Wine and Art Show [in the Hood] – THE W.A.S.H. Dallas

Posted by on Oct 12, 2012 in Art, Blog | 0 comments One more day and my artwork will be showcased at the Sophy Sam Gallery in Dallas together with several other great artists, local wine to taste and great foods!! I’d be even more excited if I’d be there in person for the event… My husband will be representing me and eight of my paintings to look at and purchase. Last, week, I had to fly out to Germany to support my Mom because...
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What’s a Sketchbook for?

Posted by on Jul 25, 2012 in Art, Blog | 1 comment There can be only one correct answer: that’s really up to you! I just bought two new sketchbooks and I already have decided what I will do with them. My sketchbooks are very personal, sort of like visual diaries. They are just for me and nobody else. So, does it matter what I put in there? To me, it does, but only to me. I bought two because one will be the “pretty” one and the...
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CREATIVE MINDS – John Bingham

Posted by on Jul 18, 2012 in Blog, Creative Minds | 2 comments It’s my pleasure to introduce Artist John Bingham on my blog this month. We connected on Twitter but then for some reason he dropped out of my friends’ list -luckily I noticed when he retweeted one of my messages and we reconnected. I am very glad we did! Please meet John: About John: – Born 1989 – London – Studied at Camberwell College of Art – Currently...
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New Paintings In My Store (Yes, I Still Paint!)

Posted by on Jul 1, 2012 in Art | 7 comments Looking at my blog, it seemed like I have only worked on furniture, home décor, upcycling, treasure hunting, designing, sewing, repurposing and selling at shows. In fact, many other things keep me quite busy too, but I haven’t talked about it much on my blog recently. My nephew -he just graduated from Rice University (sooo proud of him!!!)- asked me if I wanted to help him with a...
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How I Set Up My Booth for the Third Monday Trade Days

Posted by on Jun 29, 2012 in Blog | 0 comments This month was one of the best shows I’ve ever attended. Wonderful people, happy & returning customers, awesome neighbors, great sales, (almost) no rain, a light breeze and only little heat (considering it’s June and it’s Texas: 90 wasn’t too bad!). The Third Monday Trade Day is an antique fair in Northern Texas, just 45 minutes away from Dallas. The very first time...
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Painting as a Language & Journey

Posted by on Apr 6, 2012 in Art, Blog | 3 comments It’s been a while since I painted last. I am not a mass produce artist and I rather paint when ideas come and I feel like it, than forcing myself and ending up with meaningless stuff (well, meaningless to me). Or let’s say: when I don’t have a question, problem, task, or am under pressure I can’t paint. My mind needs to be busy in order to paint. Painting is my way of...
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Northern Texas Tornadoes & Its Inspiration on Canvas

Posted by on Apr 4, 2012 in Art, Blog | 1 comment I am sure everyone has seen the tornado destruction here in Northern Texas, if not in person, at least on TV or online. Wow! My sister, my parents and many of my friends in Germany got in touch with me even before it hit us in McKinney. They heard that the DFW airport was shut down and people led to tornado rooms. Luckily, we didn’t get any tornadoes but we had some pretty rough storms. I...
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How to Save Money on Art Equipment

Posted by on Mar 28, 2012 in Blog, Green Stuff, Upcycling & DIY | 2 comments Some of you know that all my artwork is painted on all kinds of recycled materials and I am proving that it is not necessary to buy all this expensive equipment to make high quality art. Who says that you have to use artist linen from the art store? Who says that frames have to be built professionally and how does that look like? I paint with oil and I paint on anything I find. All I need to...
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Silly Things People Say at a Fair

Posted by on Feb 20, 2012 in Art, Blog | 19 comments I had another long weekend at the Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney (an antique and craft fair) with my upcycled home decor, some of my artwork and other handmade things. It’s once a month for an entire weekend before the third Monday. I love going there because of the interaction, I meet a lot of interesting and very nice people and I get to sell my items! But sometimes, there are...
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Did you Know Monet Won the Lottery?

Posted by on Feb 15, 2012 in Art, Blog | 0 comments I am sure some of you knew this already. But for those who didn’t: yes, Claude Monet won the lottery, quit his job and painted full-time. Thank you lottery! In 1891, he won 100,000 French Francs which he used to travel France and paint, sometimes he had several studies going and worked on up to 10 pantings at the same time. There are quite a lot of interesting stories about Monet and...
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Selling Your Art Prints Online

Posted by on Feb 12, 2012 in Art, Blog | 7 comments Just recently I was asked by one of my twitter friends if I could write something about art prints and what my recommendations are. Personally, I use Fine Art America for orders within the US and MyGall for my German friends. All you have to do is take photos of your beautiful artwork, upload them (for example on Fine Art America), add the commission you would like to make on each piece and they...
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Where Do You Buy Your Gifts?

