Christine Bolmeier - Blog
This month I had the opportunity to display eight paintings along with three other artists at Dick Blick Art Materials in my local town.
They had seen my work and asked me to display. At first I thought why would I do this when most people go there to buy art materials to make their own? It was then that my daughter reminded me, do it for your community!
Well it proved to be one of the most satisfying art experiences to date. My business cards were there so I could be contacted if I had an interested party.
Last week my cell phone rang and I was sitting in my studio kitchen (every room in my house is turning into a studio). The person that phoned me “I saw your art work at Dick Blick and I love one of the pieces. I love your work, I went to your web site too, I just love it!! I would like to take it home and hang it up for a couple days, would that be alright?” So after talking with her for a bit and getting her pertinent information, I agreed.
Study of John Singer Sargent Painting
by Chris Bolmeier 2003
She also said, “We have something in common, I love John Singer Sargent (see study above). When I turned 50 I had a portrait photo taken in a fabulous dress that I don’t own because where am I going? But I think it would make a fabulous painting. It wouldn’t even have to look like me, I want it to look painterly and loose. Would you feel comfortable with that? I wouldn’t want you to say yes if a commission is too structured for you.”
She called me on Memorial Day and said I have the painting hanging in my dining room and I spend a lot of time in there. I look at it all the time and I love it. So I asked her “does that mean you’re going to buy it?” “YES!!”
“I have to have it, when I see a painting it either strikes a certain emotion in me or it doesn’t… that’s my gage, that’s all that counts for me. It was love at first sight.”
She went on to say she didn’t want to know anything about the painting, the concept, the story etc because she wants to have her own fantasy about it. I thought this is so sweet because I have no problem with that, I’m not a big talker, the painting did it for me!!
She is mailing me a check for the full amount, Blick doesn’t take a commission. And she will call me later in the week so we can meet and discuss her possible commissioned portrait. Wow!! All I can say is YES YES YES.
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- How To Earn Money Selling My Art
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
Well I’ve taken down my Lauritzen Gardens show and I’m moving on to my next art projects for the year. I sold some paintings at Lauritzen’s and that was great.
As I was driving home from Lauritzen’s on the last day of my show, I was listening to a very intriguing program on NPR. When I got home I ran in the house and turned on the radio so I could listen to the whole show.
The title of the show and debate was, “The Art Market Is Less Ethical Than the Stock Market.” The debate was moderated by ABC New’s “Nightline” correspondent John Donvan. The panel included:
- Richard L. Feigen (art dealer)
- Michael-Hue Williams (owner and CEO of Albion Gallery - London)
- Jerry Staltz (senior art critic for New York magazine),
- Amy Cappellazo (chairman at Christie’s since January of 2008),
- Chuck Close (recipient of the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton in 2000)
- Adam Lindemann (influential collector of contemporary art).
The debate revolves around how dealers can artificially inflate art prices, making the art market riskier for investors, as opposed to the other argument - the value of art is not determined by money and is an industry that should be treated differently. Extremely intriguing and engaging.
Here’s the link to the NPR site that contains the edited and unedited audio versions:
On Ethics, Is Art Market Worse Than Stock Market?
On another note, here’s a funny video I received on facebook, hope you enjoy!!
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Related Posts
- Art Shows and Advertising
- The Travails of Setting Up an Art Show
- Lauritzen Gardens Art Exhibit
- My Newest Painting - Lilies
Hello Million Friends,
Above is the ad I have run for the past two weeks in the Omaha World Herald.
You’ll notice it’s next to the Women’s Living Expo, that’s a good thing. I would like to be one of the speakers for it but they didn’t ask me. The ad is surrounded by Auction and Auto ads. Nevertheless I have heard that a few people liked the ad and said it was such a great picture of me. It looks just like me, I don’t know what are they talking about?
My next show will be through the month of May so I have a lot of work ahead preparing for the new show now.
About three weeks ago I was nominated by Carol Wiebe to receive the Premio Dardos Award and felt very honored that Carol thinks so highly of my talents to bestow this award on to me. If you would like to read what the award is about you can visit her blog at Silverspring Studio.
Carol, I won’t be passing this award along to anyone else. Please understand that I’m not one to shirk my responsibilities, but I guess I’m just not as nice as you are. 
I have in the past and plan to always have a couple blog posts during the year to list art web sites that speak to me for others to enjoy.
But Carol, you’ll be happy, or not, to know I’ve reserved a place for us in the world beyond. However I don’t plan on seeing you there any time soon and I don’t plan on being there anytime soon either.
Yes, I’ve made a reservation for us to be in the same area and it’s not the bowling alley or tennis table area. It’s the art, paint, fibre, texture, collage area. Because I couldn’t live without your tomfoolery and not only that I’m going to need an astute person like you who has the understanding beyond infinitum to appreciate my dark side and enjoy it at face value. (Just in case you need to explain me to someone that doesn’t understand for all eternity). Yes my dear, you have special gifts that defy analysis.
