The Myth of The Artist (with a Capital "A")

I have recently wondered if we artists are not different from other people - that perhaps the myth of the crazy or tortured artist was conceived to allow us to drink too much and sleep with your girlfriend. But I have my doubts. So I ask:

What does an artist look like?
How are they/we different from other people?

What do you think?

Bite Sized Bits of Art for New Collectors

If you're nervous about collecting original art, start small. This is a good time of year to start small. Everywhere you turn there are small works exhibits designed to encourage buying art as gifts. Consider going with the intention of starting your art collection.

Give yourself the gift of becoming a collector of original art.

Amantha Tsaros, Corsage, 6x6", Acrylic on Canvas, (c) 2011

My work is being shown in three locations this December: The Bromfield Gallery, Gallery Seven in Maynard and the Concord Art Association.

Artists, please list where your work is being shown in the comments section. Include links.

Let's Make it Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

Amantha Tsaros, Red Blossom, 12x9" (c) 2011

Mom always says that if there is no price tag on something then you can't afford it.

It is hard to buy something if you have already decided you can't afford it so you won't even inquire.

Did you know:

• Artists want to help you get their art in your home.
• You can often give a painting a trial run. (I will let you hang it in your house first to see if you like it.) 
• Some artists will arrange a payment plan? (Like me.) 
• Artists accept credit cards.
• We want to make it easy for you to buy art you love.

I want to know that my art is hanging someplace where it is enjoyed by its owner. The whole experience of collecting art should be pleasant, easy and satisfying. How can we do this for collectors?

I used to find galleries terrifying and it prevented me from collecting art.

What stops you from bringing a painting home?

Eat Your Art

I love sculpture. I love cake. I love Halloween. I love birthdays. Mix 'em up and you get this, the sweet genius of Mama Bakes Cakes:

Reve of Mama Bakes Cakes and I will be at the LexFUN! Marketplace at St. Brigid's Keilty Hall, 2001 Mass Ave, Lexington, MA this Thursday, November 10th from 4:00-7:00 pm.

I will be there with paintings, prints and greeting cards.

Look for Mama Bakes Cakes to get your cupcakes and to place an order for Thanksgiving cakes.
(My order is in.)

What is your What If?

Amantha Tsaros, The Moon's Place, Acrylic on Canvas, 2011

I am prodded along daily by the words and work of Alyson B. Stanfield, Art Biz Coach. I am an avid reader of her blog and enthusiastic participant in her art-marketing classes.

She once offered her readers the question, "What if?" and asked what our "What Ifs" were.

I wondered, "What if I worked as hard for myself as I have for others?" The answer has come back to me that I would feel more fulfilled than I knew was possible and that I would also have to get up at 5:00 am to paint. It is so satisfying to work so hard for something so close to me.

What's your "what if"?

Hosta Takeover

Amantha Tsaros, Hosta Takeover,  16x12",  ©2011

Sometimes titles are hard to find. I have had to offer contests and prizes to get the right name for a painting. And for most of my new exhibit, Fickle Forecasts, I've turned to the Old  Farmer's Almanac for inspiration. I read the  Almanac looking for titles and descriptions that pertain to the individual paintings. A few times, I picked up the book without putting on my glasses and came up more with original names. What was printed as "fewer frills" became "Fever Frills".

Other paintings name themselves. The title of my new hosta painting just grew naturally out of of staring at hostas for so long. What else could I have name it?

Come to the Art Party!

Please join me for the Artist's Reception for my new exhibit, Fickle Forecasts

Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 2:00-4:30 pm. 

We will have treats and an artsy scavenger hunt.

Amantha Tsaros, Spring to Come, 12x16", (c) 2011

Fickle Forecasts: Landscapes by Amantha Tsaros

September 2-29, 2011

Piper Gallery, Cary Memorial Library

1874 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington MA

Leading a Double Life

Amantha Tsaros, Twin I, 12x4", ©2011

Amantha Tsaros, Twin I, 12x4", ©2011

The astute, no-excuses art biz coach, Alyson Stanfield, posted a question on her blog today asking artists what our day jobs are.

