The address is easy to remember it is simply http://www.amanthatsaros.com/blog.html
Do come over for a visit.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Friday, December 13, 2013
Knit 2 Hats For Your Fears
In 1968, women didn't usually have babies at her age. 45! Who had a baby at 45?
She wasn't worried about it. She already had five children and well, what is one more? But her "friends" started in with THEIR worries and anxieties. They tried to convince to not do this crazy thing.
"What if there is something wrong with the baby?"
"Like what?", she challenged.
"What if she is born with two heads?!" they cried in panic.
"I'll knit her two hats." She answered in that super-smug, I-don't-give-a-damn-what-you-think way she had.
And you know, it turns out I did only need one hat. A kinda big one, but just one.
Now I'm 45 and I am not having another baby (I am just not that tough - sorry Mom.) but I have my own internal chorus of sweaty, panic-stricken fear-leaders trying to ruin my fun at every turn.
I'm taking Mom's approach.
I'll take what comes my way and adapt.
I don't knit as fast but I can whip something up with a little felt and glue
Rejection? How about a snazzy beret?
Criticism? Slap a baseball cap on that one.
Everything can be managed. I firmly believe that it all works out fabulously in the end.
So there is no reason to NOT work damn hard and ignore the naysayers.
She wasn't worried about it. She already had five children and well, what is one more? But her "friends" started in with THEIR worries and anxieties. They tried to convince to not do this crazy thing.
"What if there is something wrong with the baby?"
"Like what?", she challenged.
"What if she is born with two heads?!" they cried in panic.
"I'll knit her two hats." She answered in that super-smug, I-don't-give-a-damn-what-you-think way she had.
And you know, it turns out I did only need one hat. A kinda big one, but just one.
Now I'm 45 and I am not having another baby (I am just not that tough - sorry Mom.) but I have my own internal chorus of sweaty, panic-stricken fear-leaders trying to ruin my fun at every turn.
I'm taking Mom's approach.
I'll take what comes my way and adapt.
I don't knit as fast but I can whip something up with a little felt and glue
Rejection? How about a snazzy beret?
Criticism? Slap a baseball cap on that one.
Everything can be managed. I firmly believe that it all works out fabulously in the end.
So there is no reason to NOT work damn hard and ignore the naysayers.
 |
| Look, ONE head. At the exclusive M Street Beach, South Boston, MA |
Monday, December 2, 2013
The One Little Book Your Artists Will Love
A Pain-free Gift Giving Tip!
Make an impression - your Artists and Art Teachers will rave about your mad gift-giving skills.
Next year, we'll get them:
Happy Shopping!
Make an impression - your Artists and Art Teachers will rave about your mad gift-giving skills.
I ran into my daughter's art teacher recently. "HEY! I remember YOU! YOU'RE the one that gave me Steal Like An Artist! I LOVE that book. I am giving it to all of my artist friends. Thank you so much!"
I gave it to her last Christmas.
A full year later she is still loving it. No kidding. (You will not get the same response to a mug of chocolate kisses.)
I gave it to her last Christmas.
A full year later she is still loving it. No kidding. (You will not get the same response to a mug of chocolate kisses.)
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
by Austin Kleon is a beautifully designed 6"x6" book of creative inspiration for all artists and writers and is perfect for when you need to shake up their creative routine.
Get a copy on amazon and be a hero!
by Austin Kleon is a beautifully designed 6"x6" book of creative inspiration for all artists and writers and is perfect for when you need to shake up their creative routine.Get a copy on amazon and be a hero!
Next year, we'll get them:
Happy Shopping!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Do this when you are thrown.
So many times I get - BOOF! BAP! - BOFFO! - SPLURG! - knocked off course; knocked off my horse and sit startled in a puddle of mud.
blink.
blink.
blink.
(Not even sure where my left shoe went.)
In those moments I tell myself:
So grateful am I to you, loyal subjects, that I am giving you this bit of encouragement on a piece of my art.
Share it.
Just make sure you get back on that horse!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Which lasts longer: 7 Lipsticks or ONE piece of Art?
$100.
The quandry = 7 1/2 lipsticks or ONE fabulous little piece of art?
I love lipstick more than the average bear but really, those things are only going to languish at the bottom of my bag. I have a big mouth and I cannot use up seven and a half lipsticks. Can't. But luscious art lasts a long time.
Right now, I am engaged in a fabulous hunt for artists selling a portion of their work at very affordable prices - more than affordable prices. Yes, you can find A LOT of cheap and not-so-good art online - but I am talking about good, quality work at surprisingly affordable prices. I am collecting my favorites on a pinboard called "Good Art for Under $100."
The quandry = 7 1/2 lipsticks or ONE fabulous little piece of art?
I love lipstick more than the average bear but really, those things are only going to languish at the bottom of my bag. I have a big mouth and I cannot use up seven and a half lipsticks. Can't. But luscious art lasts a long time.
Right now, I am engaged in a fabulous hunt for artists selling a portion of their work at very affordable prices - more than affordable prices. Yes, you can find A LOT of cheap and not-so-good art online - but I am talking about good, quality work at surprisingly affordable prices. I am collecting my favorites on a pinboard called "Good Art for Under $100."
How can artists afford to sell their original art for such a teeny, tiny amount of money? Really - $100 for original art = practically free.
The low price is due to a number of factors:
size - It is tiny! Not bad. Just small. You really need to READ the description of the art. Tiny art is awesome - just make sure you understand the size.
medium - What it is made with. Prints (such as etchings, woodblock prints and those guys), drawings and other works on paper will be less than a fancy oil painting.
 |
| Suspenne, 8"x10", Acrylic Monotype, Amantha Tsaros, 2012. ($95) |
experience - Artists who are just starting out - but who make great art will charge a little less than other artists especially if that artist is already represented by a gallery.