On another note, here’s a quick drawing I did today.
Hat Woman - 8 1/2 x 11- Graphite
Pray for Peace,
Chris
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Hello Million Friends,
As you can see from my last post Lauritzen Gardens Art Exhibit I’ve been buzzzzzzzzi preparing and then hanging my first solo show. So I guess you could call me a PEMPAA, Post-Emerging Menopausal Pre-Ancient Artist. YEAH! I did it, and oh what a time we had. I should’ve videotaped the event.
In The Beginning
So I emailed my husband to notify him I would need his help. If I don’t email him, it’s considered a “drive-by” request, and that’s a no no in the IT world. However, I’m not in the IT world but I’ll play along and smile all the way. He’s more than happy to help. I’ve trained him well. 
He’s a good guy and when I die, there will be more hot apple pies at our front door than you can imagine, if you catch my drift. He’ll have plenty of sniffling females to comfort him, so I’m making a list and checking it twice to be sure he gets a nice one.
A Day Dream
As I’m writing this, a daydream occurred to me so I may as well share. A reality show about a widower smitten by grief whose mission is to select his new bride, I mean nurse. There won’t be any “making out”, hotpool, or mud wrestling scenes and CPR will be mandatory.
When the cat fights start, women will be slinging girdles across the room, hiding wigs, walkers, wheel chairs and bunion pads. Accusations will fly, “You wear grandma pants”, “No I don’t!”, “When you shop for a bra, is it a 42C or a 42Long?”
They’ll know who he likes because she’ll be the one he drives to the store. Selecting a comfortable recliner for him will be one test. But the coup de gras will be a cook off. It will take him a long time to heal from me, because I’m so perfect.
Back to reality. 
So, we crammed 41 pieces of art into our 4-door Honda Accord and headed east. My friend Rosemary was waiting for us, she helped as well. Here we come!!
Gone Fishing
After our arrival, we carried in my art and the woman that accepted me for the show was excited with the work I brought, and very helpful as she handed us a box of fishing wire, scissors, some very large hangers, and a couple ladders. Then she said Good Luck!!
Pardon me if this is an ignorant question, who in the heck hangs their fine art with fishing wire? A fisherman? No, but I did, and me no fisherwoman.
I did it because it was a requirement of the establishment. And I’m completely sympathetic to their cause. After all I wouldn’t want holes in the walls of my gallery every time an artist blows through for a show. All I’m saying is that it’s difficult when you’re not used to doing it.
Let’s Hang Some Art
Rosemary and I were on the same page as to how we were going to experiment and then proceed. I didn’t even need to finish my sentences with Rose, but Bill, my husband, had a different idea of how we could go about it. What else is new? Men are from Mars, women are from Venus and so it goes.
The big hooks were to hang on a rail at the top of the wall. Then we looped the wire around the wire on the back of the painting and hoisted it up to where we thought was about eye level. Tied at least three very tight knots and centered the paintings best we could.
It wasn’t the most ideal way to hang a painting because what happens is there’s no way to hang the paintings without having them pitch forward a bit - because they’re hanging so far from the hook at the top.
I did want the paintings to be hung in a certain order but when I realized they would all be pitching forward, it kind’ve burst my bubble. But we hung as best we could.
We called the manager out of her office and asked if this is right and she said yes, “Oh yes, you’re doing it the right way, we’re used to seeing them pitch forward.”
It took us six hours the first day and then Rose and I went back the next day to hang a few more. I even fixed a painting that needed a little touch of purple in the corner. In my prayers that night I said, “Dear God, please don’t let any of their visitors brush up against that wet painting.”
That first day, we didn’t tie one of the fishing wires tight enough and a painting fell, broke the frame, expensive lesson learned.
Field Bouncer
Last week I received an email from a gallery in London that spotted my Llama painting Field Bouncer at the website of SAATCHI Gallery asking me to participate in their Easter show.
Considering my options, it was cost prohibitive. I approached a gallery in Hamburg and they said my work would be appropriate for their gallery. Also, they required a $700.00 a month fee to be in the gallery. This isn’t a new concept so why am I surprised? Probably because I’m a PEMPAA.
The suffering, starving, proving your worth, cutting off your ear, or being sent to an asylum by your loving relatives are over. Just don’t forget the fishing wire!!
Photo Credit: qmnonic
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Hello Million Friends,
My show at Lauritzen Gardens is now running from March2, 2009 thru April 14, 2009. They’re open from 9am to 5pm, every day. I’ve got 41 paintings in this show.
Their “Moonlight and Magnolia’s” spring flower show is on display in the floral display hall. The breathtaking flower show includes scents of oleander, gladiola, dahlia, gardenia and, of course, magnolia. Completely relaxing.
Of course, right next to the floral display hall is a cozy cafe featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts.
