Oh dear! Bad girl! ....I can't believe my last posting was so long ago! I probably have put you all into hibernation by now....sorry about that! Yes, I have been busy Etsying, making treasuries, painting, shooting and developing new products....but, as you can see, not blogging! OK...the best way I can think of to make amends is to show you a few of the new items I have brought into my Etsy shop....Items that I have licensed the use of on fun things like pillows, totes and mobile device cases. Please check 'em out:

White Dahlia Designer Pillow Cover

Sunflower II Tote

Fire Magnolia iPhone Case

Treasuries Curated by artBJC 

Want to see more Etsy treasuries I have curated?....if so, I invite you to linger through them via my Pinterest board, Treasuries Curated by artBCJ

Enjoy a little relaxation while you browse around!

For Mom....For You....For Me

For Mom....For You....For Me

Hi again! I just wanted to share another new treasury I curated with you. This one is full of neat gift ideas for Mom....and all us gals! There's no hassling the malls, no gas or travel time needed....just a nice cup of tea, glass of wine and a comfy browsing chair is all that is needed! OH...and a light touch of your favorite music! OH....and kick off your shoes! Perfect! Now, how is that for pampering yourself? You deserve it!

And while you are at it, you may want to take time to wander around my shop to check out lots of new additions I've listed:  artBJC.etsy.com

Amethyst Garden

Amethyst Garden

Oh dear! I know it has been waaay too long since posting here to touch base with you. I keep telling myself I will become more diligent with doing so....but, obviously that hasn't happened yet! But at least the launch of my new treasury this morning, prompted me to get some action going here. I do hope you enjoy this delightful collection of my friends and fellow Etsians in a showcase of their very talented creations...ENJOY!!!

If you have the time, I would love for you to click on the treasury or the title below it to fully view the fun creations in it....and maybe even click the Heart to Favorite it, as well as your favorite items within the collection. Your support is most appreciated....thank you!!

 upon the hibiscus sun of day.

ETSY FRONT PAGE AGAIN! YEAAAA!!!

(Click on image to view larger. Click on link above to go to the live page on Etsy.)

This gorgeous curation was produced by dmers ....I lovingly call her Debs! It is always a THRILL to be included in her fabulous treasuries (that talent is in her DNA!) ....and when they make Front Page ....OH SO COOL!!! My "Misty Spider Dahlia" was honored to be featured in this collection! As soon as I get my first cuppa coffee to working, I will post this to my "Etsy Treasuries" board in my Pinterest....please take a look at more Front Pages and treasuries my items have been in.... Etsy Treasuries. Since there are well over 400 of them my work has been in, only a small sampling is represented there, but you will get a good idea of the beauty of treasuries and how they can show you the joy of quality handcrafted wares and beautiful art where you are dealing directly with the artist/photographer in a joyfully pleasant environment!....and anyone with a camera or paintbrush in hand really is a very friendly creature and loves hearing from you!

Misty Spider Dahlia

Think Pink This Spring!

ETSY FRONT PAGE
(Click on image to view larger. Click on link above to go to the live page on Etsy.)

Geeee....I know....time has flown, and I haven't even posted the additional images I promised you for which I gave Mother Nature the compositional credit! And that still will wait for another day, as I am too excited to show you this lovely treasury curated by Anita of Rolling Hills Vintage that put my "Bougainvillea Gold Dust" print on the Front Page of Etsy! That image was featured in my previous posting, so you may have a look at the larger image there if you scroll down. Then please come back to view this entire treasury by clicking the title below the treasury page. Also, clicking on my "Bougainvillea" image...after you click through to the live page...will take you to my shop with all my images. 

You can also see all the wonderful vintage items Anita offers in her shop at Rolling Hills Vintage!

Anyway, THANK YOU, Anita for taking my sweet little petals to the Etsy Front Page!! Since there are 15 million items on Etsy, that's really quite a deal!  = )

I also have another surprise for you coming soon! I almost was going to give you a preview tonight, but decided I'd best wait a few days longer to get a few more details wrapped up. Sorry...I don't mean to be a tease.....hmmm, but then....maybe I DO!   He he he!

Bougainvillea Gold Dust

Before I start, I want to give kudos to this sweet image for making it to the Front Page of Etsy! Out of approximately 15 million items on Etsy, I would say it certainly deserves to take a bow! 

