Are You Chief Cook and Bottle Washer in Your Art Business?

Most of the artists I know are responsible for every aspect of their business.  Purchasing raw materials, inventory, hours and hours creating, marketing, sales, shipping, delivery and sales satisfaction are just a few of the steps involved in getting the painting to the customer.  It can feel a little lonely out there when you're trying to break into the business.  I've been fortunate to have found help in the book "Starving" to Successful, by Jason Horejs, owner of Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale. 

Jason has been offering free instruction videos aimed at helping artists be successful in marketing their art.  The podcasts are in the format of live chats where the audience has submitted questions in real time.  I recently received an e-mail announcing that the video archive is now available to view.  The best news for us "starving artists" is that it's free!  I want to share the link with my friends out there.  Happy viewing!

Life is Art Paint Your Dreams!

Mary
 http://www.maryopat.com

WARM OR COOL? Ultramarine Blue vs Thalo Blue ... | Sharon Hicks - Blog

FINALLY.......someone who understands BLUE!!! 

A couple of years ago I was introduced to the idea that ultramarine blue is a warmer blue and phthalo blue is cooler.  If you're not an artist, you're probably thinking that they both have to be cool colors, or you're thinking, "What does it matter?".  I was very confused because not only was I taught in college that ultramarine was cooler, but I observe it when I compare the two side by side. 

Today I happened to read an article from Brush Buzz, which comes to me via e-mail six days a week.  I'm including a link to the original blog by Sharon Hicks.  Her theory makes complete sense to me and restores my faith in my old friend Dr. Joseph Adams, now deceased, who I learned so much from while at CMSU.  If you happen to be an artist, ( and we all are in some capacity), then you might fine it interesting. 

WARM OR COOL? Ultramarine Blue vs Thalo Blue ... | Sharon Hicks - Blog

Life is art, paint your dreams!

"Lilac Breasted Roller" Contemporary Wildlife Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Lilac Breasted Roller" Contemporary Wildlife Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

7" x 5" Oil on Linen Panel $85.00

 

This is a small colorful painting that can be purchased by visiting my

web site at http://www.maryopat.com

 

Life is art, paint your dreams!

 

"Blue Door 5" Still Life Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Blue Door 5" Still Life Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

5" X 7" Oil on Linen Panel

 

This is another small painting in the blue door series.

To view more of my paintings, or to purchase, please

visit my web site http://www.maryopat.com

Kudos to my GVAL friends!

Good things have been happening!  This weekend I attended an art gallery reception in Chandler where my friends Marsha Blumm and Sandy Wilderman had wonderful pieces showing at the Vision Gallery http://www.visiongallery.org.  I ran in to several other artists I know and the art was terrific, but as with most shows, no photos were allowed.

Ann Wallace, who is home in Bellingham, WA for the summer, received honorable mention for her landscape at the NW Landscape Intimate Show.  Congratulations Ann!  Check out more of Ann's paintings at http://www.annhwallace.blogspot.com 

Women Making Faces

I'm really excited to be part of an upcoming exhibition called "Women Making Faces".  The plan is for twelve Arizona female portrait artists to paint a total of 60 portraits of notable Arizona women.  They are going to be hanging in the Chandler Center for the Arts along with the subjects' biographies.  Part of the deal is that the twelve portrait artists need to have our self portraits hanging in the gallery with those notable women as well.  There's something about painting myself that's making me dread this task.  Maybe it's the lighting over my bathroom vanity, but I look SO much better in my mirror than I do in photographs!  How many lines can I leave out before I'm unrecognizable?  Anyway, as soon as I get brave enough to take a serious set of photographs, I'll start sharing the progress on my self portrait.  I'm afraid I'll need to keep the other 5 portraits under wrap until the show next year!

"Blue Door 4" Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Blue Door 4" Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

5" x 7" Oil on Linen Panel

 

This is another small painting in the blue door series.  To view

or purchase any of my paintings, please follow this link:

http://www.maryopat.com .  Thank you for stopping by!

"Blue Door 3" Small Contemporary Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Blue Door 3" Small Contemporary Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

5" x 7" Oil on Linen Panel

 

Here is another small painting in my Blue Door series.  I used a

palette knife on much of it, so it has a lot of texture.  To purchase

or view any of my paintings, please follow this link.

http://www.maryopat.com  Have a nice day!

FASO Featured Artist

I was so happy (and a little surprised) last week to see an article about me in the FineArtViews newsletter by Carrie Turner (editor of FineArtViews).  I was a FASO featured artist and also a staff pick from the Daily Art Show by Brian Sherwin (editor of The Art Edge)!  Good things seem to be happening all at once.

