Blog

Friends, followers, fellow bloggers ~ I had a few minutes and decided to scroll through our FAA member blogs to see what's new! Thoroughly enjoyed those knowing what the heck they're doing & saying, but others, hmm, not so much? A 'blog' is defined as a journal or diary written for public viewing on a website, consisting typically of personal reflections, commentary on current events or self-promotion, sometimes containing imagery, and arranged chronologically. So, I'm not exactly sure 'why' some are posting, other than the site offers us the opportunity? Seeing there's a wealth of information readily available on the subject, 'Blogging Basics 101', for example, there's no good reason not to be in-the-know.

Here's what I see: [1] a handful of members creating insightful blogs w-corresponding images that are fabulous; [2] several who like posting just their on-site contest placement[s] and/or sales updates; [3] a few preferring to promote a new collection or plug an upcoming or on-going exhibit; [4] others sending out 10 posts in a row, for some odd reason, all re different topics, but not a lot of content; [5] a couple members thinking that annoying, strange and obnoxious posts are cool; and, [6] still others choosing to share a link to another of their web blog[s] or an image from their gallery, sometimes w-little-to-no explanation, just a link, that may or may not be active. It's a problem when someone wanting to see more has to, first of all, know to go to our Pixels site and find our 'Blogs' buried under 'Info' in order to access the live link..or not. Unfortunately, we also can no longer share active image links in our Profile blog comment section either. Double trouble. We can, however, post a relevant image in the upper left-hand side and direct traffic to our Profile or Artist Website or, like mine here, add something just for fun, in this case a selfie-selfie.

Interestingly, only fellow members or those w-accounts can leave a comment, so it's difficult to garner an off-site following. Also, we must remember to check on our blogs ourselves to see if someone replies, since we do not receive a notification in our 'Activity' re. Maybe higher-ups could be coaxed into making some welcomed changes for those of us choosing to use this tool...and, perhaps, more members would use it!?

In any event, it's obvious that folks are interested in venturing out into the blogosphere, so maybe I can help w-a little friendly advice? I do have quite a lot of experience under my belt, as a writer, editor, photographer, designer & visual artist of 40+ years. Maybe that means something, maybe it doesn't, lol, but, nonetheless, here we go:

[1] Spell check, everyone! It doesn't look or 'sound' good when the simplest of words are misspelled;
[2] Use the proper punctuation! Seeing that some of you share only a sentence or two, make 'it' work, so we don't have to;
[3] Tell a story, even if it's a short one! Personality & humor go a long way. Most people are attracted to warmth & creativity, as well as something visually stimulating, like pictures to aid the story-line;
[4] Be professional! Prepare a blog that YOU yourself would want to read...and follow;
[5] Pace yourself! Timing [and content!] is everything. Less IS actually more, sometimes. If you want people to take you seriously, posting every so often seems 'healthy', while posting 5 or 10 in a row every other day looks a little OCD;
[6] Tit-for-tat can work. If you want someone to respond to your blog, then respond to theirs! Should you find it helpful, interesting, educational and/or funny, let them know. It keeps a blog circulating;
[7] Think before you post!

That's it for now. Yes, you are welcome to share your thoughts below...and to check out my Profile, as well!

~Brooks

Color and life are inseparable. In all its shades, tones & hues, color influences the whole of our life, affecting our moods & emotions, and coloring our personalities. Its beauty & variety enhances and transforms our lives daily. Color has texture, taste & feel. From the brilliance of pure light come all the colors, each with their own individual impact upon our systems ~ mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually.

Many of our healing needs can be met by the use of color! How we see & use color may be but a reflection of our inner memories. Some of the most beautiful examples of color---an opalescent dawn of gold & rose, the luminous blue of an evening sky, sunlight through stained-glass windows or a rainbow spanning the heavens---may well remind us of some other realm faraway where light & color weave patterns of which we can only guess.

