I'm Having a SALE!

I had this thought the other day that I should have a sale on my ETSY site for all my bloggy friends. I finally figured out how I could do it. If you are interested go to my ETSY site, if you see something you want email me at anniecoeartist(at)peoplepc(dot)com telling me which item you want and I will got to my site and reserve it in your name for the sale price, then you go buy it. For you I am taking 10% off all ceramics and 35% off all paintings. If it is a gift I will gift wrap for free. This offer is good until Monday the 3rd of Apirl.

P.S. If two of you want the same item, it will go to the one who emails me first :-).

Happy shopping. Love you. XOXO

Animal Wednesday

This Sweet boy is my dog Zeus. He is very old, and is having a hard time. Sometimes he falls and most times I have to lift him into the car, but he still runs with me. We never go more than a mile because the vet said not to. He loves it though and we will continue to go until the end.

He is the sweetest dog in all the world and makes friends with all animals and people.

Happy Wednesday! XOXO

New Painting

(Click on image to enlarge)

This is my new painting "Dreaming of Paris", 10"x8". I used the new technique's that Alexandra taught me when I was visiting her last Monday. These photos are not the best. The main color looks white, but really it is a buttery light yellow. The last photo is an attempt to show you what I did with the top and bottom sides. This is Venetian plaster mixed with acrylics and gouache.

Please let me know what you think...Love. XOXO

P.S. I may varnish this piece, but will show you if I do, but I kind of like the matte finish.

Sunday Randomness

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"- Albert Einstein

It actually snowed a couple days ago, but it only stuck on the mountain. Today it is Spring again.

I have this glorious Sunday off. A little yard work, then I am going to play with my new techniques with the Venetian plaster. A little reading and napping too. A PERFECT day.

More and more I am learning to love my life so much, just as it is.

I stayed up late last night researching this hologram theory. You would be surprised how many people believe it and that there is some proof. Many scientists are doing studies to prove it.

FUN stuff, if you have an open mind for that kind of thinking. Which I do :-). I had an experience when I was in my twenties that always left me thinking that the world was a little different then we thought it was: I woke up from a dream in the middle of the night, I had been dreaming that I was in a castle and there was this huge bed and chair, when I sit up in my bed, the bed was the one in the castle and the chair was in the room too, all my "real" furniture was gone, I could see the castle bed and chair start to recede and turn transparent and my furniture came forward and became solid. You may think perhaps I was still dreaming, but I was fully awake and I had turned on the light, so I did not "Imagine" it. True story. Life is such a mystery, isn't it wonderful?! I am off for a yummy breakfast and a little reading in bed before I start this grand day in Earnest. Happy Sunday! XOXO

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Not real lions and tigers and bears only beliefs and fear. If you have not read the post below, please do as this post will not make any sense unless you do :-). The scary stuff has already started. I lost one of my biweekly jobs today, not a whole lot of money, but these days it does not take much and I could be in trouble. Of course it brought up all sorts of fears and negative beliefs with which to work with. Robert said I would not have to go looking for the beliefs, that they would pop up due to events that would start happening, and now it has begun. I did the process he gives in the book and I felt better, I did it again and I feel almost not scared. So, I will do it until I have no fear at all :-). Also a funny thing today on the back of a windshield I saw painted, Illusions, as if I needed a reminder, and then I received an invite to an art opening for a man who makes hologram art :-). It made me chuckle. The Universe really is such a magical and wonderful place. I will trust and hold on tight. Also Happy belated Earth day. Everyday should be earth day :-). XOXO

Down the Rabbit Hole

I told you that I was ordering a book that I thought could help me with my stinky relationship with money called "Busting Loose from the Money Game" by Robert Scheinfeld. I finished the book on Sunday and I have to say I found it fun and mind altering. First, let me tell you this book is not for the faint of heart. It puts forth ideas that while I have heard them before, I thought of them as theories, not truth. The biggest one is that the world we see is just a hologram, that our higher selves or expanded selves have created for fun and challenge. Now, I am having lots of fun with that idea, but you can do the work in this book even if you can't totally believe that theory.
The really hard part is the fact that things could get really scary and bumpy while you do the work of changing your patterns or beliefs. I am shaking in my boots, but you know what? I am brave and I am going to go for it, because I have nothing to lose and every thing to gain. This book is not really about getting rich, it is about being free. Some strange things have already happened since I started doing the process, which can take up to a year or two to be completed, and may never be completed! You have to read the book to see what I am talking about, because it would be too hard to relay it all to you where it made sense without quoting the whole book :-).
I plan on doing the work and when something really bizarre happens I will tell you about it and also give you progress reports, although we are not to look for outcomes in this work, there are bound to be some :-). I wish I could tell you more, but like I say this stuff is really hard to put into words. Just, please pray for me because I think it may be a wild ride :-). If any of you buy the book, please let me know so we can talk about it! Happy Thursday! XOXO

