Saying Good-bye to 2007

So...this is how I feel about 2007.

I was so anxious for 2006 to end...I was certain that 2007 HAD to be better.

I hadn't counted on spending most of the year in mourning...so..this is how I've felt, most of the year.

I'm better now. I finally feel like creating again. I have really liked many of the pieces I've done over the past couple of months.

I always enjoyed doing the abstracts...but, these little pieces have done way more for my spirit and healing. It's like..if I'm feeling sad...I just do a piece with this sad little guy...and then I get to feeling 'sorry' for him...not so much for myself!

I didn't find the same 'theraputic results' with the abstracts.

So, as I 'say good-bye' to 2007...with all of it's ups and downs ...I'm not looking for any 'miracles' in 2008...just a lot of hard work, new adventures and some of my best art yet!!

The Voices In My Head

My painting, 'Inside My Asylum', is part of a new Etsy Treasury...'The Voices In My Head'.

There is some really great art in this 'Treasury' by other Etsy artists.

Go check them out at....

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=19793

A Holiday Break...

I am going to take a 'holiday break'....meaning a break from work...not from the holidays.

I haven't thought much about the Christmas Season or the New Year...that upsets me a bit.

I do so dislike the commercialism that has become the season...it turns the little ones a bit greedy.

As for me...I would rather take a poor unfortunate family and make their lives a bit brighter. I believe that should be what the season is about.

I made it in to an Etsy Treasury

Wow! I was very surprised to see that I had made it into one of the Etsy Treasurys.

I love this little guy...I named him 'Lumpy' when I created him a few months ago. I think he is so sweet...the painting is titled...'Don't Run With Scissors'.

Here is the link to the Treasury...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=18543

Okay...so I'm putting my experimentations up until next year...

Things are just way too hectic to try to experiment...successfully...with anything at this particular time of the year.

So...I'll do a few more original ACEO's and small paintings..then call it a Year!

This little guy is newly listed on Etsy...as an original ACEO painting.

What do you think....

I spent my week-end experimenting. I soooo wished I could get some of these pieces on...before Christmas.

But, alas...I'm running out of time...and my experimentation is not yet done.

Well...this little guy looks fabulous...in person. He's a bit washed out and reflective in this photo. I'm having a bit of a problem getting good enough pictures to give an accurate example of what this little magnet actually looks like.

I think he's darling...but...what do you think?

I'm Experimenting...

I'm experimenting. Not with these little folk...with something other than ACEO's or prints. It's probably not the best time of the year to be doing experimentation...what with the holidays and all. But, to be honest...some days I just feel 'all out of ideas'...for new paintings...even little ACEO paintings. I've got several ACEO paintings that have never been listed because, I'm not satisfied enough with them.

I don't like to be idle...so I'm experimenting.

Be sure and check back...to see if my experiment 'worked out'.

I think I've found a new 'character'....

I really love this sad little ragdoll...I didn't intend to do anything further with him and ended up doing a new piece, with him in a tree swing.

I plan to develop him into something more. Not sure what yet...but, I think he is so sweet...and so sad...surely I'll figure something out!

Taking a minute...

I'm taking a quick minute to post something. Literally, that's about all the time I have to spare these past few days. They have been so hectic..and I have been so busy.

This little guy was listed in Rustic Goth's Etsy Shop today...the original has sold...but, I do have some Limited Edition ACEO prints available.

I plan on doing quite a few pieces with this little guy...he is one of my favorites so far.

NEW PIECES ---- Coming SOON!

I've got some new pieces COMING SOON! I'm hoping to start listing some brand NEW Original ACEO's on Sunday.

They're drawn out...I just need to get them painted.

This little gal is one of the NEW pieces I am going to list...she's actually an OLD new piece. I painted her a couple of months ago...then, I 'lost' her...along with several others. I put her away, for "safe" keeping and then couldn't find her.

Figures.....

One of Patrick's Pieces

This is one of Patrick's pieces. It is one of his eMotion paintings that sold, back when we were still on eBay.

I think this piece is so good...in a creepy sort of way.

A link to his Etsy Shop...Art By Patrick...can be found at the bottom of this blog. Check him out. He doesn't have a large volume of pieces on...but, what he does have, I think, are very good!