One of my most successful exhibits ~ 'The Healing Energy of Color' ~ was full of saturated canvases in all shapes, sizes & colors of the rainbow! 'Transformation', a 30 x 40 acrylic on canvas, shown here, is but one. See 'COLOR attributes' below for GREEN associations.

In ancient cultures color was used as a very special material symbolic of various sacred powers. It was essential for its protective & magical qualities, and the shamans or priests of the tribes were likely responsible for rock & cave paintings, choosing the colors & pigments that set the scene for everyone. Many ancient cultures worshiped the sun, the source of all color, harnessing its healing powers. Egyptian gods & goddesses had special colors denoting various qualities & powers. Emotional qualities were attributed to certain colors. RED was seen as aggressive, as well as life giving, and would be placed alongside BLUE, which was subdued, yet flowing out to infinity.

In the first century A.D. Jewish historian, Josephus, associated WHITE with earth, RED with fire, PURPLE with water and YELLOW with air. Fifteen centuries later Leonardo de Vinci stated his color preference as ~ “WHITE for the representative of light, without which no color can be seen; YELLOW for Earth; GREEN for water; BLUE for air; RED for fire; and BLACK for total darkness.”

Many ancient peoples gave colors to the four corners of the earth, but these vary over widely diverse cultures such as Old Irish, Mayan and North American Indians. Today, in Navajo sand paintings, WHITE represents universal cosmic energy; BLACK, the great void from which all comes; RED, life and energy; YELLOW the sun; and BLUE, spirituality.

All over the world colors of symbolic significance have been painted on humans, icons, walls, pottery & stonework; woven into tapestries and bead work; and incorporated into inlay work, stained glass, glass vessels & jewelry, not only for ornamentation & visual enjoyment, but for the practice of sympathetic & protective magic in all its aspects, and ultimately & simply for the glory of God.

COLOR Attributes ~

WHITE is a most sacred color, standing for purity, innocence and desire for simplicity. It's basic characteristic is equality: all colors are equal w-white. While it has associations w-both life and death, white usually stands for wholeness and harmony. Buddhists regard it as the color of self-mastery, while the ancient Egyptians considered white and green to symbolize joy. White and silver also related to the moon and the unconscious, the feminine side of human kind.

GREEN is the bridge between yellow and blue, the gateway in the spectrum. Symbolizing hope, renewal and peace, green is the color of harmony and balance. It is associated w-nature and all its aspects ~ the cycle of birth and death. It is the sacred color of Islam. In Christian thought vernal green denotes immortality, hope, the growth of the Holy Spirit in people, triumph over death and resurrection of spring after winter. Green’s most important quality is that of transformation. Clarity and understanding are at green’s core.

YELLOW and GOLD stand for the sun and all its various attributes. They signify divine power, enlightenment and immortality. Yellow is the color of happiness, wisdom and imagination. In China it is regarded as the earthly, feminine principle. Gold is the wise old sage, the color of experience, maturity and deep self-knowledge. In Hinduism gold is life, truth, light, the seed and the sign of Agni—the Hindu god of fire. Buddhists regard it as the color of humility. Gold soothes the nerves and promotes an overall feeling of well-being.

ORANGE, the complement of blue, is the color of knowledge and positive optimism. A mixture of red and yellow, orange represents youth, curiosity and fearlessness, as well as vitality and wisdom. It is also the color of luxury, pleasure and splendor. Invigorating, yet grounding, orange [along w-pink] is the most beneficial of all colors for dealing w-grief and loss.

RED represents transformation, strength, vitality and passion. Most likely it is the first color to have made a great impact on humans. Red is the color of fire—and blood, the source of mysterious power, life force, the mainstream of life. Red and white together are expressions of wholeness and perfection, unity and balance. In China, as in most cultures, red symbolizes the positive masculine essence and is regarded as the luckiest of colors. Universally, red is seen as the most creative and life-giving color. Red combinations include scarlet, crimson, flame and magenta w-pink as the “higher vibration” of red. Pink embodies the gentler qualities of red and symbolizes love and affection. It represents deep inner beauty, universal love, compassion and fulfillment of potential. Pink is comforting, relieving depression and loneliness. It’s a good color to use in a crisis.

