HERE A TOTE, THERE A TOTE, EVERYWHERE A TOTE ... I WISH!

I'm pleased to be able to show you my new Tote Bags produced through Fine Art America.  They've produced prints for me for a while but not too long ago they added Tote Bags to their product line.  I finally had the time to sit down and decide what pieces I thought might be fun as Tote Bags.  The Bags are available in three sizes and the turn-around-time is fairly quick.  If you click the link below it will take you to the main page.  You can then click on whichever photos you like and it will show you what is available in that Design.  

Http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/charleen-martin.html

In the meantime here are a few of the Designs I chose ...

THE BLUES SISTERS: MONDAY MORNING CHAT

  

ARE WE IN ... OR ARE WE OUT?

TWO SISTERS: THE ADVICE II

 and as a throw pillow . . .

SOMETIMES WE JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

 and as a pillow . . .

THE BACKSIDE OF LIFE

RUSSELL CROWE . . . WHERE ARE YOU?

(Russell Crowe once said he liked to sit and talk to his cows :)

There are a few more Designs besides these but this will at least give you an idea. 

"Fashion is what you're offered four times a year by designers.
                                             And style is what you choose." 
                                                                   ~  Lauren Hutton

Charleen

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 I HOPE YOUR DAY IS FILLED WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, 

AND WONDERFUL NEW MEMORIES. 

HAPPY  THANKSGIVING!

MANY HUGS ... 

CHARLEEN

ON THE ROCKS PLEASE ...

If you read my last blog then you know we made a recent trip to Las Vegas.  I posted some of the photos I took while there. (Scroll down to last blog)  Last visit it was into the heart of Las Vegas.   This time we go outside the city.  This area is called Red Rock Canyon which is just outside of Las Vegas. To all my Artist friends, Please feel free to use any (or all) as reference photos if you would like.  If you are familar with Carol Nelson's work then you would know why this area reminds me so much of her geological Art pieces.  :)  If you aren't, just click on her name and it will take you to her website.  It's a visual treat!

I don't know about you, but the 'stripes' in the rocks just amaze me.  That was some amazing Paintbrush!  :)

I have one more set of photos that I will share with you next time.  Again, there might be some good reference photos in there for those interested.

And then ... there is my version ...

RED ROCK CANYON

12 x 12" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

I just took a small section of one of the photos I took and enlarged it.  I think if I were to do this again I would take an even smaller section and play up the individual rocks more.  

Considering the climate of our Politics right now, I thought this quote quite apropos ...

IT IS MUCH EASIER TO THROW ROCKS THAN IT IS TO GOVERN.

~ Karen Bass

See you soon!

Charleen

COLD, THEN WARM, THEN BRRRR!

I've been gone for the last couple of weeks so I didn't get a lot of Artwork done.  (Some, but not a lot)  We belong to one of many RV Camping Associations with Campgrounds all over the United States. Well, almost all over.  This particular company of course, has none in Idaho (where we live)  :(  or Montana (right next door  to where we live) but, just about everywhere else.  They do have one in Las Vegas, and while that might not have been our first choice when we made our decision to get away, it was the closest (not close ... but closest) one to us where it was WARM.  It was a long drive for such a short time (8 days) but it was worth it.   The weather was a little cooler down there (of course!) than they normally have at this time of year but it was a lot warmer than it was up here so it was still good.  (We are down to single digits at night ...)

I thought I would share a few photos with you.  No ... I don't want to bore you with our vacation photos but thought you might enjoy 'some color'.  :)  And, with my Artist friends out there, you NEVER know what  might inspire the next Masterpiece!

Places to stay?  This is only a smidgen.  And yes, that is a Motel 6 smack dab in the middle!  I couldn't resist, I had to include it. ... this one is all glitzed up (hard to see here) to fit in with the rest of the Neighborhood!

Entertainment?  Who do you want to see?  Again, just a small sampling.  I think EVERYONE  that sings or dances or does magic or makes jokes for a living  ... have all got to be down there at the same time!  If I lived there I'd never go to a show.  I'd be spending all my time trying to make a decision as to which Show I should go see!

The Hotel/Casino New York, New York has numerous variations on the Statue of Liberty.  A beautiful replica outside, but inside, amongst other versions,  you can see her in Pink in a Ladies Clothing shop or made of Jelly Belly's (left) in a Candy Store.  

Since I'm originally from New York this obviously is my favorite.  :)  I even got to have a real New York Pretzel.  (Sorry, they are just not the same out west.)  When I was young, and we lived in a third floor apartment in the city, I used to be able to go out and sit on the fire escape.  Inside New York, New York they have 'streeets' lined with Restaurants and and Deli's and above them are (fake) apartments complete with fire escapes.  I looked past the glitz and savored the memories.  :)

Like heights?  The Stratosphere on the left is over 1000' high with several heart stopping rides and jumps.  One, you literally just hang over the edge.  And before you ask, the answer is an emphatic NO!!

The Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel/Casino is an exact replica of the real one but is just a mere 541'  :)  The night after I took this photo it went dark, and stayed dark for the rest of the time we were there.  At the same time, the Stratosphere changed its lights to Blue, White and Red in a tribute to France, as did several other large structures in the city.  

Art in Las Vegas?  Some of it is rather subjective I'd say.  The big guy (about 2 stories high) on the top left shoots fire out of his mouth at night...  Not quite sure what I was was looking at on the bottom but the bus is a great color!  

And, while you're taking a break you can have Pizza delivered via bike delivery from Pizza Rock.  :)  They are the World Cup Pizza Champions.  Didn't know there was a World Cup of Pizzas.  See, you learn something new everyday.  :)

Since I still have some touch up work to do on the couple of paintings I managed to get done on our trip, I decided this time I would just post two Collages from my Sisters series that are available as prints.  

'TWO SISTERS:  THE GIFTS'

'PRINCESS OF THE MOMENT'

For more information on either of these pieces Please click on the titles.

As you grow older you learn a few things.  One of them is to actually take the time you've allotted for vacation.

~  John Battelle

Thanks for vacationing with me!

Charleen

FROM THE IDAHO STUDIO of CHARLEEN MARTIN

CABIN BY THE LAKE   ~  SOLD

5 x 7" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

This panel is not nearly as textured as the last 2 pieces I showed here  (Dear October, I love how you dress ... and  Winter at Broken Limb Falls) but definitely has enough to add interest to the Painting.   

We recently went for a drive so I could take some reference photos of the Tamaracks changing colors.  I had never heard of a Tamarack until I moved West (They are also called Western Larch).  A Tamarck is a 'deciduous Conifer'.  Very confusing to a lot of People.  Deciduous and Conifer are mutually exclusive ... except when it comes to the Tamarack.  It looks like an Evergreen.  It has needles like an Evergreen.  It has cones like an Evergreen.   But, unlike other Evergreens, its needles change color (from green to gold) and then drop off only to come back the following Spring.  

I took the above photo because it seemed like such a paradox to me. Out enjoying the beautiful Fall colors on all the trees around us and then right ahead of us ... that beauty cut and loaded onto a truck. It didn't seem quite right.  Yes, I know we need the jobs, etc. etc. I am probably a little more sensitive to all this at the moment because they are 'clear-cutting' on one of the mountains up behind us.  (They just came up over the ridge this past week and we can already see a big bare spot from our home)   I didn't think that was allowed anymore but that just shows you what I know! :(  

Below are Tamarcks that have already changed color and started losing their 'needles.  

Almost spooky looking aren't they?! 

Hope your November is going well!

 Charleen

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

~  Carl Rogers