dickieart - what's new...

Last but not least

2009-06-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here a a small one - I usually don't paint small but obviously did this time....called Protect Our Earth - oil on canvas - 18 x 12 inches....

A Work In Progress

2009-06-16T15:58:00.001-07:00

This is an oil on canvas that I am currently working on...First Stage The name is Elephants III

The Very Latest

2009-06-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

Here is another mixed media - on board - 48 x 40 inches - called Tree of Life III

Time for Another Painting I Guess

2009-06-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

Just browsing through the sites and realized I haven't posted here for soooooo long. So thought I would load up another painting for your perusal....here goes...this one is mixed media on canvas 36 x 40 inches called Higher Self II

Enjoy!

Not new but not seen very often...

2007-01-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone:

Here is a piece that I painted a while back. It was an interesting mind set with this one. It is part of the Womens Room Series. It is about the internal sabatour, I developed this idea while reading the book "Women Who Run With Wolves", ( I loved the book, by the way).

"We see the door, however camoflaged it is,
we see the keys between the door
and our selves
while our interal sabatour holds us in our victim role."

We really don't fight to get loose because our captors hypnotic spell puts us to sleep. I have spent many years like that, not knowing of course. Waking up is the hard part......or so it has been for me.

This painting is a difficult one, I realize, but I feel it is important. I myself have used it as a visual tag that helps me to identify when I go to that sabatour place again. By the way it's oil on wood panel approx. 28X30 inches.

Regards, Shirley

www.dickieart.com
www.wow-webdesign.com

Another Day that's stuck in process...

2007-01-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

Well, this day is going pretty slowwwwww. I have a lot of work to catchup on and no energy. Just to perk up, I am publishing an image that though old helps me realize why I get worn out. I am a multi level task manager. That is, I work on several projects at once. I find this helpful because it allows me to enter each task fresh and I don't allow myself to get bogged down in process.....the only part that doesn't work about this is that I sometimes crash for a day here and there. I guess this is the day. The painting is called "Coffee Time". It's an acrylic on board approx 28 inches x 30. Want to see more....visit my website at www.dickieart.com.

Hot off the press......

2007-01-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

Hey. Here is my blue dog, not exactly a still life but probably as close as I will ever get to one. So much for plans. The thing is my plans don't really work out because what my head tells me to paint is quite different from what my heart tells me to paint. I try to live with it! lol

I have a red dog series already started, the problem is that as I paint them they get sold. So I can never really hang on to them for longer that 3 or 4 days. The series is painted in acrylic on a small canvas usually about 12 inches by 10 inches so the price is very reasonable, usually less that 75.00 (which is cheap for me since most of my larger paintings sell at about 20 times that amount.

I really like doing this particular type of work because of the texture and animated quality of the work. Very very fun. Thanks and bye bye.

2007-01-02T18:41:00.001-08:00

Getting ready to paint....

2007-01-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

I am getting ready to paint. That is; I am preparing my canvas, stretching and gessoing. doing all of the right things. Organizing my paints. What will I use, oils? acrylics? I think oil this time.

It has been quite some time since I painted with oil. It is the most favourite of mine. Because it takes so long to dry and can be messy and smelly, I have turned to acrylics. With acrylics I find the colours aren't as vibrant but the medium certainly has its positives.

I don't do, or haven't done still life. But will start a series of still life paintings in oil. The series, as I like to do them, have a common theme, palette and approach. I usually do about 25 for a complete series or atlease end up with 25 good quality paintings. (That may mean I do about 30) The palette starts with one set of colours and morphs into other colours as I paint them. So what might start out as a study in greens, browns, and ochres could morph into pinks browns and ochres. The overall coherence is kept in place while one of the base colours is changed. This holds the series together and shows a consistancy and cohesiveness through out the entire collection.

I plan to submit each piece as it is finished. So here gooooooooooes.........

See my work at www.dickieart.com

Creating art - always the quest for something new...

