Published- Just Steampunk Magazine!

Painted quite a while ago

My Steampunk paintings I did almost 2 years ago finally were published in a magazine.  I just got my copy of  Just Steampunk Vol 7 in the mail yesterday.  I sent them my digital photos a LONG time ago and had almost forgotten about it.  What a cool surprise to see them in the magaine yesterday.  I'm still doing a happy dance.

Picture taken in bad light, but I was so excited!!

Don't forget to follow my blog and my website at www.effiesue.com

From Halloween to Christmas

Yes, I'm guilty of department store marketing.  I've painted and painted Halloween pictures- sold a little over half of them.  Now I'm on to Christmas. Mainly because I only really get to paint on weekends so I cram in as much as I can.

Here are a few of the Halloween paintings first...

I have many of these also as prints or originals in my Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EffieSueDesigns

Sold!

And now for a few Christmas paintings...

Custom orders

I've been so busy painting, painting.  I keep selling my Halloween paintings, which is a good thing.  I have a few more then I'm ready to start my Christmas paintings to sell at a school craft show as well as online.   My brother commissioned me to paint a picture of his dog Strider- he's a Belgian Malenois/Heeler mix and he's ADORABLE!!  I love that dog.  I was very pleased how he turned out.  If you want custom paintings for Christmas, NOW is the time to place your order.  Prices vary on the size as well as material- canvas or wood panels.  Message me or email me to get a quote TODAY.

This painting is an 11x14x2 cradled wood canvas. Similar material/style $300

Approximate rates are the following:

9x11 Watercolor/mixed media - $50
9x11 Canvas Board- $60
Larger paintings- contact me for details.



Email me: effiesuedesigns@gmail.com

The Cost of Art- a Realization

Here is part of a quote from my friend Kelly Moore, an artist in Santa Fe

art

an alchemical necessity 

medicine for the people 

a mass for the true fundamentalist 

a ritual of beauty 

thats not to be confused 

with home decor 

or a casual blasphemous 

shopping trip 

to hobby lobby 

for a framed poster 

true believers 

know what they want 

and they dont just want it now 

they needed it 

yesterday 

and yet 

there are some 

who would say

they want art 

they love art 

they need art 

but if you check their pulse 

they are DOA 

(DONT OWN ART)

I've realized that I've been selling my art too cheaply, just to make a sale.  I want so badly to paint full time that I've been marking down my prices just to sell something..  Some folks don't like my style. Fine. It's not for everyone. I'm not the world's greatest artist. Cool. I still enjoy making it.  Some people love my art, and I appreciate the kind comments and support. I personally don't care for paintings that are exact replicas that look like photos.  If I want something so precise and exact as a photo, I just TAKE a photo and I'm done.  My personal style is whimsical and that's what I like, so that's what I paint.  I've taken years of art lessons, I paint every day and it's my passion.  If I take into account my supplies and the time it takes to paint something, I'm currently making $5 an hour.  

If you own a business, and you spent years in school or training and effort to perfect your skills, do you now feel guilty when you charge money for your product or service?  No! You feel like you've earned the right to charge what you do. 

Recently, I've been attending art shows and seeing other artists with similar styles, selling their art quite successfully for more than double what I currently charge.  I recently sold a painting in town at a shop for $60 that I sell online for $45. My artist friends are selling the same size/type paintings for $80-$100. I could show you artists on Etsy who sell 8x8 paintings for $80.  Art is not my hobby.  ART is my LIFE.  Some people paint, to please the masses. Some people buy prints at Hobby Lobby to match their sofa.  If you want something that speaks to you or makes you happy, then support an artist (not just me, lol) who is trying to pay their bills and who share their souls through their art. I work full time, go home so tired I can barely think, but make myself create something every day because I'm serious about my art.

  Pricing is always a dilimma for me because I don't want to seem greedy and I sometimes feel I'm not good enough to charge more.  Well, I'm over that problem.  Art is my passion, but it's also my business.  It's how I help put food on the table.  I want to keep learning and growing as an artist, but need more money to invest in supplies, classes, prints and marketing.  

If there is something I really want, I save money to buy it and see it as an investment.  If someone's art speaks to you and you just have to have it, then do what you have to to own it.  

Therefore, next week I will be INCREASING my prices for original and commission paintings.  If you see something you want either on Etsy or on Facebook, let me know now.  September 14th everything will be increased by 30-50%. YAY!

Prayerful

Website: www.effiesue.com

Commissioned painting~ Ladybug and friends

My friend who used to live here in Parker moved back home to North Carolina a couple of months ago.  Her daughter is turning 6 in a couple of weeks and she commssioned me to paint this picture for her.  The little girl loves ladybugs so that inspired me to paint this girl in the garden:

Little ladybug and friends

Another Halloween Painting

This is another painting I finished last weekend.  It sold within minutes of posting on Facebook to a gal in Italy!!

I did get prints made yesterday, so check out my Etsy shop for prints or message me if you want me to paint a reproduction for you.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EffieSueDesigns

Never too soon for Halloween

I bought canvases yesterday to actually start some Christmas paintings to sell at my son's highschool fall festival.  But thinking of Fall made me think of Halloween... I've seen some cute artwork some people are doing with these huge eyes on the characters so I thought I'd try it out.  I like how this turned out because I could just have fun and now worry about proportions too much.

Little Witchy

I'm working on a cat with a pumpkin and some others that I'll post soon.