April update... Our first rainstorm and snow melting!

Hi everyone - been a while but have been painting and creating like a crazy woman... Here is one called "The Conversation" which is an abstract acrylic on 20"x20" canvas and I love this one - my favourite course in University was 19th Century English Literature - so this one just painted itself - all I can say is "not much has changed" since our grandmothers were young girls... (and my grandmother agrees - it is all the same dearie, you just express it differently than we were allowed to...)

and my Meadow Flowers painting was something I wanted to do while the snow was still on the ground and we were all wishing for our flowers and Spring Summer colours - acrylic on canvas - really a fun piece

    

 and then of course, I overdid it working on those and would have to rest for a day or two (sigh) but while I am resting I am still creating. I am a creative person so of course there is always something that I NEED to be doing - have just finished another pair of socks (man socks for hubby so they are the extra mile in knitting time) for his birthday and they fit perfectly! Just under the wire as I was Kitchener stitching the toes last night - done in dark browns and black/indigo with Stephanie's (Yarn Harlot for those of you who do not knit, she is the knitting queen) vanilla pattern. I should take a picture... he is wearing them right now. Also have finished numerous shawls in many different yarns and colours, so even while resting I am leaving a mark of COLOUR on the world and have gifts to give and something homemade produced. I gave this one as a gift to my Best Knitting Buddy who lives in California. It is a light lace shawl made with Malabrigo lace yarn - the "Haruni" pattern with beads - it took me months to make this - and is an heirloom piece, I think it is one of the best ones I have ever made.

It is starting to feel like Spring here and we had our first big thunderstorm (the whole house was shaking - my poor dog was shaking too) last night which will green things up and make those flowers appear... I do miss my flowers and the garden and used to look forward to the Lilies of the Valley at the side of the house of the spring bulb flowers appearing through the snow... ahhhh well - I can paint them instead
which is what I am doing....
I have been working on a series of paintings in acrylic on various canvas sizes in beautiful colours with any flower I feel like painting and it is my "Meadow Flower" series which is coming along nicely

I love this Poppies one... very happy and abstract - some are dark (I just finished a Delphiniums) and some have been difficult and take many many hours and days and totally exhaust me (it is like they drain my energy and I am so completely done after a bit of painting ... but while I am painting to the music I do not feel any pain and I am free - then I collapse )  and some are spontaneous and paint themselves - these are without photos as reference... they are done from my imagination and abstract and I am very pleased as I now have some beautiful flowers on canvas to offer everyone.
Some of this work is in the Saatchi Gallery in the UK (online gallery) and all of these are available as originals, prints (framed or unframed) and cards - also some are on gift items - I have just joined the Muskoka Arts Group and the Huronia Foundation for the Arts and am now part of Artists in Canada - have ordered prints of my fractal art (which is what I do on the computer when I cannot physically manage the easel work) so I can offer you those as prints and they are gorgeous! This is a closeup of one of the fractals where I added an embroidery technique... it looks like it was embroidered !! (which I also used to do...)

Wonderful contemporary art created by me, using the computer as a tool (the computer does NOT do the work - we artists do the work) and it takes hours and hours to make ONE single artwork but it is a great way to explore creativity and use new techniques and I have been making fractals since the 1990s but gave up for a while and now back with the new programs - they are really addictive but honestly it takes forever to do one piece and then to render it (make it so you can have a good print) takes hours on my computer so I leave it overnight and come back to it. This is the full view of the fractal (the embroidered one - called "Reach for the Moon" ) which is offered as a print or card on my websites.

It has been really windy today and the power was out last night with the storm, but I went for a little walk with the doggie and we found some bark pieces and some driftwood that I want to work on and see what I can make... Looking forward to the warmer weather and the heat - it was a beautiful winter here but am missing the warmth and the colours - Hope all of you have been doing great  - looking forward to Spring and happy to be still on this planet and able to follow my dream - are you following yours? Back soon...
(Thank you everyone for believing in me and buying my art - everything is available on my websites - I am a self representing artist on EBSQ where you can find all of my links )
My EBSQ website

All art displayed on my blog or websites is Copyright Claire Bull  - thank you for your support

Claire Bull Fine Art March 2011

Claire Bull Fine Art March 2011

Look what I figured out!! Click the link and see a quick 30 second video with my latest artwork !! With a little help from my friends on Fine Art America... we all share ideas

wow - Technology is FABULOUS!

