Hopefully this blog will inspire you to have confidence in your creative abilities and give you courage to learn and try new things. Try something NEW. It could be just what you need to make you a better artist, or a better person.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Free Art Contest, PPF

And the winner of the FREE painting is: 
Arnoldo L. Romero, MLAMarch 21, 2014 at 6:15 PM
"I love the subtle colors and shapes in your painting, which would look beautiful hanging in the hallway leading to my kitchen. I'm not in my 70's yet, but hopefully I'll achieve Grandma Moses's fame someday soon. 
Blessings and happy PPF.


FREE ART GIVEAWAY
Contest Ends March 23, 2014

This week I decided to offer everyone a chance to own one of my paintings.  Actually, I am offering it up for ADOPTION.  Please read the explanation below.

You can win this painting, simply by leaving a comment in this blog post telling me why you want to own it. See rules below.  Winner will be chosen March 24th.
"Cups and Bowls" 8x8 Acrylic on Wood Panel, 
3/4" deep sides, painted black on edges
"Cups and Bowls" was painted Ala Prima with Acrylics to look like oils.  
I am allergic to oils, but I love the painterly look.

I have stacks of completed works of art  - hundreds of watercolors, acrylics, pen & ink drawings, and even a couple of oil paintings.  They range from 2x3 wooden plaques to18x24 inch canvases.  I love to paint and draw.  It is an obsession.  I cannot quit, nor do I want to slow down or try to stop the creative process.  

Grandma Moses started her career in her late 70's.  I will be 70 this year.  I totally identify with that woman.  According to Wikipedia, she was a prolific artist and painted 1600 canvasses in 30 years.  Before she was famous, she used to charge $2 for a small painting and $3 for a large one.  Heck, I probably get a little more than that, but, with inflation, maybe not.  Being retired, healthy, and on a fixed income, I can and do sometimes paint all day long, which is both a blessing and a curse.  I am running out of room in my tiny studio apartment to store all of my creations.

Yes, I have sold my artwork on Ebay, Etsy, Fine Art America and Daily Paintworks, and at local art fairs.  I generated enough money to buy more paint, brushes and canvases, which merely perpetuated the vicious cycle.  Creating art is a lot like owning a dinosaur: the more you feed it, the bigger it grows, and the bigger it grows, the more it eats. The only solutions seemed to be to kill the dinosaur, burn my inventory, throw it in the trash, or . . . set it  FREE.  Ta Da!  A light bulb moment: I could GIVE IT AWAY, one piece at a time, to someone who really wants it.  

Now, how do I find these potential "art adopters?"  That's what they would be called, adopters. They would not be "collectors" or "critics" since what I make is not really artsy fartsy stuff.  I have no discernible art style, no nifty little niche to call my own, no fancy label or pretty square box that I fit into.  I paint what I feel like painting using the medium and surface that appeals to me at the moment.  My art grows and evolves, or not.  It pleases me to make it, so I guess you would say it is self indulgent, hedonistic or egotistical.  Whatever!  It's fun.  Mostly, I love everything I do.  The thought that permeates all of my creative sessions is, "Wow!  Look what I made.  Isn't that fantastic?  I didn't know I could do that."    

So, what shall I give away first?  I have decorated many surfaces with art, from metal saws to pieces of furniture, plus all types of canvases, paper, wood and even people (I was a face painter for awhile). 

I would hope that the person who adopted my artwork would actually want it, so I have concluded that a written essay is the way to determine who will be the new owner. I have previously won art that I truly did not like or want, but I entered the contest on the off chance that I might win something.  I felt bad for the artist because I eventually donated the painting to a thrift shop.  

Rules:  Tell me why you want this particular piece of art, in as many words as you wish to use.  Grammar, etc. does not count.  Your essay will be judged by me, solely on sincerity and your true desire to possess the item.  There will be NO CHARGE for shipping the art to you.  Type your essay into the comments section of this blog post to enter.  That's all.  Contest ends in one week.



19 comments:

  1. For one thing Penny, anyone would love to own this piece. I personally would love to hang it in my kitchen because it speaks food to me and I love to cook. Loving the colors as well. Hey what the heck I want, tee hee! Thanks for stopping by my blog. gloria

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    1. I love all the replies so far. This is going to be very difficult for me to choose the winner. I may need to ask my daughter for assistance.

