Collector's Pics

Christmas updates from my collectors:

It ALWAYS makes my day when I receive Collectors Pics of my paintings in their new home.
This year a couple of people sent in these pics of the paintings under their Christmas trees. I see it as a great honour being included and getting a glimpse where my paintings find their home.
I was so busy tending to commissioned paintings that I didn't have a lot of time to post on my blog in December, so I hope to thread in in the next few weeks what has happened last month in my 'studio' (actually my easel is pitched in my living room by the warm fire, haha).

If you have been following my blog, you have seen above painting before. You can read the story behind this painting in the blog post by clicking here.
And the painting below was purchased by a sweet husband who wanted to surprise his darling wife. I had painted the Winnebago Cabover Painting as part of my 'camper a day' project this past September. He called me up mid December and I got the painting on its way right in time for Christmas. I am smiling as I see how lovingly it is placed! You collectors of mine are theee best, thank you! I appreciate each one of you so very much! You keep me painting and pushing my limits to become better at what I love to do! Thank you!!!

Cold Snap

Have I mentioned it was cold here in the Maritimes the last couple of weeks? Below are some photos from the St. Andrews wharf I took just a few days ago. The sea smoke on the water is a sure fire indication that it is a verrrryyy cold day. 

My painting day today

We are expecting a 'snow bomb' to explode here in the Maritimes tomorrow. Markus and the people of St. Andrews have been busy getting their houses ready. I hope people will stay home and stay away from the roads. Here this was the view from the wharf this afternoon. Isn't it beautiful? I started a painting, but couldn't quite finish due to frozen cold fingers. Will post about that in the next few days sometime. Hope to finish some last touches, maybe tomorrow. 
Thanks for taking time to visit, and stay in touch again tomorrow.

Christmas Snow St Andrews

Christmas Snow St Andrews

orig. oil on canvas, 8x10in, $225

more info and purchase here

I hope you had a great Christmas this year! In our house it was a bit different. My husband came down with a bug and was sick to his stomach for a full 24 hours. He spent his Christmas 'talking to the big, white phone' as he so calls it. Poor dude. We even had to cancel our annual pay-what-you-want dinner that day! It was pretty upsetting (pun intended;-).
So, on Boxing Day I decided to head out with my oil paints to capture the low afternoon sun at low tide. However, I never made it out to Indian Point. Once I saw the beautiful interplay of shapes and colours in the homes lining Water Street, I just had to pitch my easel there. Hence the title Christmas Snow St Andrews.
Smart me, I dressed warm and had hand warmers with me. The temperatures dropped as I was painting the afternoon away and by the time I was done, my toes were really cold and the finger tips nippy. However, the oil paints stayed great, got a bit more sticky maybe, but overall, a great performance. In contrast, when I venture out with my watercolour, painting is very different. There my paint freezes inside the palette and onto the brush (even with water being replaced with vodka or other high percentage clear spirit of sorts).

On another note:

Now, the New Year is fast approaching and I have a few more camper calendars here. So, as a Special I've reduced my camper calendars more than half to $10 (first come first served, click here to order)!
If you are looking for a glamping gift for a friend or yourself, now's the time! If you have ordered one and like to get another to give away, no better time than now!
Thank you so much for all your encouragement this past year!
Stay put what's coming in the new year- I am working on some fun new ideas! Stay tuned!

1959 Shasta 'Ginger' Holiday

1959 Shasta 'Ginger'orig. watercolor, 8x10in (matted to fit 11x14in frame)
purchase info here

Today's feature glamper is this most awesome 1959 Shasta 'Ginger'. I had a blast painting it! Wow, what a statement camper! I can just imagine the looks and comments coming every time it is being taken out. Wouldn't this be the perfect addition to any Christmas holiday market?

What comes to mind is the saying: sing as if no one is watching. Really, the little kid in us is being drowned out so often, just to 'fit in' and to 'be normal'. This camper today shows that life doesn't have to be like that. It can be a reflection of our creativity, fun and life-loving self. In the way we live it, we give others joy and hopefully courage to pursue their own dreams.

I'm somewhat Philosophical today, but this is what thoughts just came to mind. High five to its proud owner! Great job, love your little Shasta! Thank you for sending her in!

I'm thinking, I should start decorating around the house- fall, Thanksgiving... yes, this painting might have done it. But first I have to finish painting my daily campers. It seems my life has been on hold as I spend so much time each day to paint and post those. Almost there, just a few days left...

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope to see you tomorrow again with another little camper!

Artist-Direct Gift Ideas

Artist-Direct Gift Ideas on Sale now!

The busiest time of year is here, everyone is getting ready for Christmas and the malls are filled with busy shoppers.  

I, too, have filled my online gift shop with artist-direct gift ideas at special pricing starting at only $15 and all under $100! Of course there is free shipping over $50 spent, too;-)

Also, I will have a spot at our upcoming annual Europa Inn Art Open House. Many new and established local artists will transform the Restaurant Part into a warm and creative space, sure to add sparkle to your St. Andrews visit. Click here for the flyer with all the listings.

Today I want to introduce some of my favorites gifts:

 1. Original Mini Camper Painting 'Red Shasta' in Golden Frame: $85 (incl. shipping)

1. 
   

What I love about this painting is that it is just the perfect size even for inside a vintage camper! The overall Size is just 5.25x6.25in including the frame! But the frame is 1.25in high, making a solid statement. And because it is a custom made floater frame, non of the edges of the painting are covered!