Map and Directions
Click image for larger view
Lauritzen Gardens is conveniently located just north of Interstate 80 and south of Omaha’s historic Old Market district. Other destinations in close proximity of the garden include Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Durham Western Heritage Museum and Rosenblatt Stadium.
Here are some more photo inside Lauritzen Gardens.
A must see!!
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I ran across this business card the other day and thought it was a great idea. Even though I already have a business card, I thought I’d use Photoshop to reproduce it - with my information of course.
I’m still looking for the website where I first saw it. But I thought it was just so-so cool.
Click image for larger view
Painting of The Day
This is a whimsical painting that I did last week. Remember the old joke, “What do you get when you cross a cow and a pig?” That�??s what this painting reminds me of. Originally I had cows in mind, but as I painted them, they started to take on a unique look so I decided, what the heck.
We Are Family - 12″ x 6″ - Oil on Canvas
Related Posts
I ran across this business card the other day and thought it was a great idea. Even though I already have a business card, I thought I’d use Photoshop to reproduce it - with my information of course.
I’m still looking for the website where I first saw it. But I thought it was just so-so cool.
Click image for larger view
Painting of The Day
This is a whimsical painting that I did last week. Remember the old joke, “What do you get when you cross a cow and a pig?” That’s what this painting reminds me of. Originally I had cows in mind, but as I painted them, they started to take on a unique look so I decided, what the heck.
We Are Family - 12″ x 6″ - Oil on Canvas
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Check this out. She’s 80 Years Young.
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- Drowning in the Sea of Love
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Check this out. She’s 80 Years Young.
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Yellow Roses - 24×24 - Oil on Canvas
Hello Million Friends,
What I’m about to say is a rhetorical affirmation, everyone says it, the subject is common talk in the Midlands. Here I go - It’s DAMN cold!!!!
How cold is it? Well, I decided to conduct a little experiment to prove my point.
I called grandma and asked her to do me a favor. I said, “Granny, would you do me a favor tonight? When you take your teeth out and put them in that glass of water to soak, set the glass on your porch and see how long it takes before they start chattering.”
She said, “Of course, I would do anything for you dear!”
Sure enough, it wasn’t 30 seconds later and those teeth were chattering loudly, and they almost broke the glass.
Before grandma could pick up the glass, the water had frozen as well as her false teeth. She may have to put them in the microwave to undo the mess. Guinness Book of World Records may be interested in this.
Starving Artists Art Sale
Last weekend there was a Starving Artists Art Sale at the Holiday Inn. I was thinking about going to see what kind of motley crew would show up to buy this stuff, but it was too cold. It’s really cold, just ask my grandma if you don’t believe me.
It would’ve been interesting to walk around and listen to the crowd talk. What they were saying about the paintings, which of the pieces they liked, or didn’t like, and if any were selling.
Zazzle
I joined Zazzle last week. In their words…
Zazzle - We make quality custom products designed by you.
It’s free to have a web gallery on Zazzle to sell your art on various products, and you can make commissions promoting others work. So there’s really nothing to lose and everything to gain. The stamps are very cool.
My Zazzle address is http://www.zazzle.com/chrisbolmeier.
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Yellow Roses - 24×24 - Oil on Canvas
Hello Million Friends,
What I�??m about to say is a rhetorical affirmation, everyone says it, the subject is common talk in the Midlands. Here I go - It�??s DAMN cold!!!!
How cold is it? Well, I decided to conduct a little experiment to prove my point.
I called grandma and asked her to do me a favor. I said, “Granny, would you do me a favor tonight? When you take your teeth out and put them in that glass of water to soak, set the glass on your porch and see how long it takes before they start chattering.”
She said, “Of course, I would do anything for you dear!”
Sure enough, it wasn�??t 30 seconds later and those teeth were chattering loudly, and they almost broke the glass.
Before grandma could pick up the glass, the water had frozen as well as her false teeth. She may have to put them in the microwave to undo the mess. Guinness Book of World Records may be interested in this.
Starving Artists Art Sale
Last weekend there was a Starving Artists Art Sale at the Holiday Inn. I was thinking about going to see what kind of motley crew would show up to buy this stuff, but it was too cold. It�??s really cold, just ask my grandma if you don�??t believe me.
It would�??ve been interesting to walk around and listen to the crowd talk. What they were saying about the paintings, which of the pieces they liked, or didn�??t like, and if any were selling.
Zazzle
I joined Zazzle last week. In their words…
Zazzle - We make quality custom products designed by you.
It�??s free to have a web gallery on Zazzle to sell your art on various products, and you can make commissions promoting others work. So there�??s really nothing to lose and everything to gain. The stamps are very cool.
My Zazzle address is http://www.zazzle.com/chrisbolmeier.
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Hello Million Friends,
I received the following e-mail from my friend and fellow artist Bob Ragland. Bob has some super ideas about how to recession proof yourself as an artist in these uncertain financial times. He happens to be a non-starving artist who owns his home mortgage free.