So it is my first attempt at trying to make a video but it is a good start and I am pleased, it was easier than I thought it would be... each month I will put up the month's artwork as a video - isn't that cool?

This is fabulous progress for me and a wonderful way to reach all of you quickly and efficiently - gives me more time to PAINT

Have a great day everyone and thanks again for supporting me and helping me figure out all this technology stuff - we are lucky to have this and reach so many people so easily

Claire (http://claire-bull.artistwebsites.com) and also on EBSQ - setting up a great site for self-representing artists - am working on adding more art there but it is a great spot !!!

(http://clairebull.ebsqart.com) it has all my links to different spots and they are so supportive and helpful

hugs to all - I am off to paint - working on a really cool painting

Done, Done and Done!! Did You Miss Me?

Okay so I have been painting and working on the fractals and NEGLECTING THE BLOG which is not a good thing
Here is the latest - paintings and fractals and recent happenings - hopefully some of you  missed me...I would like to think that maybe you look forward to my work as I am painting my little heart out and trying to do endless hours on the computer creating modern art and fractals (the most recent fractal took 26 hours rendering time and about 9 hours of work to make so seriously for one fractal? it takes time...to produce this stuff) and now to show it off to you!

So THE GIRL IS DONE - that is a big deal for me as I usually do not do portraits... so getting the skin tone and the eyes (I love the eyes, don't you? They follow us around the room, my daughter says they are spooky and she is "creepy") but I used to have a collection of China Dolls and she reminds me of one of those dolls and to me, she is from that time era where they were all dressed up and the curls and the elaborate clothes and the velvet chair - even though she is just sitting to read and enjoying her beautiful fairy tale book (The Gift of Imagination title relates to the reading fairy tales like we did ) and gazing off into the distance collecting her thoughts and imagining the fairy tale world
If you want to see the progress (she started off with a pink dress) you can scroll back to the previous blogs)

I have also been doing a lot of fractal work on the computer when I wait for the paint to dry - or take a break

So this is something I came up with using Apophysis which is a fractal program on the computer - to commemorate the 9/11 Twin Towers with the fire and flames and explosion and kind of a ghostly image of the two buildings from a unique perspective, looking up at it - a tribute to that day and all of the people who suffered and how the world changed - I actually like it, although it is a bit different for me as I try to paint and create a world with everything all beautiful - but this turned out really well and I like it - a good modern piece and commemorative and reminder of the history of our world and how we were all united that day  no matter where we were located

After that... we need something beautiful and happy and peaceful - this is a delicate floral fractal, made without a photo - using layers and a lot of experimentation to achieve this view of the inside of a flower. I called it " Be Strong Little Flower" after some words in the last stanza of a poem by Walter Poe called "White Rose" - " Be strong little flower, your heart will guide true" - it is a beautiful poem and I thought it was so appropriate, given the tragic recent events in Japan and their delicate paintings and florals and just a bit of sentimental encouragement to the people who are suffering with some inspirational artwork.

This one is called "Flight of Future Days" from a bit in John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' - "the never-ending flight of future days"  - I thought it was a great title - this is a fractal made with a blank slate on the computer and it turned out so beautifully... I think it is inspirational - like a kite flying or an angel or a sailboat sailing freely through the waves. It is a bit of a statement. I think the world is upside down right now and although I can manage rocky shores .. it is too much for so many of us and I am trying to send out some personal work that is inspirational and uplifting and positive. This art takes hours to make and the computer is just a tool to create a new art form. Hours of time go into each of these pieces and yet it is a way to add some beauty and peace and creativity so I am enjoying it.

I am grateful and although we are so busy and caught up with our individual lives, I want to just send my best wishes to those out there who are suffering and maybe the art will brighten your day or help you feel like there is hope and things will get better. I used to use food and cooking and baking as a way to give hugs and love, and try to make things "better" but now that the kids are grown,, I have gravitated towards my art. Maybe some of my work will help. I am working on some canvas pieces right now which are really fun abstracts and I appreciate the freedom of being able to create and paint and contribute something. Hopefully all of you will find some time today to be able to feel a bit of freedom and peace and hope for our future.

