Daily Paintings - Painted where ever I am.

The Good and the Bad

2012-02-17T07:19:00.003-06:00

The good news, I am going to a conference this weekend in Austin - The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I find it very exciting to finally be doing this. As I started sharing my BusPaintings many years ago my friends and family were all saying "write a story for your Bus Paintings". I was invited to put together a portfolio that will be on a table for all attendees to see. Sounds to me like I could be discovered this weekend by a group of creatives that might use my style of art.

Now the bad news, When I stopped working it was because I was having symptoms that seem to be caused by stress. The symptom that scared me was I was having vision problems. We have now been to the Retina doctor. The diagnosis - Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO). It has been caught early and I know very little about it. I ask for prayers. The only immediate emotional response I am having to this information is I no longer believe that there is no end to my art. I have always told people that their were 100s more paintings where they come from. This is not true, each one is precious and a gift from God.

I am so thankful that I am now one of Marta's artist at Marta Stafford Fine Art, it is time that I spend time painting instead of marketing my art. I leave it up to the professional that she is. The Gallery information -

Marta Stafford Fine Art 112 Main Street Marble Falls, TX 78654 On Facebook

I welcome your comments and hope to hear from each of you. Thank you for reading my blog. Kathleen

My Story Told by my friends at The Bullock Tx History

2012-02-16T08:24:00.001-06:00

The Gallery Information:Marta Stafford Fine Art112 Main StreetMarble Falls, TX 78654

I can't wait for spring

2012-02-15T07:04:00.002-06:00

The original of this 7 x 5 watercolor painting is available on DPW.

Prints are available on Fine Art America.

Or you may contact:

Marta Stafford Fine Art

112 Main Street

Marble Falls, TX 78654

Did you know

2012-02-12T05:11:00.006-06:00

I have news. February 8, 2012, I signed a contract with Marta Stafford Fine Art Gallery in Marble Falls, Texas. When you visit the Gallery you will see Dog Portraits I have painted and soon you will begin to see my paintings of flowers both watercolor and oils.

Prayer and perseverance - this is a relationship made in heaven.

The Gallery Information:

Marta Stafford Fine Art

112 Main Street

Marble Falls, TX 78654

Phone: 830-693-9999

Hungry Fox or Coyote? 5.5 x 8.5 Original Watercolor Painting

2012-02-08T06:23:00.005-06:00

Seeing a fox or a coyote can take me back to my childhood fast. Full moon, sitting in the window in the barn and watching out into the pasture. I could see movement and then it would take shape. It seems to me that if they were large they were a coyote, small a fox. Never knew for sure if I was correct. Lots of speculation...This 5.5 x 8.5 original watercolor painting is available - unframed from my Etsy Store.

And as always I want to make sure you know what great Austin retailers carry my art: SuePatrick, UT Coop, Bob Bullock, The Story of TX History Museum Gift Shop, Spirit Shop at the AT&T Conference Center & Hotel On line you can see a variety of my art: ETSY, Fine Art America, and Daily Paint Works or my website Comments are always welcome - I look forward to hearing from you - Art really does enhance our lives and the relationships that happen in the process are a real bonus!

The Observers

2012-02-02T04:20:00.005-06:00

While I was working full time at The University of Texas - I would wake in the morning and begin thinking about a painting I wanted to paint. The planning had begun. I would think about the size, colors for the under-painting - I would think of titles. By the time I was on the bus or train I would be ready to do a thumb nail sized painting or sketch. I have completed many of these paintings, and I have many more I might paint. I write notes on scrap paper so I find myself playing a game of match notes to thumbnail. Now that I am teaching painting and working full time with art I have started to organize all of my thumbnails/notes for the purpose of a painting book. Yes, I believe we need at least one more how to paint book....one written by me.

When you are in Austin check out the great Austin retailers that carry my art: SuePatrick, UT Coop, Bob Bullock, The Story of TX History Museum Gift Shop, Spirit Shop at the AT&T Conference Center & Hotel On line you can see a variety of my art: ETSY, Fine Art America, and I hope you have signed up to receive the email from Daily Paint Works that will let you look at all the new art. My website is and has links to all of the places online that I share my art. http://www.kmcelwaine.com Comments are always welcome - I look forward to hearing from you - Art really does enhance our lives and the relationships that happen in the process are a real bonus! The Observers are available at my ETSY Store - click here or on the title

Framed Springs Surprise

2012-02-01T05:38:00.003-06:00

This is the day the Lord has made is on my mind and my lips... Each morning when I wake up I give thanks that I'm a full time artist! My students in my painting class are so dedicated and each have goals they are working towards - they will be better than the teacher! I have accumulated knowledge that I am working hard to pass on to my students and I believe the result is, my students will surpass me in ability. The Monday class is full and I am starting a second in Round Rock on Fridays. Art sales have more than doubled and I'm designing a brochure for the line of framed longhorns and preparing to go to market in Dallas in the not to distant future. As always I want to make sure you know what great Austin retailers carry my art: SuePatrick, UT Coop, Bob Bullock, The Story of TX History Museum Gift Shop, Spirit Shop at the AT&T Conference Center & Hotel On line you can see a variety of my art: ETSY, Fine Art America, and Daily Paint Works or my website.