This is the first of several I will be posting in the next few day that I barely can take credit for as the composition was laid out by the greatest artist in the world, Mother Nature! I guess sometimes it is good to be walking looking down, as there is beauty in that direction, too. I know I stopped in my tracks when I saw this perfect arrangement....a still life of nature. Hoping a breeze wouldn't disturb it, I ran for my camera. Fortunately, it stayed very calm and in place for me...as I wanted it just as it was!

Then the real fun began giving it special artistic touches in my digital darkroom...Photoshop, of course. I love the convenience of not having to mix chemicals and have a backlog of a day's work in order to justify the setup time and solutions used. I can be as impetuous as I want in getting to the fun of working with my new image....Yeaaa!

Who would ever have guessed that an ordinary section of concrete would be a elegant backdrop for these sweet little Bougainvillea petals, but with some touches of gold to bring out the pattern to match the golden glow in the petals, it couldn't have been more perfect...man-made and nature-made in one special image. Hope you enjoy!

 

Crystal Glow

It feels good to be back tending to my Etsy shop and adding new works. I hope you will bookmark this blog and return from time to time. I am checking on how to let you sign up for automatic notifications of new postings, but until I get that set up,  bookmarking this blog is the easiest way.

This unique crystal is the largest in the world. I have worked it into a photo fusion piece with the background that seemed just the perfect pattern and texture to compliment it. 

"My Meditative Path"

And how I started healing? Having to remain in the area for a time to face the challenge of dealing with a parent's effects, it has been of the essence to start on a healing path of my own. Fortunately this area of the southwest enjoys the views of Red Mountain...which often times looks blue...the Superstition (Lost Dutchman Mine) and the Goldfield Mountains, Four Peaks....with its world famous amethyst mine (among the finest quality in the world), the McDowell Mountains....along with the flocks of Canadian Geese and ducks...making for an easy path around the the local lake for many serene zen moments and meditative contemplation. Focusing on the calming ethereal aura of the fountain or any of the features of beauty in the area has healing properties of its own. I am fortunate.

"Coastal Tree"

Former Self ~ Goal of Renewal

As this tree stood before me, feasting my eyes on the magnificent art of Mother Nature (just look at those elegant lines!), hopefully it will renew itself to this glorious state....and hopefully my spirit will, too. I wish you all the beauty of renewal in the New Year!

"Battle Worn"

Yes, I have been absent for quite a long time. 2012 was the year I lost my father after battling every second for many months to help him survive a blood infection. After a mind-bending roller coaster of hope and dispair, the battle was lost 10-11-12. So I rather identify with this once magnificent coastal tree...only a shadow of its former self ....hollow ....empty ....in a void ....after a battle with a fierce storm. I know what a fierce storm is all about.

But.... this is the beginning of a new year. Those are supposed to bring about the spirit of renewal ....of challenge ....of a reach for the positive. I, and this once majestic tree, have our work cut out for us to be part of that renewal and rebirth of lost spirit. We will strive to become our former selves in this new year. We can do it.

The Serenity of Black

If you would like to see some very fine work by my Etsy friends, please visit my recently curated Treasury, "The Serenity of Black." The level of the talent on Etsy never ceases to amaze me!

PAMPAS MEDITATION

I have been focusing on assisting my father during an unexpected illness, but now "we" have finally been released after a three week hospital stay and moved on to rehab, I would like to post one of my latest photo fusion creations. All elements utilized are my original photography. The pampas grass stopped me in my tracks a while back when I was in Carpinteria, CA shooting a unmongous Banyon tree.  I turned around and saw this profusion of glistening pampas grass as tall as I am in front of a business. It literally looked like it was adorned with a profusion of Swarovski crystals in motion....a moment to remember! My fine-feathered friend found the environment most conducive to serene mediation
....same sensation as I had!

This fine art print is available in my Etsy store: artBJC

You may want to take a look at my new "Purple Desert Blossom"  I have also added to my store.

.

"Magnolia Glow"

Magnolias were always a special symbol for me and my mother.
Whenever stressful times arose, a light bulb would come on, 
and one of us would say to the other,

"Think Magnolias!"

