Original Art by Denise Marie Saylor News

I won "June Artist of the Month"!

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:20:32 CDT

I was very honored to win Jerry's Artarama's "Artist of the Month" contest for June, 2011. I submitted a series of paintings probably....a year ago? I completely forgot about it! So I'm on Facebook last week and I see their post for June's contest and I didn't think much of it. The front page of the link showed five artists that were in the running along with their names. I went ahead and clicked on the link and damn if I wasn't there as #7! What a surprise to see that!! http://apps.facebook.com/fanappz/poll/vote?id=28407

Anyway I was really honored and I felt that I was among some really great artists. I mean, art is subjective right? So seriously it's almost apples to oranges. I think art competitions really aren't "fair". BUT I will admit I have a competitive streak so immediately I wanted to win! I just couldn't help it. It would be a feather in my cap to have those bragging rights. And their FB followers are over 50,000 strong so it could only be positive :)

I went ahead and sent the voting link to my "website distribution list". I have at least tried to be smart there over the years and keep track of everyone I've worked for or even potentially worked for over. The result is a pretty nice database that I can send the occasional email to when I want to show off a latest kitchen, or in this case, get people to vote for me! :)

What REALLY surprised me during all of this and was completely unexpected, however, was the enormous outpouring of support. I would open up my home page daily during the voting week and see post after post of people getting the word out, sharing the link. I mean, not just the expected family and friends, but people I don't talk to that much, or people that only friended me that week on the suggestion of someone else. It was pretty overwhelming. The happy result of all the crazy support was winning! :) http://www.jerrysartarama.com/blog/post/2011/06/01/June-Artist-of-the-Month-Denise-Saylor.aspx

What I got out of it was of course, bragging rights and a $65.00 gift card to shop on their website which is not too shabby! It gave me a boost of confidence to get back and start painting again. I have been SO caught up in painting kitchen cabinets that I haven't picked up an artist's brush for probably six months. I miss it. But the money and the making a living part of the cabinet painting is impossible to turn down. And personally I have a hard time switching my brain back and forth. When I'm painting on canvas, I need to be "in it". I'm sure plenty of people don't work that way but I do! So the little bit of self doubt that creeps in when I take this much time off has had a necessary kick in the ass from the simple and genuine communications from all of these people supporting me. "You deserve it!" "you're amazing!" It sounds egotistical but really I simply felt humbled and appreciative. I wanted to win for the sake of winning, but the outcome was that I had an eye opening experience. Maybe I am good at this, maybe I need to take it more seriously. It made me feel really good to hear the positive feedback, not gonna lie ;)

Buddha Painting is Complete!

Tue, 25 May 2010 11:42:21 CDT

Is it weird that every time I finish a painting, I think "wow, this is my favorite so far!" LOL! Because that seems to be the case! My Buddha Statue in the Rainforest painting is no different for me :) I love it so much and the original is so vivid and you can see all the little details like tiny butterflies here and there.

Since I was asked to submit paintings that were inspired by Disney classics, this Buddha painting is my nod to "Jungle Book". There is a scene in the movie where they are messing around in the ruins. If you look beyond the scene, there is a large Buddha head in the distance on a hill. This painting represents to me what's going on up there behind the scenes!

I think I'm moving on to poppies now. I've been told that the art world is saturated by poppy paintings but I still feel the need to throw in my spin :) Overhead, intense close up view of a little patch of land which includes other little flowers, fat fuzzy bees and a little mystery ;)

Cobblestone Street in Europe Painting is Complete!

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:04:37 CDT

Today I finished my first painting that was directly inspired by my newest "assignment", to submit paintings to the Walt Disney Signature Collection from classic Disney movies. This first one was inspired by Pinocchio. I had great photo reference from a trip that we took to Prague a few years back. Actually my husband lived there for 5 months shooting a movie, but I visited him for a week. The street is so charming and could have totally been taken in Italy. The only thing I changed was the wording for the hotel, which was originally in Czech. After consulting an Italian friend, I felt confident in changing it! Everything else was as-is. What I added to the painting to "Where's Waldo" it up for the specific movie was my black and white cat sitting on the step and the little goldfish bowl in the window! A direct reference to Figuero and Cleo!

Anyway, I'm thrilled with the results. I think Jungle Book is next! I have some photos from Cancun with ruins so I think that will work great!

Invited to Submit Paintings to Disney Today!

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:25:30 CDT

Wow, I love networking! I was asked today to submit paintings for Disney's Signature Collection. These are paintings that are interpreted by the artist from classic Disney movies. I have a list of approved Disney masterpieces to choose from. Then I can paint anything that I'd like as long as it relates to the specific scene. Then it's submitted by the representative for Disney's authorization and if it's accepted, it's marketed all over the world! The scene that inspired my creation will be detailed on the back of the print. What an honor! Not sure how it will all turn out but I'm super excited for the opportunity!

I will definitely be updated this new adventure as it all pans out :)

Koi Pond Painting is Complete!

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:43:28 CDT

I have to say that this might be my favorite painting so far! I was really happy with the process that was involved with this one. I feel like I've proved to myself that I can paint the technical and the detailed stuff. I know that I can paint, I mean, I've been muraling for many years. But what I've learned from that is where to cut back, what to make important and what to to maybe make a bit less important. Only because clients have a budget and I can't just move in for weeks to make it the way I would if left to my own devices!

When painting my own ideas, it takes as long as it's going to take. The goal is just to have the end result make me happy! So by "proving" to myself that I could do the Caprese Lunch painting and the Hot Air Balloons painting in a way that made me happy, even though they were technically difficult (for me anyway!) I felt strongly that my next painting had to be a little more free. The result of that conscious decision is the Koi Pond painting. I decided on a bird's eye view of a dark pond, lit by moonlight. It was really fun doing the research. When you paint the way I do, research is huge! I always learn so much about whatever subject I take on. You look at lily pads and Koi fish like you've never looked before! So it was fun taking the different elements that I wanted in the painting, researching photos and making it all come together in a way that made me smile.

I think the creative freedom that I took really worked! I've had more positive feedback on this painting than any so far, and it really makes me happy to look at it as well :)

On to the next!