About Me

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I've been an artist my whole life and have had so many exciting art related jobs, which makes me kinda of a jack of a bunch of trades. I'm also college grad with a BFA and went to the High School of Performing & Visual Arts here in Houston. Visit my shop at Etsy and I promise you'll most likely receive a Smile to take with you! I decided to mention that about 10 years ago I was on chemo for 2 years. The chemo worked, but left me with other Heath issues, such as a case of Fibro which left me with having to get disability.Sad news, since I had a great career, that I can not work anymore. With my Faith and determination, I am determined to still do my art. My art gives me inspiration and thank you God! Oh, and please follow my blog! I'd love to have yall join me in my show and tells and also would love to hear what yall have to show and tell!:)

Friday, February 26, 2010

COMPUTER CRASH!!!


I'm at Office Depot using their computer that's driving me insane, but it offered the Penguin picture. My computer is in the hospital again.
Looks like my contest will have to go on until Sunday & I should be able to ANNOUNCE THE WINNER!!! So yall have more time to make comments and also announce this contest on your blog, etc.
THANKS FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME!
SEE YALL MONDAY!!!
Linda

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Picking out the Winner of my Contest!


Hi yall,
Well, picking out the winner to my contest is approaching in the next couple of days. Since all of you like the Peanut on Canvas with the eisel, which normally costs 18.00 plus a shipping fee of 3.80, I can not bare those of you that really want that piece, and you not being the winner.
I have a plan...since I only have the one in stock right now, those of you that don't win it, I will make new ones for those of you that would want to buy a similiar piece, but a tad smaller for half the price, including shipping. The total would come out to be 10.00 and 2.00 each of that payment will go to Pet Smart for charity! If yall are interested please let me know before I pick a winner, and even if you are the winner please let me know because you don't know if you are the winner! The canvases that they would be on would be 2 3/4" tall and 2" wide instead of 2 3/4" by 2 3/4". The size of the heart and Cat and Love will be the same size, just on a bit smaller canvas. Also it would not come with an eisel, unless you want an eisel and that would be 4.00 more. I won't be making much of a profit as in all my pieces, but it would be worth it, especially to be able to give some money to an Animal Charity! So let me know if yall are interested!
Hope to hear from you all, whether you would want to purchase one at a very very low cost or not.
This last post about the contest is just one more way to add to your chance of winning, as I will be putting all the comments, including the ones that wrote more than one time, in a pile and have my kitty Kenzie pick out the winner. I'll probably be sprinkling some catnip on the pile as well!!!
Have a purrrrfectly wonderful day!!!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

A Couple of Articles


I just wrote an article called: The Wizard Behind Indiesmiles I would love for yall to go read it and please make a comment, it can be a short comment, but our columnists are having a contest to see how many comments we get! Plus it's fun reading! Here is the link to this article!
http://www.indiesmiles.com/the-wizard-behind-indiesmiles/#respond

Photo: courtesy of http://dnauqram4zil1.Etsy.com
I also just wrote an article for an amazing artist, Becky Brocato called It's Never too Late to Learn. Yall should definately enjoy this one with a background bio of a fabulous realistic watercolorist! She mainly paints with a Texan subject matter since she lives here in Houston! You will see a small slideshow and a link to her shop on Etsy.
Below is one of her pieces! This is the link to the article: http://www.indiesmiles.com/its-never-too-late-to-learn/#respond

I hope yall visit!!!
Happy Saturday to yall!
Linda :)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Announcements and Reminders!

I just wanted to put out the word again about my contest! Please read my instructions carefully. I love that yall want one of my pieces, but in order to win, I need yall to follow the steps to have a chance! I may even have 3 winners if I get enough people to participate!
Yes, I've decided to have a contest and yall can have your choice of one of 3 of my pieces! All you have to do is:
1) Tell me which one you want & why.
2) Post my contest on your blog, facebook and twitter with my shop http://LindaGJ.Etsy.com. & let me know about it, so I can see it.
3)Tell me what item you like best in my shop and leave me a comment about why!
I will pick out your name with the best comments and published posts you make. You may comment more than once as well! I will have to have at least 10 people enter for anyone to win. I'll pick the winner on the 25th of February, which is an extended date!So far I am getting the favorite as Peanut Love on canvas as a fave. I can only give one as a prize but if you don't win, I will be willing to give those of you that have followed all the rules a Peanut like that at half the very low cost, because I can make more, yet none of them will be exactly alike as they are originals. I just had to add that because I am terrible at picking one winner if all of yall pick the same piece as a fave. I may have to put yall's names in a hat or have my kitty Kenzie pick the winner!
Good Luck!!!
Indiesmiles is having a give away, or let's say it's practically a give away!
ADVERTISE NOW!
Who said Advertising had to be expensive!
You can receive one week of 150×100 ad space for only $1.00 how exciting!!
HURRY! The weekly smiles will increase to $2.00 beginning March 1st!
These ad spots will rotate.
Would you like your shop to be noticed?
Start now!!
Go to this link!
http://www.indiesmiles.com/wp-content/plugins/oiopub-direct/purchase.php?do=link&zone=3


Well, I have more news about Indiesmiles and they are going to have a contest starting March 1st and they are giving away a bunch of prizes. Yall just have to write something that the little bird is saying. I have the link on the right side of my blog in the column that takes you to a facebook page and you will need to scroll down to see it. I am going to try to find out if it's on the actual website today so yall won't miss out on a fun contest! I'm handling all the donations and so far it's looking fabulous! I need more info about this contest but I do see where people have actually figured out a way to sign up! I am trying to figure out how they figured it out!!! If yall know, please let me know!:)
Hope yall have a fantastic day!
Linda :)

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day Yall!