I love her question. It made me wonder how others manage their two work lives. Is one of the two jobs a secret?

My "day job" as a mom used to be a secret. I felt that people familiar with my art work would not take my art seriously if they knew that I spent so much of the day wiping noses and bottoms.

An old friend of mine is impressed that I am an artist. You know, an Artist with a capital "A". I was told I am "really being an artist. Not like those women who have kids that dabble but aren't really artists."  My friend knows that I have a BFA and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts and that I have studied with "real artists" that I have had work published, shown and critiqued by some stern judges. Even knowing my background and seeing my work ethic first-hand, there was doubt that I could still perform.

On the contrary, after having children, I am more committed to art than ever. I do everything I can to squeeze every minute out of my day. I get up early to paint before the kids get up. I stay up late to write and work on invitations and applications.  I know other artists who have children and work. We don't talk sippy cups or potty training. We talk materials, marketing and frames. We know very little about the kids behind the scenes.

Although I am no longer afraid of letting it slip that I have kids, I am concerned that I will automatically be dismissed out of hand as not being serious.

Should I keep it quiet? Does it matter?

Ooh La La Canvas!

Amantha Tsaros, Lisa's Bunch, 16x12", (c)2011

I am very particular about the surface I paint on. I had once been told that as an artist you must stretch your own canvas or you won't be taken seriously. Yet given the time limitations I am working with, I could spend all my time sacred studio time stretching my own canvas - and then obsessing about whether or not the corners really are right angles or if the canvas is taut enough.  I toyed with hiring some young hunky lad from a local art school with a nose ring to prepare my canvas. 

One day I googled, "How cheesy is it to paint on pre-stretched canvas?" And through a bulletin board I was introduced to my new love, French Canvas.  French Canvas is a company in New Jersey and I love them. They hand-stretch canvas to order. Every canvas is perfect. Right angles, and tight tight tight. Their pricing is comparable to what you can buy ready made at the art store. There is a shipping fee but with a minimum purchase they offer free shipping.  I can proudly say that all of my works are painted on high-quality hand stretched canvas. 

French Canvas is way hotter than any artsy boy with a nose ring. (Sorry boys.)

And what say you? Is painting on store-bought a canvas a no-no? Will you think less of me in the morning knowing that I didn't get my hands dirty in the construction of my surface?

Painting with Kids: My Miser

These are not preschool craft-related posts. This is for artists who have children at home, yet dare to make art.

My Acryl a Miser Palette in action!

If you are in the studio at 5:30 and have one or one and half hours to work before the world wakes up, you can't waste time. You need to just get to it.

Keep it easy.  Find a way to keep your materials ready to go. I use acrylic paint and would frequently be interrupted and return to a palette of sticky or dry paint.  I like to use a lot of paint but with the baby breaks I started to worry about putting out too much paint (wasteful) or not putting out enough paint (inhibiting).

I tried different palettes to resolve this and found the wonderful Acryl A Miser. Just plop your unused paint in and seal it up. Snap off the cover and your paints are as lovely and mushy as the day they were born. Put a damp little sponge in one of the wells before you seal it up.  Easy peasy.

The outside of the package offers a bunch of excited promises each with its own exclamation point. Too many interjections for my taste but after using this palette for months, I agree with their claims:

Waste less paint!

Save color blends up to 2 weeks!

Never needs washing paint peels off!

What timesavers get you in the studio lickety split?

Painting with Kids: How do you find the time? (Part 2)

These are not preschool craft-related posts. This is for those who have children yet dare to make art. 

Amantha Tsaros, Rhodies Gone Wild, 16x12", ©2011

Let’s talk about grabbing a few, fat hours of studio time.

Get up EARLY. I get into the studio at 5:00 a few times a week. Oh, you’re tired? Tired of not painting or weaving or carving? If you have cared for an infant you have proven you can function with less sleep than you would prefer. Working regularly is energizing.  Just do it for a few days a week.