Bug's Ear

These are two of of my newest characters...

she is Aria...and the painting is titled 'Oops'..

he is Malcolm...the painting is 'Malcolm's Bluebird'.

Now I think these little folks are as 'cute as a bug's ear'...as the saying goes...so I'm toying with the notion of naming this series...'Bug's Ear'...

'Tis The Season...

This is a REALLY small photo of one of the mugs I have for sale on my CMZ Art Zazzle site. It's only 12.95!

I do like the Zazzle sites.

I have the Tuscan Art site there as well and I haven't done too bad selling on that site. Mostly mugs and magnets.

You can visit my Zazzle sites at the following links...

http://www.zazzle.com/cmzart

http://www.zazzle.com/TuscanArt

The Tuscan Art Zazzle site is devoted to my Tuscan art pieces.

The CMZ Art Zazzle site is for everything else! I just started the CMZ Art Zazzle site, so there isn't nearly as much in that shop as there is in the Tuscan Art shop.

Go ahead and visit...leave a comment or a rating.

I met someone who is Very Special...

I have to confess that I am not as extroverted as I would like to be. I left the corporate world of insurance in 2004, and since then I have become quite introverted.

Partly because of my husband's illness and the year we spent fighting his cancer..and losing.
Partly because, I really don't leave my house very much anymore.
And, partly because...well, I'm not sure why...I just don't have as many 'opinions' as I used to have...so I guess I've become somewhat boring.

Now, I have met a very special person on Etsy. She is a collector...but, most important..she is a kind and considerate person who has offered words of encouragement and all of the help that she can, to further our work in this world. How special is that??!!!!

I wished I were as extroverted as our dear new friend...perhaps I worry too much about rejection...maybe..???

Hope Everyone Had A Wonderful Thanksgiving

Well, I'm trying to get back on track, after a wonderful Thanksgiving. I haven't done much the past couple of days, did enjoy quite the feast and some fun and games.

I've only finished a couple of new ACEO's but hoping to get more done yet today. Tomorrow is another family day, so I always take those off...for the most part.

This wonderful ACEO print, 'Daddy LongLegs' is from the original by Patrick Zatloukal. More of his work can be found in his ArtByPatrick shop in Etsy. I have a link to his shop at the bottom of my blog.

New Paintings and Prints on Etsy

I have some new paintings and prints on Etsy.

The first painting shown here, 'VooDoo Remedy', is a little hard to see with this image. It is a very distressed woman, holding a doll with a pin sticking out of it, her 'remedy' to that dreadful malady, PMS.

It is painted on an 8" x 10" unstretched cotton canvas sheet. With the cost of stretched canvas being what it is, I am offering these little pieces to try to keep the prices as low as possible. I am also offering a Limited Edition (of only 25) ACEO prints of this little gal.

The second painting, "He'll Never See It Coming", is a painting of a sad eyed snowman, with a snowball in one 'hand', a teddy bear (barely holding on) in the other...I think he is fixing to hit the poor little teddy with the snowball...

It is also painted on an 8" x 10" canvas sheet and I am offering Limited Edition (25) ACEO prints of this as well.

Third painting, 'Her and Her Cat", is just that...her...and her cat. Also an 8"x10" original painting on canvas sheet.

The last painting, 'Bella's Bat", was sold on eBay, but I am offering Limited Edition (25) ACEO prints of this painting...it is one of my all time favorites.

I wanted also to clarify a point of confusion to some of my collectors. I am Charlene Murray Zatloukal, listing as both 'Rustic Goth' and as 'CMZart' on Etsy.

My reasoning for both shops is that I felt the collectors of my 'dark, sad, surreal, macabre' art would not care for some of my 'happy, cute, abstract, Tuscan, etc' art and vice versa.

After losing the 'love of my life' a little over a year ago...I have been mostly sad. I cared not to paint anything hopeful or happy because, I didn't feel hopeful or happy.

And, though most of the art I have done since then has been very sad and surreal, I try very hard to find some happy and fun times as often as possible. When I find them, I paint them.

Maybe the 'separation' of the art is something I need to do for myself...I'm not yet sure.

For now, I will keep them separate...just know that I am one artist..with many dimensions.

New Painting on Etsy - Her and Her Cat

'Her and Her Cat' is my newest listing on Etsy.

