Today's Quickie: A new painting in the works!

A quick post for today:
I have started one new painting that seems to be taking shape as my mind's eye sees it.
That is what is hardest for me, trying to paint what I see in my head - it's very difficult.

I am hoping to be able to work in depth on it this weekend, and I stupidly said to my husband that I wanted to have a year where I do two paintings per week!!
Yeah!! TWO!!
Per week!!

It's so not going to happen, now as I look at how the year is going to get scheduled, I must be joking.
I guess I will back down to doing that two per month that I never accomplished in the past.
No use making more aggressive goals.

Urban Apparitions - AND the launch of my new website

Well, it's been a very long time since I have built a website - why? Because I hate doing it. It's never complete and needs constant attention.
Luckily, I have found a great CMS that just works great for a portfolio site and you can see it at www.lauraswink.com.

So now that it's over and published, it's time to move on to bigger things.
Now that I work from my office at home, I have a little more time to plan out new works. It's great to cut 2 hours out of your day which is otherwise dedicated to traveling and lunch hours. This makes it easy to plan a day around producing new work.

I think this new year, I'm finally going to put together that awesome collection of work I have been trying so hard to get to. This has got to be the year, or I should just chuck it all. Really, just chuck it in the trash.

Here's the latest - Urban Apparitions. Yes, an acrylic piece that looks a whole lot like an oil painting.
I think it's been pretty successful, it certain is dramatic.

Thanks all!

Sunflowers Art "Wild Sun" by Laura Swink

My sunflowers have finally bloomed this summer. This is the first time I have ever grown these beauties and I am stunned by how really beautiful they are. In celebration of my pot full of flowers, I am reposting "Wild Sun"

"Wild Sun" Oil and Acrylic on canvas

Related links:
Van Gogh Art

Another day of waiting....

So my doctor wants me to stay away from all forms of painting....do you have any idea what that does to an artist? So now I have canvases drying that I can't finish. Bummer.
So I am posting past favorites until I can get back to the nitty-gritty.

Paths to Seaside, 26-inches wide x 22-inches high
Oil on Canvas,  Original is available
$395

Prints for "Paths to Seaside" are not yet available.
Please contact artist for more information

Click here to go to webpage

The artistic rut

It drives me crazy when I see all my pieces on the wall and can't figure out what made any one of them successful, I can look at the color, the composition, the brush strokes and know why they became successful - but I often get frustrated trying to make lightning strike twice.

I'm on a quest to complete three new paintings and none of them seem to be coming together. Great ideas, all of them, but I guess I've just been away from it for too long. Time to go out and buy a small canvas and simply get the bug out of my system.

Fire and Ice, 22-inches x 22-inches
Acrylic on Canvas, Varnished
SOLD

Prints for "Fire and Ice" are available
at this link: please click here
Canvas prints start ot $47.04

Framing artwork

I have some new ideas for building frames for my artwork. It will be a simple design, easily painted and not too expensive. I'm thinking for upcoming art shows, this will be a good idea for merchandising the artwork - ready to hang - and I think it will be a little more attractive to prospective buyers.
In the meantime, I have been working away on my new painting, I'm hoping to find my white graphic pencil so I can draw on the canvas. Not the most exciting day today - but new things are in the pipeline.

Have a good Friday everyone!

Azimuth, 50-inches x 50-inches
Acrylic on Canvas
Original is in the collection of the artist.

Prints for "Azimuth" are now
available at this link: please click here.
Canvas prints start at $47.04

Links for Abstract Art, "Circles" Art, Originals and Prints
Circles Paintings
Circles Prints
Circles Framed Prints
Circles Greeting Cards
Circles Posters

Color Harmony for Artists

A really good article on color harmony was compiles by Ann Radley, an artist who took the time to combine a series of talented artists who's paintings best represent how to use color when working on art.

And it goes further than that - just in case you are a non-artist reading this wondering why it applies to you...and it does! If you are a collector, or even looking to buy art for your home - or better yet - looking to decorate your home, then this is an article for you. It gives the basics of choosing good color, how color theory works and the basic components of composition.

Recommended reading!! Enjoy!
Here is the link:
http://www.squidoo.com/artfulcolor

And if you are just clicking around looking for view art - then the pages along the side of this blog feature all of my artwork from over the years. Available pieces of art and prints are both linked to their proper "buy here" pages as well as listing starting prices.