Posted by on Jan 23, 2012 in Art, Blog | 6 comments We all do it. I am no exception, I do it, too. We all buy gifts. There’s only a few people on this planet who do not make gifts to others. Some gifts are free (like a smile), some are hand- or home-made but most of us actually buy them. Not all gifts are useful, pretty or thoughtful. I got gifts in my life that actually made me more mad than anything. Yes, gifts can do that, too....
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What to Do When There is No Market for Your Product Part I

Posted by on Dec 14, 2011 in Blog | 6 comments “It’s all about passion…” (source of quote: myself) As some of you may know, I used to be an Executive Chef working for celebrities and the upper class for many years before I got married and settled. In 2008, I moved to an area that doesn’t offer much culturally (read one of my earlier posts). Contemporary museums, grand operas and world theaters are not exactly...
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Ron Mueck: Introducing an Artist

Posted by on Dec 6, 2011 in Art, Blog | 3 comments Ron Mueck, born in 1958, Australia, a former photographer (advertising industry) works as a sculptor in Great Britain. He also worked as a puppeteer for movies i.e. “The Labyrinth” and TV in his previous career. Using his talents, he decided to turn his back on both to model oversize (and some undersize) humans. He is using fiberglass resin instead of latex to be able to work more...
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Why Non-Functional Art is Better Than Functional

Posted by on Nov 21, 2011 in Art, Blog | 10 comments So, now I confused you, ha! I hope I got your attention with this For all those who don’t know what the difference between non-functional and functional art is, here a short summary (which I found at WikiAnswers): Functional art is art that serves a purpose. A potter who creates tea sets is making functional art. Non-functional art refers to paintings and such pieces of art that are...
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Shock Art -Controversial or Ahead of Time?

Posted by on Nov 17, 2011 in Art, Blog | 26 comments Definition according to Wikipedia (I know, I know, not the most reliable source of information but I thought it was well described): SHOCK ART… “…is contemporary art that incorporates disturbing imagery, sound or scents to create a shocking experience. While the art form’s proponents argue that it is “embedded with social commentary” and most critics dismiss...
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Why Buy Art?

Posted by on Sep 26, 2011 in Art, Blog | 3 comments Good question, I thought. I decided to think about why I buy, collect and put up art. I found a lot of reasons why others should put artwork onto their walls (“Why Art Is A Great Investment”) but I never really thought about myself. And so I looked at our walls: 1) Connection, Meaning: There is my great-uncle’s (my grandfather’s younger brother) artwork. He was an...
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LIFELINE

Posted by on Sep 10, 2011 in Abstract | 0 comments LIFELINE – LEBENSLINIE Oil on Primed Fabric 20 x 50 x 1½ (inches) September 2011 $ 590 (Original) The painting is ready to hang, the sides are painted (the colors continue on the sides; it does not require framing). Reproduction: Photograph (high resolution, Nikon D70) 11½ x 7½ x ½ (inches) $ 28 Glued on wood, sides painted white, hanger attached to the back & signed, ready to hang....
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What Is Art?

Posted by on Aug 30, 2011 in Art, Blog | 9 comments On Sunday, I got interviewed by a friend’s grandson who had to do some research about artists for his boy scouts book. I was very honored that I got chosen for his project. It wasn’t too easy to answer all his questions, by the same time to make it simple, fun and understandable for his age. After the interview, I felt more understood than by an adult asking the same questions. Not...
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Finding Answers About Ourselves In Artwork

Posted by on Jul 31, 2011 in Blog | 12 comments One of my favorite motifs is the ocean. I have just started to play around more with color and create more abstract paintings but for some reason I keep on coming back to water, skies and the color blue. In my studio, it is the most used color (also in my closet). Water has such a calming effect on me and it is my safe subject to paint. Water is life and I guess its symbolism keeps to suck me in...
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How To Stretch Artists’ Canvas

Posted by on Jul 3, 2011 in Art, Blog, Green Stuff, Upcycling & DIY | 4 comments Before you start stretching canvas on a frame, you have to have a frame of course! Here’s a link to how I build my own frames. I usually use recycled wood from construction sites or other places (wherever I find leftovers..). The fabric I use is also recycled, any fabric I can find. The art supply industry makes us believe that only their expensive canvas should be used for oil paintings....
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How to Choose the Title for your Artwork

Posted by on Jun 9, 2011 in Art, Blog | 10 comments A few days ago, I decided to have you -my friends- decide for a name for my painting. After two days of suggesting names, I closed the proposals and the voting began giving three days to vote on my blog. Here are the names that you suggested: Majestic Horizon Beneath the Sea Air and Water Elements in Motion Where Colourful Waters Flow Rainbow of Water Caribbean Calm Ocean Glow Over and Under...
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The Secret Story of “Birch Trees”

Posted by on May 20, 2011 in Art, Blog | 2 comments The colors of “Birch Trees” reminded me of the times when I lived in Northern Germany at the Baltic Coast in 2003. You’ll find beautiful forests everywhere along the coastline. This region is well known for its unpopulated stretch of land with beautiful, long, white and sandy beaches, Before you get to the beautiful beaches, windy paths lead you through light forests. There is a mix of beech,...
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“Fall Storm”: What You Can Learn From a Painting

Posted by on May 17, 2011 in Art, Blog | 2 comments “Fall Storm” was created on a cold and windy winter day. Most of my paintings are created by memory; this piece of art was directly inspired by the storm around my house in McKinney, Texas. Before I begin a painting, I have a color combination in mind or an idea, then I start, not knowing what it will be. As soon as the painting takes shape, the end product is determined. The fall season is...
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Why Every Piece of Art Deserves A Story

Posted by on May 11, 2011 in Art, Blog | 0 comments All of my paintings have a story. Duh! Everything has a story, right? So why not telling it? I love to share mine. Here is the one about Autumn Colours: Most of my paintings start with an idea or a color combination. Then my imagination guides me to the end product. While I paint, I get carried away to images seen before. The color combinations may be random but they always take me to a place I...
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