I haven't written in forever so there's so much to update you on!

I recently finished a few new pieces. Some are a bit different than my usual style. I have also sold a few pieces as well. This is called Dancing in Darkness
The idea behind this painting is to represent my life. I am pulled in so many different directions on a daily basis with my painting, whatever needs to be done around the house and the kids and hubby. There's also other things that I have either recently added to my already busy schedule or are on a temporary basis but it complicates things further. The heart being stretched on three sides represents my husband and my two children. Not meaning that they are all fighting for my love but that it is something that sort of happens when you get married and have kids. You tend to try to balance it all out with equal time and affection for everyone. I added the "body parts", I'll call them, because I felt like adding a psychical representation of the directional pull would give even more meaning to the piece.

Another new piece, called A Place in Time

This is a very small painting (5" x 12") done on a gallery wrapped canvas so there's no frame. I am experimenting with abstracts, playing with color and dimension.

I love how this one looks. It's very simple but in my opinion, very interesting. And can be interpreted to mean many different things. I will leave the meaning up to the viewer!

You Make Me Cry. Another very small painting, 5" x 12" as well. This one is a perfect painting for a small area in your kitchen that needs a little interest. I take many pictures while I'm out and about and this one was from our local farmer's market that we go to almost every Saturday for fresh produce and flowers. It was just the perfect photo and I loved the way the back onions are in shadow.

Favorite Places
I was again playing with color with this one. I love how the different swirls of color contrast with the black so I knew I wanted to do the free-flowing "shapes" in the background with bright vibrant colors and then lay the starkness of the black overtop. I had the thought of the bridges before I started this painting so I incorporated that into this piece. It's different bridges from some of my favorite locations. I also added some that I would like to visit as well, like a bridge from Australia. Some are very easy to identify, like the Brooklyn Bridge, other's, not so much. I love how it looks, especially framed. I like how the black of the frame really brings out the black in the piece.

I HEART ART I just had an event on October 29th at my home called I HEART ART. This was a rescheduled party, the first one was the same night we got hit with Hurricane Irene. I must have great timing because this one was snow. IN OCTOBER! Ugh. We had six artists committed but only 3 (including me) were here. All-in-all it turned out to be a really nice night. I was disappointed with the artists that didn't show up but we had about 20 people that came, during the course of the 3 hours and it was quite lovely. We had a singing duo that played from 7:30-8:30 and wine and finger foods. I had several of my neighbors that came and they actually bought stuff! Good for me since all I sold at the first event in June was one print. I put out a lot of money from my own pocket in addition to what the other artists pay to participate so that one print didn't really make a dent in what I spent for the event. This was much better for me but not so much for the other 2 artists. I sold these 2 original paintings that night

In addition I sold quite a few other items so I was happy about it. I ended up buying a piece from one of the other artists, Danny Dennison. I was eyeing up his work at the last event but since I didn't make any money I couldn't buy anything. This time I made the money to buy a piece. So this piece is now mine!

Melancholy #2

Once in a while my husband and I splurge a little for some art. I will usually only buy original hand made pieces from artists that I know and whose work I love. I just like to surround myself with pretty, interesting objects and this one has made me happy! So needless-to-say I have been extremely busy! I also joined a gym to try to get back into shape before the husband and I go to Punta Cana in a month. It's a scary thing wearing a bikini in December! I want to make it a little less scary! I have a trainer named Kenny. I swear he hates me and is trying to kill me slowly with each session. But I think all the work is staring to pay off. I can see some changes now and just have to keep up with it. It's tough because it just means less painting. Nothing else can be eliminated so that's what gets pushed to the side.

We are also finished the whole process for adopting a child (maybe 2). Long process that started about 8 months ago. So....that will be a new chapter in my life when that happens! Ha!

Coasters, coasters and more coasters! $20 for a set of 4!

I have been working very hard on these coasters to perfect the process and make them as beautiful as the original paintings that they are made from. There is a resin finish on each, they are a standard coaster size (4" x 4") and they are great for cold beverages (not hot). They come in sets of 4 and the sets are below. They are available singly for $6.50 each or a set of 4 for $20. Just send me an email with your order: Tracie@funkshonalArt.com.

"Summatime!"
[clockwise]
1.Let's Play 2.Looking Up
3.Palmer 4.Balance

This is a close up of one of the coasters to see the glossy finish on them.