I will be back to visit soon and I am so glad you visited me - thank you again to all who have supported me and are buying my work. I appreciate it so very much. Claire

Wow - Time Changes Everything...

You guys! The Victorian girl pink dress is totally blue now... and she is coming along nicely - good progress for someone who has not done figurative work before - I am pleased.
And the abstract floral painting? It is now a man in a garden with his grandkids helping out - who knew?  - ANYWAY - you get into that place where time is lost and you are immersed in the painting and using fingers, brushes, sponges, and dancing around (at least that is me) and the painting totally changes into something else.





 Sometimes I leave the art on the easel and go take a break and as I climb back up the stairs and look at it, I see something totally different - or move the canvas around upside down and sideways and it becomes something else. Use a mirror and look at your painting that way. It is wonderful - the way the brain interprets colours and textures and changes it up.

So this was the FLORAL ABSTRACT - painting from the previous post - can you believe it? Me neither. I used a palette knife and then all of this stuff appeared... my father has always had a vegetable garden (but this painting is abstract so this could be flower garden or vegetable garden) and he just kinda appeared and then these kids appeared (they could be us or they could be the grandkids) and it is pretty non-descript so anyone can identify with the figures and the activity - It is actually still a WIP (work in progress) but I love the textures with the palette knife and the gel mediums and fun enough to post as it is... my dad grows these amazing vegetables and spends hours in the garden and of course, adores the children - he is the best "Dad" and "Grandpa" in the world - so I have called this one "Grandpa's Garden" and prints and cards available - I will have a second version up later

Also some great new fractals - fun to work on these while I take a break from knitting at night by the fire - using the laptop to create - check it out  - called it "We Are All Connected" - 'cause we are... with this great thing we call the internet - love it - and love that you can all share with me and I can be part of your world - thank you for being there and supporting me 

Today's Child and Abstracts New 2011 Paintings

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and happy holidays and back to work and a NEW year - Making great progress with the painting and happy to share with you!! Thank you all for your support and for following me...
I have been working on a really different one (figures are different for me) with a little girl reading a book - I have always loved my books
I am pleased... she looks a bit bizarre right now but that is what paintings look like as you go along... just don't be afraid to play with it and adjust and adjust and adjust... it will be fine eventually you will make your statement and the painting tells you what to do (I am planning to make her hair long but have to work on the dress first so it is the base and done - then add more hair - but who knows ? She might talk to me and want a whole different look)

So that is my newest acrylic painting and here is a close view of her face (so far - remember things change and this is just the start - I am shaky with the fine details too so she might be more impressionist as I cannot control my hand movements anymore the way I could in the past) 

So this closeup is for those of you who have asked me how I do this... you need to know where the light is coming from and then you work with the shadows and the different shades to get the depth and shape of the face and features - I outline in pencil for these ones and then work it in layers and keep changing it up... with my abstracts I am more free and no pencil, no outline, no rules - which is actually what I prefer - I love the freedom of the abstracts and just randomly going for it... working with the music - this one might work and it might not but I am having fun with it and creating 

here is an abstract that has been sitting around for a bit and I have picked it up again - it has no meaning other than what you can see - I have been told there are butterflies here ... 

It is a little "pink" right now and too much quinacrodone rose but I want to add some blue (of course - most of my work has blue) and this is all transparent colours so layers and layers but also using gel mediums so it is 3D and interference colours so who knows what will happen - I love the Pearl colour (GOLDEN pearl) it really is great when you mix it with other colours it just adds a sparkle and reflection

I have also been working on fractals and digitals and computer generated art - so when I am not able to paint at the easel I can still create.... here is a sample - these are all for sale as originals and prints (framed or unframed) and cards at my websites by the way - lots of colour and something for everyone

I called this one "Jewels and Satin" and I think it would be perfect for a dressing room or makeup table - my grandmother would have loved this  I used to do them in the early 90s but with dial-up and 28.8 and the old 386 computers it took hours and hours - am happy to work with the new technology and do this again

Here is another one...