Http://Kellydinwiddiephotography.weebly.com/

Happy Valentine's Day!
Love, Me and my Valentine kitty, Kenzie!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

A Warm Content Kenzie

It's amazing how content my kitty Kenzie is while she is lying on the edge of the bed getting as close to the heater as she possibly can! Sorry I woke her up,but I had to capture this pose while I could.Ok, I woke her up even more, but that did not last as she went back to her la la land very quickly. Why is she not in her comfy bed and blanket you see in the background? She is risking falling off the bed to be by that space heater!
Yall stay warm as Kenzie is!
Linda :)
PS: Go to my Give Away Contest a couple of posts below this one!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Giving Honor to Peanut Jones & Loved Ones that Have Passed on


Some of yall have not seen the real Peanut that lived to be 20 yrs. old. I thought yall may want to see what inspires me to continue to portray her in my artwork and so I'm showing a picture of her again. I got a wonderful letter from the father of my fiance,Anthony that passed on in 1989 from a drive by and I was with him. He was from England and I have been keeping in touch with his father since I was with Anthony, even after his mum passed 4 years ago. Anthony loved Peanut so much and I can remember very clearly how they would relate with one another. I guess, his father's, Chris, letter today that I just now read, brought on some memories that is forcing me to write this post. Memories are grand, and loved ones last forever.
Domino

Heaven is the real "Home" to me and you may call me nuts, but that is my spiritual way of thinking. I think they all watch over us and that we never lose our loved ones, including our friends. Valentine's Day is approaching and some of us are single, or have lost our loved ones, only to be a thought away, really. I may have mentioned this before, but loved ones include everyone we love on Valentine's Day. And if you are thinking of your loved ones in Heaven, they are included, because I truly believe that they never died....they are always, maybe not in a human body anymore, but thier spirits live on forever.
I started this post to say I am going to extend my contest longer until I get more than 10 entries and then I noticed that most people are favoring the "Peanut Love" on canvas, and as my mind drifts towards Anthony's father's letter I just now read....I just wrote down my thoughts. Maybe it's a message I'm suppose to mention to those that have lost loved ones to reassure that you never ever lose loved ones. I'm very sensitive to the spiritual world in that way. Maybe I needed to talk to someone about that feeling of loosing a loved one.
Whatever the case may be, I hope that some how I may have made someone feel better if you are feeling gloomy.
I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! And to tell yall that I have extended my contest for another week, being on the 25th of February!!! Please check out my main post about the contest too as I have reworded it! You never know, I may have made new special deals!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I'm having a Contest!!!



Please read my instructions carefully. I love that yall want one of my pieces, but in order to win, I need yall to follow the steps to have a chance! I may even have 3 winners if I get enough people to participate!
Yes, I've decided to have a contest and yall can have your choice of one of 3 of my pieces! All you have to do is:
1) Tell me which one you want & why.
2) Post my contest on your blog, facebook and twitter with my shop http://LindaGJ.Etsy.com. & let me know about it, so I can see it.
3)Tell me what item you like best in my shop and leave me a comment about why!
I will pick out your name with the best comments and published posts you make. You may comment more than once as well! I will have to have at least 10 people enter for anyone to win. I'll pick the winner on the 25th of February, which is an extended date!So far I am getting the favorite as Peanut Love on canvas as a fave. I can only give one as a prize but if you don't win, I will be willing to give those of you that have followed all the rules a Peanut like that at half the very low cost, because I can make more, yet none of them will be exactly alike as they are originals. I just had to add that because I am terrible at picking one winner if all of yall pick the same piece as a fave. I may have to put yall's names in a hat or have my kitty Kenzie pick the winner!
Good Luck!!!
Here are my choices:



Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Art Festival and New Items!


Well, Whew!!! My last Art Festival this past Saturday at the First Saturday's Art Festival was great! Mitch, the owner teamed me up with a perfect buddy who does beautiful detailed painting and photos do not do her justice! The weather could not have been prettier either!





Now I would like to show yall some of my pieces although some of them were sold, I do plan on making some similiar to them. As yall know my work is all One of a Kind, so I never can repeat them exactly, except for the prints of course! I think yall will get a kick out of some of these pieces and I also show more views on my Etsy Website. The little one's on canvas also comes with an eisel, either black or natural. With what I spend on the canvas and eisel, I barely make anything on my labor, and people that are not artists do not understand that part! Oh well. You just do what you love to do no matter what!
I've already shown my Tuxedo Peanut at the top of this post. Now here are some of the other new pieces:












Well, as yall can see....I've been busy!!!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

First Saturday Arts Market


Here I go another time! YAY! It's time for the 1st Saturday's Art Market in the Heights just in time for Valentine's Day! The advertisement shows a background abstract by Jeane Urbani, and the Valentine Heart is by non other than Linda Hardy A.K.A. www.MamaPainter.Etsy.com! I'm so proud of her! You can go to www.FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com to see who all will be there. There is an artists section as well as live music! Oh it's so much fun and in my favorite neighborhood!
I hope the weather is nice, because it's been cloudy, cold, and rainy here lately. If the weather is sunny and nice maybe people will be in the mood to get out and go spend their money for their sweethearts, friends, family, and for themselves!!!
Talk to yall soon!
Linda :)