Happy NY Chris,
Just in case I didn�??t tell you, the NPR segment is on the NPR website and it’s called One Artist�??s Secret to Success (click link to listen) and was featured on December 27, 2008.
The producer did a great job. I wanted to get the message out that we blue collar artists will forge ahead, no matter what.
Artfully,
Bob
Artist Bob Ragland
A couple months ago Bob emailed and asked how I was planning to recession proof my career. These are some ideas he gave me in that conversation.
Here are some of his tips:
- I will send out 50 handwritten letters to some people
- I will have lunch with a couple of my colleagues
- I will attend some exhibitions
- I will carry my art propaganda with me at all times-fotos , etc.
- I will look for new opportunities to do the shoe box shows
- I will mention time payment plans often
- I will always have cash on hand
- I will listen to the BBC
- I will work in series, ala Morandi
- I have some small foto albums that I will carry to show my stuff
- I will maybe take on three students
- I will read the NYT to be informed about the art world
- I will get the NYT free
- I will make the art and find audience later
- I will read Art Calendar on a regular basis for Ideas
- I will stay in touch with you
- I will be positive on purpose
I met Bob through a wonderful artists web site called The Painters Keys.
Don’t forget about my Art Stars. My latest Art Star is Jaime Hackbart and you can visit her site Artist/Painter/Printmaker/Teacher.
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Hello Million Friends,
I received the following e-mail from my friend and fellow artist Bob Ragland. Bob has some super ideas about how to recession proof yourself as an artist in these uncertain financial times. He happens to be a non-starving artist who owns his home mortgage free.
Happy NY Chris,
Just in case I didn’t tell you, the NPR segment is on the NPR website and it’s called One Artist’s Secret to Success (click link to listen) and was featured on December 27, 2008.
The producer did a great job. I wanted to get the message out that we blue collar artists will forge ahead, no matter what.
Artfully,
Bob
Artist Bob Ragland
A couple months ago Bob emailed and asked how I was planning to recession proof my career. These are some ideas he gave me in that conversation.
Here are some of his tips:
- I will send out 50 handwritten letters to some people
- I will have lunch with a couple of my colleagues
- I will attend some exhibitions
- I will carry my art propaganda with me at all times-fotos , etc.
- I will look for new opportunities to do the shoe box shows
- I will mention time payment plans often
- I will always have cash on hand
- I will listen to the BBC
- I will work in series, ala Morandi
- I have some small foto albums that I will carry to show my stuff
- I will maybe take on three students
- I will read the NYT to be informed about the art world
- I will get the NYT free
- I will make the art and find audience later
- I will read Art Calendar on a regular basis for Ideas
- I will stay in touch with you
- I will be positive on purpose
I met Bob through a wonderful artists web site called The Painters Keys.
Don’t forget about my Art Stars. My latest Art Star is Jaime Hackbart and you can visit her site Artist/Painter/Printmaker/Teacher.
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Hello Million Friends,
My show in March 2009 is at Lauritzen Gardens and requires all botanical and landscape images. There are many tasks to accomplish prior to the show.
I knew I was going to be doing the show since March 2007, so I’ve had plenty of time to think about what I need to do and that’s why I’m scurrying around doing it now. :) I’m as cool as a cucumber, fresh as a daisy, red as a lobster?
Click image for larger view (800px)
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Hello Million Friends,
My show in March 2009 is at Lauritzen Gardens and requires all botanical and landscape images. There are many tasks to accomplish prior to the show.
I knew I was going to be doing the show since March 2007, so I�??ve had plenty of time to think about what I need to do and that�??s why I�??m scurrying around doing it now. :) I�??m as cool as a cucumber, fresh as a daisy, red as a lobster?
Click image for larger view (800px)
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Here’s a list of my top 10 blog posts that received the most traffic for 2008. My subscribers grew a bit as well as my overall visitors. I realized I needed to focus my schedule on painting because the Internet is just too enticing.
I met some new folks on the Internet that are important to me and I applaud and admire their work. I also switched my blogging platform from my Blogger Blog to what’s now my self-hosted WordPress Blog. Blogger is a lot easier but I have more freedom with WordPress.
- A lot of folks want to make money and that’s why How To Earn Money Selling My Art is numero uno - #1 for 2008.
- And in a close second to #2 comes How To Earn Money Selling My Art Guidelines.
- My Gallery page is the third most visited site at my blog. That’s good. I’ll have to get it up to #1. I’m also looking at making it a bit more unique looking as the first phase of moving to WordPress was just getting everything in place. Now it’s time to tweak and make it look a bit better and closer to what I want.
- My Art Stars page come in at #4 for 2008. Here’s the Art Stars page where you can become an Art Star and here’s the blog post Introducing Art Stars which is about becoming an Art Star.
