my best me – that it is not possible for me to live a happy and full life without it.



Three years ago, my Dad passed away. I felt lost without him as my anchor and grounding to art. Rather than striking up the jewelry business again, I decided to get back into painting and keep some connection to my Dad and all that he taught me. I grew up painting with oils and acrylics and I inherited all of his old paints and brushes. Yet, this type of painting didn’t feel quite right to me even though it was what I knew.



Purely by chance, I wandered in on an encaustic painting demo during an open studio tour. I knew immediately that painting with hot wax was the direction for me. I sought out lessons and workshops and set up my encaustic studio January of 2011.

image courtesy of Marjorie Thompson
 
What are your favorite techniques, media, and tools to use in creating your paintings?
Hot wax (encaustic) is one of the most amazing mediums out there. Of course I am a little biased. It can be sculpted, textured, and layered. You can embed paper, transfer photos, ink, pastels... it is really as vast as the imagination of the person creating with it. I make my own medium (beeswax + damar resin) in my garage. I use R&F encaustic paints as well as tint my own with oil paint and with dry pigments. My palettes are two pancake griddles that I purchased at Target. My favorite tools are pottery making tools with various sizes of scrapers, cookie cutters, and book binding awls. I also use my Dad’s old oil painting brushes.

image courtesy of Marjorie Thompson



What is your favorite thing to paint? Why?
I’m still in discovery mode in my art. I feel like an adventurer every time I enter my studio. Seems that animals and birds are what I am enjoying painting right now. It takes me back to my roots when I was a kid and animals were the subjects of all my paintings. I am also enjoying painting portraits – the human face is so interesting. I feel that abstract art is so very difficult for me. It seems to be the subject most encaustic artists paint, but for me – a portrait is easier.

image courtesy of Marjorie Thompson



What is your proudest painting moment and/or greatest painting achievement so far? 
My greatest painting moment to date happened this past summer. I pushed myself to get my art out on view to the world, which was a big step at the time. I entered two juried local shows. It was a hugely proud moment for me to see my art hanging on the walls in these two shows. I hadn’t seen my paintings on public display since I was a kid. It felt like I had met a major milestone on the artful journey.

image courtesy of Marjorie Thompson



What's next in your painting future?
I just want to carry on with the wax. I love its quirky nature and I feel that I am finally getting the hang of it. I’ve learned to work with it versus try to control it. I keep experimenting and trying new things. I’m also finding that I am really enjoying using oil paints and it’s a nice contrast to the wax. It offers the control and detail that is so very difficult with wax and thus it feeds my need to paint a little finer. I love painting portraits and want to move into figurative painting as well as painting larger. Birds and animals will always be my subjects, but I’m looking to find more creative ways to paint them.



I have two local events that I am getting ready for. One is the entire month of April my art will hang in a public space and be part of a local art walk event. The other is the spring wine release at a local winery in May.



I want to keep getting my art out into the world. I just launched my online gallery and also a Facebook artist’s page. Little steps towards something big.

**

Thank you for such a beautifully inspiring interview, Marji!  And, congratulations on launching your online gallery and facebook page - We're sure this is just the beginning of "something big"!

To learn more about Marjorie, please visit:

Blog: www.sunbreaksintheforecast.blogspot.com
Gallery: http://marjoriethompsonart.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarjorieThompsonArt
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/marjit/
Flickr: Rain City Girl http://www.flickr.com/photos/47555374@N03/
Instagram: raincitygirl http://instagram.com/raincitygirl


**********
Hey PPFers... The PPF Auction Blog Hop to benefit Sandy Hook Elementary School is just a couple weeks away!  There is still time to paint and plan your auction post... If you are planning on participating, please be sure to send us a photo or scan of your painting (and your blog link) by next Friday (March 8th).
(To find out more about the auction blog hop, please click here.)
**********

As always, please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins. Have a fun and creative week!