I have called it "Fishing Around" cause to me it looks like a fish on the hook - although I have never seen a beautiful fish like this - my best fish was from my elbow to the tips of my fingers - how long is that? I made an iPad case and iPhone3G cases and mousepads out of this on my Zazzle site http://www.zazzle.com/artbyclaire  if you want something cool

I have been working DAILY in the art studio and KNITTING at night - working on a Forest Canopy shawl in beige cashmere with crystal clear beads on the leaves and almost at 12 leaves - for my knitting friends - and starting another pair of socks - Love to all of you and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR !! 

Thank you again for all of your support and for buying my art and it is an honour to have my work in your homes and offices - wow - it is really a pleasure

Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season

No matter what you believe in or how you celebrate, it is the end of another year and some of us are enjoying beautiful snowy landscapes and time with family and friends... I hope it is a peaceful time for you all and you are able to rest and relax and create - whether those creations are cookies or paintings or beautiful photos - wishing you all the very best now and throughout the new year ~

Here are some of my latest works - I hope to have a bit of time between cooking and baking to work on them ... enjoy
This one is quite large and I am building it up in layers of transparent colours and gel mediums in acrylic - lots of iridescent colours in this painting and am loving the way it is turning out

This HAPPY Rooster and his family are enjoying some together time for the holidays ... a colourful whimsical piece in acrylics

And this final one is not painting related - but it is still an art form... I am a knitter and finished this fine lace shawl with Malabrigo lace yarn and beading all through it - it is the Haruni shawl pattern and I am looking forward to making more of these heirloom pieces - this is probably the prettiest shawl I have ever made and I am very pleased with it 

Happy Holidays to all of you and thank you for following my blog - I will continue to create and enjoy your support and company here ;)) Claire

Are You Curious???

I have been painting to music as I usually do...  Fun Bunny - it is like that little Velveteen Rabbit we used to read about where the stuffed animals get more worn and torn the more they are loved - this little bunny is "Imitating Nature" and hiding out but has obviously been loved and appreciated for the sweet little soul that he is... the colours on this one are wonderfully vivid and FUN and he was painted to Michael's music and offered on my website for sale as prints, cards

I also was inspired to paint the beautiful forest in the Fall Colours - I walk my dog every day through these woods and it is just magical ... This is called "Autumn in Muskoka" and it really is absolutely beautiful and quiet - the leaves were fluttering down around our heads one day, hundreds of them, like being surrounded by butterflies - very pretty

So - Are You Curious??? I asked because I have not posted for a while and then there was just a video with no words... I have been PAINTING and resting and knitting and trying to catch up to life - I am finally getting a bit more stability as far as pain goes and the medication is helping. Have actually been thinking about making shortbread cookies for Christmas and was able to decorate a bit and it feels good but still have to slow down as it catches up to me and then of course, I can't paint. So physically and mentally I am just trying to produce the work and keep up with life and try to be cheery but I am thinking of all of you and hoping you like what I have been doing... I have not been ignoring you ... just trying to keep up with you all - Below is a bit about Michael and why I listen to so many of his songs...

On the previous post I put up a video with the song I have been listening to by Michael Jackson. It is actually an empowering song and he was speaking from the heart. There is negativity in the song lyrics but if you listen to it, to me it feels like he is feeling strong and wanting to overcome all the negative reactions towards him - and when I myself hear the lyrics, I feel the power and the strength and his confidence and the artistic spirit - it is like he is saying "OK so I'm different (no kidding) but don't "wrong or right me" I am who I am and I am doing my best" - I like the kids singing along and I love the beat of the music - it is EXCELLENT to paint along with and I have had it on "loop" mode on iTunes while I paint - Michael was unusual and different but every song is really so inspiring and the words are so interesting and the scope of his talent ... he left a wonderful legacy - I am painting to his music and creating art with his influence  - I wonder how many others have been inspired by his music??

Whatever music you enjoy and whatever you may be creating, I hope it is a wonderful creative artistic day for you and thank you for your support and kind words to me, it is honestly really helpful and I appreciate it - please join me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ArtbyClaire)
or visit my website HERE  (http://claire-bull.artistwebsites.com) if you would like more info about my art or a lovely print or card for yourself or a friend or even the office - so many offices are just so "beige"  - Add some COLOUR to your world and enjoy it - Thanks guys - back soon!!