I will post some marvelous finds here on my blog, but you can check out my newest finds on my Pinterest board, "Good Art Under $100".Please have a look at my Pinterest board or suggest some artists in the comments section!
Now then, Good Art Under $300 is coming up. Because paintings and other works NOT on paper are not - or should not - be $100 or less.
Now then, Good Art Under $300 is coming up. Because paintings and other works NOT on paper are not - or should not - be $100 or less.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
How To Squeeze 8 Paintings onto a Business Card with an Accordion
Mama's Got a Squeeze-what?!
No - Mama's gotta cram as much art as possible onto a business card.
How can you get a lot of art on 2.5" x 4.25"?
Turn to Ye Olde Accordion Book.
A simple old-fashioned idea. An accordion book is created by simply folding a small piece of paper like a fan. Here is mine:
It boasts eight paintings, and my contact info all over it.
There are easier ways to make this but I'll share my low-tech technique.
Excellent for artists with lame Photoshop "skills" and short on time.
1. Create a Publisher document in landscape format. Add guides to divide the page in half horizontally and vertically. Add guides 1/4 of the way across so that each 8 1/2 x 11 page (double sided) would make two accordion books when printed in landscape format.
2. Slap an image in each panel - line those bad boys up real nice, like.
3. Put your contact information on the front and extend it along the front as well.
4. Make color copies on double sided glossy paper and then
cut them in half horizontally.
5. Be forced to watch cartoons with a five-year old while you fold the copies into
little accordions.
6. Shriek when you realize that the margins at the short ends are too wide.
7. Trim the ends a tiny bit with a $20 paper trimmer from the craft store.
8. Choose one:
- Wine and chocolate
-Scotch and soda
-Bubble bath and pedicure
If you allow yourself enough time, you may be able to create them by ordering accordion fold brochures and have them cut in half.
How do you maximize the space on your business cards? Do you make accordion cards?
I would love to see them!
No - Mama's gotta cram as much art as possible onto a business card.
Big Cards?
Square Cards?
Folded Tent Cards?
How can you get a lot of art on 2.5" x 4.25"?
Turn to Ye Olde Accordion Book.
A simple old-fashioned idea. An accordion book is created by simply folding a small piece of paper like a fan. Here is mine:
 |
| 4.25" x 2.5" Accordion Book of Monotypes by Amantha Tsaros |
It boasts eight paintings, and my contact info all over it.
There are easier ways to make this but I'll share my low-tech technique.
Excellent for artists with lame Photoshop "skills" and short on time.
How to make an accordion book using Publisher.
1. Create a Publisher document in landscape format. Add guides to divide the page in half horizontally and vertically. Add guides 1/4 of the way across so that each 8 1/2 x 11 page (double sided) would make two accordion books when printed in landscape format.
2. Slap an image in each panel - line those bad boys up real nice, like.
 |
| Page 1 of the 2-sided document |
3. Put your contact information on the front and extend it along the front as well.
4. Make color copies on double sided glossy paper and then
cut them in half horizontally.
 |
| Front and back of the accordion book business cards |
little accordions.
 |
| Fold the accordion book in quarters to fit 8 images |
6. Shriek when you realize that the margins at the short ends are too wide.
7. Trim the ends a tiny bit with a $20 paper trimmer from the craft store.
8. Choose one:
- Wine and chocolate
-Scotch and soda
-Bubble bath and pedicure
If you allow yourself enough time, you may be able to create them by ordering accordion fold brochures and have them cut in half.
How do you maximize the space on your business cards? Do you make accordion cards?
I would love to see them!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Don't Feed Your Inspiration Sugar Pops!
It must be so nice to be an Artist.
You get to just sit around all day painting.
 |
| Big Brush - with NO PAINT on it! |
I’ve been asked if I paint “when Inspiration strikes”. If I waited for Inspiration to strike, I’d spend all my time eating cereal and watching Reality TV. (Project Runway? RuPaul's Drag Race, anyone?)
Ms. Inspiration would just pass by my window and say, “No artist lives here.” and go get her own bowl of Sugar Pops.
You just have to work when you don't feel like it and hope She pops in for a visit.
She usually does.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Art Guys Like
Stereotype Alert!
It is true. The one painting of mine that men relate to the most is the only painting I have ever done of a truck.
 |
| Truck 26, 12x16", Acrylic on Canvas, ©Amantha Tsaros, 2012 |
They really seem to dig it. Isn't that funny?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Roote
Do you suppose people have lost the ability to read a map?
 |
| Roote, 6x6", Monotype, ©Amantha Tsaros 2013 |
Friday, March 15, 2013
Tarre
Are there angels in the desert? No, really. Saints are always going there.
 |
| Tarre, 6x6", Monotype, ©Amantha Tsaros 2013 |
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Arachnode
My mom always told me that spiders were good luck. So do hate to squish them.
 |
| Arachnode, 6x6", Monotype, ©Amantha Tsaros 2013 |
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Myst
It has been interesting to do battle with the red paper I am printing on. It is a lightweight mulberry paper but the color is so dark and strong to begin with.
 |
| Myst, 6x6", Monotype, ©Amantha Tsaros 2013 |
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Mavro
I have been working on monotypes again. I have a new Gelli plate which is 8x8". It makes very squishy edges. Below is a monotype on red paper.
 |
| Mavro, 6x6", Monotype, ©Amantha Tsaros 2013 |
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