- Blog Traffic Building Tips - Here are some blog traffic building tips that I’ve learned while reading various professional blogger blogs and blogging pdfs, podcasts, etc…
- Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne - Joni has a very unique voice, sound and her lyrics are just incredible. She is one of the most talented people of our time…
- An Interview with Mary Jo Pane of Miracle Icons - How would I describe Mary Jo Pane? Energetic, Kind, Spiritual, Achiever, and a bit of a “Squeaky Wheel”, and I mean that in the most reverent way…
- An Interview with Artist Tom Jensen - Each month I gaze into the expanding sea of creatives and look to interview an artist who has reached the apex of the “art food chain”…
- Nancy Eckels Interview - This week I interviewed artist Nancy Eckels…
- I’m definitely happy one of my singing videos showed up on this list and it’s the video of me singing Good Morning Heartache featuring Whiskey Bolmeier.
That’s it. If you missed any of ‘em, please take a look. Thanks for a great 2008 and here’s to an even greater 2009. Happy New Year everyone!!
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Related Posts
Here’s a list of my top 10 blog posts that received the most traffic for 2008. My subscribers grew a bit as well as my overall visitors. I realized I needed to focus my schedule on painting because the Internet is just too enticing.
I met some new folks on the Internet that are important to me and I applaud and admire their work. I also switched my blogging platform from my Blogger Blog to what’s now my self-hosted WordPress Blog. Blogger is a lot easier but I have more freedom with WordPress.
- A lot of folks want to make money and that’s why How To Earn Money Selling My Art is numero uno - #1 for 2008.
- And in a close second to #2 comes How To Earn Money Selling My Art Guidelines.
- My Gallery page is the third most visited site at my blog. That’s good. I’ll have to get it up to #1. I’m also looking at making it a bit more unique looking as the first phase of moving to WordPress was just getting everything in place. Now it’s time to tweak and make it look a bit better and closer to what I want.
- My Art Stars page come in at #4 for 2008. Here’s the Art Stars page where you can become an Art Star and here’s the blog post Introducing Art Stars which is about becoming an Art Star.
- Blog Traffic Building Tips - Here are some blog traffic building tips that I�??ve learned while reading various professional blogger blogs and blogging pdfs, podcasts, etc…
- Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne - Joni has a very unique voice, sound and her lyrics are just incredible. She is one of the most talented people of our time…
- An Interview with Mary Jo Pane of Miracle Icons - How would I describe Mary Jo Pane? Energetic, Kind, Spiritual, Achiever, and a bit of a �??Squeaky Wheel�??, and I mean that in the most reverent way…
- An Interview with Artist Tom Jensen - Each month I gaze into the expanding sea of creatives and look to interview an artist who has reached the apex of the �??art food chain�??…
- Nancy Eckels Interview - This week I interviewed artist Nancy Eckels…
- I’m definitely happy one of my singing videos showed up on this list and it’s the video of me singing Good Morning Heartache featuring Whiskey Bolmeier.
That’s it. If you missed any of ‘em, please take a look. Thanks for a great 2008 and here’s to an even greater 2009. Happy New Year everyone!!
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Related Posts
Hello Million Friends,
This is one of my newest painting I’ve completed for the show in March at Lauritzen Gardens and it’s called �??Blue�??.
After searching through my reference photos I found a picture of tulips in an oval shaped vase, setting on a piano. I drew it on the canvas with a new pencil I’d forgotten about, it�??s called �??sketch and wash�??. It�??s a wonderful tool, just in case a line goes wayward during the “drawing in” process, I can wash it off with a wet washcloth. I don�??t recommend using a white washcloth like I did.
After deciding the painting would be in monochromatic whites, I painted the entire background a beautiful sea green color (my favorite) in acrylic so I could change it quickly and paint oil over it, if I didn�??t like it.
Well, I kinda liked the green and I kinda didn�??t. So I stared at it for a while - about five days. It was a good stare down and I won. The drawing was wonderful but the flowers seemed too tall for the vase and I think it�??s because it�??s on a square 24×24 canvas. So I moved a few flowers down, sketched in a couple more to balance the composition. Sketch and wash, you know the routine.
I decided to change the shape of the vase, it was too old fashioned looking for my taste. By the way, if you�??ve seen the tall, rectangle-shaped one�??s in Whole Foods, they�??re gorgeous. I would love one for a Christmas present (hint, hint to my better half). I’d hate to see him end up like this guy.
There was a bit too much negative space on one side of the painting. I painted in an abstract design for the background to balance it out. I painted the rest from my emotions and the rest is history. It�??s just right, nothing like I planned. Next time I�??m going to take pictures at each stage so I can show the evolution.
Related Posts
Hello Million Friends,
This is one of my newest painting I’ve completed for the show in March at Lauritzen Gardens and it’s called “Blue”.