Autumn in Muskoka

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL SAFE Halloween ... we have had some wind and snow and rain hail sleet here and now the leaves have fallen

I have painted a tribute to Oak Bay and the beautiful scenery here on Georgian Bay with the trees and the Fall colours of the leaves

I had a great time painting this and it was painted to Michael Jackson and the BeeGees so a fun time dancing along and singing and painting 

This painting talked to me and I talked back... It wanted to be some raw sienna and paynes gray but I am the artist... and I talked back - so it has COLOUR and is bright and happy and reminds me of the scenery here 

What a wonderful painting Day!! If you are artistic, you might understand what I mean when I say "I was in the Zone" - my father used to say he would get that feeling when he was running... so maybe it is a sports thing too... but I felt like today was one of those days - and it is a FABULOUS feeling!!! You abandon all thoughts and you disappear into the art - I don't know how else to describe it

So today was great - I hope tomorrow is the same but you can never tell

Each day is different

I also have been working on a Monet tribute - the Lily Pond - but I am not using a photo or reference... just looked at his painting and then shut it down

so I am doing it by how it feels ... I don't know if you feel that way too but it is like when you have something you love... you can just feel it

so this painting is in progress and is 48x48 gallery canvas with acrylics

It is a commissioned piece but I am taking my time as the arthritis is killer with a large piece of art like this... little bits at a time and it feels good

So this is not done yet but you can see the willow tree on the upper right and the sun reflecting on the pond with the lilies - it is a HUGE painting for me ... but wow I am really enjoying painting this in little bits at a time 

then I have to rest... thank goodness I am a knitter too and I can knit a bit on my lace shawl which is totally different than standing up and painting 

I will try to update my blog more often - especially for those of you who have written me and asked what is happening with the blog

I think I just need a break from all the upkeep and have been trying to rest and walk and be healthy - the art is wonderful for the mental health but the physical  health requires rest and little walks ... we have enjoyed the Fall and have had our first snow fall, and looking forward to a cozy warm winter 

Happy Painting and Creating to all of you!!! I will be back sooner than before and try to keep up with the blog - had to take a bit of a break - hope you are still here and still happy and thank you for believing in me and your support

No photos on this one but a good quote

It has been a while since I posted but I overdid things and have had to rest and take a bit of time
I am trying to slow things down and adjust to an entirely new life with some health issues that are difficult
Painting is difficult for me physically but wonderful for the soul and spirit although I have to paint in little bits ...

Painting and Knitting are my passions - and my work is selling and people are loving it all - so I am grateful because I truly just want to paint and make the artwork and it is so rewarding when people tell me how much they appreciate it or how beautiful it is and gratifying to send it off to a new home where it can be enjoyed

I've been painting and reading and knitting and of course, walking my dog and spending time with my husband ... I just have not taken the time to blog as I wanted to post photos of my paintings and have had trouble taking the pics of my work. FB and websites and emails all take time too ... so I have been trying to focus on slowing it all down and that will give me time to produce the work and rest. It all takes time so hopefully this quote from a lovely friend will be enough for this blog post - In the meantime I will be trying to take photos of my art and painting so you can see it and enjoy it too!


Here is a quote from Vincent Van Gogh as written in the book--Hand That
Paints the Sky.

"You do not know how paralizing that staring of a
blank canvas is; it says to the painter, You can't
do anything.....Many painters are afraid of the
blank canvas, but the blank canvas is afraid of the
really passionate painter who is daring---and
who has once and for all broken that spell of
'you cannot.' "

And so it is with life.
I like this quote and although I have not read this particular book, I have thoroughly enjoyed numerous books about Van Gogh and other artists and their lives ... fascinating reading for me, especially when I am resting and not able to paint, it is fun to read about the artists - Happy Painting to you

New Works busy busy busy!!