"Abstraction"
[clockwise]
1.Leaves 2.Pool of Blue
3.Gram 4.Growth

"Local Color"
[clockwise]
1.Swinging 2. Oh Char
3.Reaching for the Sun 4.To Philly

"Botanical"
[clockwise]
1.Tulips from Dad 2.Yellow Lily in Bloom
3.Black and White Daisies 4.Orange Hues

"Great Memories"
[clockwise]
1.To Jess and Justins 2.Freedom
3. Reaching for the Sun 4.To Philly

"Romance"
[clockwise]
1.Chianti 2.Meet Me
3.Key to My Heart 4.Friday Night













I would love to hear any comments to what you think of the new coasters. Please also visit my website, http://wwww.FunkshonalArt.com, to see the original paintings that inspired these coasters and also all of my other work. I paint children's stools, murals, custom portraits and more!

New painting and COASTERS!! yay!

This is a new piece called Grandma's Vase. It's acrylic on canvas and comes framed. It is 16" x 20" and is $125.
I started making my coasters today with my paintings on them and what a project it has been! I first had to figure out how to print onto tissue paper (or tracing paper). I find that with these kinds of goofy things I usually have luck with youtube. So I watched a video on how to print on tissue paper, tried it myself and failed. Doh! Had like 4 paper jams before quitting. So I had to sort of just figure it out. Success! Finally! So then I took the printed tracing paper and sprayed adhesive on the back and then mixed some liquid resin and poured it over them. Just waiting for them all to dry now. They look really nice. I already got an order for 3 sets (of 4 coasters) from a neighbor who came by to see what I was doing. Yay!

So I was trying to get these done in time for my 2nd Saturday showing in Collingswood tonight but the ones I did yesterday didn't exactly work out so had to make more today. Well, they turned out great except the resin basically glued them to the plywood I was using under them to sit them on. So today I rested each one on a can of veggies. We have lots of cans of veggies! I ended up making a total of 22 of them. And 1/2 were sold before they were done so I'll be making more this week.

If you would like to order a set they are $20 (set of 4). You can have a mixture of different ones or 4 of the same. I have them categorized by subject; Food, Wine & Travel, Botanical, Americana, and Fun Colors. Please email me if you'd like to see specific pictures in each group. Tracie@funkshonalArt.com

Man, life has been so hectic. But that's a good thing!

I have been so busy trying to generate business and get my name out there and generally just sell paintings that I haven't been actually painting that much recently. I needed to get back to what I love to do but the business side of me is constantly going on in the back of my head.
This piece is called "Let's Play". It's very textured and very loosely done. I tried to pick a photo to use that was fairly simple in order to be loose with it and still have it come out looking like a beach ball in the pool.

It's 24" x 30", acrylic on canvas, original, signed and framed. It is $175., which, in my opinion is a great price for the size of it.
"Reaching for the Sun". Original, 11" x 14", signed acrylic on canvas, comes in a black frame. It is $60.

I had a great photo to use for this one of my orange day lilies that are on the side of our house. They grow so tall and are always leaning towards the sun so they look like they're trying to reach for the sun.

As you can see there's loads of texture to this piece as well.

"Friday Night". This piece is 11" x 14" also, acrylic on canvas. It is an original, signed piece and comes in a black frame. It is $90.

I really wasn't too excited about this painting mid-way through but thought that turned out great. The color combination is just stunning in person. Not as much texture to it as the last 2 but it's still there.

I had a friend who posted this picture on facebook that she took. I asked her if I could use it for a painting. I loved the placement of the items. Couldn't have set up the still life better myself!

I'm loving the fact that I can use other people's pictures (with their permission, of course) to do more versatile stuff.

I hope you like all of them. Leave me some feedback about any of the items. Would love to hear it!

"Bounce" is done.

I got a little side-tracked after I got about 1/2 way through this painting but got back on track and now it's done. I absolutely love it.
My husband said he thinks it's my best one yet. I don't know about that but I'll take the compliment anyway.

I don't know if you can figure out what the background is....hmmm....take a guess....come on..

It's a trampoline. Ah, now you see it. I had this picture that I took of my daughter at a birthday party where the color of the dress and the lighting and everything was just great. Then I thought, well how the hell am I going to make that look like a trampoline with a screen around it? But it was critical to include it since her right hand skimming the screen was such an important part of the photo. That, and her left foot skimming the trampoline bed were the most essential points of interest in this photo. Oh, and I just knew the colors would be awesome in paint.

So let me know if you like it. Do you miss her whole face not being in it? Framed? Or not framed?
 
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