The painting has golden metal leaf accents on the z-stripe and the iconic Shasta wing. I have a matching piece to the red Shasta-  it is an aqua Shasta with the same frame. This would make a wonderful pair to display one below the other or side-by-side!

You can see more about this painting on my shop page by clicking here.

2. Original Mini Camper Painting 'Aqua Shasta' in Golden Frame: $85 (incl. shipping)

Have I mentioned I just love those cute, small campie paintings? For the size they were actually a lot of work to create. To apply the metal leaf with a tiny brush took a long time, as did the painting itself.

But it was worth it, I just love how they look! Here is the aqua-coloured sister-piece to the above mentioned red Shasta.

3. Greeting Cards 'Christmas Airstream': on sale for $15 for 5

This year's new greeting card designs include a feature of one of my favourite camper paintings: this beauty of an Airstream. If you are looking to give-away some greeting cards as a hostess gift or send some out yourself to good friends, these would be the perfect match for any vintage camper lover!

And if you are looking for a selection, I am offering this set featuring the Airstream plus this cute pink vintage Campie in a card set. For purchase and more info, please click here. 

Each card is printed on quality, glossy card stock, blank inside and comes with blank envelopes.

If you are looking for something specific or a gift certificate, please drop me a line, I might be able to help;-) Thank you for all your encouragement and patronage, I am very thankful for all of you! Thank you! 

Until next time, stay in touch and Happy Thanksgiving to my US friends near and far!

2017 Art Calendars- Get Yours Soon!

2017 Art Calendars

The year is inching itself towards a close and with the holidays and year's end upon us, many of us are looking for fun 2017 Art Calendars.

I have created two kinds of calendars again this year, featuring my watercolor paintings. Both are available through my webshop.

One is of East Coast Lighthouses

that I painted for my spring solo show at Sunbury Shores. All the lighthouses I have seen in person, either by land and walking up to it or by water from a boat. Living on the Atlantic Coast, it is a special treat to see those graceful beacons frequently, however, little-to-no funding and eroding seashores make for declining numbers. Great effort is being put forth by local interest groups to rescue their beloved lighthouses.

It was a great honour to work together with the group to rescue Cape Bear Lighthouse on PEI. Joan, is my contact with them. She gave me glimpses of just how many hours and ideas are needed to make restoration and relocation possible. If you'd like to support the Cape Bear Lighthouse restoration, please check out their website here or visit it on your next PEI trip. (And maybe you will even pick up a souvenir featuring my lighthouse image!). The original painting is available through the Cape Bear Museum and a portion of the proceeds will benefit its restoration!

Cape Bear Lighthouse

original watercolor painting, framed to 27x35in approx

$1500, available through Cape Bear Museum

Vintage Camper Calendar

My other calendar has been very popular last year as well and so I am offering my Vintage Camper Calendar again this year. It features the 12 favorite camper portraits created as part of my September 'Camper-a-Day' project. I have been busy shipping orders out already as soon as I listed them in my online shop.

The 2017 Art Calendars are printed on quality card stock and with its size of 8.5x11in, they fit even nicely in most vintage campers! Space is always at a premium in those little campies, so it was important for me that the calendar would not be too large, but has enough space to write in daily notes.

More News

I am finalizing a special sale of small, original artworks at special prices. The paintings will be available via my website. And if you are a newsletter subscriber, you'll get 'first dips' with a 24 hour head-start before the sale is officially live online. If you haven't yet, but would like to sign up,  on my website www.simoneritterart.com .

I am working on a series of miniature acrylic camper paintings, 3x4in. Those paintings are so small- and so cute! They will be part of the 'original works sale' coming up... just waiting for the frames- and the metal leaf to dry;-)

working on metal leaving mini paintings vintage campers

Anyhow,

that's just a bit of an update from my studio. I wish you a relaxing weekend and I will share new items with you in the coming days. Many gift ideas for glamping enthusiasts and seaside lovers coming your way.

Annual Gift Sale begins

My annual gift sale has begun!

This October, I thought, I would catch up with all the things that fell by the wayside during my September 'painting a camper a day' project. It has not quite worked out that way. Even though, I was lucky enough to tackle a couple of projects from my to-do list.

I have been busy designing and ordering gift items to fill my web-store for the upcoming Christmas and holiday season.

I packaged more greeting cards, nice quality- thick and glossy with vibrant colours. The sought-after calendars have also arrived and orders are coming in already. New this year are mouse pads, a cute hostess gift or stocking stuffer or 'thank you' for a vintage camper fan.

I am still waiting for a couple more items and look forward by mid November to have my shop all filled to the brim.

To have a web-store is more work than what it seems. (I am learning)- first, design and order your items, then after shipments arrive, inspect and package and photograph items. Then photo edit items to smaller scale for web, then upload them and write your store description.

I just had an unexpected 'surprise':

While my dear hubby takes my bunch out to trick-or-treat, I was hoping to post my greeting cards online in my gift shop. It has taken me over an hour to take the photos a couple of days ago and I wanted now to edit them for web... Oh, well, they are nowhere to be found! I must have deleted them- both from my camera AND from my computer (probably while downloading). Oh, my, my artist mind has gotten the better of me today... So, tomorrow, I will go at it again and take more photos- and hopefully it won't rain, haha!

Update: I JUST found the 'lost' photos while searching for this family photo below- so, guess what: I'll be editing and posting as soon as I am putting my period on this sentence, haha! Have a good week everyone and Happy Halloween!

Here's a family pic we took recently... wishing you a wonderful week!