Comments are always welcome - I look forward to hearing from you - Art really does enhance our lives and the relationships that happen in the process are the bonus!

Valentines Day is special

2012-01-30T04:50:00.003-06:00

My art class is full and I'm looking for a place to teach another full day. I'm thinking I should check with a different Hobby Lobby - the question is which one? The benefits I am experiencing teaching and being around people that want to pursue the dream of being good painters is rather amazing to me today. Yep I am counting my blessings for sure! I'm so glad my creativity kicked in to have something special for my sweethearts for Valentine's day. Let me know if you would like me to paint one for the Sweetheart in your life. Framed $35.00 or Unframed $17.00, available from me or my Etsy store where you may pay with a credit card.

And as always I want to make sure you know what great Austin retailers that carry my art: SuePatrick, UT Coop, Bob Bullock, The Story of TX History Museum Gift Shop, Spirit Shop at the AT&T Conference Center & Hotel

On line you can see a variety of my art: ETSY, Fine Art America, and Daily Paint Works or my website Comments are always welcome - I look forward to hearing from you - Art really does enhance our lives and the relationships that happen in the process are a real bonus!

Net-working, from this artist perspective

2012-01-28T08:18:00.007-06:00

My success with my art sales, in all truth has nothing to do with a sales pitch. I belive it is due to the time I spend building relationships. I mean my face to face time that includes listening time. It does not matter if I am cold calling on a gift shop, talking with a Pet Portrait customer or attending a net-working group meeting - I am building lasting relationships.

Last evening Brad and Robert and I attended Tech Ranch, Campfire. I found it to be one of the best artist sales/net-working opportunities I have attended. I hope you will check it out. The campfires are free and the one thing I can promise you is you will meet some wonderful people. I am posting a painting I did of Brad a long time ago because taking him with me, I not only have a new consultant but he is very impressed that I knew of Tech Ranch Camp Fires and that I knew to bring him with me. WooHoo Gma plus points!

My art may be found from the following places: SuePatrick in Austin, TX, UT Coop in Austin, TX, Bob Bullock, The Story of TX History Museum Gift Shop, Spirit Shop at the AT&T Conference Center & Hotel on line ETSY, Fine Art America, and Daily Paint Works or my website Send me an email - I look forward to hearing from you.

Freelance Artist

2012-01-24T07:44:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I was invited to Sun City Georgetown's "Meet the Art Teacher" They do this most years so the artist that are teaching workshops in Sun City and the people that want to take the workshops can meet and talk about what they should expect. Yesterdays event was the best one I have been a part of. I had the best questions and responses ever. I'm sure the fact that this is the first time I have done it and also been full time artist might have a lot to do with it - but still I think the people that are interested in my workshops have also figured out that the question "what are my goals as an artist" is a valid question and should be part of the process of learning art everyday. A lot of people got a lot closer to their answer yesterday. I think it was in response to the wide variety of art I put on the table for them to see how I work everyday. The donkeys above are just two examples of how I exercise everyday. (The black and white is the same painting changed on my computer).

Thank you for looking at my art. Would you like to see more? http://www.kmcelwaine.com/Pets_People_Portraits.html

This what playtime produces for me

2012-01-23T05:47:00.002-06:00

I mentioned that I was painting Angora Goats in the last post on my blog. I was delighted to receive a request to see the goats. Here they are, please realize that this is what I do when I'm learning something new. I don't mean learning how too paint them I mean learning the shape and characteristics of something new. I have been around Angora Goats and they are so cute and cuddly that you want to respond to them like they are your favorite dog.

I did not remember many particulars about them. Do they have split hooves? What color are their eyes? I learned what I needed to know and started painting.
There are a lot more to come. Be watching. What ever you do don't forget to give your self some playtime!

Thank you for looking at my art. Would you like to see more? http://www.kmcelwaine.com/Pets_People_Portraits.html

My Best for you!