After searching through my reference photos I found a picture of tulips in an oval shaped vase, setting on a piano. I drew it on the canvas with a new pencil I’d forgotten about, it’s called “sketch and wash”. It’s a wonderful tool, just in case a line goes wayward during the “drawing in” process, I can wash it off with a wet washcloth. I don’t recommend using a white washcloth like I did.
After deciding the painting would be in monochromatic whites, I painted the entire background a beautiful sea green color (my favorite) in acrylic so I could change it quickly and paint oil over it, if I didn’t like it.
Well, I kinda liked the green and I kinda didn’t. So I stared at it for a while - about five days. It was a good stare down and I won. The drawing was wonderful but the flowers seemed too tall for the vase and I think it’s because it’s on a square 24×24 canvas. So I moved a few flowers down, sketched in a couple more to balance the composition. Sketch and wash, you know the routine.
I decided to change the shape of the vase, it was too old fashioned looking for my taste. By the way, if you’ve seen the tall, rectangle-shaped one’s in Whole Foods, they’re gorgeous. I would love one for a Christmas present (hint, hint to my better half). I’d hate to see him end up like this guy.
There was a bit too much negative space on one side of the painting. I painted in an abstract design for the background to balance it out. I painted the rest from my emotions and the rest is history. It’s just right, nothing like I planned. Next time I’m going to take pictures at each stage so I can show the evolution.
Related Posts
By clicking on View as Slide Show you’ll be able to enjoy Cella Luna as background music to the slide show.
Hello Million Friends,
Yesterday my friend Rosemary and I made over 200 Biscotti cookies (see below). Yum.
Based on Nana Lucia’s recipe from Carlentini, Sicily, these are not your typical Biscotti cookies you find at popular coffee houses.
Check ‘em out. I know you want one, don’t you? These are lemon by the way. Next week, we’re makin’ chocolate. Later in the week, Anice cookies. For crying out loud quit drooling now.
Click image for larger delicious and delectable view (800px)
The picture below is around 200 bagged cookies. Where are they going? These are not recommended for interstate travel, as you may get pulled over and searched, possibly putting the cookies at risk of getting confiscated.
Well, I know one things for sure, see the bag that’s not so full as the others (red arrow)? Well, guess who seems to be missing right now? My husband Antonio, or should I call him The Cookie Monster.
Click image for larger delicious and delectable view (800px)
Above is a gallery and slide show of Lemon Biscotti Cookies. Click on the first image for a larger gallery view and then you can browse through them all.
Or, you can view as a slide show, turn up your speakers and enjoy a nice song while you watch. Meditate to them. Imagine them. Yum, yum. Yes they are as good as they look.
Here’s one of my favorite singers - so much emotion - Mario Lanza singing Santa Lucia.
Enjoy!!
Chris
Related Posts
By clicking on View as Slide Show you’ll be able to enjoy Cella Luna as background music to the slide show.
Hello Million Friends,
Yesterday my friend Rosemary and I made over 200 Biscotti cookies (see below). Yum.
Based on Nana Lucia’s recipe from Carlentini, Sicily, these are not your typical Biscotti cookies you find at popular coffee houses.
Check ‘em out. I know you want one, don’t you? These are lemon by the way. Next week, we’re makin’ chocolate. Later in the week, Anice cookies. For crying out loud quit drooling now.
Click image for larger delicious and delectable view (800px)
The picture below is around 200 bagged cookies. Where are they going? These are not recommended for interstate travel, as you may get pulled over and searched, possibly putting the cookies at risk of getting confiscated.
Well, I know one things for sure, see the bag that’s not so full as the others (red arrow)? Well, guess who seems to be missing right now? My husband Antonio, or should I call him The Cookie Monster.
Click image for larger delicious and delectable view (800px)
Above is a gallery and slide show of Lemon Biscotti Cookies. Click on the first image for a larger gallery view and then you can browse through them all.
Or, you can view as a slide show, turn up your speakers and enjoy a nice song while you watch. Meditate to them. Imagine them. Yum, yum. Yes they are as good as they look.
Here’s one of my favorite singers - so much emotion - Mario Lanza singing Santa Lucia.
Enjoy!!
Chris
Related Posts
Hello Million Friends,
I’m very excited!! About one week ago, Wednesday, November 29, 2008, I posted my Art Stars page and blog post esplaining what Art Stars is. I was going to put myself up and my two puppies as the first three Art Stars but someone stepped forward and beat me to it, which is good.
That person is Catherine Meyers of Apple River Art Studio. Woo Hoo!! A big thanks to Catherine. So check out her blog and website.
Now, I probably won’t be writing a blog post for every single Art Star but I’m rather excited that someone I don’t know jumped right in after only a week and a couple days. Thanks again Catherine and all the best in your endeavors.
Check out my Art Stars page. I’ve listed the Art Stars at the end of the page for now. I might turn it into a page without sidebars like my Gallery page so I can get more information on that page for the Art Stars.
