Art + Such Monthly News
If you are an art collector, art enthusiast, art learner or just want to keep in touch, I would love to stay connected.
I invite you to my read my art blog via email and my monthly newsletter, Art + Such where you will receive paintings in your inbox, updates on art happenings and invitations to shows, workshops and learning opportunities. Your privacy is ensured, I will never share your email address with anyone for any reason and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click here to subscribe to Art + Such Monthly, and here to receive the blog by email. And thanks!
Connect on instagram @colehandmade
Recent blog posts
Art fairs can be so much fun, but honestly – they are a lot of work!
My husband and I have been doing art fairs for a few years now, so I thought it would be fun to share a few of the things I have learned through the experience. I would love to hear about your experience as well, so feel free to comment.
This first post will be about the number and type of paintings to take, the second part will include an art fair checklist to help you remember everything, and the third part will be about relationships and following up after the show.
"...Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."
--Luke 24:5-6
He has risen, indeed!
This is the fourth in a series of posts about painting outside. Here are links to the first, second, and third posts.
More great tips
by Beth Cole
Many of my newsletter readers are artists, so this last issue I asked them to share anything they had learned about painting outside. I got some great feedback so I wanted to share.
This is the third in a series of posts about painting outside. Here are links to the first and second posts.
Staying Motivated
by Beth Cole
If I’m going to stick with something, I need to have a good reason. You, too? After all, why should we drag around all this painting gear, circle the countryside looking for painting spots, battle the wind and the sun and the bugs? I have to constantly remind myself of the benefits, and there are many. Here are some that I see, I would love to hear yours, too.
This is the second in a series about painting outside, you can read the first post here.
Finding a Painting Location
by Beth Cole
Honestly, finding a place to paint has been one of my biggest struggles. I am a little shy and I feel self-conscious painting in a conspicuous place where it is not common to see people out painting, you know? The last thing I want to do is draw attention to myself. Maybe you can relate.
Painting Plein Air
by Beth Cole
Since the weather is getting warmer I wanted to write about plein air painting, a fancy term for painting outside. I think there are two acceptable pronunciations for the word “plein” – “plane” or “plen." The word comes from the phrase "en plain air" - in French meaning “in the open air.” And we do love the open air, don’t we?
This is the third post in a series about learning from the Masters. Here are the first and second posts.
So many of the master paintings I love have beautiful gray tones in them. Some colors are hard to name, they look a little brownish, or reddish or purplish but they are difficult to describe. These are the gray tones and they can really make a subtle and beautiful painting.
Have you visited the Burkholder Gallery in Lincoln? If you are an art lover, it is definitely worth a visit. There are three floors of art - landscape, abstract, still life, wildlife, sculpture, photography - something for everyone. The owner, Anne Burkholder, is a beautiful artist and has been painting Nebraska landscapes for many years, and she is celebrating her 30th year in business, something to celebrate!
Have you visited the Crane Trust Gallery near Grand Island, Nebraska? It is a beautiful space with a wide variety of nature related art. Crane season is coming up in March, it would be a great opportunity to visit if you have never been.
I delivered a few new pieces to the gallery there yesterday, my heart is full! Here are a few of them.
This is the second in a series of posts about getting ready for summer art shows. You can read the first post here.
Art Fair Checklist
By Beth Cole
The first time I went to an art show I was amazed at how much time it took me to get ready. Not only do you need to prepare your paintings well in advance, there are many other little details to consider before you can say “let’s go.”