....and we'd both break out into a smile and laugh, 
lightening our load. 
She was an MS patient who managed to always keep a sweet, 
loving attitude through some difficult times.

"Magnolia Glow" is an original oil painting, which is available as a fine art print in my Etsy store, artBJC. 

Now you know why magnolias are one of my

very favorite subjects for my paintings. 

"Zen Visions"

 

I thought you might like to see my new “Zen Visions” Set (4 prints) that is now in my Etsy store, artBJC. 

Each image is also available individually, as you will see there.

I want to offer a few thoughts about framing such a set.

I personally prefer the asymmetric arrangement custom matting provides (like they are presented in the image above),

however there are many frames available to accommodate groupings of four.  IKEA is very popular for framing art and photography. Another option is to frame each individually,

and arrange them on your wall any way you find appealing.

Also mounting them on foamcore attached to a square matboard, then mounting all in a square sectional frame, such as offered by Nielsen Bainbridge is yet another option.

They are readily available online and in framing shops,

and can be adapted to any dimension.

I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful.

"Serene Zen"

 

"Rythmic Zen"

It is so natural to see things in series, relationships or themes when capturing images. This was certainly true with these first two visions of my "Shadows Series" that formed a life of their own.... instantly creating a calm feeling flowing within me.

I hope you feel the same peaceful aura that caught my eye.

We all owe ourselves the value of cherishing the moment....for that is really all we have.  If we miss that, we miss it all!  We tend to be caught up in the issues of yesterday and our concerns for tomorrow....
and forget living the precious present...
the only time we really have. 

That is why one of my mottos is:


"Keep the Zen!"


These images somehow created their own elegance of design in addition to emitting a therapeutic quality.


To add a little Zen to the environment of your décor, they are available in 5" x 7" and 8" x 10" in my Etsy store:

artBJC.etsy.com 

"Magnolia Neon" 

I love to combine my history of design and illustration with my background in photography and painting to create unique combined visions.  I started with my original oil painting, "Magnolia Glow"...
and then set out on a fun, creative journey!

"Elegance of Infinity"

 

While painting this composition, I felt a Zen-like energy as I worked. The image just felt like it would continue on in motion forever, so it was easy to choose a name for it......“Elegance of Infinity.”  
Infinity is truly elegant and truly exists!

I have added 6 new items to my artBJC Etsy store, so you may want to take a look by clicking on my store listings on the right sidebar.  The sidebar only shows a portion of the items in my store, so check it out if you would like to see more of them.  I will include a couple of my most recent works in with this posting.  As you will see, I have a lot of fun in the creative abstract arena,
both with my paintings as well as my photography.  

Soon I will post some of my figurative work, so you can see I do have a penchant for traditional realism also.
In fact, that is where my real roots are.

There are so many wonderfully talented artisans on Etsy that it is a joy to be part of their creative community!  I would like to share one of the TREASURIES I created featuring the work of some of them following a theme of "Color Me Purple."  I chose that theme since purple (and all variations thereof) is my favorite color!  You will find this Treasury in the right-hand column immediately below my artBJC Etsy Store items.  

Enjoy!

www.artbjc.etsy.com

If you would like to see my latest artwork, "Heart Bouquet" 
in my Etsy store, please use the link above. 
In the listing, you will be able to read the creation process
I used to develop this piece.

I will devote more attention to my blog as I put final structure to my art/photography. As with all artists, there are just soooo many wonderful things to be creating, yet it is impossible to do them all (even though one can't help but try!). Yet it is hard to know what to walk away from. I am sensible....but, my drummer isn't!  I need to follow one of Steve Job's great wisdoms:

"People think focus means saying yes 
to the thing you’ve got to focus on. 

But that’s not what it means at all. 
It means saying no to the hundred
other good ideas that there are. 

You have to pick carefully."

~ Steve Jobs ~

I will have a little talk with my drummer.

I recently became the proud owner of a new Etsy store, 

artBJC  

...and have found myself wanting to share my thoughts 

and a little more detail about my work with my kind followers

who have “Favorited” my work 

and added me to their wonderful “Treasuries.”

Until I am able to add more postings for you here, 

I’d be honored if you would stop by my store at:

www.artbjc.etsy.com

...or use your cell phone to scan this code for accessing my store:

Welcome to ArtBJC!