So, I go to Greece to take pictures of white houses and blue sea. Which I did, and I enjoyed. But as I shared in Monday’s post, the things that inspired me the most continued to be the places with texture, the colors, and little details like this door handle and lock. I captured this in the small town Megalochori when we rented a car one day and visited some of the smaller towns around the island of Santorini. Once you got out of the tourist zones where everything was postcard-perfect, Santorini was texture heaven. Just goes to show, style will always come through. You’ve probably heard the saying: “No matter where you go, there you are.” Even artistically, this is so true. (I’m linking this in to The Creative Exchange for that reason!)
Today I’ve also got a lot of little updates so hang on through the end if you are interested in a Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap update, my Paint Party Friday entry, entering a postcard giveaway and a quick newsletter tip.
Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap Update and Postcard Giveaway
I’m so excited with the response to the postcard swap. There are 87 people signed up for the swap so far. That’s 435 pieces of art that will be winging their way around the world come late July. Isn’t that awesome? And it’s all because you are helping me get the word out! Thank you so much!
If you’re already signed up, you can expect an email this week with some more ideas and resources about making or printing your postcards. If you have some resources or tips you want to share with the group, send them to me and I’ll add them to the update. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s plenty of time. Go here to sign up and get the details.
To thank you for the great response to the swap and your help with growing it, I’m doing a postcard giveaway, to liberate more art into the world. There will be two winners. I’ll be giving away a set of my own “Favorite Flowers” postcards, as well as a set of “Superhero” postcards from my good friend Jenny Shih. Any one of these postcards is guaranteed to make the recipient smile.
Even better, you can have up to three entries into the pool. Here is what you need to do to enter:
1. Comment on this post for one entry. Just say hi and you are in!
2. If you are a signed up for the postcard swap, you get a second entry. Leave a second comment on this post that you are signed up, for your second entry. It’s not too late – sign up here and then come back and use this entry!
3. If you have helped get the word out on the postcard swap (a blog post, a tweet, putting the button on your blog sidebar, etc.), you get a third entry. Leave a third comment on this post telling us what you did to help get the word out, and provide a link if you have one, for your third entry. It’s not to late for this either – if you help get the word out between now and Monday, come back and comment again.
I will draw for the winners on Tuesday morning here in Italy, so you have until Monday night around midnight EST to leave your comments. Please make sure that there is a way for me to get at your email through your comment – either by a link back to your website where I can find it or commenting with a method that will allow me to reply. If you win and I can’t find your email to contact you for the address, I’ll re-draw for the prize.
Quick Newsletter Tip
My newsletter will be going out on Sunday, with the Visual Contrast printable file I told you about in yesterday’s post. Be sure to add my email address to your address book so it doesn’t end up in your spam folder. If you signed up but don’t see it by Monday morning, or didn’t see the first one I sent a couple of weeks ago, check your spam folder.
Paint Party Friday!
I had so much fun participating in Paint Party Friday the first time a couple of weeks ago. That, along the wonderful blues I experienced in Greece last week, have motivated me to start another painting. This is a small 20x20cm canvas, painted in acrylics. I haven’t finished it yet, but thought I would share my progress.
Step One: I wanted to get a watery looking background so I used quite a bit of water with Cerulean blue paint to initially paint the background. Then I crumpled a paper towel and dabbed at the canvas to unevenly take paint away. It was an experiment, and I liked the results.
Step Two: I started painting a circle of Aquamarine, from the outside in. I still used quite a bit of water and overlapped as I went. Eventually I worked to the center and then spiraled out, darkening the places that seemed to be naturally dark. I had no intention with the subject, but the result at the end of this step look like a rose to me.
This is all I’ve done so far. Next I’m planning to go along with the emerging rose I see and add some highlights. We’ll see where this goes in future updates. It’s funny how both this painting and the last one I did have ended up looking like flowers, that was not intentional.
Have a great weekend!!
Hi. Love your door from Greece. That's what I loved about Italy too…texture in them ost unexpected places. Your blue rose is looking wonderful so far, if it turns out to be a rose. Can't wait to see it finished. Happy PPF.
The blue door from Greece is just beautiful. The type of sun-dried / well baked blue. 😉
The blue rose looks very interesting!
Well Done!
Love the blue door photo. That shade of blue is dreamy. 🙂
HI Kat, I'm so excited about starting work on my postcards – just need to get them from somewhere first!
The blue door is gorgeous – so detailed and I completely agree with you about the wonderful architectural details to be found in unexpected places.
I'm looking forward to seeing your work in progress, er progress!! I love the effect of the background you achieved so far!
That door is wonderful- I love spotting things like that! You have such a range that you apply your talents to, and I love them all!
Happy PPF,
Stephanie
Kat – simply gorgeous shot. I want to go to Greece.
Here is comment #2 for me – I am proud to be first in the list of participating blogs for the Liberate Your Art Swap!
http://www.gottgraphicsdesign.com/
And comment #3 – I have added the "Liberate Your Art" button to my blog. Thanks so much for the opportunity to participate in the swap and this wonderful give away.