BLUE is the color of the great deeps, the feminine and the Great Mother ~ symbolizing infinity, peace, compassion and healing. Most cultures connect blue w-truth, wisdom, constancy and introspection. As blue’s intensity deepens its many qualities are enhanced. Indigo, for example, is said to show a high degree of spiritualism, while paler hues suggest self-reliance and idealism. Cooling and calming, blue implies sincerity and a tranquil spirit.

PURPLE has the body of red and the spiritual nature of blue held in perfect union. It is the bridge to higher planes of consciousness and represents spiritual maturity. Some consider purple the color of the nucleus of life impulse ~ the color of the opening bud, the first streak of dawn and the last ray of the setting sun. In the West purple is the color of religious devotion and in many cultures is connected to ritual and royalty. Shades of violet and lilac represent spiritual service, intuition and healing powers.

GRAY is the most neutral color of all ~ the balance between the extremes of black and white. Gray represents a search for composure and peace. It implies dedication and a desire for quietness and space. At its highest silvery hue gray is the ray of peace. Silver calms the nerves and restores the equilibrium. Along w-qualities of endurance and understanding, silver represents the feminine part of the self, the moon, the delicate and cool.

BROWN is dark yellow-red and represents the color of the earth. It is associated w-stamina and patience, and represents qualities of concentration and common sense. The touch of red fire in brown adds a spark of surprise. The coppery bronze side of brown contains several colors within it and represents multiple positive aspects, particularly flow and balance. Those who relate to tan show quiet assurance and deep intuition, trusting in the natural order of things on Earth.

BLACK is the dark earth out of which all new life springs; the great void from which all comes. It is connected to our higher philosophical thoughts and ideals. Black represents mystery and discipline, which can bring freedom and liberation. Every color of the rainbow is found within black; therefore, black holds the mystery of hidden colors.

{Sources: "The Complete Book of Color Healing" by Lillian-Verner Bonds [2000] and "The Healing Power of Color" by Betty Wood.}

This VERY special 'Limited Time Offer' simply can't be missed! Please enjoy a 30 x 40 fine art canvas giclee of my original acrylic painting ~ 'Dancing for Joy' ~ one of my most popular pieces. This amazing nearly half-off price can't be beat & only lasts a few days, so act quickly. With its glorious colors, fluid motion & joyful spirit, a gift of art w-special message will shine all year round!

Purchase a 30 x 40 canvas print of 'Serenity' at fabulous price...and just in time! Taken in my lovely summer garden, this colorful orange rose macro will brighten the walls of your home-office and those of your loved ones. Offer is for 10 prints only, so act quickly. This drastic price reduction won't last! Simply click on the 'Click Here For More Information' below to view all the details!

T'were the nights before Christmas...and all through this site, gifts of art for your loved ones will make Holidays bright!

Yes, everyone, it's that time of the year [again] to search for the perfect FINE ART GIFTS to send family & friends...and ourselves!

We all want to beautify our homes and office spaces w-amazing artwork & photography! 'Imagine' [shown here] is just one of the original pieces of art available in my gallery.

Speaking of, you are warmly invited to visit both my Artist Profile and Pixels Website where you'll find ~ paintings [like 'Imagine'], nature photography, pastel art, abstract digital creations, floral captures straight from the garden, birds, insects, 'Art 4 Kids' & more. Click on the 'Collections' tab for specific categories to help refine your search!

Now that FAA is venturing into the world of home decor, you can also enjoy my art & photography on a selection of home products ~ hand towels, mugs, throw pillows, etc. Any questions, concerns or comments are welcome. Wishing you & yours many blessings this holiday season & throughout the year!