You will look like a basset hound but honestly, we aren’t getting any younger so who cares? I’d rather feel hot with a rocking body of work than be hot with a rocking body.

Yes, I am dog tired at the end of day. Then it’s easy to fall asleep early and get up early.

What are your tips for finding work time? How do you manage to get into the studio?

Painting with Kids: How do you find the time? (Part 1)

These are not preschool craft-related posts. This is for those who have children yet dare to make art. 

Amantha Tsaros Summer Party 12x16" 2011

I wish I had more time to be creative. I wish I had more time to paint. How do you find the time? Oh, baby, the time is there. You just have to grab it. Ready?


I had a lot more time left once I quit bellyachin'. Whining time can be better spent painting. Get time to yourself.

You do know that it is okay to have a messy kitchen and unmade beds? Actually, the kids can make their own beds. It won’t look good, it will be all lopsided and “wrong”, but that won’t matter because you don’t have to do it. You’ve got art to make.

Hire a sitter. A young one who will play with the kids while you work.

Swap with a friend. Mark off a healthy four hour block and drop your kids off at the friend’s house. Return the favor the following week. Paint your stupid brains out. Eat a handful of peanuts as you rush out with paint in your hair to pick up the kids. Then order a pizza for dinner. I am not joking.

Online grocery shopping. For $10 get your groceries delivered. Don’t use your precious alone time in the grocery store.

Field Trip! Take your kids to the museum or gallery. Share your interest with them. They will learn to appreciate what you do. My favorite museum near us is the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park.  I discovered that my daughter loves sculpture – who knew? I sure didn’t. She had not known until she saw it. Amazing. The kids benefit and you get to do your art "homework".

Tiny easels. Get the kids a ton of paper and paint. Paint with them. Not necessarily in your studio but in their playspace. Use this time as an opportunity to work out sketches or color problems. This week I experimented with oil pastels and watercolors to try out new color combinations. It was relaxing, I got new ideas, did some preliminary studies, and spent time with my children. They never suspected that I was working. I felt I was getting away with many things at once.


Snag every piece of spare time and do not expect to have a luxurious range of hours to work with. But the time you grab will be a treasure. The precious snippets of  time will add up as you are able to build up more and more time and more excitement about getting into the studio.

Part two continues with my number one way to get time to work. It is a good one!

This baby has a name.

Oh, good Lord in Heaven. You have no idea how much I want to create a painting that I can title "Ennui of Branding" or "Baby Stemmy". There is a crazy amount of cleverness here. It was very, very difficult to choose a name because I knew that I could potentially be publicly flogged on Facebook or Twitter.

In the end I had to leave it to the flower to decide. She chose "Carolina". This is in keeping with a new plan I have for the titling of my small flower paintings. You'll have to stay tuned to see what I name them next.

Amantha Tsaros, Carolina, Acrylic on Panel, 7x5",  ©2011

Teachable Moments

Amantha Tsaros, The Moon's Place, Acrylic on Canvas, 16x12" ©2010

The amazing Marshall Arisman used to tell us, "Inspiration never visits an empty studio." 

It is true, she only ever comes knocking when I am already at work. 

I have to start painting first, then Inspiration will pop in. 

I love her even though she is always fashionably late and fickle. 

Painting with Kids: Quit Yer Bellyachin'

The time spent whining can be better used painting. Or weaving or whatever you do when you are not fetching sippy cups.

I was foolish enough to whine that I did not have enough time to do all the work I needed to do in order to apply for an exhibit.

(But nobody is watching and keeping score of my accomplishments. If I don’t apply it's okay, someone else will and she'll get the show and I'll get a full-color card. I can stay home, watch Bravo TV and eat cereal.)

My friend said, “Just do it.” I thought, “Right. YOU don’t have kids.” And then I realized.

