It’s October, and you know what that means? Yep, lots of colour, which suits me just fine as an artist! Here’s what I have for you in this month’s update:
Where's Diana?
Fancy pants!
Why are prints of original art a great gift?
Print sale extended!
Where's Diana?
If you had asked where I was earlier in the year the answer could have been just about anywhere. But now that it’s fall I’m sticking a little closer to home. That doesn’t mean I’m sitting still, of course. Here are a few of the things I’ll be up to (besides painting):
Art workshop in Peachland
In early October I’ll be leading a workshop in Peachland, B.C. I’ll be teaching a keen group of artists how they can incorporate some of the techniques I used for my Wild Essence series of paintings. I haven’t led a workshop in a couple of years, so I’m a little nervous. But I suspect it will be like falling off a bike — something you never forget. Be sure to watch my social media channels for updates on how the workshop goes!
Thanksgiving means turkey in the ground
The weekend after my workshop, I’ll be getting together with my family for Thanksgiving — something I’m hoping all of you can do as well (with your families, that is). We have a tradition of holding our Thanksgiving dinner outdoors at a magical place called Timid Turtle Pond. And we don’t just eat outdoors — we cook outdoors too. Yes, even the turkey! We dig a big hole in the ground, burn a lot of wood and charcoal until we have a nice bed of coals, then put in the turkey, safely wrapped in foil, for about four hours. When it comes out, it’s the most delicious, tender turkey you’ve ever tasted!
Have you ever cooked a turkey in the ground? If not, there’s a great video on Youtube (check it out here) that tells you how. Do you recognize anyone in the video?
Art workshop in Powell River
Finally, after all the Thanksgiving excitement, I’ll be off to Powell River for another art workshop. This time I’ll be a student, not a teacher. The subject is a little out of my comfort zone, but I think it’s important as an artist to stretch and experiment with new techniques and subjects. If it comes out well, I’ll share the results on Instagram!
Do fancy pants make you a fancy painter?
We’ll find out! In September I decided that rather than ruin all of my clothes with paint (because yes, I’ve ruined a lot of clothes with paint!), I’d purposely paint a pair of pants (whew!) that I can use every time I paint. I had some help from my husband, my sister and my brother in law. You can see the results above.
What do you think? Have I started a fashion trend? Or should I stick to canvases?
Why are prints of original art a great gift?
I get a lot of questions about buying prints of my original paintings or giving them as gifts. Here are some of those questions and my answers:
Why should I buy one of your prints when I can buy prints cheaper on Amazon or at Ikea or at Walmart?
It’s true, the prints you can buy at those places are cheaper. But they’re also mass-produced. There are thousands — maybe millions — of other prints just like them hanging on walls around the world. And the value of those mass-produced prints is low, low enough that the stores can make a profit selling them for as little as they do. I may be biased, but I think there’s something special and valuable about owning art created by an artist you know.
Why should I buy a print instead of an original painting?
I’m more than happy to sell you one of my original paintings (get in touch!). Many people, though, find that buying prints is more economical and offers more options in terms of size and medium. Prints let you brighten up any room, regardless of size.
Aren't prints lower-quality than original paintings?
I create all of my prints using the giclee process, high-quality pigment inks and top-notch materials. Added to that, I work with a brilliant photographer who uses a special process to create exact reproductions of my art. When you receive your print, you'll be very happy with the quality. You might not even be able to tell it's a print!
Aren’t your prints expensive?
Actually, my prints are surprisingly affordable. You can buy them in a variety of sizes and can choose to have them on paper, framed or on canvas. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars.
Isn’t it costly and difficult to ship prints?
Sure, if you do it yourself. But my prints always ship free and I can send them directly to your home. If you would like to give someone a print as a gift, I can even send it directly to their home. Easy peasy!
What if I don’t like the print when I get it?
True, you might receive your print and decide you don’t like it. I hope that doesn’t happen, but if it does, let me know and I’ll make it right. I’d rather see you happy than saddled with art you don’t love.
What questions do you have about buying prints or giving them as gifts? Are you on the fence or ready to dive in? Let me know!
Print sale extended!
Related to my points above about buying prints, I’ve had great response to my September print sale. So great that I’ve decided to extend the sale for another two weeks.
If you’re looking for a unique gift for a friend or family member — or if you just want to brighten up your life at home, work or in between (how about in your car?), take a moment to visit my website and choose one or more prints. To buy Wild Essence prints at a 20% discount, just use coupon code WILD when you check out. And if you’d like to buy one or more prints from my Little Birds series, use the coupon code BIRD when you check out.
Thank you for all of your support!
Thank you for reading my update newsletter! Get in touch if you have questions, feedback or want to talk.
If you know anyone who would enjoy or benefit from the content in this newsletter please forward it to them. And be sure to visit me online:
Website: dianaskelhorne.com
Youtube: Make Art With Diana
Instagram: @dianaskelhorneartist
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