2012-01-21T06:54:00.004-06:00

This has been a very exciting week! In the process of placing my art in SuePatrick, showing my art to them, they have asked to use 3, yes three of my images on T-Shirts. Each of these images become a licensed image bringing me to a total of 8 licensed images. I have also been painting the cutest animal - an Angora Goat. For me to paint something I'm not familiar I must first learn about them. It just helps in the Whimsey and after all it grows dendrites in the process as well. If I'm not posting updates in my BLOG I am missing you! Thank you for looking at my art. Would you like to see more? http://www.kmcelwaine.com And I hope you will LIKE me on Facebook

Show and Tell

2012-01-17T05:35:00.003-06:00

I started painting as a child so that I could show people my paintings of my horse Blue Ribbon. I can remember thinking that I could not wait until the next "Show and Tell". Now I have my Blog, my Etsy Store, my website, my fineArtAmerica Site to show and tell about my art.

Scratch and Sniff 10 x 4 Watercolor Painting

2012-01-16T06:14:00.002-06:00

Buy Now on ETSY $25.00 I love painting for a living and I think about painting what I want to paint and to have it be something you would like (I depend on my friends and collectors to buy). I find that January is a good month for me to be building my art class because I am getting lots of emails everyday asking me questions about the pet portraits or the Longhorn paintings or my original Oil Paintings that are in the gallery at Texas Hill Country Olive Oil Co but I have named them Scratch and Sniffers, nobody follows through with an order...... Hope you enjoy the Scratch and Sniffers, as a child I watched chickens for hours!

Orange Framed Whimsical Texas Longhorn Valentine

2012-01-14T09:55:00.000-06:00

Click here to BID On #1

or you can

Click here to Buy #3 Now from Kathleen
The First Ever, means that even if I do it again next year this will be the first one I ever painted. It is numbered right on the painting next to my copyright mark. If you are serious about your Valentine you will want them to have this one. At this point I have painted 1-5. Orange Framed Red Heart Valentine Original Painting of one of my Whimsical Texas Longhorn - Free Shipping and Handling - painted on a 6 x 4 Strathmore Postcard. I find that when I visit Gift Shops that this little painting is how they know me. I suspect some day I will say This is why my art is famous or collected. I hope you will purchase one of the Valentine Edition, they won't be around for long.

My Review of Empty Watercolor Pans

2012-01-14T09:34:00.001-06:00

Originally submitted at Jerry's Artarama Art Supplies

Create your own colors!Make your own half or whole pans from any tube of watercolor. You can also make special mixed colored pans for colors that are truly your own! Made from white plastic.

1/2 pans 4 Paint on the Go Lap Easel

By Buspaintings Artist from Austin, Texas on 1/14/2012

Describe Yourself: Artist

Primary use: Business

Was this a gift?: No

I created a Paint on the go Lap Watercolor Easel years ago and began creating the Whimsical Longhorns that have become famous. I am a prolific painter and I depend on being able to paint anyplace and anytime I am idle. The empty 1/2 pans for watercolor fit perfectly in my travel box. If you would like to see my Lap easel in action you may search for me as kmcelwaine. I also teach this method for daily painting and recommend the 1/2 pans to my students. They make it possible to carry the colors we desire to have in our travel paint box.

Watercolor Lap Easel using 1/2 Pans

Tags: Daily painting, Made with Product, Kathleen, In, Picture of Product, Bevo, Mcelwaine, Train, On, Painting, Kmcelwaine, Watercolor, Longhorn, Using Product, The

Part 2 of Watercolor Lap Easel using 1/2 pans

Tags: Train, Painting, Kmcelwaine, Using Product, Mcelwaine, Watercolor, Made with Product, On, The, Bevo, Daily painting, Longhorn, In, Picture of Product, Kathleen

(legalese)

What Art do you need?

2012-01-12T06:05:00.007-06:00

Do you need a label, an announcement or an invitation, just ask. Prices start at $25.00 and no payment until you approve the art. Working as a Freelance Artist is opening doors! Longhorn image for a Grooms cake? Personal Wine label design? Painting just for you is what I love to do!

7 x 5 Print Texas Longhorn Stands Alone

2012-01-10T16:57:00.003-06:00

I received an envelope from Sprint today, on the outside on the envelope were the words "The best relationships are the ones you already have". That is exactly my thoughts the day I walked through the doors of the UT Coop Art Store and showed the manager my longhorn note cards. I had been saying hi to her each time I would hurry in to buy another paintbrush or more watercolor paper, she knew me as a customer. I loved her response, when I asked what should I do to see if the Coop would buy my cards for resale she said what is your price? We agreed on a price, she gave me a PO# and the next day I delivered the quantity of cards she requested. Now I have 2 images that I receive royalties on from the Coop and they buy my note cards and my framed prints wholesale. Relationship, I duplicated this with Bullock, The Story of Texas History Museum Gift Shop and it did not stop there. It took nerve and it took me thinking out side of my traditional goal of original art and galleries. I worked with what was available to me, I worked with the relationships I have developed. Prints of Stands Alone are available from my ETSY Store.