Santa Fe

First, I am sorry, I got so caught up in the day I totally forgot to take photos. I did remember to take my camera though :-). Second, no, I did not find a gallery to take my work. I only got one to even look at the Cd. She liked the work, but did not think it fit into her gallery. A cool thing though is she gave my friend J and I a bunch of new painting brushes, I got about 150 dollars worth! None of the other galleries would even look at the Cd's, they have all the artists they have room for (I have been hearing this for 30 years, yet these galleries DO take on new artists). Perhaps I am just a bad salesperson, but it seems futile at this point. Not sure what to do, but I have to find a different way. Third, I had a great time anyway. We had a wonderful breakfast with my friend K at Cafe Pasqual's, I had french toast, Yum. And at the end of the gallery hunt we went to see Alexandra Eldridge at her studio, that was the highlight of the day. She is too wonderful for words. Kind and beautiful, and open and giving, and so talented! She showed me all sorts of things I can do with the venetian plaster, so I have some new techniques to try out. It was a blast to spend time with her. So, that's the trip in a nut shell. Happy Tuesday! XOXO

Santa Fe Here We Come (and other stories)

It's Sunday, Yay! And the rain has stopped, so I am off on a run and then cleaning my car for my trip to Santa Fe tomorrow. Yes, my friend J and I are FINALLY going! I have spent at least 40-50 hours getting some beautiful Cd's ready to take and I even designed some lovely CD labels for them. I even got my hair cut! I am ready and I am expecting to have FUN. Other than that I have no expectations. I go to Santa Fe to hunt down galleries about once a year, but it has been more like 3 years this time. Breaking into the Santa Fe galleries is very close to trying to break into New York galleries, so what I am saying is, it is not a sure thing, but it is possible. I believe in miracles after all. I also believe in my work and myself. I am a damn good artist :-). I have a list of galleries, some I have tried before, but J and I will play it by ear and use our intuition. We are also bringing actual pieces of art with us, just in case. My work does not translate well in photos. They are WAY better in real life. Also planned for the day is a lovely breakfast with my friend K and then after the gallery hunt, we will be going to Alexandra Eldridge's Studio!
It may rain, but even if it does, it won't dampen my spirits :-). I will take my camera and if I get permission I will photograph the whole day for you.
In other news, I received my book finally "Busting Loose From the Money Game", I will tell you that I feel I have gone down the rabbit hole and now I know what those coyotes were telling me.
I will explain more later this coming week as I want to do a post about it.
Have a wonderful, care-free Sunday! And please say a little prayer for J and I tomorrow and also for my dear mom, who is still having a lot of pain in her leg.
Love you. XOXO

Care-Free

It hit me the other day that being care free was the secret to a happy life.
Free of worry. Light and easy. Happy go lucky. I have been attempting to be care free my whole life. It is time to do it! Come join me in this quest. Worry never makes anything good happen.
I know this does not really qualify as a real post, but it is on my mind and I wanted to share it before I forgot :-). Love. XOXO

Animal Wednesday

This little guy is Mr. B, he is Spike's brother and he has also been sick, though he is much better and he is eating, he is still very thin and does not gain weight. The vet was never able to find out what was wrong with him, so we take it one day at a time. Isn't he beautiful! Happy Wednesday.

XOXO

WOW!

(Photo Source)

These paintings were all done by one of my very favorite artists who lives here in New Mexico,

Alexandra Eldridge. I am going to Santa Fe next Monday and she has been kind enough to invite me to her studio! I am so excited. I can't tell you what it means to me, as she is the one who started me with the Venetian plaster. I read an article about her and her work with Venetian plaster, years ago and thought, what is this Venetian plaster? I was intrigued and thought I would try working with it. I went to all the hardware/paint stores in Taos. No one had it or had even heard of it! I thought, okay forget it, it is too hard to get hold of. That night I had a dream, an angel (I am not making this up) came to me and said "We hear you are giving up on the Venetian plaster" I said "Yes, it is too hard to get it around here" the angel said"We would rethink that if we were you". So I did (when an angel tells you something, you listen), I found it at Home Depot in Santa Fe and it changed my work and has become for me, profound.

So, you see what Alexandra means to me and how this coming visit is: WOW.

I just wanted to share. Click the links and see more of her wonderful, magical work. If I had the means I would fill my house with her paintings. Happy Monday! XOXO

Sundays

As most of you know Sundays are my favorite day. Today is a totally free day, I get to do whatever my heart desires, which means a run this early afternoon, then a nap and painting

and bird watching, a little reading. I am also preparing for a trip to Santa Fe in a week. I still have last minute things to do to my portfolio. And I am getting ready to apply for the Pollock/Krasner grant.