New works as Fall approaches, working on a new Fan Page for Facebook so I will have two of them, and painting some lovely new pieces of art
Each day is getting cooler and the sunsets are spectacular - found a little dead bird the other day on our walk and was able to capture a beautiful Monarch butterfly
Every day is different - here is some of the new art I am working on

Of course there are a lot of colours again - this is a mixed media piece with acrylics, pastels and collage and is almost done
There is a "double" one that I am doing on wood panels using GOLDEN light molding paste and a palette knife and sponges here

They will not be the same, but will be a set and I really like the 3D effect we can achieve with the molding paste

On a recent weekend I was able to capture this DOUBLE RAINBOW which was so beautiful and only lasted for a few seconds... it was just wonderful 

Hope everyone has had a great summer - I am looking forward to some great photos this Fall and some good painting and will keep posting for you on the blog - thanks for all of your lovely comments and support

More Colour, Monet, Abstract and Soccer 2

New artwork finally, I was having trouble getting decent photos of the work
I am excited using all this colour is wonderful and I have sold some art with some very enthusiastic responses to it all and am so pleased!!
In keeping with the Rainbow colours theme, I have added two Monet impressionist type works and an abstract work
With some bright colours in a peaceful setting, this was painted with Monet in mind
Here you go !!!

This one is Monet Woods
with my daily walks to inspire me (the scenery is so beautiful walking through the woods and by the water... This is 14x18 acrylic on regular canvas with the sides painted - Original SOLD but prints, giclee canvas in many sizes, framed work, cards and coffee mugs

The other one is Monet Woodland (really creative, I know - maybe someone can think of better names) and it has SOLD also.

Not done yet - what do you think of this abstract - same colour theme but more of a cityscape - this (to me) shows an explosion and chaotic stressful busy street with buildings rising up and a hustle bustle kind of feeling  - I have called it "City Street Explosion" as that is how the city feels to me - This one has SOLD but prints, cards and gift items available here

I have altered the soccer painting to please the purchaser (who wanted more RED which is really FUN)  now I have two versions available as prints for sale - the original is sold ... Here is the new version with more red 

Which one do you like better? The one in the previous blog post or this one?

I actually LOVE this one... and it really is that colourful - this took so many layers and has been weeks of painting little bits at a time but I am so pleased - a little boy's soccer dreams on the wall of his room and they love it 

Have a wonderful week!! If you would like to purchase any of my work, please visit my Artist Website or shop through Facebook in the "SHOP" tab at the top of my Facebook Page Thanks for all of your support and positive remarks, it means a lot to me and I am grateful

Two Exciting Ones (in progress)

Hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend - I have two more works in progress...

This is a Native American theme... painted to "Dances With Wolves" songs with John Barry - mostly Dunbar's theme and Fire Dance

See the fire spirit crawling away? It will be finished soon and posted onto the websites

So do you see why I am painting both of them at once? One on each easel... as one colour dries I am working on the other painting, then switch back - the music is awesome and very inspiring

This one is for Kyle... he loves soccer and he asked for a soccer painting - with the World Cup, I decided to make the soccer balls into "world balls" as my son Jeff used to call them (the globe) and a progression of young boys playing - going up to a full adult standing on top of the world - symbolic I guess - I am working on this still, but happy with the colours (Kyle wanted a lot of red) - so hope these added some colour to your weekend - I will try to keep going but can only paint in little bits

I have had a lot of pain over the past week - but these are happy paintings and progress is being made - hugs and happy creating to you - hope you like these

Two Abstract Works for you

OK Folks... its been a while but we have to enjoy this summer weather while we can and summer will be over soon, so have been doing a bit more outside lately
BUT of course, still painting and creating...


Here is an Underwater Seascape with lots of coral and 3D effects using acrylic techniques - it is 9x12 on canvas board - can you see the fish in there? There really are a couple of fish but very subtle as the coral and seascape was my main focus here

I am working on quite a few things at once so a bit distracted

This is the second abstract - it is available as prints or cards only from my different sites

This is NOT a digital picture, it is a photo of my original acrylic painting - luckily I took a photo at this point because it was "done" to me

Then I woke up the following day and decided to change it...  I ended up completely altering the work

Do you see a feather coming out of the bottom corner and flowing up diagonally?  I painted this with FEATHERS from the path outside on our walk... Different sized Canadian Geese feathers and of course some other acrylic techniques but I used feathers to paint most of this art and it was fun to do - Don't be afraid to be creative and try something new with your art - I enjoyed doing these two different pieces

Hope you have a great creative day!