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  2. OMG: My favorite colors are blue and yellow. The reflections are wonderful as well as the depth of the piece. I have always wanted to paint like this, with brush strokes. Your art always amazes me and speaks to my soul. I would be most honored to hang this piece in my home.

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    1. Thanks, Vicki, so much. I love that I have art that "speaks" to people. LOL. So much fun. I wish I could send everyone a painting.

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  3. Oh I love it!!! I was sure it was oil! I love collecting art of folks I've met on line! Is that reason enough? Sweet of you to do a giveaway on your blog! This is such an inspiring piece...

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    1. Fooled you! Ha. I was going for the oil painting look. I love a challenge. Thanks for the compliments, Lynn. I think I will be doing this again because I have so many pieces sitting here, and I keep on painting. Your PPP blog is also making me draw and paint more. Thanks for that.

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  4. I would love this piece of art because it really inspires me to try mediums I haven't really tried, like acrylics. I especially love that it's on wood which is so accessible. I love the colors and the fact that your studio apartment is filled to overflowing with your work! I may face the possibility of moving to a smaller place and it's good to know I can still make art no matter where I am. You are an inspiration. Keep on painting and loving it!

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    1. Hi, LIsa. Yes, I have made tiny ACEOs for the past couple of years because of lack of space. I love to try new mediums and styles. Thanks for your comments. Greatly appreciated, for sure.

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  5. Penny...I only recently found your art on eBay, then saw you on FaceBook...and eventually, I meandered over to your blog page. When I read this lovely work of yours was being 'adopted out', I had to write what my intentions would be for it. I would love for it to hang in my little art space, above my work table. It would be a great reminder to me to loosen up and be freer in my art. I tend to get bogged down and overwork a piece. Your pieces have a soft, calm and flowy feeling. I need to bring some of that to my work.
    Beside all that, if I was lucky enough to adopt your artwork I promise not to take it to the thrift shop! LOL

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    1. Hi, Ingrid, I am now following your blog and everyone else who commented on my little contest. Everyone actually seems to want this piece. LOL. Sometimes we are our own worst critics. Since I had never done anything like this before, I was not sure how well it turned out. Thanks for your kind words. There will be more paintings up for adoption soon.

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  6. I love the subtle colors and shapes in your painting, which would look beautiful hanging in the hallway leading to my kitchen. I'm not in my 70's yet, but hopefully I'll achieve Grandma Moses's fame someday soon. Blessings and happy PPF! #13

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    1. Hi, Arnoldo! You won the painting. I will be contacting you for your snail mail address. Congratulations and Thanks! Penny

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  7. Thanks, Arnoldo. Tomorrow I will end the contest and make a decision on the person who gets to adopt the painting.

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  8. Penny I feel the same, I usually don't enter contests for things that don't suit me....or fit into my life. As much as I do love this wonderful piece and all of your art, this particular piece doesn't fit into the color scheme of my whimsical home! I hope someone gets it who loves it so much! My rule as I age is to only buy things I love...I too have painted on chairs, tables and other furniture...all walls are filled with art and I have to really be careful what I bring in. I recently won a jodi ohl print that is as whimsical and colorful as my home! Thank you for sharing your authentic self with such a loving heart! Good luck to the best person to treasure your work! I may jump in on another opportunity....if I can find another free wall.....

    Hugs Giggles

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    1. Thanks, Giggles! I love your honesty. It does my heart good to hear that others are particular about what art they want to treasure. This was a fun project for me, and I think I will do it again. I painted 10 new things this week, so I better keep giving them away. No more room to keep them here.

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  9. Hi Penny,
    This is the very same thought I have, not only for my art work but for all of my furniture and collected treasures that my kids say they wouldn't keep once I've gone ; a chance opportunity I wished as a young girl might have presented it self to me when I had an empty house to fill with very little cash flow : ) I have at the moment an unfinished bathroom filled to the brim with paintings, some bought and some created by me that still need to be sorted through so needless to say I will be doing the same as you down the road.
    Although this particular painting doesn't fit my home ,I still love your work and look forward to seeing what else you'll later be sharing with us .

    Annabelle m..m

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  10. Hi, Annabelle,
    Thanks so much for sharing your situation with me. It feels good to have released a few of my paintings, and I will continue to do this every week if there is a good response to the idea. I have been told that people don't appreciate what they get for free, but we shall see!
    Penny

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More doodle art ACEO cards.

For sale in my Ebay store It seems to be working, doodling and lettering every day, and my Mojo has returned!