I sent away for the application years ago, then forgot all about it. Lately I have been reminded and I am doing it! If you win, they basically give you money to live for a year and do your art, which is great, but also winning would put me on the map. Competition is great, but you can only try.

Have a most wonderful Sunday! What are you up to today? XOXO

Books that Changed My Life

I am still waiting for the book I ordered ("Busting Loose From the Money Game") to show up.
I am expecting great things from this book and it got me thinking about other books that have changed my life. The list is too long to give you all of them, but I thought I would give you highlights and work from the past to the present.
"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D Salinger
"The Razor's Edge" by W. Somerset Maugham
Both these book were for me so important and taught me how to live from my soul and to always be true to myself above all else. To be authentic. They remain two of my favorite books.
All the books by Carlos Castaneda. I read them all in my late Twenties and I loved them. Regardless if you believe them to be true or made up, they are mind altering. I learned more from Don Juan than almost any other spiritual teacher.
Ditto for the Seth book "The Nature of Personal Reality" By Jane Roberts. I read ALL the Seth books and adored them, but this was and is my favorite.
As for non-spiritual books I loved during this same time period, there is "A Little Original Sin" By Jane Bowles (Paul Bowles wife). I fell in love with her and Paul and read all their works. They were true Bohemians and they lived a life full of adventure. It is because of them that I want to visit Tangier's. At the same time I read "A literate Passion" by Anais Nin and Henry Miller, these were letters they wrote to one another. They too taught me to live my life true to myself.
Another book that meant a lot, just because it was strange and wonderful is "The Search for Omm Sety" by Johnathan Cott. This is a love story like no other and is based on a true story.
It opened my mind and showed me that anything was possible!
Then there is ANYTHING by Shakespeare. He was so wise and I have learned so much from him over the years.
And last but never least is a book I read 6 months ago (twice) and will likely read many more times before I leave this earth "When Fear Falls Away" by Jan Frazier. A beautiful book about being awake.
I hope you all enjoy this post and follow the links and perhaps learn about books you have never heard of or remember old favorites.
Happy Friday! XOXO

New Painting

(Be sure and click on the image for a closer view)

Here are 3 perspectives of my latest painting. 10"x 10", Venetian plaster and acrylic on board. It is a bit different for me, sparse and brighter colors, so I am not sure about it. I need your input. I will live with it for a week and decide if I should plaster over it and start again. Happy Thursday!

XOXO

*It is now a week past and I have indeed decided to plaster over this piece, it just is not as rich as my other paintings. I will post the result when I finish :-).

Animal Wednesday

See this handsome fella, this is Spike, my love. He is the one who gets the subQ fluids twice a week. My neighbor who had been helping me hold him, got sick about 3 weeks ago and Spike and I have been on our own, but we manage as Spike is so good and sweet. He is a wiggle worm, but

we are doing well. He had a hard time with fluids tonight, so I thought he deserved a post all his own. XOXO

Another Coyote (Trick or Treat)

Less than 3 weeks ago a coyote ran in front of my car, yesterday on my way to the place I run, another coyote ran in front of my car. This is getting spooky. Something is indeed up and I am on the lookout. Only time will tell...

Happy Easter, Happy Spring

For me Easter is all about chocolate eggs :-). And bunnies.
Have a wonderful one, if you celebrate and have a wonderful one even if you don't.
Love. XOXOXOXO

Longing

This is a post about longing and wanting and being afraid of never having. For a very long time I have been an artist and that means for me, working less so I can paint more. What that translates into for me (since I rarely sell a painting or even a ceramic piece) is that I don't have money for extras that most people take for granted, like travel or eating out. I have not bought a piece of clothing of any kind for at least a year. Now, I am not telling you this to make you feel bad. I made a choice to live this way and I take full responsibility for it. I do however have a growing list of needs and wants and I thought perhaps if I made a list and the Gods saw the list I may get lucky and receive some of it :-).
I want:
A trip to Paris.
New tires.
A house to call my own.
A trip to Tangier's.
A trip to Rome.
A meal at my favorite restaurant in town. Very pricey.
New clothes.
A trip to Portland to see my family.
A trip to San Francisco to see old friends.
A painting and potter's studio.
There, I feel better.
Actually, I have sent away for a new book, called "Busting Loose from the Money Game" by Robert Scheinfeld.
I am hoping that it will help me change my relationship to money, my attitude clearly has to to change and I feel very stuck. I know that my painting is good and I know that it will sell if it finds the right home, but I also know that I have to change my mind before the reality changes. I will take you on this adventure with me and maybe we will all learn something, (though most of you all seem to be doing very well with your money). The book should arrive in about 5 days. I will keep you posted. Happy Friday. xoxo