A lot of people have kids.
And a career of their choice.
They just do it. They get up and go to work.
They just do it. Hey, as my  mom would say, “It is a lot of work and I am not dancing in the street over it.”

But they do it.

It was time to do it.

Amantha Tsaros, Moonrise Rose, Acrylic on Canvas, 2011

Title This Bad Boy

I spend too much time sweating out what to title some paintings. In a dark Facebook-inspired frenzy I  toyed with the idea of using profanity for each piece. That was just the frustration talking - I was fresh out of fun. I want the fun back.

What is more fun that a fight-to-the-death contest?

Let's have a contest.

I will post a painting here. And the winner of the title contest will win a set of 5 floral notecards of my paintings. You will get a combination of Red & White, Lightness, and Evening Flower.

Please post in the comments section below the untitled painting. Titling will end at midnight on June 29th. Feel free to share with your clever friends.

Amantha Tsaros, UNTITLED, Acrylic on Panel, 7x5", ©2011

Teachable Moments

My favorite exchanges and quotes from Art School. In the real world very few people will offer real criticism. Or even crazy criticism. It is a shame. I miss constructive crits like this - 

This beauty was taken from a class crit of large monotypes.


Teacher/Artist: "This is a beautiful passage right here.....but this....this is a bad drawing of a bus."

Student: "X, that is a newsstand."

Teacher/Artist: "My point exactly."

Painting with Kids

These are not preschool craft-related posts. This is for those who have children yet dare to make art.

Amantha Tsaros,  Pink Under The Sky, Acrylic on Canvas 6x6" 2011

I got back into the art biz out of pure envy. 

It ate me up how my toddler could just paint with abandon and joy.

I wanted to do that.

So, I did. 

I took up painting which I had thought would be useless – hadn’t it all been done and what would I have to contribute anyway? Now my answer to that is “What? I dunno - who cares? Where is that tube of crazy green paint?”

Now, I paint with abandon and don’t worry.
It is just paint.

I paint to cover 20 years of blank canvases behind me and to cover the miles of uncovered surface ahead. I paint and show my children that Mommy has a life, kiddo. And you can have one, too.

What brought you back?

Killing Cacti

Amantha Tsaros, Twin,  ©2011

The only time I have a green thumb is when there is paint on it. Maybe my interest in painting flowers is some kind of inspiration through ineptitude.

When I went away to college, I bought a little cactus thinking that I certainly could not kill that little thing. I put it on my sad windowsill and watered it and enjoyed it's round red face. One afternoon I took a close look at my spiky friend. When I picked up the pot it's tiny body flopped right over the side. It fainted! It had seemed so healthy a second ago. It's skin and needles seemed fine but inside it had died. I killed its spirit.

This is the pattern of my gardening.

A few years ago my mom gave me a plant and swore I would not be able to destroy it. It was one of those rubbery succulent plants. Very pretty with interesting shapes and a sweet green fuzz. How sweet! As usual, I heard, "You don't have to water it!" I took my plant home and placed it on a table. I happily regarded my mom's gift from across the room and hoped it would survive. Soon it occurred to me that truly this really was the hardiest plant ever. I called Mom.

"Mom? That plant you gave me? It's plastic isn't it?"

Do you need plastic plants?

Growth at the DeCordova

One of my recent landscape paintings has been accepted into the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum School's Juried Exhibit "Growth". The show runs from May 28 to June 19, 2011. My painting, "Spring to Come" is exhibited next to a wonderful and colorful floral abstraction by Julie Laukkanen.

Amantha Tsaros, Spring to Come, 12x16", ©2011

Open Wide and Say "AHT"

Oh, I love living in the Boston area. The accent is fabulous.

This past weekend the accent was on art - or rather, "Aht". There were huge numbers of visitors to this years Lexington Open Studios and I was pleased to meet so many new neighbors and art lovers. It was also extra exciting to meet some local artists that I have admired.

