Doors Closing Windows Opening

Sadly, the economy has taken a toll on many small businesses.  As I drive around town my heart drops for those who have had to shut down their operations either permanently or temporarily.  One such victim was my Foscoe, NC gallery, MoonStar.  Byron Gentry has decided to close and spend more time in his own studio.  I'm sorry to announce this, for many reasons, but Byron has a great attitude and is looking forward to his next adventure. He gave all of us artists plenty of notice and time to get our remaining work. 

So lets make lemonade from lemons!  I'll be offering a few of the pieces he returned, through the blog, at reduced prices.  I also have a new opportunity with a NC gallery that I am very excited about and I will share that with you soon.  All of us must constantly be looking for new business models and ways of selling...that is only one of the lessons we have to take from these fast changing times.

 

Onions & Carrots

each 8 x 6    watercolor and graphite on cradeled board, no frame needed

 

This pair was painted over the summer when I had plenty of farm fresh veggies to use as models, you may remember it.  At a modest $150 for the pair (or $80 each) I will send them to a new home for $130.00 for the pair (or $70 each).

 

I just had these designs printed on fabric to make tea towels and I can't wait to see how they came out.  They should arrive soon and be a fun experiment.



Until I get my website updated and current if you are interested in anything you see just contact me at art@cindymichaud.com and I will do whatever I can to help you out.

Meanwhile I'll be looking for many more ways to make lemonade...hope you do too!

Rescued!

There are several stages to any painting: the first is the idea in your head, all gorgeous and perfect and screaming to be put on paper; the last is the end when you lay down your tools and step back to see if you accomplished your mission.  After joining a farm co-op recently and getting deliveries of fresh produce every week, my head was swimming with ideas for beautifully painted vegetables.  These are organic and fresh-picked so they have all the beautiful flaws and odd sizes and gorgeous colors that come with home-grown.  So last week I pulled out the tiny carrots and the bundle of onions and sat down to create those masterpieces.

Several days later my veggies had gone limp and I still was not satisfied.  I think my error was right at the beginning when the layout of the vegetables did not adequately fill up my 8 x 6 space.  Had this been watercolor on paper, or pastel, all I would need to do is pull out the scissors and take a nip here and there to make a more pleasing arrangement of object and space.  But these were done on cradled board which could not be cut.

So I let them sit a while (and mourned the loss of the edibles).  Finally it occurred to me that I could totally change direction and fill up the space with something else: words.  At least it would be a relatively easy way to see if I could salvage the previous effort.  Checking on-line for short recipes I came up with two and decided to add them to the painting.  See what you think:

The recipes changed the entire look of the work and while it added some levity to the format I have decided that it was not a bad rescue.  I think they would be perfect in a kitchen or a hallway to such.

Each board is 8" x 6"

cradled with 1/2" edge painted green so

that no frames are needed

My goof can be your bargain: I'll sell the pair for $139.00

which INCLUDES shipping!

Just contact me: art@cindymichaud.com