Creatively yours,
Brenda
How to Feather an Empty Nest:
http://www.gottgraphicsdesign.com/
Hi Kat! Of course I have more to say than "Hi" (#1) and "I already signed up for the postcard swap" (#2) and "I have your button on my sidebar"(#3) 😉
I love the photo of the door and also your paintings! That blue is really gorgeous! Have a wonderful weekend!
Love the blue and white colors of Greece…and the door lock is just great! 🙂
I love the photograph of the door! & your WIP is very cool. Happy PPF! Theresa
wow you have been busy! I love the doors in Greece. I realised as we were going to the airport that you probably lived in Milan but I couldn't remember, we were there for a whole 24 hours! we were supposed to stay longer but my husband had to get back for work. I had a fun time walking around on my own whilst he worked, did the city bus tour, should have called you but next time!
I feel like diving right into those yummy blues!!! refreshing pieces….
Happy PPF!!!!
My goodness, you have a lot going on! I love everything from Greece and especially love the idea of getting away from the tourist areas. We are heading for Taos next week and hope to do the same. Thinking about the postcards – I have never made them before….
Love that distressed blue (I'm talking about the photograph, not your painting :-)) Looking forward to seeing the emergent rose.
And I'm signed up to Liberate your Art
so excited about the swap! and i love how you show us your creative process 🙂
i'm all signed up for the swap!
i tweeted about the swap yesterday 🙂 woohoo!
LOVE your blue door handle and that new piece is coming along so nicely.
Okay I am an absolute lover of blue and this door and rose are prefect inspiration for me. Love to see how the rose will transform….Lovely work!
Annabelle >^..^<
Love that door – and the little princess cards. Your blue piece at the bottom is lovely, too!
That door was a fantastic find. Wonderful texture-and blue is my fave colour.
That is such a special color blue — and the composition of the image is so interesting. Love it! I need to start working on the postcards, I know July will be here before you know it. Looking forward to your next newsletter…..Happy weekend!
Beautiful door and loving your new composition, looking forward to see where you go with this. Annette x
Blue is my favorite color and roses are my flowers ….this work is going well. Saludos
Yay – a great giveaway!
I'm signed up for the swap.
Very cool painting Kat! I can see other things in it than a rose as well…
Looking forward to seeing more!
Love your door photo and can't wait to see the blue piece finished!
I love your photo! color is awesome! I want to go to Italy sooooo bad! Someday!
Love that color blue. The blue door is just awesome. Have fun with the card swap. Enjoy your weekend.
Hi Kat, count me in! Love the door also.
I just signed up for the swap!
Fantastic blue door, Kat. I like your painting, these blues are very powerful. I'm so glad that you're with Paint Party Friday as well!
I really love the door, it is an interesting painting with so much character. I also love paintings of old buildings with rusted tin roofs.
I love the blue door! Can;t wait to see your rose develop some more. When I was in Le Marche last year I took lots of texture pictures; old wood, stone walls, plaster, roof tiles, bricks, painted effects; love it. For printing postcards I will probably have mine done at Zazzle;
http://www.zazzle.com/maryhysong*
Just don't know what I want to do yet!
Hi again Kat. Just read the guest post and I love it. That blue door photo is spectacular! A painting with that photo would be awesome!
Hi Kat!!! I would love to enter the give away.
xo
lynn
I signed up for the swap, so that's entry number two….
and for entry number three, your cute swap button is now on my sidebar!!
xo
lynn
I'm so excited for this postcard swap! Your paintings are beautiful.
Annie
I'm signed up for the postcard swap so this is entry #2! =)
And I sent it out to my email group and posted on Facebook so this is entry #3!! Yay!
Found you through Creative Exchange and love your eye for detail!
fabulous shot of the door kat!
I am signed up for the swap…can't wait!
The button is on my sidebar, and I'll post about it in my blog soon!
This is a wonderful photograph Kat, and I love the quote ("No matter where you go…)
It sounds like you are one busy person, but it also sounds like you are having so much fun with all of it!
Thank you so much for sharing this today at The Creative Exchange.
Have a wonderful day!
lisa.
my home has a blue door of that same hue. what a great idea for the postcard swap. am i too late to join in now?
That first photo is just the loveliest thing!
Love the blue door, love the blue painting, love the superhero giveaway and of course, love the postcard swap (and I'll be working on it this weekend!)
Love, love, love it all!
As an artist who loves the color blue…your image of the door and handle is wonderful! Belated Happy PPF!
Your capture of the door and hinge is wonderful. I can see why you were attracted to it. It’s captivating in its own little way. The handle looks like it has gotten a lot of use over the years.I love it.
Wheeee!!! I am so glad you are still painting… The blue is perfect for this week's poll theme over at PPF 🙂
Oooh that postcard swap is going to be such fun – I can't wait!
xo
Kristin
I'm in love with the blue door hinge.
I'm glad I found your blog — looking forward to exploring it. Love the blue door.
Gorgeous blue door!
Love the blue door! Art is everywhere!