You're an artist. What's in your studio?

YOU are an ARTIST. What's in your studio? What's in your head? Do the supplies and objects surrounding you inspire you? In an earlier post, I featured what inspires me: There is inspiration everywhere. One can be inspired, however, but the studio has to have the tools for you to bring that inspiration from brain to paper, canvas, clay, jewelry, mosaic tile, or simple sketch.

Now that I am settled into our new home, I love being in my studio almost daily. If you consider adding items to your home as a crafter, hobby, maker, or painter, here are my suggestions. I post those that I use frequently in my business, but I include supplies others have told me they had used, which assured me that the purchase was a good decision.

Many artists today are using digital art as their process so I will start with some devices, some of which I use even though the bulk of my artwork is traditional, ie, painting and drawing with brushes or pen. If you are younger than me (lucky you) you might choose an apple pen over paper or canvas. (Don't worry will cover the traditional items for you in this post).

1. 10 Inch Drawing Tablet with Screen, Stylus Pen

2. Graphic Monitor with PN06 Battery-Free Pen

3. Pencil for iPad with Dual Touch Function

4. Make Great Art on Your iPad (Paperback)

5. Epson Perfection V600 (This is my scanner)

Now, let's take care of the basic art supplies:

1. 20 Pcs Round Pointed Tip Paintbrushes

2. Strathmore 300 Series Watercolor Paper

3. Sakura Studio Set Koi Watercolor Kit, 72 colors

4. Caliart Acrylic Paint Set, 24 Colors

5. CENTSTAR Round Paint Tray Palettes 15 Ct.

STORAGE

1. Bins & Things Stackable Storage

2. 360°Rotating Desk Organizer

3. Multi-Functional Pen Holder

4. Rolling Wooden Storage Cabinet

5. Drawer Gate Leg Roll Cart with Desk

Furniture

1. Folding Table 6ft Portable Heavy Duty Plastic

2. SPACEKEEPER Storage Cart

3. Ergonomic Office Chair

4. Project Center Desk with 2 Bookcase Sides

5. Verilux SmartLight Full Spectrum LED Floor Lamp

Paint to Music, Video your artwork, and Post to Social Media

1. Itoya Art Profolio Storage (18 x 24)

2. UBeesize 67” Camera Tripod with Travel Bag

3. VideoPad Video Editor

4. SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING 4 SMALL BUSINESS

5. Portable Bluetooth Speakers

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Slideshows of my Art by Collections

Lately, I have been successful with painting and recognition as an artist. See A Whim Turns a Win. This has given me more confidence and a desire to show my work in more places and take on more commissions.

With this in mind, this post is a series of visuals categorized by subject. Most of the art is watercolor, ink, or colored watercolor pencil. Use the small black arrows left and right within the SLIDER to scroll from side to side. There are six images in each category. The drop-down list shows the titles.

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FLOWERS

Lily

Flowers by title

Hemerocallis (Lily)

Poppies

Iris

Marigolds

Viola Odorato (Violets)

Cosmos (seed packet)

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ANIMALS

Animals by title

Giraffe and Her Calf

Pringles

Koala Peek-a-Boo

Elvis and His Tire

Tiger

Sea Turtle

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BIRDS

Birds by title

The Less He Spoke

Free to Be

Goldfinch and Dogwood

Illinois state bird

Georgia state bird

Ceramic Goose

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FRUITS & VEGGIES

Fruits/Veggies by title

Tout Sweet (strawberries)

Future Cabernet (grapes)

Strawberry Basket

Onions and Cukes

Red Beets and Squash

Nature's Menu (Mushroom)

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INSECTS

Insects by title

Queen Bee

Hanging Out (dragonfly)

Butterfly Tango

Lone Ladybug

Urban Garden (chrysalis)

Dragonfly

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A whim turns a win.

Isn't it something when something you are tempted to do turns into something else?

One of the hardest things for an artist to do is to determine the price of their own artwork. I talk about this in an earlier post: Commissions, Sales, and Gifts; oh my. There is so much to consider: the materials you purchased, the canvas or watercolor papers, the photography that you might work from, the amount of time and days that the artist worked, never mind the reworking if things didn't go quite right. Framed, or unframed. Sitter's fee if you do portrait work from life. Some people think we price by size. If so, my 5 x 7-inch watercolors can't compare to 20 x 30-inch canvases. Are oils worth more than watercolors?

I don't expect to have any answers today. I did however decide to at least compare my price base with some local artists. A quick google for local galleries would be my first interest. The first one that popped up was LibertyTown Arts Workshop. Great! There are a number of local artists who have their paintings (oil, watercolor, acrylics) along with weaving, pottery, jewelry, and glasswork here in this 13,000 square foot building.

I'm ashamed to say that I had only visited this gallery once or twice in the 30 + years that I have lived in Fredericksburg. The website had a lot of information. Then one item caught my eye. "Looking for Artists" was a tab. On a whim, I clicked it. An upcoming exhibition called "Feast for the Eyes" was coming up in just a week. The subject matter was "FOOD." Take it to any length you wished, said the prospectus.

Why I DO paint food, and have plenty of yummy images in my drawing portfolio! I immediately thought about the works that I had sitting on the shelves in my artist studio. I decided to enter three art pieces.

"Kitchen Garden" by Annie Mason 4 fruits and veggie paintings

The work above is actually 4 different watercolors. I found a nice "window" frame in our local Michael's

It shaped up nicely and I did the necessary paperwork.

Again, I checked my drawing portfolio for works going back over three years. I came up with another three "juicy" images: a pineapple, strawberries, and grapes. I framed that one up for delivery.

Juicy by Annie Mason. watercolor (3) 5x7s

My third choice was a given. I had already framed this one and it was on display for sale at Heather Boutique where I sell my artwork. It had not sold so I figured, why not.

Again, these are three illustrations in watercolor framed together.

Vintage Botanicals [after Pierre-Joseph Redouté] by Annie Mason watercolor

I completed the artworks for presentation and brought these into the gallery. I was told that the Juried announcement for submission would be in a few days. I received a notice that two out of the three entries would be in the month-long show and be up for sale, as required, The one not selected was the pineapple, strawberries, and grapes threesome.

LibertyTown presented a Facebook live stream the afternoon of opening the exhibit. I luckily was on Facebook and came in as a viewer a bit after it started. I watched as the gallery owner was moving through the entries and described each art piece in detail. As the video was winding down she mentioned a few "honorable mentions" and I realized that the jury had picked the awarded artworks.

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WOW! I was shocked and humbled that the "Vintage Botanicals" was awarded FIRST PLACE.

Later that evening my family attended opening night. While we were standing nearby, an employee at the gallery came near the wall display, she walked by, phone in one hand, clipboard in the other. She placed a small red dot on the label. The artwork had been sold.

All this in a range of just a few days. Life is good.

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