Also, for now I’m just including the web site name, blog, rss feed and name of the person/company until I make more room on that page. Check it out!! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
- Blue Tree - Yesterday’s Painting Sketch
Hello Million Friends,
I’m very excited!! About one week ago, Wednesday, November 29, 2008, I posted my Art Stars page and blog post esplaining what Art Stars is. I was going to put myself up and my two puppies as the first three Art Stars but someone stepped forward and beat me to it, which is good.
That person is Catherine Meyers of Apple River Art Studio. Woo Hoo!! A big thanks to Catherine. So check out her blog and website.
Now, I probably won’t be writing a blog post for every single Art Star but I’m rather excited that someone I don’t know jumped right in after only a week and a couple days. Thanks again Catherine and all the best in your endeavors.
Check out my Art Stars page. I’ve listed the Art Stars at the end of the page for now. I might turn it into a page without sidebars like my Gallery page so I can get more information on that page for the Art Stars.
Also, for now I’m just including the web site name, blog, rss feed and name of the person/company until I make more room on that page. Check it out!! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Hello Million Friends,
Here’s a chance to promote YOUR OWN stuff. Get on over to my Art Stars page and enter the necessary information for me to list you on my Art Stars page.
There’s nothing to it and I’m not trying to be sneaky or anything. There will be no spam from me and I will not sell your email address if you decide to provide it. This is a resource page that will display your blog or website’s name and url, as well as your feed subscription information so other people can subscribe and your name.
If you have a Gravatar and you enter your email address that is matched to your Gravatar, your mugshot or picture that you provide will show next to your Art Star information as well as any comments you make here on my blog.
Examples of Art Stars include artists, designers, people who might have a LinkedIn account, or any other web presence that you’d like to promote.
I do have some standards so I will exercise SOME restrictions as I see fit.
Photo: macca
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Good Morning Heartache
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
Hello Million Friends,
Here’s a chance to promote YOUR OWN stuff. Get on over to my Art Stars page and enter the necessary information for me to list you on my Art Stars page.
There’s nothing to it and I’m not trying to be sneaky or anything. There will be no spam from me and I will not sell your email address if you decide to provide it. This is a resource page that will display your blog or website’s name and url, as well as your feed subscription information so other people can subscribe and your name.
If you have a Gravatar and you enter your email address that is matched to your Gravatar, your mugshot or picture that you provide will show next to your Art Star information as well as any comments you make here on my blog.
Examples of Art Stars include artists, designers, people who might have a LinkedIn account, or any other web presence that you’d like to promote.
I do have some standards so I will exercise SOME restrictions as I see fit.
Photo: macca
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
- Blue Tree - Yesterday’s Painting Sketch
I’ve written before about How To Use Pictures In Your Blog Posts and various other media, and I’ve found a web site that searches the flickr Creative Commons photos. It’s called compflight, which is a search tool for flickr, thus compflight + flickr search tool.
You can certainly use the search mechanism at flickr but compflight is a bit more flexible and just plane cooler. Here’s a screen shot below.
Click image for larger view (800px)
compflight lets you search on what you’re looking for and presents a full page of thumbnails to review. You can also bookmark your searches.
If you use use someone’s image make sure you give credit to that person’s photos.
Google and LIFE
On another image note, did you know that Google is putting Life’s image library online? Yep, check it out here - LIFE photo archive hosted by Google. I searched for Omaha and sure enough they’ve got some pix already to go. Check it out. You can browse through the images by decade as well as search by people, places, events, sports, and culture. You can click on the images to view the full size as well as purchase them.
Photo: ToniVC
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- Blue Tree - Yesterday’s Painting Sketch
Hello Million Friends,
Just letting you know that my email address chris@chrisbolmeier.com was not functional for about 3 or 4 days. So emails between 11/24/08 thru 11/27/08 might have gone into never, never land. Also, I’m still updating links so please pardon the dust as I make things clear.
How do you like the logo above? I have a few of them and I might do a voting page to see what people think. The above logo needs Chris Bolmeier ART - the word ART added to the end in caps I think would look nice. But we’ll see.
Also, I apologize if any old blog posts are re-emailed to you. Again, I am not trying to spam anyone.
Thanks,
Chris
Photo: Thomas Hawk
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One of my favorite comedians Brian Regan has a great interpretation of art in this video, funny. Enjoy.
Today is Black Friday, where everyone goes crazy and gets up at ridiculously early hours to go shopping. If you’re one of those folks, good luck and I hope you find the deal of a lifetime or just have fun mingling with all the other early risers.
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
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Hello Million Friends,
Here’s a painting I’ve just finished called New Day. It’s been reworked and renamed a few times before I settled on this. I’ve also uploaded this to my gallery page as well.
This Thanksgiving holiday I’m thankful for:
- New friends I’ve met online.
- Older friends I’ve become reacquainted with.
- I’m still blogging after one year.