It isn't as "dark" as I normally paint, but I wanted to experiment on a new support, cotton canvas sheets. I haven't really worked on flat canvas so I wanted to see how it ended up.

I'm pretty happy with the results.

If you are interested in this little gem, you can find her at,

http://www.rusticgoth.etsy.com/.

New Sites for Group Artists

Most of the X Street Gallery Artists can now be found on new sites.
Several now have shops on Etsy.
Others are listing on Overstock.Com
A few have given up on selling their art online.

A few of the Etsy Shop Links, with current updates, can be found at the bottom of this page.

I Sold My Last Painting on Ebay

I sold my last painting on eBay, today. It is the last I will list with X Street Gallery. I believe it is the 'end' for all of the X St artists.

Once a viable income producer for self representing artists, eBay is no longer as friendly to the non Gold/ or Platinum PowerSelling artists as they used to be.

They have opted to restructure 'everything' as far as I can tell...and it is no longer as easy to find things as it used to be...especially original art. Even 'featuring' everything has done no good at all, just throwing good money after bad.

Well, I am getting a lot more views on my Etsy listings than I have been getting on eBay the last few weeks. Hopefully similar sales will follow.

I'm done with eBay though, unless they do some major fixes real soon...and I'm not holding my breath.

It saddens me...

It saddens me to have to leave the X Street Gallery...and eBay. Unfortunately, I could not make a living on either.

I live to paint....I really do...I can't imagine myself doing anything else. But, I also 'paint to live'...and one has to pay their bills.

I have had to put a full time career in art 'on hold' for a good number of years...as I had mouths to feed and there really wasn't a good venue for my art until...eBay. I've had three mostly good years on eBay...until now.

After eBay started doing their different tests...the major art sellers started being able to revise constantly, in order to keep their paintings always out on the first page (and burying the majority of artists who were unable to use that 'glitch' to their advantage) and just seeing the number of visits drop so dramatically..it was as though our items had actually disappeared for most of the time they were scheduled to run...it was just TOO MUCH for me.

So...as of the end of this week....you will not find a C. Murray original listed on eBay.

To find out where you will be able to find my original art...RSS this blog.

I am leaving X Street Gallery

I cannot personally afford to continue listing on eBay, given all of the changes and glitches it has undergone in recent months.

With all of the problems, paintings that used to receive hundreds of views are lucky to reach 100.

Many of the artists who list on eBay are expressing concern..but, no one is listening.

So, I have personally decided not to list anything new...at least until eBay is done with their tests, glitches and whatever else it is doing.

C

Change is in the 'air'....

This painting "Off The Wall"...or 'What's Eating Humpty...?' is currently listed for sale on eBay.

What should be one of our very best months has been dismal, so I'm sure few people have actually viewed this little guy. His expression pretty much mirrors my own....so I sense that, 'change is in the air'.

This original painting has been sold. I will be offering a limited edition print on my new Etsy site.

CMZ Art.

Problems at eBay....

Wow...things are a little scary for eBay artists right now. I thought maybe it was just me..and my art.

I guess not.

I know they've been messing around with changes, glitches, and all sorts of 'unannounced' goings on...but, I thought I'd just try to "hang in there" and ride it out. Maybe not.

I decided to visit the artist's discussion boards and see if anyone else was seeing a major slow down in visits and in sales....I'm not the only one. There are a lot of artists on eBay right now who aren't sure how much longer they can hang on. Several of them have lost Power Seller status because their sales weren't enough to maintain PS status.

Others have had to quit featuring as many...and yet others did experiments...with Features and Non Features. Turned out..their non featured items had more hits than their featured items.

It is taking up to six or eight hours after listing for items to show up...and if you have to revise something...it 'disappears' for even more hours. Unfortunately, those hours aren't added on...they're just lost. So..you're paying for visibility that you are not receiving.

As for me........?????....we'll see.

Just One More Day

"Just One More Day"....

Funerals have become family 'reunions' for my family. It's about the only time extended family members get together. And, it seems like we're getting together far too often the past few years.

But, now that the funeral...and the 'get together' are over...and family members have all gone home...life must go on.

We've bills to pay...deadlines to meet...and, at times like this it seems heartless to say, life goes on.

