PineShoreStudio/Paintings by Helen Harris

  As the colder air greets me on my morning walks, I return to my studio for a hot cup of  tea. I realize that my painting has been slowly shifting from a summer palette of sea inspired colors  to the autumn golds and now a cold snap brings out a snowy image !    It seems to me that from Halloween to NewYear's Day my world just whizzes by.   I struggle to keep a daily routine of painting that is filled with a flurry of activities, family gatherings and greetings of holidays. It is so easy to be distracted by all of this activity, staying focused is so difficult.    I have posted my upcoming shows and due dates for a variety of painting assignments on my easel ..to be read and bargained with every time my eyes drift to that cozy couch and book or the pile of knitting that awaits my new grandchild. Yes...being a "working artist" is a job...not an easy one.  It has an aura of freedom to do as I please,whenever I choose. I laugh a...

Recently I've devoted more and more time to my art marketing. I began Facebook ads and invested time and money to send more traffic to my web site , my posts on my business page , and my new shop site . I've joined a new art group  too. Do you know what? I stopped painting!!! There has to be a balance of time spent painting,and marketing . After all you can't market what you haven't produced.Emotionally I got myself into a tailspin and a litany of "have to". I have to do this,I have to do that ... hmmmmmmm something is definitely off here. So today I pause...... Washed out my brushes, squeezed out some new paint ...breathe, paint....center...there that's better.

So what do you do when life throws you a curve ball? ( Please read...everything was going just fine and then there was an unexpected career changing event! ) How do you hit the ball out of the park? ( in other words... how do you keep your goals,survive the upset and turn it around successfully?) Ignore the twitches and antics of the pitcher! The shoulder feints ,the high leg kick,the side arm delivery that distract & confuse you . ( stay focused on your goal,ignore the angst, fears, and negative thoughts, of others as well as yourself of the events that you can't control caused by someone else's actions.) The ball will always go from point A to point B. It simply changes its path but the destination is the same. ( your goals are the same,but your path to them has altered . Make adjustments. Redirect your energies.) Step into the batter's box. ( show up...every day. ) Keep your eye on the ball. ( You know what you want..,you know your goal) Swing ! (you'll never ...

I've been a working artist long enough to have a grasp of the patterns that occur in my day in the studio. A particular vexing one is that on the heels of a successful show, my work plummets ... then soars! Excitement from succeeding gives way to unexpected doubts of failure. This used to throw me into a deep depression for weeks. The crippling critic that would take over my brush at times like this has been banished from my studio. It has taken the every day working habits of putting brush to paper to work through this brain freeze. A tremendous help has been the positive coaching through reading of articles and blogs of many artists sharing generously of their experiences . The studio can become a very lonely place when it is not fueled by positive, creative energy. You know exactly what I"m taking about! Like it or not we all have these patterns of creativity. Have you faced yours? Examining and understanding how you work is as much a part of your business plan as is y...

Hello...or Hi ! What is so hard about saying that? If you can't even acknowledge the person standing tentatively in front of your tent at an art show, why are you there? I've just returned from a successful but tiring 3 day Art Show in Cape May, NJ. It was successful because of my sales and being awarded 1st place in the professional watercolor category. Tiring, for many reasons, but most of all because I worked for 3 days with my potential customers! Not everyone that passes by my tent is interested... at first. I have learned to quietly engage people in my work, by demonstrating it and being friendly and open about how I go about creating it. Painting does have a beginning, middle and end.It is the story, your stor y,that will bring the work to life and draw meaning and reaction from someone viewing it. You may not get the sale but you have expressed yourself to some one new,perhaps to be remembered or spoken of later. This is your store front for the day. Th...

Outdoor art shows are alive and well in this economy! WHAT???? Am I looking through rose colored glasses? No...I've been out there working them. In this rainy, humid spring I have not had the quick financial success as in past years but it is a steady selling market if you have adjusted to the reality of the economy . Ahhhh.. there's the rub. So ,what do I mean when I say adjusted? go prepared with a wide price range of work . I have found that everyone is simply tired of denying themselves to save every penny with no reward. A little treat for themselves at a show may be just a card or bookmark or unframed work ... .It's a sale people! it will cover you entry fee! talk about your work ,demonstrate your painting ....people are looking for things to do this summer that won't break the bank....my workshop/demo list is growing with every show Stop talking about the bad economy to the artist in the next tent! Your customer feels that negativity and hears it!They are o...