- I suffered the “oh shit, keeping this blog going is tough work.” Doing anything online is tough and that lingering question in the back of my mind is “shouldn’t you be doing something else instead of goofing around online?” But I’m okay with it now.
- People on Facebook will friend you and then find out who you’re voting for and unfriend you in a hurry.
- I’ve managed to piss off a couple, okay a few people I’ve met online. But I still love them.
- The ability to paint.
- The ability to sing.
- The ability to do anything.
- Talks with my sisters
- Talks with my mother
- Talks with my relatives
- Talks with my in-laws
- My two Chihuahuas, Cookie and Whiskey. Which reminds me of a story. Hey, let me tell you (see below).
- My daughters
- My husband(s) ;) Just kidding. It should read husband.
- and a whole host of people and things.
A Puppy Story
When we first moved into our house a few years ago and had just met the neighbors, I let our puppies out the back door, where they walked across the deck and down four steps to do their thing in the yard.
After they were finished, I opened the door and stepped outside. My neighbor to the North of me, was outside as well by his back door. We have a 6-foot fence between us so he could only see me from my waist up. However, I did not see him right away.
As my new neighbor turned to look at me, he saw me yell, “Cookie, Whiskey!!” “Cookie, Whiskey!!” Now, can you imagine seeing your new neighbor come out their back door yelling, “Cookie, Whiskey!!” “Cookie, Whiskey!!” Yes, it would look peculiar. So, he looked at me and asked, “Cookie, Whiskey?”
I turned and saw that he was outside and luckily I had already met him. I went on to esplain that my two Chihuahuas were in my yard and that he couldn’t see them because of the fence and that they were small dogs, and that’s why I was yelling, “Cookie, Whiskey!!”, to try and get the dogs to come back inside.
It was a good laugh. I’m sure he was wondering why his new neighbor needed to yell to the world, “Cookie, Whiskey!!” “Cookie, Whiskey!!” He was probably thinking, “Great, the new neighbor likes to eat cookies and drink whiskey, and for some strange reason needed to tell all of us about it.”
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Here’s a special video for everyone around the world.
Also, sorry for the emails that have re-emailed some of my blog posts. In changing from my http://christerical.blogspot.com to http://chrisbolmeier.com, I think my FeedBurner account didn’t know what to do. Again, sorry. I’m not trying to spam anyone.
Also, Also, if you’ve reached my site by a search in Google and you landed on a wrong page, please use the Archives page or the search in the right sidebar to find the article you were looking for. In the meantime, I’m feverishly trying to get the links corrected from my old blog to my new one.
Pray for Peace,
Chris
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- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
- Blue Tree - Yesterday’s Painting Sketch
I decided to sing another song to put up on my blog and came across an old standard called Good Morning Heartache by Irene Higginbotham, Ervin Drake and Dan fisher.
Many people have sung this song, most notably and originally recorded by Billy Holiday. It's still a standard for many singers and a delight to sing.
So I decided to take it on first thing this morning and I sing it to a special guest towards the end of the video. So please watch all of it to find out who the special guest is. :) Hope you enjoy.
(3 minutes and 43 seconds)
If you've received this as an email or in an RSS reader, and can't play the video, click on this link to go to my blog and view the video.
To find more videos of me singing, click on the label "Videos" in the column to the right.
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Hello Million Friends,
I decided to sing another song to put up on my blog and came across an old standard called Good Morning Heartache by Irene Higginbotham, Ervin Drake and Dan fisher.
Many people have sung this song, most notably and originally recorded by Billy Holiday. It’s still a standard for many singers and a delight to sing.
So I decided to take it on first thing this morning and I sing it to a special guest towards the end of the video. So please watch all of it to find out who the special guest is. Hope you enjoy.
(3 minutes and 43 seconds)
If you’ve received this as an email or in an RSS reader, and can’t play the video, click on this link to go to my blog and view the video.
To find more videos of me singing, view this category list called Chris Singing.
Pray for Peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
- Blue Tree - Yesterday’s Painting Sketch
For my birthday I wanted to post myself singing and playing the guitar. But I'm still practicing the guitar so I won't embarass myself. This song is the song I wanted to sing, but it's a little over the top. Better I present it to you as performed by the great Bette Midler.
$600.00
Contact me at Chris@chrisbolmeier.com
402-212-3714
Chris
Hello Million Friends,
For my birthday I wanted to post myself singing and playing the guitar. But I’m still practicing the guitar so I won’t embarass myself. This song is the song I wanted to sing, but it’s a little over the top. Better I present it to you as performed by the great Bette Midler.
$600.00
Contact me at chris@chrisbolmeier.com
402-212-3714
Pray for peace,
Chris
Other Posts You Might Find Interesting
- Email Fraud or Not?
- Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Painting of the Day - Andrea
- How To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog By Using StumbleUpon
- Blue Tree - Yesterday’s Painting Sketch
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