Christmas waiting list

It's weird to be talking about Christmas right now with the heat of summer right creeping in through the windows, but I've been doing some thinking lately. Last year at this time I was working a full time job as well as running my business and didn't really know what to expect in terms of fulfilling Christmas orders. In fact, I didn't even start taking orders on my custom house portraits until October. I just barely finished them all in time for the holidays, and I worked such long hours that I didn't have much time to actually enjoy the Christmas season.

So this year, in an attempt to be better organized and more prepared for the rush, I'm opening my Christmas 2013 Wait List on all custom orders now. I've already started a list with names, and if you wish to be on that list just let me know! I'm not taking any payments now, but will contact you when the time comes and we'll work out the details for your portrait then. All I need is your name and email to reserve your spot on the list!

Please email me with your request at Michelle@TheArtofMichelle.com or visit my shop here for more details on what custom options I have to offer.

12 Bird Birthday Prints

PRINT PRE-ORDER Lady Cardina... TheArtofMichel... $12.5	PRINT PRE-ORDER Love at Firs... TheArtofMichel... $36	PRINT PRE-ORDER Capped Chick... TheArtofMichel... $12.5	PRINT PRE-ORDER Red Tailed H... TheArtofMichel... $25
PRINT PRE-ORDER Beautiful Pe... TheArtofMichel... $18	PRINT PRE-ORDER Goldeneye Du... TheArtofMichel... $18	PRINT PRE-ORDER Three Tiny H... TheArtofMichel... $30	PRINT PRE-ORDER Pelican 11x1... TheArtofMichel... $36
PRINT PRE-ORDER Flying Finch... TheArtofMichel... $16	PRINT PRE-ORDER Barn Owl 11x... TheArtofMichel... $36	PRINT PRE-ORDER California Q... TheArtofMichel... $18	PRINT PRE-ORDER Dark Raven 8... TheArtofMichel... $18

Guess who turns 26 today! This girl. And to celebrate (aside from going out to eat twice in one day) I've decided to release all my birds as prints! You can now pre-order any bird print of your choice. The peacock and swans come in two sizes for those of you who would prefer slightly smaller versions of the originals. Since I don't print these in house I currently am not stocked with inventory, which means the processing time for each print might take just a few extra days. Shop here or click on any of the images above!

Should I take off work early today? Mm I think that's a yes. My mom's coming over to take me out to lunch pretty soon and hopefully Seth and I can skip out of here some time this weekend for a fun day outside. He offered to take me to one of my favorite nearby wildlife parks (he knows me so well). And since the weather is absolutely gorgeous these days I am definitely taking him up on his offer! Hope your weekend is just as fun!

2 NEW wintery prints

Collecting Antlers
archival print 8x10"
$18.00

Cooper's Hawk
archival print 9x12"
$25.00

Over the course of the next few weeks my Etsy shop will be undergoing a major remodel in which new items like these two wintery prints will be listed and product photos will be updated.  I've already changed the section titles and reduced many prices on my prints to make it easier for all you organized folks who have already started Christmas shopping!

These two prints are a couple of my favorites, and I've decided to release them together in the shop.  Collecting Antlers and the Cooper's Hawk have this rich Prussian Blue I use so often to evoke a cool wintery feeling perfect for this time of year.  With the earth so cold and bare with forgotten leaves and life, my inclination is to curl up inside with the candles burning and huddle with my space heater over my drawing board long into the night.  But there is still another side of me eager to explore the leaf-less woods in search of things like creamy white antlers and fluffy winter birds.

As you drive to see your families this holiday season, scan your eyes to the treetops and count the number of Cooper and Red Tail Hawks you find along the roadside.  They are easy to spot this time of year and cute as ever with their fuzzy faces and thick coat of feathers.

Reia's Ram, Nadab (part 3 in the series)

My affection for these woolly sheep has not wained in the least.  I can't seem to get Reia's ram out of my mind.  So, I thought I'd make one more piece to add to the previous collection of two.  This time, Reia's ram (whom I've named Nadab) grazes in the tall green grass of the open meadow with his friends and fellow fleecy companions.  The dapper looking sheep with the pale pink bow-tie and black boots is named "Asher" which means happiness in Hebrew.  Oh, and Nadab means "free gift" and "prince" in Hebrew, which I felt was quite fitting since he seems to be Reia's favorite pet and most loyal companion.

I've got at least one more idea for Reia's story.  I'm thinking of a larger and final piece in which I paint Reia walking among her entire flock.  I can't think of a better way to end the series than to illustrate them all together, my happy clan.

Painting available here.

Updates in the shop

How was your weekend?

I've got so much to share with you including

some exciting news about an upcoming show, new paintings, and new updates in my shop!

First things first (and the rest in the days to come):

- new pictures in my etsy shop

- a new listing for a package deal

- new item descriptions and titles

and

- new lower prices on prints

 That list mentions just a few of my (now completed) goals to prepare my shop for the holidays.

I still consider myself to be in the "beefing up" stages- adding new items for sale is my number one goal this year.  Updating my profile, policies, photos, descriptions, tags, and titles is also a high priority.

And I've been wrestling and pondering the idea of prices for quite some time now.

It's one of the MOST challenging aspects of being an artist.  I feel pretty good about the changes I've made so far.  And once I can settle on a more affordable system of printing my work,

the price will conintue to slowly drop until I reach a more comfortable (for me and the buyer) price range.  Am I telling you too much?  I guess it's all just part of the growing process as a seller.  I hope you can understand!



At this point, I just need to get the price of production down before I think about anything else.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.  Etsy is very competitive, which I love because it is really challenging me to think practically and efficiently about the process of producing and selling from start to finish.

These are just a few of my thoughts today...so much more to share in the days to come.