And a great big thank you goes too...

Cheerio, Art Lovers!

Well, this here is issue number 11 of my enewsletter. Hard to believe it's been a YEAR since I began this project. My how time flies right? And a LOT has happened since then. I'm sure you can say the same about the happenings in your last 12 months too?

One thing is blatantly clear...I have MUCH to be thankful for. And since Thanksgiving is just next week (what? how is it nearly Thanksgiving already?) I thought it perfectly appropriate to spend a moment focusing on giving thanks.

First, I want to thank those of you who have followed my artistic endeavors, purchased my paintings and continue to encourage my creativity. THANK YOU! Thank you.

Secondly, a huge thank you to those who watch over me, have my back and express support in so many wonderful ways (I am somewhat generically grouping together in this sentence a whole plethara of people here so as not to bore anyone with an exhaustive list).

Thirdly, I'd like to briefly reflect on the intent of Thanksgiving as a holiday. Historically Thanksgiving had its roots in religious and cultural tradition. However, today it tends to be celebrated more as a secular holiday.

Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November by federal legislation in 1941, has been an annual tradition in the United States by presidential proclamation since 1863 and by state legislation since the Founding Fathers of the United States. Historically, Thanksgiving began as a tradition of celebrating the harvest of the year.

So, with this in mind...yes, we DO have much to be thankful for! We are all very blessed indeed. Take a moment throughout the next week to express your thanks to those who have blessed you too.

Thank you!

Peace,

Rachel
 

Art mugs now available:

For the birds:

Somehow or other I stumbled upon the idea of painting little birds. And my what a hit they've become and SOOOO fun to paint! Wrens, Hummingbirds, Cardinals, Finches, and more to come.

"Northern Cardinal" is a 4.50 inch by 5.25 inch original painting on wood.

Full of color and ready to add artistic flair to any work, play or home space.

Click here to get a closer look at "Northern Cardinal"!

Artists that I LIKE!

I've been an admirer of Brian Andreas' (Storypeople) artwork for probably somewhere near ten years now. I first saw his artwork at a gallery in Paducah, KY and most recently at a gallery named "Plum Nelly" on the North Shore in downtown Chattanooga.

Prints like the one here (11"x14" matted) on the right sell for only $30 and are SUCH fun! This one titled "The Illusion of Control" says, "If you hold on to the handle, she said, it's easier to maintain the illusion of control. But it's more fun if you just let the wind carry you."

Like inspirational art? Take a look at Brian's work!

Click here to learn more about Storypeople by Brian Adreas.

The Art and Fun Blog:

Rachel's daily Blog is chocked full of her personal inspirations and aspirations and fun moments (Not just new art announcements, but those are there too). You will find daily musings, announcements of paintings fresh from the studio, adventure recaps, and much more at Rachel's blog. Certainly the most comprehensive place online that you'll find the goings-on with Rachel.

Go, Do, BE!

Click here to view Rachel's Daily Blog

Gift it, Grab it!

Looking to view and purchase Rachel's art? Seek and ye shall find! Click on the image to the right or the link below to go to Rachel's online art store! Pssst, her art is very affordable too!

Abstracts, Wine art, birds...come check it out. The gift giving season is just around the corner.

Click here to shop online at Rachel's Art Store.

ok, now THIS is just COOL!:

The Performing Arts have just as much impact to the art scene as the visual arts (although sometimes I think the performing arts get a LOT more press that the visual arts ...but I digress). And then there's...the Street Arts!

Painters and musicians alike entertain tens of thousands of people annually on the street. And this group is no acception!

I stumbled upon this group of street bucket drummers called the "Funkabuckets" while listening to WUTC's radio segment called "Out and About" the other day. Take a moment to watch this. It's pretty COOL stuff!

Click here to view the Funkabuckets!

Well, that's a little different:

I truly LOVE abstract art! Yet I've found that many folks don't. And that's okay. I'm cool with that. So...if you like abstract paintings, read on...if not...you've probably already skipped this section. And that's okay.

More Abstract Art!

I created this piece while trying to process in my own head my continued discovery that many things aren't at all what I thought they were. More specifically I'm referring (at least up to this point) to what my understanding was regarding things like government, spirituality, and other things like what I deem truly important in life (as in those things that if you stripped everything else away...what I might select as valuable in that moment).

I wrote a little more detail about all this recently on my website's homepage click here and, once there, scroll down a bit if you'd like to read more about this piece.

Click here to view "Rethinking What's Real"

Bits and bobs from an Artist's Studio:

I often wonder if anyone notices the name of a painting? Yet name selection for a painting from one artist to the next is sorta like children naming. Everyone has various different reasons for going about picking a name than the next person.

Artists often just skip the naming process altogether and just slap an "Untitled" on it. I can't be bothered with such skipping! NO. (Call it a pet-peeve but all art should have a name...just saying.)

So, you may ask, how do I go about choosing a name for my paintings? I tend to take the approach of waiting until a piece is complete...and letting the piece tell me its name. Sure I take into consideration the content of the painting and often mix in a bit of the intent of the piece too before I reach for a specific title or name.

Art naming for me has always been a very FUN way to finish of work of art. After all, a painting is never truly complete in my book until two things happen. One, it's signed by the artist and two, it has a name.

Shoot me your thoughts on the topic of art naming...I'd love to hear your feedback.

email rachel at racheldickson.com

Summary:

For as long as I can remember...I feel as if I'm living life on fast-forward. (Just the way I like it really...anything else wouldn't be fast enough.)

Never any shortage of things to do, places to go, people to meet, adventures to create...and of course...art to paint!

So as we head into the late fall and early winter together...I wish to encourage you to close out the year 2012 with a bang. Don't wait until 2013 (if you can help it)...don't put off that thing you've been wanting to try. Go! Be! Do! LIVE! (and wear fun hats!)

Until next time...embrace your life! After all...you are the ones creating it.

Happiness,

Rachel

Questions? Comments? Snide Remarks?
email rachel at racheldickson.com