NOTE: To see ALL print options, visit my Pixels.com site, which you can access two ways:
[1] via my Profile page by clicking on 'Contact' [me] under my avatar, then 'Visit Website', then 'Shop ~ All Products' or, more conveniently, [2] simply click on 'Click Here for More Information' just below and, once there, choose the 'Shop' tab.

"Nothing stays the same...and that includes Facebook! Even with all the changes & things 'we' can find wrong with the site, though, I'm happy to be there, most days; the good still outweighs the 'bad'. That being said, higher-ups need to listen to those who got them where they are and find a happy balance between their desire to make money, while allowing us access to more of the personal posts we enjoyed seeing for so long. It would be wise for them to remember their reason for being in the first place ~ the initial 'connections' with others that made the site what it is...was.

Their excessive ads, bogus fake news stories, incessant marketing links and all those birthday notices clogging up the newsfeed don't float my boat, but I simply adore my community of artists & collectors and friends & family from all over the world! The rekindling of childhood friendships, family connections and creative interaction with kindred spirits & amazing artists is, for me, priceless. Fb knows this is true of most members, and is 'banking' on the fact that I/we will not dump our accounts altogether after the time & effort we put into gathering friends, managing our 'Timelines', updating our 'Photo Albums' and all the posting-sharing-commenting! Whew. I must say, though, it's getting pretty tiresome sorting through all their 'stuff' to find posts worth my while.

It used to be quite simple to purge the feed [and friend's list] of junk ~ anything or anyone untoward, ads & such, those who only post politics or people who consistently share pics of their pets, family & what they're having for dinner, lol. That meant, when we did choose to scroll thru our feeds, we'd see posts that sparked the creative spirit, spurred the imagination, made us think and sometimes laugh-out-loud. The thing that bothers me most is the fact that only about 10% of our friends even get to see our posts! If you pay to play you may, or may not, get more bang for your buck. I will try that once to see if it actually works in bringing more viewers to my art-photography links. I'll let you know!

Sales? There've been a few, but then again too few to mention. Ever the optimist, I do hold out hope that will change. If selling my art & photography was the main objective & motivation to be on Facebook, however, I'd be sorely disappointed...and frustrated. I know a lot of artists are on-site only to sell their work, creating a single artist's page and hammering away with the image posts & links. Others have two separate accounts ~ personal & business. I keep it simple with just a personal page. Not sure how viable a tool of the trade Fb really is; I've heard conflicting reports. But, like I said, it's been awfully slow going. If the end result is that I gain new fans worldwide and more family & friends get to know me & my work better, their friends, too, then fabulous; I can 'work' with that. The precious time spent 'connecting' and forming a supportive community, people from all walks of life, whose work & lives I also appreciate, will be my reward. If it translates to sales, bravo!

To attract friends, I keep my 'Timeline' clutter-free, creative & entertaining. Translation: only my posts appear! Rarely, do I share other's links or photos and, then, only if a catastrophe like Harvey or a friend needing help in some way. I also vary my posts, from art & photography to me, myself & I, which seems to keep people coming back for more. Variety if the spice! I avoid anyone who allows all those birthday wishes, 'thanks for the request' notices & repetitive posting of the same photo on their Timelines. That means they don't manage their page[s] well... or their 'time'. Some artists like joining groups, but I've found only a couple I liked and neither amounted to much, except extra views & likes. I hardly interact in those anymore. I DO support people, though, both here & there, but don't let anyone post on my pages. I remain diligent in sharing my FAA group & contests there, though. The trick is to do it in a way that doesn't 'seem' like I'm trying to get anyone to buy something, but rather to 'enjoy' it. Like I said above, only a handful of our 'friends' actually get to see our posts...and then it's a toss up as to IF they see them in their feed since most people don't hang there for too long, or at all, and less so these days than before. I also notice the same people liking, commenting & sharing my posts over & over. Interesting. Makes me wonder if those 100 are the ONLY ones seeing anything?