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...

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...

After doing my paperwork for this month, I started clearing out my 2008 files and setting up the 2009. I then shifted from my "paper work " to my computer files. Oh dear! What a mess! Admittedly, there was a time I could walk into a room with computers and they would simply shut down. It was scary. Finally I became adept and at least being capable of some basic skills. As they say ..."a little knowledge....". Oh! I have all the makings of a computer disaster just waiting to happen. Back ups ...uh...files scattered .. hmmmm .... now where is that photo and what group was that ? I hadn't realized how many bookmarks, rss feeds, groups and sites that I've clicked while learning how to navigate the Internet . Guess what I'll be doing this week? My last post is nudging me to take my own advice again! Is it working for you? Time spent cleaning up and organizing will definitely speed up my desk time and let me have more painting time..and isn't that the po...

This past week I asked the question "Is it True?" How did you do with that one? Did it make a difference? Were you surprised at your answers? Well , here is the follow up question "Is it working for you?"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Believing in what is not true about yourself will impact how you act throughout a day. Now that you've thought about it and asked yourself this question...is it working for you? What is your answer? It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome. January is a month of lists.All kinds of lists get written with the hopes of a different,better outcome. Be it health, wealth or love, write that list! No cheating, don't just think about it, write it down. My suggestion: Make a list of activities concerning your day as a "working artist" (I say working artist,because there is a difference to ones approach if it is how you pay the bills as opposed to an occasional art...

I'm struggling this morning with a new painting. It's cold, and rainy outside my studio window. Many of my friends are getting hit with snowstorms ...and my painting is reflecting the snowy, cold day. The problem? I was rereading " Learn Watercolor the Edgar Whitney Way"by Ron Ranson, and I came across a quote by Whitney "You make me look where nothing happens...Don't do that!" Hmmm...How often does a painting fail because the focal point ( if we even ever had one) was simply..blah. After all the the focal point is the center of interest ,the expression, the reason you painted the scene. Right? How often do you find yourself lost while painting? What do you do?Do you toss it, get discouraged? Don't do that! I go back to my basics. Over the years I've collected a library of books and reference materials. Now the internet can provide access to articles. Haven't read or reread your books lately? I paint every day. I struggle to stretch beyond...

Winter 2009 Art Class Schedule Main Avenue GalleriaArt Class Schedule and Prices Mixed Media with Helen Harris Classes are one and a half hours each. A total of five classes is offered. Cost is $75 per student for all five classes and is payable in advance. Registration is required. Telephone 732-988-1002 or email mainavegalleria@optonline.net . Space is strictly limited to six students per class so reserve your seat right away. Thursdays - Jan. 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and Feb. 5th10:30am - 12pm A second class is available. Wednesdays - Jan. 21st, 28th, and February 4th, 11th, and 18th3:00pm - 4:30pm This is a beginner level class, but experienced artists are welcome to participate as well. The course will be held at our gallery in Ocean Grove and will cover: - Basics of materials and use of sketchbook- Watercolor painting and application of mixed media- Evaluation and adjustments using mixed media- Understanding matting, and framing of watercolor paint...

Attend a demonstration and a workshop with a purpose! I have recently been involved in both venues, as the invited artist.I am speaking from my varied experiences from each group of participents. The Demo: This is definitely a performance on the part of the artist. A performance that requires an audience whose purpose is to discover the information that is being offered that will add to what is already known. Hopefully, in an entertaining manner, that artist will communicate the techniques, materials, thought process,by which their work is achieved. I ask that you consider this a sampling ,an appetizer, a taste, if you will , so that you can chose to continue to learn more or disregard what this particular artist has to offer. The Workshop: You have, at this point, chosen to participate in actively learning the techniques that have been of interest to you. Quite frankly, you have paid for a lesson. This is a "hands on" session .The artist is coaching, one on one , guiding you...