 Soon the weather will cool off and the art show season will begin.  I'm working hard to build up an inventory of new paintings, keep my website updated, and send in those show entries and jury fees before the deadlines.  I'm going to include a link to the articles I mentioned.  Both FineArtViews and BrushBuzz can be requested free of charge and come daily to your e-mail address.  There is a lot of good information for artists or anyone in the creative field.  Life is Art, Paint Your Dreams!

 http://faso.com/fineartviews/78308/faso-feature-artists-artist-mary-opat

 http://faso.com/fineartviews/78307/staff-picks-from-the-faso-daily-art-show-ann-hanson-mary-opat-jennah-c

A Useful Book for my Artist Friends

I ordered a book recently and I've found it to be very helpful.  It walked me through the process of writing my artist statement, bio, and resume.  It's called Art-Write: The Writing Guide for Visual Artists by Vicki Krohn Amorose.   I ordered the online version.  http://www.artwritebook.com   In it, you'll find helpful information, along with words and phases that will aid you in marketing and writing about your art. 

As someone new to the art world, I'm amazed at how much time and effort goes into making and selling art.  It's an exciting and interesting business to be in.  Never the same day, never a dull moment! 

If a book, blog, or online video has been helpful to you, I'd love to hear about it and share it with the rest of my friends.  Happy painting!

Life is Art, Paint Your Dreams
http://www.maryopat.com

"Sweet Liberty" Contemporary Portrait Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Sweet Liberty" Contemporary Portrait by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

12" x 12" Oil on Canvas

 

Please follow this link to view my finish work or for

purchase information.  http://www.maryopat.com

Commissioned portraits are welcomed and appreciated.
Have a wonderful day.

 

"Conference Call" Contemporary Seascape Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Conference Call" Contemporary Seascape Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

12" x 6" Oil on Panel

 

This small painting looks great in a black frame.  To purchase

any of my paintings or to find out where I'll be showing my work,

please follow this link: http://www.maryopat.com

Have a great summer day!

 

On My Easel

I started this 12" x 12" painting yesterday.  If it turns out, it will

be my entry into the Constitution Week art show in Gilbert.  It needs

a day or so to dry before I can work on it.  The mixed media look is

new for me.  I used a copy of the actual US Constitution, tore a couple

of the corners off, and applied it right to the canvas.  I'll post it to my web site

in a few days (if it turns out!).

"Twilight's Edge" Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Twilight's Edge" Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

16" x 20" Original Oil on Canvas

 

To view more of my work or to purchase, please follow

this link http://www.maryopat.com  Have a wonderful day, and

thanks for dropping by my blog site!

On My Easel

I'm almost done with this painting.  It needs some drying time

before I can finish.  No title yet...let me know if you have any

suggestions!  To see my finished work, follow this link

 http://www.maryopat.com

Thank you for visiting my blog site!

On My Easel

I'm back from my visit to Iowa and started this painting

yesterday.  It's a photo of a man from Indonesia that

I found on the Paint My Photo website.  The block-in is finished

and I'll be able to make some progress on it tomorrow.  I'm headed out

to a one day workshop with my painting buddies today.

Blessings to you! 

http://www.maryopat.com

Do You Have Something to Say?

"Red Skirts" Sold

 

When I declared that I was planning an art blog to round out my on-line presence, my niece, Lisa, said, "Do you have anything to say"?  I wasn't sure.  Don't all artists have something to tell the world through their art?  But am I an artist, or just someone who has the ability to paint?  At what point does the craft person stop and the artist begin?

 I do know that as painters, artists, and everything in between, we are continually learning while seeking out the best way to convey what we want to present to the world.  It's a way of life that has no required retirement date, and the richness of experience is equal to the time and effort invested.

So do I have anything to say?  I think we all do.  And the best time to begin is always in the present!

Life is Art...Paint Your Dreams!

Mary
http://www.maryopat.com

"Cactus Flower" Contemporary still Life Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Cactus Flower" Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

5" x 7" Oil on Panel

 

To view my paintings, or to purchase, please visit

http://www.maryopat.com

The Value of Quiet Time

I know that meditation is good for the mind, soul, and body.  I've read about it in a hundred books.  For me, it's easier said than done.  Like so many of my friends who have been on the 9 to 5 treadmill for years, being your own boss and working from home can be both a blessing and a curse.  The luxury of being able to create art when the mood strikes is wonderful.  Waiting for the mood to strike can be dreadful. 

That's where quiet time comes in.  After scurrying around cleaning an already clean house, re-checking e-mail, and ticking off the to-do list, (a casualty of so many years on that treadmill), the only thing left is to sit quietly and contemplate.  Quiet time clears the mind and makes way for new ideas.  An idea for a side line business or a totally new way to paint can suddenly pop into your head when the distractions are missing.  Suddenly, in the wake of a new idea, the heart quickens and life becomes a little more exciting.

Life is Art, paint your dreams!

Mary
http://www.maryopat.com

"Green Pears" Contemporary Still Life by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Green Pears" Contemporary still Life by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

5" x 7" Oil on Panel

 

Please follow this link to view or purchase my paintings

http://www.maryopat.com and thank you for visiting

my blog!