A Not-so-Dreary Day

I went for a long walk today, about 3.5 miles. I was the only walker I saw, on my way to the organic food store across town. The time went quickly, although the way back was significantly more strenuous, as I was loaded up with several pounds of granola for my husband. It's definitely cold here, only in the mid-40's, and drizzly. But I was well attired for the weather, and avoided feeling the chill. Dan thought the day was dreary, but as I was walking I could not agree. The trees and flowers were a blazon of color all around me, and the tiny droplets of frigid rain against my face nearly took my breath away. Looking closely at the leaves, I realized they are each a little work of art. The colors, the patterns, the symmetry. All destined to be enjoyed for a moment, and then fade and crunch under the feet of passersby. It's amazing to me, the depth of beauty all around us, waiting to be acknowledged.

Connie Tom

This is perhaps one of my favorite paintings I have come across on the web. I think it's absolutely beautiful. I love the colors, the lighting, everything. It's called Lanterns of Gold, and the painter is a woman by the name of Connie Tom. I think I could just stare at it for a long time. Her web page is here. Check it out, she has many more beautiful paintings. Maybe one day I'll be able to paint that good. I have been practicing my woodland scenes, and so far they are looking like I need some more practice. But I'll post one eventually.

Just getting started

I have recently opened an Etsy shop called SilvanArt, http://SilvanArt.etsy.com. In my shop I sell my own original artwork, which consists mostly of paintings and drawings of a natural theme. This has been a very interesting experience for me thus far, so I thought I'd blog about it. Etsy has been a great site to work with, as far as my limited experience can tell. It was not difficult to make my shop, and there are multitudes of helpful articles that may help me on my way to that pivotal first sale. Please feel free to take a look at my shop. Even if you're not in the market for purchasing original art, I'd love to share what I've done and also hear any feedback you might offer. Thanks for reading!