Baby Goats on Cuteness Overload

So I've been seeing this meme floating around Facebook lately and I couldn't help but notice that the timing couldn't be more perfect.  I have just painted two darling baby goat paintings just last week.  Honestly, the paint wasn't even dry when the original paintings were snatched up by collectors.  I did manage to get a nice photo of each and the prints turned out GREAT!

This past year I have made it a tradition to actually take the time to arrange a photo shoot of sorts that includes not only the new artwork but me actually holding the finished painting.  I do this for several reasons.
1. It is a great marketing tool because it adds to the story of the painting.  Collectors what to know you and often purchase the art based on knowing your story.
2. It actually helps the online buyer get a sense of size of the piece.  I think this is especially true when you're talking larger paintings.
3.  It helps me personally with the emotions I go through when letting go of a piece of art.  I think of this as a family photo of sorts and it helps me remember.

Here is a collage of photos taken just last week with my two newest paintings, "The Face of Mace" and "Cute as a Bug".  Sometimes I just take the photo standing in my front yard but here we drove out into the desert near Lake Mead.

These adorable baby goats are actual babies born just last month at the Galloping Gertie of Glenns Ferry, Idaho.  Katie Lanni, the owner of this amazing little farm gave me permission to use the photos she had posted on her Instagram account @Galloping_Gertie.  I was so thrilled because her baby goats were just the sweetest things ever.

The Face of Mace

The first one is of a little goat named Mace and so that is why I titled the piece, "The Face of Mace".  I loved the contrast of lights and shadows on this one.

Cute as a Bug

The second painting was of darling twin goats, Perry and Berry standing in the straw filled barn.  I loved their cute smiles and you can tell they are real buddies.

Both of these pieces are available now on my Etsy shop in a variety of matted prints along with 4 x 6 inch laminated magnets or blank greeting cards.

Let me give you the link to both my Julie Townsend Studio Etsy Shop and that of Galloping Gertie Shop.

I thought I would end this blog post highlighting some of the images that I put together to demonstrate how these images would look framed or matted.

I probably should also mention that I have a goat painting titled "The Nanny Squad" that I painted last year and is also available on my Etsy shop.

Feel free to comment if either of these pieces of art, when viewed made you smile.  I LOVE to hear about the smiles!

Have a blessed Day

The Nanny Squad

 

Getting My Mock-ups On

Creating new mockups to show case my art is actually fun and challenging.  I not only add the artwork to this completely digital room but I have fun finding accessories that are matching to correspond to the art.  Everything from a vase of pansies to a pair of red Converse tennis shoes.  I thought I would share a few of the images I've designed to help you visualize just how great my artwork would look on YOUR walls. 

All these images are listing in my Etsy Shop if you want to hope over there and check them out.

 

Tooth Picks for My Eyelids Please

This has been one very busy week for me.  Looking back over the past 7 days, I feel a bit tired just thinking about it.  Of course that might also be the fact that I got up at 4 am with my mother.  I'm in that funny stage of my life where  I find ourselves loading either wheelchairs, oxygen tanks and diaper bags into my SUV or it is strollers, car seats and diaper bags.  It all depending on who I am watching that day.  Brad and I are spanning the gap between several generations, all needing our attention. Sometimes it feels like a struggle just to find time for my art and so I'm beginning to sense an urgency to prioritize my current commitments.  You know what I mean.  When you must evaluate those obligations that are taking me away from important relationships and your passion. Sometimes it is just so hard to say NO!


Last Friday, we packed up the camper with lots of  yummy food and headed out to spend the day in Logandale, Nevada to enjoy the Clark County Fair.  Joined by 4 of my 6 kids and their families, I had 7 of my 9 grandchildren running under foot.  It was a wonderful time.  The weather was pleasant and the company was great.

I do have to admit, I was a bit disappointed when I made it to the art exhibit hall to find that the 4 pieces of artwork I had brought out there had received no major ribbons this year.  Okay that might sound a bit vane but to only see tiny blue participation ribbons hanging on them was a little discouraging.   I know that maybe silly to want ribbons, but that is part of the whole juried art show thing and you can't help but want to see those big beautiful ribbons hanging on your work.  That disappointment didn't last long when on Sunday morning I received this message on my Julie Townsend Studio Facebook Art Page:

" Hi Julie! I was at the county fair, yesterday, when I saw your painting of the palomino and two children. Is it for sale? It made my knees buckle! The cow (and tongue) were great, too! The grass and flowers, worm, frog.... I just can't.... "  

She is referring to two different pieces in this message.  First my piece, "Fence Post Rendezvous" features two blonde headed children feeding carrots from the garden to a palomino horse at the fence.  The second piece that she is talking about is "Always Greener" that features a little jersey calf with his head through the fence trying to get at the tall grass on the other side.

I couldn't help but smile when I read her message.  I'm not sure I have ever had my art cause such a  strong emotion that resulted in making knees buckle.   Needless to say, I have made a new Facebook friend and hopefully a collector as she has already arranged to purchase this piece from me.  I will let you in on a little secret, "Selling is ALWAYS better than Ribbons!"