I am a huge fan of the bright and exuberant abstract work of Julie Laukkanen.
B. Glee Lucas bowls me over with her glass reflections and fabulous color in her paintings.
Elizabeth Carter creates inviting and soothing worlds in her sculptures, assemblages and monotypes.

Visit them all.

I Painted - It Rained

Luckily the rain held out until 1:00 pm for todays Revelry event. There were four artists standing after various illnesses and threats of rain. We spread out along the bike path in Lexington MA and painted the views, spoke with tourists and residents and enjoyed what little sun we got. It was a blast!

Prior to departing the house, I was informed that I looked like I was dressed to scrub toilets so I had a quick costume change. Looking back on my final get-up "costume" is the right word. Can you spot the artist in the photo below?

We'll Be Paintin' the Town Green

I am joining four other Lexington artists in painting en plein air along the bike path in Lexington Center. We will be covering the path from Cary Hall to the Battlegreen. This is part of the month long festival of arts ,culture and recreation called Revolutionary Revelry.


When: Saturday, May 7 from 10:00-2:00
Where: Along the bike path from Hancock to Woburn St, Lexington Center, MA (Amantha Tsaros will be along the bike path behind the Visitor's Center.)


Saturday, May 7th from 10 - 2.  Please stop by and say hi.  If you are interested in all activities throughout May, be sure to visit their site. 


Paintings completed during this event will be for sale at the Capstone picnic at the Vistors Center Lawn on May 30th. Please stop by to say "Hello"!  

Amantha Tsaros, May Party, Acrylic on Canvas, 16x12" © 2011

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Let's Connect!

This year has already been full of art and events. Don't miss out.

Now you can find my work and stay informed of new events on my new
Facebook Paintings page

Join my invitation list here.

Or find me on Twitter, too.

Let's stay connected!

Amantha Tsaros, Red Blossom, Acrylic on Canvas, 12x9" © 2011

Sunnyside Up!

I painted a rose that makes me think of breakfast.

Amantha Tsaros, Sunnyside Up, Acrylic on Canvas, 9x12". © 2011

New, Small and Printed at Open Studios

Stop by the small gallery at the Munroe Center for the Arts at 1403 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA on May 21-22 from 11:00-5:00 to see what's new from my studio. I'll be there with new paintings and  a limited number of printed greeting cards, small works on paper and some itty bitty paintings on canvas.

Amantha Tsaros, Lightness, Acrylic on Canvas, ©2011

Three for the Road

Amantha Tsaros, Yellow Rose with Halo; Two Red Daisies; Evening Flower acrylic on panel, © 2011

 

Three of my paintings are on their way to Flagstaff, Arizona. They have been selected to appear in The Artists' Gallery's upcoming "Small Wonders" Juried Exhibit for the entire month of May, 2011.

Stunning Jewelry - Designs by Irit

Turquoise, sea glass, copper, ...earthy and beautiful designs for your body and soul. Irit Hamami designs stunning jewelry for everyone. Her works range from a bold, turquoise show-stopper to a delicate and clever combination of various bead styles and colors in her necklace "Hippie".

 

Turq, Turquoise and silver,  by Irit Hamami

In creating Turq, she knew what she was going to make right away when she got the turquoise beads. She could see how it should be and made it "right on the spot", as she said.

Irit likes detail and will do sketches of her pieces in advance. In her piece, Hippie, she did a sketch and considered which materials would work together to create a "young, cool and happy" necklace.  

Hippie, Knotted Mixed Media, by Irit Hamami

  

She has felt good working with precious stones and pearls since she the beginning. She feels that many stones, like chakras, have a certain warmth and beauty that attracted her. Today Irit also works with crystals and loves the feeling she has when she finishes a piece. Even though it was difficult to let go of her works at first.

Irit Hamamai has been selling her jewelry at open studios and craft fairs. She started with an open studio at home, where her formal dining room and living room became her show room. She has since been presenting her work at Lexington Open Studios and other craft fairs. Be sure to look for her at the Munroe Center for the Arts at this year’s Lexington Open Studios. Her one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry are worth a special trip.