2006-12-30T19:03:00.000-08:00

Hey, Happy New Year everyone.

My brain never stops, even when I am sleeping I am creating. I am especially affected by the visual world and see almost everything in a picture rather than a word format. I am thinking about my plans for 2007. I try to formulate a plan for the year, which I usually accomplish. this is much like list making. Once the list is in place it is almost impossible not to follow it.

So I make a list of what I want to do. On the list are things that are within my capabilities, so doing them is just a choice rather that a pressure. This list covers, relationships, work, self actualization and all of the items fit with or mirror my own ethical beliefs and standards. I also like to prioritize the list and I try to be as specific as I can. I will talk more about this as this blog progresses.

This process directly affects the quality of my art making. My creative work gets stretched by stepping closer to who I am as a person and an artist. What I produce as art is about experiencing the present in real time. Then I create a space, mentally and physically, in which it is safe to explore my non verbal realm.

So I haven't painted today, but am readying for the process. This is a gestation period if you will. I have decided to talk about this because I think it is important to know how artists and creative people feel about what they do.

Here is another one.....

2006-12-29T21:13:00.000-08:00

This painting on canvas is approximately 30 in x 20 in and is called Pink Bed. This one is also part of the Urban Angel Collection. Leave a comment if you like it or if you have any insight as to what it is about. (different for everyone, since everyone is unique) I have decided to also include some art observations or comments that come to mind as I am working.... Regards, Shirley

New Work by contemporary visual artist Shirley Dickie

2006-12-29T21:06:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone.
Welcome to my art blog. I will be publishing a new art piece every few days. Enjoy and leave comments if you feel like it. This painting is apporximately 4 ft x 2 ft. and is part of my newest series called "Urban Angels".
Regards, Shirley

Want to Save Money Do Your Web Design Homework

2005-06-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

Looking for a Web Designer & want to save money!

Save money by doing your Website Homework. You can cut the cost of website development by doing a lot of the work yourself. If you already have an applicable business plan, it can translate into content and niche development quite easily. If your business plan isn't current; redo it.

Try to include the following in your business plan:

Product or service - define the goal of your site.

Define your niche market - who will buy your products/services.

Identify your keyword phrases - what words would your niche market use to search for your site - focus only on your niche market.

Conduct a competition survey - search for similar sites and check out their features and content - make notes regarding what you would like to include on your site. Jot down new ideas and opportunities.

Are you planning to have pictures or illustrations on your site - do you have high quality pictures or slides or will you need to hire a photographer - are you able to scan the pictures yourself or is this another job for your website developer.

Develop your own high-value content. Your prospective customers are looking for information - what information can you give them that will instill trust, confidence and credibility in your product or service. Good quality content creates a bridge between you and your customer, the customer will naturally want to seek out your products/services.

How can you diversify - would you have ads on your site, would you be willing to display affiliate pay per click income, would you be willing to develop other income generating products associated with your sites content.

Your site needs to be refreshed with new content on a continual basis, are you willing to supply the new content etc to the webmaster or are you going to take on the webmaster responsibility yourself. If so, what program will you need to buy and will you need training. Does your website developer agree with your goals.

All of the above is pertinent and valuable information for the website developer. By doing your Website Homework you can save hundreds of dollars. All of the work you do translates into savings while all of the work you don't do translates into hours of extra work and consultation fees by your developer making your costs skyrocket.

Interested in a Shirley Dickie Website, contact Shirley now!

Get great Free Art Wallpapers for your desktop!

2005-06-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

dickieart.com now has great free wallpaper for your desktop. The images are formatted for your screen and the left side of the screen is left blank for your windows icons. All instructions on how to set your wallpaper are provided. No advertisements are on the images so save dickieart.com in your favourites. The images will be changing on an ongoing basis. So stay tuned for more to come.

Shirley Dickie has Five Fine Art Desktop Wallpapers ready for you. Go to her Free Wallpaper Page at dickieart.com