This past Monday we once again had to drive out to Logandale to pick up the art work since the fair was over.  To my surprise, I was handed this beautiful ribbon for Directors Choice on my piece titled "Something to Crow About".  I guess she was so busy as the director that she neglected to put my ribbon on for the whole four days the fair was going on.  I guess late is better than never and I got my cake and got to eat it too.  A ribbon and an art sale!

My booth at the Galleria Fine Art Expo

So it was the fair on Friday and then We were up early on Saturday morning to load the truck with grids and tubs of artwork so that we could be at the Galleria Mall at 8:00 am to set up for the weekend.  This is a monthly event called "Galleria Fine Art Expo" and I'm really loving being part of this event.  Our first expo was in March and I feel that this is an excellent way to build a local fan base.

This expo is put on by the Las Vegas Artists Guild and is a great opportunity to showcase your work.  I'm SO EXCITED to be part of this event each month and can't wait until May 19th and 20th to be there again.

GOAT WEEK IN THE STUDIO:

This week has proven to be Goat Week in my studio.  First I did the little jumping goat sketch that I'm calling "Grab Your Partner, Doesy Doe".  This pen and ink drawing is just a small one in my sketchbook but with the help of some Photoshop I added a colorful digital background and added his little chick partner.  I have added this print, magnet, greeting card or I have a sticker version on to my ETSY SHOP if you are interested in purchasing him.

The second colored pencil goat piece I did this was was actually draw at the mall as a live demonstration.  I'm calling this one "Eat Your Greens" and I drew it as a request or commission for a lady I met last month in Boulder City during my reception for "I Dare You Not to Smile" show.  She asked if I would draw a goat for her to give to her grandson for his birthday.  I was ecstatic when she confirmed she loved the drawing and she will be purchasing it later this month!  I just LOVE art sales.  This one is also available as a print or greeting card on my ETSY SHOP

"Eat Your Greens"

"Grab Your Partner, Doesy Doe"

Yesterday, I started this large (24 x 36" acrylic) goat piece in acrylic.  If everything goes as planned, I will have 3 goats featured and a sparrow on the fence.  I might even add a little barn mouse in the background.  I'm using a reference photo that I found on Pixabay.com. (I LOVE that site)  I'm really hoping to get this one finished over the weekend and be able to include it in my May show coming up at the Art House LV Gallery.

Some Pig

If you like my artwork, please consider leaving me a message or checking out my website at Julie Townsend Studio and let me know you stopped by. 






I'm going to conclude this blog post today with these cute mock ups I made to showcase my artwork online.  I love the binder clip one and will be using that a lot I think. 

Then I made a white frame and matte that I think showcase my colored pencil drawings really well.  Some art looks better in dark frame so I decided to add a mock up file that included a dark frame, white matte on a wooden panel wall. 

Spring Bunny in the Clover

Bluebird with Wild Rose Hips

Making Mockups Almost Like a Pro

It has been a very busy time in the studio as of late.  I've been jumping around like a chicken with my head cut off just trying to stay on track.  I find myself the week of my combined show where I am 1/3 of the art exhibit and even with that load shared it is a great deal of work.  Our theme is "Fur, Feathers and Fins and it is turning out to be a really fun show.

Besides all of that flurry of activity I have spent a great deal of time on my computer working to improve the product pictures on my Etsy Shop.  I developed about 4 room templates that allow me to showcase my artwork framed and hanging on an imaginary digital wall. I can adjust the frame orientation and size because they are all separate layers in Photoshop.  Having these templates created are half the battle.   Now I'm sure there are more professional images out there but I'm pleased with the outcome of these mockups and wanted to share them with you.








Here are my current mockups and I really like the country flair of the barn wood frame and the potted red geranium.  Makes my Rooster painting, "Rise and Shine"Rise and Shine a perfect fit.  I couldn't have found a better mockup design for my giraffe painting "Reach for the Sky"Reach for the Sky then this little stuffed elephant on a distressed turquoise chair.































For my line of art magnets I decided to create a mockup of a refrigerator surface with a number of my images attached to appear as magnets. When I was showing all the templates to my husband mostly because I feel that I have to justify to him for all the hours I have spent sitting in front of the computer screen in the past 4 weeks since learning anything Photoshop, to point out to me that magnets wouldn't attach to a stainless surface.  REALLY!  I do know this, but you are supposed to focus on the beautiful artwork not the refrigerator.

Both of the originals of these two paintings have been sold but the good news is that I can create fine art prints of both of them and I offer them on my Etsy Shop up to an 8 x 10 matted to 11 x 14 size.  Prices range from $5 to $50 depending the size of the print and if you want it matted or not.   For larger sizes you can contact me and we can make arrangements to have one printed and shipped to you.  My collection of 4 x 6 art cow magnets are also listed there on my Etsy Shop and are priced at $6 each.  Cow Magnet Collection

I encourage you to spend sometime looking at my shop.  I regularly add new artwork there and am working to build a nice inventory of handmade gifts that feature my artwork.  To see more of my artwork you can hope over and check out my website gallery by selecting the "My Art Gallery" link above or clicking this link Julie Townsend Studio.

I would love to hear from you, so Go a head and leave me a comment below.