In Honor of Mothers of SNOT Nosed Kids Everywhere!

Who Needs a Tissue- 8 x 10 Pen and Ink/Colored Pencil

So I just had to share the little poem I wrote this morning to accompany the sketch I did earlier this year that I call "Who Needs a Tissue".  The subject matter may be a bit on the gross side, but it just fits perfect with my drawing.

I had so much fun writing this little verse that I think I might just start writing something for each of my sketches.  Who knows...maybe this will turn into a book for the grandchildren of sorts.





I know all mothers of small children can so relate to my poem and so I've decided to have a MAY 2016 MOTHER'S DAY GIVEAWAY.  I would love to send you a 4" x 6" art magnet of my "Who Needs a Tissue" along with a signed copy of my new poem.  Here's what I need you to do anytime this week Mother's Day Week between May 7-14th:

1. Go to my website at JulieTownsendStudio.com and find the answer to the following question: What issue of Gold Prospector Magazine featured a 2 page article on my artwork? (I have the answer in a number of places so just open some of the tabs and look around.)
2. Send me an email from my website contact page giving me the answer to my questions and your full name and mailing address. (Sorry United States Only)
3. And finally, leave me a comment or a shout out on this blog entry below just letting me know you were here and if you enjoyed my blog.

Go Grab a Tissue PLEASE

by 

Julie Townsend

Picking or licking your nose is a bad habit I say

I promise you will regret that you did it some day

When all the other calves are playing, jumping and having fun

You will be too embarrassed to join them to rumpus and run

So when the hay fever strikes and won't slow

And the snot runs free like a steady river flow

When that fountain is turned on and you have the urge to sniff and snort

And even though God has given you a tongue that is far from short

Please! Oh please! Go grab a hanky or better yet, a big wad of tissue

To handle the problems of your snot and dripping green issue 

Blowing your nose is so much better than using a tongue to lick

Be considerate of those around you for you will surely make them sick

Another Dusty Prospector on the Way

Yesterday, I started a challenging piece that is the 3rd in a series of paintings that I have been working on this year of Gold Prospectors.  I was honored to have my work feature in the March/April 2013 edition of Gold Prospector Magazine.  That was defiantly an exciting to see my work featured in a publication even if it wasn't an art magazine.

When I was doing some rough sketches of what I wanted to see in my next painting I came across a number of old prospector photos that included a dog.  It seems that besides a mule or burro, a dog was often a companion for these adventurous souls.  I thought it would be a good thing to include along with my aged prospector, man's best friend and a little leather pouch of gold.  Probably the two things that were most likely to get him to smile.  I hope that I'm capturing that bond here with my work in progress. 

This work in progress has several elements that are a first for me.  1.  I've not painted such a large facial portrait up to this point.  My other prospector paintings have included the entire body form and therefore the facial details were not as important.  2.  I've actually never painted a dog before and this will be my first pooch so covering him in a convincing fir will be a challenge.  3.  Hands are always tricky and this painting will certainly be that.  I will probably have to get my husband to be my hand model so that I can have a good detailed example to work from.

12x16 WIP Oil Painting- Not yet titled

In case you missed them, here are the other two paintings that I have completed this year in this series.

18x24 Oil- "Taking A Break"

16x20 Oil- "Just One More Pan"

A Year Of Firsts For Me

This may be my 51st year on this planet, but it is one marked by many firsts and yesterday was no exception.
1.  I retired from my position as Business Administrator of 27 years.
2.  More than doubled the number of individuals that call me "Grandma" after the birth of my 3 new adorable grandbabies.   Sept, Nov and Jan saw the Townsend Clan greatly multiply and if you have the joy of being a grandparent, you know just how exciting that can be.


These are personal changes but I have also experienced a complete career change.  It has always been my childhood dream to someday be considered and "Artist".  Now that I have time to pursue my passion I am seeing a number of exciting new developments in 2013 already.

1.  My art is hanging in a small co-op gallery down in the heart of the Las Vegas art district.  It's just a tiny wall, but it is a start to have my work publically displayed on a regular basis

2.  This past month saw the publication of the magazine article in Gold Prospectors Magazine that featured my love of painting Nevada and it's rich mining history.

3.  March also saw me selling my first piece of original work and 2 prints (thanks to the exposure that the magazine article provided) to STRANGERS.  Collectors unknown to me and are spending their hard earned money because they like my painting rather than buying it because they know me.

"Dreams in Shades of Gold" packed up and ready to ship off to a new home.

4.  It is only the 2nd day of April and I'm sitting here considering another first.  I have been contacted by a company in California that specializes in mining equipment to paint an original piece that they want to hang in their store and also use as the image on their business cards.  They have offered to allow me to add my website address to the cards for self promotion.  This is what I think you call a "Commission".  My FIRST!



You know when I turned 50, I thought that was a really BIG deal.  Who would know that being 51 would be SO much more exciting!

Can I Have Your Autograph?

WHY YES, I AM THE ARTIST FEATURED IN "GOLD PROSPECTOR MAGAZINE!"

Finally the magazine article has been published.  It was almost a year from the first contact, interview, second interview, photos sent to the final results and I can't wait to receive my complimentary copies of the magazine.

I knew the story was going to be in the March/April 2013 edition, and I have made a mental note that I needed to contact the writer to find out the details, but on Saturday I was out displaying my paintings in front of Wholefoods and I had a man come up and ask if I was the artist in the magazine article.  Now that was jaw dropping to me.  He even said he wished he had brought his copy with him so that I could autograph it for him.  Now I know this is a magazine that has a specific niche audience but I fit in that niche and while it isn't an art magazine who's to say that dusty old gold prospectors don't appreciate art.  I mean my husband is getting older, loves digging in the dirt for gold, he is often dusty and he at least acts as if he likes my paintings. 

It was an unlikely marketing avenue, but I decided to go for it when I wrote the letter last year introducing myself and sending them some examples of my art that focuses on the rich mining history of Nevada.  The worst that could happen was that they could have ignored me.  But that wasn't the case.  I received an email from a freelance writer within two days requesting an interview for the magazine. 

This has been an exciting week with the publishing of the article that showcases my love of painting Nevada.  I haven't seen the article yet, but this magazine has a circulation of 70,000 readers. Notice I typed 4, yes 4 zeros after that 7.    To top that off,  this weekend I sold 3 prints on Fine Art America, 2 of which were of "Dreams in Shades of Gold".  Finally, last night I received an email request from a lady in Michigan wanting to purchase my original.  Way exciting for a brand new artist like me.  You can be sure that as soon as I get my copy of the magazine, I will be adding the article to my website for all to read.

"Dreams in Shades of Gold"- SOLD