I'm not a 'twit'terer, don't use Instagram or other apps, play games or hang out & chat. Never was or will be on another social media site, except for FAA; I guess I can call it that! So, Fb, such as it is, matters to me. Not an addiction, like some claim, just a way to pass a little time, share my work & a little bit of me. I check in once or twice a day, do what I need, and am able to stay on top of things. I figure 'if YOU are not active, you won't get much action'! That only stands to reason. Most of us live much larger lives than spending our days on Fb or other social media sites. Happy to say, I get a LOT of 'love' from my 3,150+ friends...and that's good enough. Liking someone & their work is better than the alternative.

New thing [for me!] this week is, despite having over 3-thousand [well-vetted & connected] friends, Fb is telling me to add MORE friends IF I want to see MORE posts in my newsfeed! Huh? My feed simply stops within a minute or two, after I rid it of 'trash', with a note from them saying, 'If you want to see more posts, add more friends'. That stinks, as I already have a LOT of friends, active ones, and rarely see a thing from them, which means I have to go to their Timelines to do so. Thanks all the same, but I am content with the number of friends I have. If I want to add more, I will. So, today, Fb is on my 'blank' list. Actually spent over 15 minutes cleaning the clutter [crap!] from my newsfeed earlier in order to enjoy something personal from friends & family. I'll have to do it all over again the next time I visit, so enough already Fb with what YOU want me to see! The more you control things, the less I want to be there. Sigh.

More about friends ~ it's true that some people accept any & all friend's requests, but it's super important, I think, to check everyone asking for your friendship as closely as possible! They will be seeing all your info...and you will be getting their posts in your feed, unless you 'unfollow' them, which makes me wonder what's the point of accepting them in the first place, except to pad your list? Kinda rude. I have turned down more requests than I've accepted during the time I've been on-site...and am even pickier now, if possible. Maybe this is more true for women!? If I had allowed everyone access, I'd have reached maximum capacity in my 1st year of membership and missed the chance to 'meet' some fabulous people. I like to keep my options open. There are a lot of weirdos out there, though, so make sure you use of all the 'privacy' settings available, including 'blocking', if needs be. At least that's something within our control!

I sure hope the site is paying attention and doesn't let greed completely cloud their senses. If not, their 'baby' could simply implode, self-destruct, poof ~ 'here today, gone tomorrow'. And, that's not something I would like to see happen.

Feel free to join me there while you still can. If you do, please 'enjoy' my painting 'Aria' [above] when you visit my Timeline. It's my cover photo."


~ Brooks Leath Garten Hauschild

Welcome to 'Sunflower Power'! You are invited to join my brand new group featuring your amazing SUNFLOWERS in living color! All media & creative expression accepted as long as it's family-friendly, high quality and recognizable as a sunflower. Sunflowers must be the main focus!

In the first two weeks of [our] existence, we have gone from 'zero' to 'high' in the FAA activity charts! YOU should come check us out ~ the 'Discussions', Images, Members, Contests & more.

Here's what you can expect as a member ~ daily/weekly reviews of your uploads; selected homepage features; an 'Administrator's Pick-of-the-Week' every Sundays; group link shared on my Fb Timeline; periodic promotional contests; updates from me in the 'Discussions'; and NO bombarding group emails!

Groups are a great way to meet new members, share your work and learn something, as in promotional tips, ideas & links! To find us, simply do a 'Group' search for 'Sunflower Power'...and you will see my sunflower logo, avatar & homepage 'Overview' with all the info you need re joining. For some reason, we are no longer able to include active links within our blogs.

