Snowing

I seem, or at least, for some reason I feel, like I have a bit of momentum behind me at the moment, which is always a good excuse to squeeze out another painting. This one was inspired by a recent walk in the snow (not that it settled) along the Thames.

It is aptly called 'Snowing'

I seem to have had quite good Facebook response so far this year, so that makes me feel like something is happening. Or at least it does until I look at the art page of one of my friends girlfriends who has 12,000 fans, and then I feel more like I am hitting my head against a brick wall. When I feel like this, I always bear in mind the article that I read, or overheard, that said that it takes ten years to become an overnight success. So it doesn't matter at the moment, I still have a few years left to go, and let's face it, you will never get anywhere if you give up.

Small victories.....!

Windsor Castle

Another tradition I am almost completing is the one in which I seem to get the lurgy for the majority of January. I seem to save up all the times in the year that I might get a cold/flu/virus so that I can have one impossible to shake one at the start of the year. The good news is that it is on it's way out, it was nowhere near as bad as last year, and I am done with colds now until this time in 2019.

So I guess that is something.

I have also had my first painting enquiry for the year, with someone from Saint Louis asking to purchase Bixby Bridge. I haven't heard back from them for a couple of days, which might be a bad sign, but let's hope they are still deciding. I also have a potential commission in the pipeline, but as this is for my sister, it seems a bit like cheating. Finally and by no means least, I have managed to paint my first picture of 2018! This is leaps and bounds ahead of last year, as the first painting got squeezed out in the middle of February.

I am currently feeling quietly satisfied with progress thus far, although I realise I have a lot to do, so much in fact, that every time I sit down to do some art stuff, my mind wanders, thinking about what things I need to do and then I realise I have been sat, blankly looking at my screen for ten minutes, in fairy land.

Never mind, isn't 'meditation' and/or 'escapism' meant to be good for you? But anyway, please behold my first painting of 2018. Apparently, if you head to Windsor in the week, and binge watch 'The Crown' on Netflix, it is very difficult not to end up painting Windsor Castle....

Laura 2 Art Scam 0

It seems like the New Year is coming with a New Art Scam.

Sigh, one of these days it would be nice if someone did actually want to buy 4 or 5 paintings from me in one go. Here is to hoping.

I don't really understand how the following email is actually a scam but it has been singled out on this online Art Scam blog as being one, and I am inclined to go along with the majority, just because I can't figure out how they would make money out of me from this, doesn't mean they can't! I shall blame my lack of nefariousness.

The email that came through was as follows:

"Greetings! My name is Steven Rudy from United Kingdom. I actually observed my wife has been viewing your website on my laptop and i guess she likes your piece of work. I'm also impressed and amazed to have seen your various works too,You are doing a great job. I would like to purchase one of your artwork available below and ready for sale as a surprise to my wife on our anniversary. Also, my method of payment is by Bank Cheque as mode of Payment and if you agreed get back to me with the details below now.

    ITEMS NEEDED BELOW.........

Tioga Pass

Mirror Lake

Lake Bled

Blood Sticks Water Falls

Kindly let me have the full details below to issued out the Bank Cheque as requested,so that my financial can issued out the payment procedures Asap..

FULL NAME : 

FULL ADDRESS:

MOBILE NUMBER:

TELEPHONE:

Kindly get Back to me with the Above list of Details requested From you.

Regards

10 Hutcheon Low Place,

Aberdeen,

AB21 9WP

UNITED KINGDOM

  Thanks

So other artists please be aware! I think with the circulation of this scam it is a good idea for me to share again my things to look out for when emails like this arrive:

1. An email address with lots of extra numbers and letters

2. A name that doesn't match who they are.

3. A lack of concern about the price of anything.

4. An inability to pay using conventional methods.

5. A dubious looking shipping address.

6. NEVER return any money - contact your bank/PayPal for advice.

7. ALWAYS log into your own account to check for payment.

8.GOOGLE IT - the address, the name, the letter, the email address - someone will have come across the same thing if it is a scam.

If in doubt, just ask the e-mailer a few more questions, without giving too much away, and slowly, the answers will unravel...

Stay safe!

 

Happy 2018

Before it is the middle of February, I had better wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let's hope 2018 is going to be amazing. I am currently wondering whether I am about to get the horrible flu like cold that is going around as my throat is feeling rather raspy. I seem to have a bad habit of getting bugs in January - let's just hope it is something else for the moment.


As with all New Years, I have just completed my, now traditional, calendar competition. I always make a calendar of my work for my Mum for Christmas (she is my number 1 fan) but I also order an extra one to give away as a prize on Facebook. I was impressed this year as I had more entries than normal, and from a lot of new potential followers / customers. I think this was mostly because I put a video up of the calendar which gave a much better impression of what I was giving away. I had originally intended to boost the post to reach more people, but I decided, just in case it was overly popular, not to risk it. I didn't want to end up having to write a thousand names out to put in the hat I use to make the draw. I have also already managed to have my first sale of the year, as a print of the Milan Cathedral will soon be on it's way to a new home.

2018 is sounding happy so far! Now all I need are some painting sales, and a bit of time to paint and work up the website.....