This is so cool... Abstract "Cosmos" painting

OK people... I have another one that is really abstract - it is 16x20 acrylic on canvas and I have called it "Cosmos" because it looks like the universe to me or space with all kinds of things happening out there - lots of layers in this one and colours and gel mediums with metallic pens and paints and just had a fun time making this

Am working on a 3 canvas set abstract right now and also have commissions to do - it's all coming along nicely - today is a gorgeous day and I need to take a break and get outside and enjoy the sunshine! Happy "SUN"DAY to all of you!

You can buy the original or get prints and greeting cards at a lesser price - if you go to my website you can just order from them and the quality is spectacular -go to http://claire-bull.artistwebsites.com and you can order what you like there

New Artwork with new camera

My dog and I were frog hunting and I fell in... camera was toast and I have been waiting for the new camera - finally able to take pics of my latest art and show you what I have been doing while I waited!!

Excited to be doing pencil work again after a bit of a break 

Here is my latest progress on (guess who) - I put it on my Facebook page in previous stage and three of the ladies guessing got it right away! That is gratifying as it means I must be doing it accurately enough to portray the real person (www.facebook.com/ArtbyClaire) 

I have also been working on my acrylics and florals - a new one of Spring Daffodils, Original has SOLD but  I think this would be a pretty Mother's Day card or notecard set -  It is my sixth floral in the floral series - I love doing these - I miss my garden... so this is my way of getting my flower fix !!

We used to have two acres of gardens... I spent hours out there - but life is about change, isn't it? And now I have a lot of walking trails and beautiful woods and LESS cleaning, LESS maintenance and MORE art, more free time to walk the doggy and spend some together time with my DH and of course, to PAINT and CREATE - so all is good... (it was a tough adjustment)

I have always painted flowers... My favourite classes in school were Biology and Art - so maybe that has something to do with it 

So one more for now...

I hope you all get a chance to paint and create and enjoy the sunshine !!

She Cried....

So yesterday was a great day... my lady came over to pick up the commissioned work of her dog - and when she saw the painting, she cried - she grabbed me and we hugged and then I started to cry too - she said the work was so much better in person than it was on the internet (I had shown her photos of the work) and she was soooooooooo pleased!!! I used pen and ink on the whiskers and tongue and eyes and acrylic and it was 3D fur and she said I had captured him perfectly!
When you work hard on a painting or a mixed media piece of whatever you are trying to create, it is so gratifying and such a pleasure to get a response like that and see their face light up - and to actually have all that emotion and cry upon seeing a piece of art that you have created... as an artist, that is the ultimate reward (to me) - It was a beautiful day ... showing her my art studio and my other work - she said I "think differently" and I tried to show her what I was making and she said it was so different and creative and she was flabbergasted by it all
Then a neighbour walked by and saw some of my paintings on the front porch (I was varnishing) and he wants a painting too - so basically in one day I had two sales and positive positive hugs and excitement!!
It was a great day
I hope every one of you has someone who cries with you today... in a good way ;)))))) I am working on a few more right now (a few at a time) and outside varnishing and putting some gesso on boards and even figured out how to be a seller on ebay and set up an auction of three of my works!!
My ebay store - with auctions!! Yay I figured it out
and a Zazzle store with some coffee mugs (with my art on them - so pretty - nice Mom present) binder, notecards, Tshirt, womens shoes - it's fun doing all of this!
My new Zazzle store
I hope you  have a lovely fun day too!!

So Excited and Honoured!!!

Guess What??? My artwork is featured on Imagekind in the Abstract Art Group as the group avatar and a glowing review of my work by the group leader! I am so pleased and honoured... this is great and very exciting to wake up and read her review and see my actual painting as the group image
Apparently I am a breath of fresh air - hmmm... that is lovely to hear, isn't it? I fell off my chair - now that I have figured out how to set up some websites with my work, the people out there in Cyberland are actually loving what I am doing and it is so gratifying and encouraging and just makes me want to paint and paint and paint!!!
Here is the art work and the review - you can visit my sites and see my work (or buy originals, prints, cards) and comment too! I have also updated my Facebook page so it is now
Claire Bull Fine Art on Facebook - making great progress with all this web stuff and painting too - more photos coming up - almost done three more works!!! Thanks to all of you for your support - I am flying with this ;)))