"There's not another thing on this planet that more trumpets life than the SUNFLOWER. Not because of what it looks like, but because it follows the sun. During the course of a day, the head of a sunflower tracks the sun's journey across the sky. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, a sunflower will find it. That's such an admirable thing...and lesson in life." ~Helen Mirren

Spring has sprung...and Mother Nature welcomes 'the change' in her own wild, wacky & wonderful way! Moody, fickle & temperamental, she offers us 'overcast & chilly with a chance of snow' one day, 'balmy breezes & sunny blue skies' the next. I can work with that! Happy to get going on the annual garden cleanup when the latter prevails, like today with its warmer temps, which made picking up the debris after my tree guy took down a large pine near the front porch not that much of a chore. Plus, a 'kind of hush' has been restored in the hood after the chainsaw racket; definitely an improvement. Call me wimpy, but when it's too cold, I simply refuse to work outside! All those extra layers just make it hard on a girl. Looking & lumbering about like a lumberjack is not my idea of 'cool'. Lol. You can bet that when I'm cozy & comfy inside working on a painting, being creative on the computer or just chillin' in hibernation mode, I can think of a million excuses not to don long underwear, overalls, my jacket, headband, hat, gloves, boots & knee pads [whew!] to tackle even more projects. Too much of an effort! The peace & quiet of our hilltop abode surrounded by oaks, madrona, pines [one less] and a very large redwood sequoia these last few months has been a blessing. With so much going on in the world, I cherish, and protect, what tranquility can be found, especially on the home front ~ brisk nature walks alone on overcast chilly windy days, sitting by the fire in the evening with my husband on silent snowy nights, the less hurried pace of late fall & winter, the 'extra' time there seems to be to get stuff done inside, things we put off when sunny skies invite us out to work & play in the garden...and the shorter days in which to snuggle up with a cup of tea [and mate], read a good book and NOT feel guilty. Once again, spring reigns ~ its promise of hope & renewal engages our senses and re-ignites our passion. We get on with the hustle & bustle of life, albeit, sometimes, reluctantly. Time waits for no one, as the seasons, coming & going way too quickly for me, will attest. Up here in southern Oregon, the unpredictability of a spring day can be somewhat entertaining since you never know what will transpire from one minute to the next. In 24-hours, you may experience thunder & lightning, sunshine, a passing rainstorm, gusts, hail & possibly snow! Just the other day, I opened the front door to a soft layer of white blanketing the yard & trees...and the next took a jacket-less walk in my neighborhood park under a blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds where I snapped this photograph titled 'Almost Spring on Golden Pond'. See page-15 of my 'Images' for more. No matter the season, may your days & lives be filled with moments of sanctuary, solitude & reflection, time to replenish the spirit, restore sanity & renew your heart's desire[s]. 'Peace out'...make that 'within & without'.

Some images go better on FAA 'Home Decor' items and 'Art-on-Merchandise' than others! In fact, some members design imagery specifically for these options, a la size, shape, colors, pattern & style. Here's a recent upload from my gallery 'Fire in the Sky - Autumn Abstract' shown on a mug. See page-15 of my 'Images' for more re this gorgeous piece. You are welcome to 'Shop' for mugs, tees, duvets, towels, shower curtains, greeting cards & fine art prints via my Artist Profile pages or FAA Website, the latter which you can access by clicking on 'Contact', then 'Visit Website'. Actually, my website has more to offer as far as products! There are many print options & images to choose from...so, enjoy. And, please, ask if you have any questions. I'm happy to help!

I keep going back 'n forth re the idea of placing my art & photography on the growing number of 'home decor' items now being offered on Fine Art America. My main reason for joining the site in the 1st place, and dumping all of my other on-line shops, was FAA's reputation for selling only 'fine art prints', not the myriad merchandise options up for grabs on [so] many other POD sites. What a breath of fresh 'artistic' air, I thought...and I've been an active member ever since. Unfortunately, things started to change on FAA...and I understand why ~ you need to stay current & keep up with the stiff competition out there. Who can blame anyone for that? It's the name of the game.