Irit has just launched her new website http://www.designsbyirit.com/ Be sure to look for her at the Munroe Center for Arts from May 21-22, 2011 during Lexington Open Studios or visit her online shop.

Lexington Open Studios
Saturday and Sunday May 21 and 22
11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Munroe Center for the Arts
1403 Mass. Ave.
Lexington, MA

Gillian Ross' Magical Monotypes

Gillian Ross creates lovely, moody monotypes layered with color and texture. There is magic in her work where abstract and representational forms overlap. Her painterly approach and love of pattern and natural forms creates strong images linked to nature that have a beautiful mystery to them. I am so enthusiastic about the texture and the way she manipulates the ink. Stop in during Open Studios to see her work - it is even nicer in person.

Visit her during Lexington Open Studios at the Munroe Center for the Arts, 1403 Mass. Ave., Lexington on May 21-22 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Winter Promise I ©Gillian Ross

http://www.gillian-ross.com/

My Big Mouth

So, I decided it would be a total blast to spend time talking about the artists who I'll be showing with at the Munroe Center for the Arts during Lexington Open Studios 2011. So exciting. I figure it is good to give everyone more reasons to stop by  - more than just me, me!, ME!

I've got some groovy jewellers, printmakers, painters and even a sculptor to see on May 21 to 22. There will be information and pretty pictures of their work on here as the days go by.

I'll do anything to lure you to Lexington.

Amantha Tsaros, The Last Peony, Acrylic on Canvas, ©2010

If you can't stand to keep checking back here to see what is happening, just subscribe to my newsletter. I'll send you invitations to new shows and events.

Getting ready to say "AH"

Lexington Open Studios - Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22.

Open Up! Open Up! Lexington Open Studios is only two months away. I am already in full swing pulling together paintings on canvas, panel and paper. Frames! Hooks! Bubble Wrap! are not far away. This is my first Open Studios and I am so looking forward to greeting visitors at the community space where I will be showing. There are going to be a lot of new artists to meet and cards to hand out.

Save the Date and Stay Tuned.



What Inspires You?

Amantha Tsaros, Red & White, Acrylic on Canvas ©2011

"Where do you find your inspiration?"

"Oh, so you paint when you are inspired?"

I don't find inspiration - it finds me. When do I paint? I paint when, as often and as long I can. Inspiration comes second. I have heard that Picasso had said, "Inspiration does exist, but she must find you working." A thousand percent true. I don't paint because I am inspired. I paint because I have to - I can't stop. I am inspired when I paint. I tried to not paint for years - and was unsuccessful. I must paint - I am compelled to do so.

What provokes you to pick up a brush?

The Cure for Masterpiece Syndrome

I was once warned to not get caught in Masterpiece Syndrome. This is getting stuck on one piece of art, working and reworking it until you can’t even see it anymore and it grows stiff and lifeless. The only cure is to beat that Syndrome back with energy, verve and life. And if you don’t really feel like you have any vitality left in you don’t worry, a workshop with Ellen Rolli will get you back on track.

I was very lucky to find Ellen Rolli and take part one of her one-day workshops this past November. All she asks of you is to bring many canvases, big brushes, lots of paint. I spent a wonderful day in her bright studio painting with energy and joy. I did five paintings and two of them are much better than other pieces that I worked on for weeks. I am thrilled and excited about painting for the first time in a long time. Ellen reminded me of why I took up painting in the first place.

I cannot wait to get back to my studio and paint every day. It is the best part of my day, no - week. I feel passion for the moving the paint around for getting the light right while tossing blobs of color at other blobs of color. And all of it is accomplished with an eye on making the picture look right.

I have such appreciation for Ellen’s workshop, her teaching and her work. Visit her website and better yet, sign up for a workshop.

Amantha Tsaros, Untitled, Acrylic on Panel, 6x8". © 2010

This painting was one of five pieces completed in Ellen Rolli's workshop.