Still we can't help but wish for, "just one more day".

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This painting is currently for sale on eBay as a non-featured painting.

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This is my last painting in the 'Paradise Lost' series.

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Bella's Bat

I decided to include this piece on my blog. I have been blogging about my 'Paradise Lost' series..but I do other pieces too.

I consider most of my paintings 'sad and surreal'...though I do sometimes do something "just for fun".

Given the season...I wanted to add a 'spooky' element to one of my paintings and decided on doing a bat.

This painting has sold.

Some Day...We'll See Each Other Again

The latest painting in my "Paradise Lost" series is a tribute to the life of someone very special to me.

Last week, she was hospitalized with several health issues...but doctors felt she should recover in a week or two.
This past Tuesday...she passed away.

I never saw her without a smile on her face...when she laughed, which was often, she laughed from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet...it was great.

I've known her all of my life...she was my mom's sister!

I will really miss her broad smile and hearty laugh! Her heart was good and pure. Her words, encouraging and loving.

Not surprisingly...at the very moment of her passing...she smiled!

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This painting is currently for sale on eBay, relisted as a non featured painting.

If You Leave....

This painting ...'If You Leave...What Will I Do'-----is yet another in the "Paradise Lost" series.

I received so many 'hand-outs'...booklets...and many letters on 'How to Cope with the Loss of a Loved One'.

I didn't open any of them...I honestly did not want to be told how I should be feeling. I knew how I felt and certainly did not want any advice on what I needed to do about those feelings.

Painting this particular series...at least for the time being...has done more to help me 'deal' with my feelings than anything else.

In this painting...the subject is watching the balloon...with her suitcase close at hand. I don't know where she is going...or if she is going anywhere at all...it was just how I was feeling at the moment.

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This painting has sold.

Yesterday Is But A Dream...

I just listed this painting on eBay...to run five days.

"Yesterday Is But A Dream...Tomorrow's Yet Unborn".

These words are scratched into the painting...perhaps there is someone else out there who also needs to be reminded to live today....each day....one day at a time.

This painting has sold.

Wish You Were Here

All but one of my 'Paradise Lost' paintings....have a solitary white balloon. One from the 59...it is something I hold on to in my thoughts and dreams...one more year...if only I had one more year....

I really do 'Wish You Were Here'.

This painting has sold.

Trying To Get To You

Perhaps I will reach the 'stage of acceptance' one day...I'm not sure. If and when I do...maybe I'll be okay again...but until then...I do imagine life...like it used to be...

This painting sold in October.

Please Don't Leave

The 'love of my life' has gone on to a place that I can no longer hear, feel or depend on his wisdom to help me through another day.

It feels as though my heart has been pulled from my chest and I can't go on alone...it doesn't matter that I know he is gone...in my dreams he is here...and I don't want to wake...."I'm afraid he will leave again".

I have painted this series in a 'raw' technique...with drips (indicative of rain-or tears), textures, scraped paint..even the main subject is purposely vague....reflecting the exposure of my very soul.

I sold this painting in September.

59 Balloons

I find that I have difficulty 'telling the story behind the painting' when confined to a listing format. It seems that I can't really 'be myself...or something.

This is the first painting in a series I have titled "Paradise Lost". It is a series dedicated to the long process of healing. My own healing.

It is too difficult to lose someone you love...being together for more than thirty years. And the healing...even after a year it sometimes seems impossible.

So..I take the words of advice he gave to me..."paint your emotions".

Thus...the series..."Paradise Lost".

"59 Balloons"....one for each year of his life...all white...released to the heavens on the day he was buried.

I paint my emotions...trying to heal.

I sold this painting in September.

My first post.

This is my first post on this blog. While I am not new to blogging, this is my first 'painting' blog. I have enjoyed reading a lot of the painting blogs here and decided to go ahead and do yet another.

It will take a bit for me to get this blog completely set up...but, this is a start!

I do paint almost everyday...(I take Sundays off for family). Some of my paintings get listed on eBay, some go into galleries and others are commissions. So..I do stay busy.

This painting is entitled 'Beautiful Bald'. October is 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month'...and it was inspired by months of regular visits to chemotherapy. I was truly inspired at the bravery of those beautiful people literally 'fighting for their lives'....

The painting has been sold.