With the thousands of members already uploading thousands of images a day, and the legions joining as we 'speak', each with the [same] hope of selling their work and wanting a little attention, it's getting even more difficult to get seen, much less appreciated. Unless you are famous, lucky enough to be a BIG seller by bringing in buyers or in the right place at the right time, you hardly garner a glance. We hear it time & again, 'If you build it, they will come' or 'If you love what you do enough, success will follow'. Hmm, it does happen! So, we keep creating our beautiful art & taking amazing pictures that we can't wait to upload ~ things people 'ooh' & 'ah' over all the time. We promote the heck out of it and, sometimes, when all else fails, we do things we wouldn't 'normally' dream of in order to keep pursuing our dream of making a living from our lovely works-of-art ~ we, gulp, put our art on 'wearable~tote-able~throw-able~usable~everyday' products!

A lot of us work hard to promote our work...and we each think we're 'special'! As our favorite site heads into this 'more is more' direction a lot of members feel 'less & less' able to find a place in the FAA sun, even when we've done all we know to do to promote, promote, promote and be active. With all the new products, and the old, there is always the question of QUALITY, which is a big issue! I would not be so reluctant, probably, to join the bandwagon in a bigger way, IF I knew the quality was e-x-c-e-l-l-e-n-t, and consistently so! Being a seamstress, I am very aware of the details of garment construction & finish work, which are essential when including home decor products for $ale, in my opinion. I'd hoped that would be the case...and, I'm guessing, most members & collectors feel the same way. There's also the question of pricing ~ how much will consumers want to pay for these items? IF the quality is superb, I can see charging more since we're offering original [for the most part] art & photography. But, who is going to pay an arm & a leg for a tote, say, that's marginally-constructed when you can buy a better, well-made, double-stitched & longer-lasting product at the local market? Something to ponder.

After some 'bah, humbug' moments, well, make that days & weeks, and some less-than-enthusiastic conversations with others, I inhaled deeply & took a 'leap of faith' and placed some of my work on a selection of products. I created & hosted myriad contests in order to showcase member's works-on-products [still do!], assuming they were worthy & worth my efforts. I also purchased several items to check for quality. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed with my order, which was really frustrating...and sad. It wasn't just the poor construction, but the clarity of the images appearing on the fabric choices. Not thrilled to say the least. In fact, I went through all my images & removed every one from every product!

Then, I began to read the community discussion threads more regularly and kept seeing conflicting reports ~ some said, and are saying, that they are happy with the products, while others say just the opposite. I noticed, too, that those with righteous complaints were/are being shushed or pooh-poohed, which bothered me. It also made me wonder if some members, maybe those selling in the upper brackets, were receiving better-made or higher-quality products & prints, while those of us average Joe's or Jo's were getting the less-than-stellar version[s]? Consistency is SO important...and not for just the top dogs! It does seem, perhaps, that those selling well often have several on-line shops/venues ~ here, there & everywhere, instead of concentrating only on FAA, which I thought was preferred. I do remember when membership just on FAA was being touted as optimal...and to be rewarded?

So, yeh, offering art & photography on products ~ it remains a dilemma for me. That is even more true for artists than primarily photographers, I think, because, if not done well, it really can 'cheapen our work', as 'they' say. When compared to cyber marketplace sites offering similar merchandise, is it simply enough to match their quality...or is it worthwhile to exceed it? I am on board with the latter...which can only happen if 'we' actually offer a BETTER product. Why is it, I wonder, that great quality is not the rule, but rather the exception these days?

We ALL want to make money with our art & photography; that's a given. And, I continue to wrestle with the 'why not' and 'the more the merrier' part. In that vein, I have re-added a selection of my images to certain products & sizes of, once more. I will simply cross my fingers & pray that whoever might purchase something from my gallery will be happy, or happy enough, to keep & enjoy what they receive. Not every one has higher standards when it comes to these kind of things, I get it, but it would be nice, once in a while, to have your expectations met...and/or exceeded, instead of having to accept the status quo. I have dragged my feet in promoting my gallery & the site, but am going to be more pro-active in doing so, as it is my ONLY venue. Onward I go. Wish me luck!

{Logo image: 'Aria', an original acrylic painting, seen here on a round beach towel. Scroll through my 'Images' to see more.}