Claire Bull hails from Toronto, Ontario Canada. Her art is like a breath of fresh air to me. In her worked entitled I See Birds she has managed an optical illusion. I was a bit slow on the uptake but when I focused and saw the birds I was so delighted! What a great effect! Her colours set the mood sometimes fiery and others light and breezy. So glad she’s joined us on IK and in our Abstract Art group! Thanks Claire and Cheers!   I SEE BIRDS find@ artbyclaire   SUNLIT FOREST find@ artbyclaire   ORANGE find@ artbyclaire

Websites - This is just the start

OK - so FINALLY I have figured out the websites and how to set them up ... I am excited
I have a few - am trying to work on all of them and do blogs on them and make these paintings and mixed media creations available as originals and prints and cards - it has involved a lot of photo work and cropping and uploading with internet problems and learning how to work a website
It has certainly been a learning experience and taken a lot of time and effort but a necessary endeavour as I want to be able to sell my work online
So I have a few site links - and am working on adding photos and making things available for purchase through Paypal - also painting each day and meeting a lot of new artists on internet networking sites and Facebook so this is fun and interesting...Please let me know if you have any comments or any trouble with the websites and what you think of the progress so far (or if you want to purchase)
Thanks for all of your support, it means a lot and very encouraging, I appreciate it

ImageKind website - prints and cards

Claire Bull Fine Art

My Artist Websites site

My Artspan Link

and working on some more sites - as well as ebay and Etsy so I will be ALL OVER the web and you can find me in lots of ways - Thanks guys!!! Making progress.... off to paint for a while

Long Time Passing but Life is Good

Hi everyone - just celebrated my grandmother's 105th Birthday! What a wonderful family celebration and so great to see everyone ... I have been painting and working on a website so not updating the blog - trying to work with Photoshop and figure that out too - lots of computer time and not enough studio time
Here are some of the new works and within the next month I will have a website up where you can purchase originals and prints - it takes time
Am enjoying meeting fellow artists through the internet and seeing all of the wonderful art work in the meantime... walking my dog in this beautiful summer weather and seeing family and friends - Life is GOOD  - love to all of you

Some beautiful roses - acrylic on canvas 24x24 gallery size - this is like a Monet painting impressionistic and palette knife was fun for this - It is so pretty

My friend's dog "Rufus" he is such a beautiful dog, we would walk the trails with him and he has grown into a gorgeous dog - on your left is canvas board and on the right is an 8 x 10 on canvas - this is mixed media and I used acrylics and pen and sponge - this is a commissioned work and both SOLD to a lovely lady so her dog is immortalized forever and he is so beautiful - it was my pleasure to do this

I have called this one "Walk With Me" - this is out of my head... no reference photo - but it is where I walk each day with my dog... it is my impression of our daily walks and how I see the world - I love it here acrylic on canvas

This one is so pretty - like a Spring Meadow - it is full of wild flowers and I have given this one away as a gift to a very special lady... she just about died and her wonderful husband said it will have a special place in their home - I am blessed by their love and am so pleased to give them a treasure... this was a fun painting and very beautiful - prints will be available on the website

I think I will add a photo from the family celebrations this weekend - this is unusual for me as this is an art journal but turning 105 is unusual too 

This is a wonderful lady who has been a huge part of our lives and we all adore her - part of another era... she has lived through a CENTURY of changes and has so many stories - always a positive person, full of love and laughter and hugs... calling us "dearie" and supporting us all - this lady is so special - here is a photo of my grandmother who will be 105 years young tomorrow - love and congratulations to this beautiful woman

Love and Congratulations to my grandmother on her 105th birthday

Updated Art and New projects

Its been a while... revised some work and started new projects - internet was down for a few days so I took advantage of that and lots of new photos from long walks
Am pacing myself a bit more with the painting which is frustrating (as I would rather paint 24 hours a day) but necessary due to my back and neck injuries and the Fibromyalgia and arthritis sometimes won't allow me to paint the way I want to or do other things...

Updated the previous version of the abstract artwork with the eye - it has a lot more colour and not as dark now
This painting has SOLD but prints cards and reproductions available here

Also updated the Orange canvas I had done previously - this painting is sold

It was great to work with the bright colours and this has a lot of copper glow to it

And a few more but this is enough for today - am working on a website and it is frying my brain - Happy Painting and have a great day