What success looks like from here

2012-01-10T05:53:00.002-06:00

When I painted this longhorn and named him The Original Texas Longhorn I had no idea how popular it would become. I have worked hard at sharing it, I have never been afraid of being copied, though I have been and I have never sold the original painting. I still sell more prints of this painting than any other painting. Yes it is only $24.00 Free shipping from my ETSY STore It has been sold as a 5x7 print more times than I can count, it has been made into a grooms cake, a wedding announcement sign, a greeting card and now a licensed T-Shirt at UT Co-op (available int he spring). Success, I'm told is still to make enough money that I can make a house payment each month. I'm doing the important things - relationship building, integrity in my products and what I offer and hard work. The same things work now that worked way back when. Oh one more thing I do business with everybody I can local! Thank you for your time and keep on and be sure to be a friend, you know listen when others talk to you and share a reassuring smile.

Art is back home

2012-01-06T20:07:00.004-06:00

I always wanted to be a part of a great small town - you know the kind that is growing because it feels so good to so many people to be at home. Leander is like that. I picked up the art they have had for a show for the last 90 days, I'm glad to have the art back home and some need to be delivered to buyers but I sure have felt special having my art in such prominent display. Thank you to all my friends that worked so hard to have this show.

Stands Alone - A Texas Longhorn

2012-01-04T17:50:00.001-06:00

I found out today that I might have my 5th licensed longhorn image. It is most exciting to think that I have painted paintings that can attract that much attention, but if anything can do it a longhorn painting in Texas can. I can show you one of them if you want to visit the UT Coop store. The painting I call The Original Texas Longhorn is the one that will be printed next, can't wait, it will be printed on a pink T.

Visit my web site to see a short video of me painting .
I invite you to see my available oil paintings, My ETSY Store, My site at Fine Art America where I offer prints of my work.
I hope you will sign up to receive my Daily Painting BLOG

Portraits from photographs

2012-01-03T07:35:00.002-06:00

Contact the Artist

2012-01-03T06:25:00.005-06:00

Portrait? Well not really. For me it has more to do with an impression. I love it when I see a painting in a photograph I take or in this case a family member (I ask before I painted). I'm not going to waste my time making a painting that might be viewed as a copy of a photograph. I paint often using photograph as reference material, if nothing else to help my memory.

This painting is no longer available but the next one I do from a photograph is available to you if you ask me. Just let me know. Click on the title of this blog it will take you to the page in my web site that I tell you about commissioning me to do a painting for you. No payment up front.

Are you interested in seeing more of my Art? You can visit any of these places and see a lot more.

Daily PaintWorks Gallery or kmcelwaine.com or Etsy or Fine Art America And when you are in Austin ask the nice folks at The UT Coop,or Bob Bullock - The Story of Texas History

Museum they will be glad to show you more.

New Years Resolutions and Income from Art

2012-01-02T08:10:00.004-06:00

January 2, 2012 My first Post of the Year

I saw an image yesterday of a cave man chiseling out a calendar and speaking to another cave man. The calendar was full and the last entry read 2012, the caption "That will sure freak people out someday"

After having a giggle - I thought, I want to draw cartoons.

I'm learning that to meet my income goals working as an artist will require that I become focused, mainly on what I spend time painting. But oh how I love painting what ever hits my fancy.

By painting every little whim I learned that both children and adults are entertained watching me paint and I learned how to paint things fast and I painted a lot of fun pictures.

Now I need to settle down.

I'm wondering what will that look like?

This painting is still available from my

Daily PaintWorks Gallery and yes the price is higher but is worth every penny! And if you don't believe me just ask the folks at The UT Coop,or Bob Bullock - The Story of Texas History

Museum

On the Backroads of Wimberley

2011-12-30T12:46:00.004-06:00

On the Backroads of Wimberley is 24 x 30 oil painting I completed earlier this week. I hope Sean at The Texas Hill Country Olive Company will like it. He loved the one I did on location (the smaller painting). I have not been posting paintings to my blog this week - I have spent some time during Christmas week with my family in Oklahoma and painting but mainly reflecting on all the ways that I might be able to share Christ love in my paintings and teaching art. I feel sure each person I encounter in my life has the opportunity to see Christ in me and I pray that I live up to that opportunity. Thank you for letting me share my art with you! Kathleen