PineShoreStudio/Paintings by Helen Harris

Multi-tasking...revisited! There was a day when all nighters were possible. I managed home,family, 9-5 job and still painted throughout the early morning hours. Yes, that was then ...this is now. The now is a result of putting into practice my blog of January 9, "Is It Working for You?" Since then, I have kept the phrase "working artist" in front of me ..literally. I have it written on my bulletin board. Reminding me that my painting is my business, not a hobby or something to do between jobs.With this in mind, streamlining my day has been at the top of my list. You can't do it all! As much as I may wish it, I have to admit the first thing to go is multi-tasking. Be it age, energy, or just getting better at working smarter , focusing on the task at hand has reaped far greater benefits and results recently than all the years of juggling a multitude of tasks at one time. It will be a different set of skills and tasks for each of us. Today, look at your list. F...

Take 1 artist + canvas/paper wet ingredients: watercolor, gouache,acrylic and inks + dry ingredients: torn paper,papyrus, unryu papers, bark papers,mango & banana papers, ogura lace spatter with 23k gold, glass beaded gel, blended fiber gel Mix well, spread with brush ,knife & fingers let dry have great expectations & a sense of humor......... PaintersBrew ... target date March 1st!

The cold wind is whipping by my studio windows, the sun light is crisp & clear. This is the time of my discontent. My brush splays and I rip up another work. I've learned to just keep painting ,ignoring the critic that howls louder than the wind from within. Color, splash,bold strokes ...no judgement just movement...I think I can ..I think I can.....paint! Gull's Play ( Aceo ) new posting on Etsy

sold I spent this morning filling out my answers to an interview form for a blog site. I had originally received it on Monday but quickly found myself procrastinating in filling it out. You'd think I'd jump at the opportunity to be interviewed and promote myself and my painting. After all , that is the name of the game here on the Internet . It seemed like a good idea when I answered the request, voluntarily,from an offer by the blogger! Lol ... I often stand before a crowded room of artists to do a demonstration or teach a workshop. I've been told , I give quite a comic stand up routine as I teach! A written Q&A on myself, now ,that's another story ... So, today was my deadline. I did it! Now, I know why I read all those self h...

This morning as I was dropping my Entrecards on my favorite art blogs and searching for new Project Wonderful ads,the subject of ACEOs kept cropping up. I've enjoyed this format and thought I'd feature one of my favorites that I created for my Etsy shop.This 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 is an original,hand painted mixed media ACEO. It is mounted on black archival mat board with a red solid core and is signed on the back and dated.This piece is multi layered in various rice papers, papyrus,and 23k gold leaf with chinese coin.Place it in a space on a table easel,or frame it. Best of all .. . use it as a focal point for your meditations . sold Meditations & it's companion piece Meditations 2 are available for purchase ...

For those who question my sanity in painting original work for little return with Artomat (see my past archives) Here is a letter that I received that makes it worth it! Dear Helen, What a serendipitous magical world this is.!!I purchased one of your art-o-mat pieces at the Doylestown Public Library in Pennsylvania. This is a long story, but I have to tell it. It begins at Christmas, or rather after Christmas, sometime in January.I went to visit my parents post holiday because my dad was in the hospital over Christmas.So I went down to see them and spend some time with them. My mom gave me a pair of slippers with butterflies on them, because I raise Monarch butterflies. Unfortunately they were a size small, so I had to return them. The shipping was $5.00. My mom sent me two five dollar bills in the mail, to reimburse me for the postage. Since it only cost$5.00 to ship the slippers back, I had an extra $5.00. I was on my way out to the library when her letter came. I stuck the bills ...

It is NOT business as usual, but ...if you go prepared with an understanding of the reality of the economic situation ...you will sell your work. I found small to sparse attendance through out the three day show. Thanks to the chatter on Twitter,Facebook,many art blogs & forums I was able to make the necessary adjustments that gave me the selling edge I needed.Appreciative and encouraging of my efforts,browsers and shoppers alike enjoyed a day out to view art , and readily engage in conversation while watching me demonstrate my techniques in front of my display. I brought my framed work ,but included a wide price point range for framed as well as simply matted pieces. Since I work in originals only,not having the luxury of reproductions, I displayed original cards and bookmarks as well. This approach was successful. People want to buy. They do not want to continue to feel deprived nor depressed by the current economic fear. They are cautious and frugal but willing to spend a li...