PineShoreStudio/Paintings by Helen Harris

I posted "AFT" 08 on Twitter this morning. What does that mean? Though I'd love to give credit to whomever taught me this method of organization, I simply can't remember. Basically,AFT,stands for Act, File or Toss. My art desk may get piled up with papers because I use them as textures in my paintings, but you will not find my office desk piled up. What a relief at this time of year when we all rush to finalize business papers. The key to this organizational habit: Everytime you pick up a paper, mail, file etc. (paper work clutter) place a mark in the upper left corner. If you get 3 marks you MUST STOP and Act,File or Toss. No excuses, no exceptions! Try it! Your work area will stay ...workable. Now I'm going to go figure out a way to apply this to my computer!

I have entered into the internet advertising waters cautiously via Project Wonderful . With little investment,plenty of hope and curious excitement, I'm watching for results. I've placed my ad on a site that receives plenty of views but it has not had any clickable results yet. Too early to tell if this will be a future way to go for me. I've also applied to be a publisher, which means that I could sell ad space on my own sites for income. But I'd like to thank Timothy Adams , for the information and instruction video that helped me launch my efforts.

Just posted this piece to http://PineShoreStudio.artfire.com "Crayon Shadows" matted 10"H x 8" W image: 7"H x 5"W Needed to have a little fun with color after working all day on my computer. I update my web site http://helenharrispaintings.com by adding a new page featuring ACEOs . Please visit and when you do take a moment to fill out my guest book form and be entered into a monthly drawing for an ACEO!

I found the following quote in the pile of papers I had the urge to sort. I must've saved it once and just rediscovered it. As we approach the end of this year and are about to begin another, I thought it was worth sharing as it was shared with me. It was written awhile ago from a person that goes by the name of sasto65 on the painting forum from About. com in answer to another's question : "Should you start painting in your 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 100?" "I feel a person should start today. Each person has 24 hours, regardless of their age, to make choices about what to do with those hours. I try to think of a lifetime existing in a day. Considering each morning a birth and each night a death gives me an immediacy to my painting and everything else that truly matters to me. it rearranges priorities for me, because I cannot know if I will have another day. this may be it. How precious the moments become. I ask myself, if I were gone tomor...

I'm truly enjoying this ACEO format ( 2.5" x 3.5"). I've found it valuable to work out ideas in small scale or simply working on a quick daily idea. My shop http://pineshorestudio.etsy.com/ is getting a following of collectors of my work. Nice...maybe these are a good lead into collecting larger work. Here are 2 that just sold. Please visit my shop to see new work.

Just sold this one: Morning has Broken "ACEO is "pocket" artwork. Affordable,collectible"Art Cards, Editions and Originals" (ACEO), are 2.5"H x 3.5"W - for horizontal: 2.5"W x 3.5"H for vertical ,the size of a trading card. This,original,hand painted mixed media ACEO is is signed on the back and dated. Place it in a space on a table easel,or frame it. Best of all .. . discover this moment for yourself..in your pocket." This has become a very popular format...and my collectors are growing in number each day! I'm hardly getting a chance to put them up and they are gone. What a great and AFFORDABLE way to introduce your work to a customer and hopefully have them return to see larger work. Visit my Etsy shop. I am adding ACEOs each day. http://pineshorestudio.etsy.com/

To all my Artist friends: Order a copy of Alyson Stanfield's book I'd Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion, by December 21 and you'll get 13 bonus e-books, special reports, and audio programs. All for the price of a single book. If you're one of the lucky ones that has had the book on your shelf for awhile now, buy a copy for a friend and keep the bonuses for yourself!But you have to order from ArtBizCoach.com by midnight ET,December 21. Please click on this link and give yourself a gift this year! http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=799727&u= www.artbizcoach.com/bigbooksale thanks!